Water for people and livestock in Borana

As part of the EU-funded RESET (Resilience Building & Creation of Economic Opportunities in Ethiopia) project, CARE Ethiopia looked into “Water in Borana, Ethiopia: a study of the development, use and maintenance of water sources in the rural areas of Borana Zone” (2019, 66pp, by Adrian Cullis et al).

It sought a better understanding of how water development can play a role in building community resilience. Both traditional and modern water sources used by pastoralist and agropastoralist groups were covered. Over their 400 years in these rangelands in what is now southern Ethiopia, the Borana developed complex water-management systems to ensure equitable access for the livestock of all households. The area has experienced considerable investment in the water sector in the last 50 years. However, because the Government and international development actors often failed to consult and collaborate with customary livestock-management institutions, centuries-old grazing patterns were disrupted, leading to overgrazing, rangeland degradation and declining livestock productivity. The study team held separate discussions with Borana women and men, focusing on water for domestic purposes with the women and water for livestock with the men. The report makes gender-specific recommendations for improvements in water development in the area, as well as recommendations for promoting resilience in the wider context.

Posted on 3 August 2021 in Pastoralism & Natural Resources, Pastoralism & Services, Pastoralist Livelihoods & Nutrition