ILRI-IWMI collaborative Study on livestock movements in Ethiopia

BY ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute) AND IWMI (International Water
Management Institute) ILRI and IWMI in Ethiopia are undertaking a study of livestock (land use patterns, movements, highland-lowland independencies, related socio-economic and cultural practices) in the Bale Eco-Region of the country. The study is a contribution to the EU-funded SHARE Bale Eco-Region project implemented by IWMI, Farm Africa, SOS Sahel, Frankfurt Zoological Society, Population Health Environment, in collaboration with a number of research institutes, the Oromiya Regional State and local governments. The study will also contribute to the International Land Coalition’s Rangelands Initiative – a multi-stakeholder program seeking to make rangelands more secure, and of which both ILRI and IWMI are members.

The study will commence in April with fieldwork carried out in two phases to take account of different seasonal weather patterns that have an impact on livestock movements – the first in April/May and the second in July. There are complex livestock movement patterns in the area and strong highland-lowland interactions and dependencies.

Participatory research tools will be used to understand these together with GPS tracking of livestock movements. Assistance in this regard is being provided by IWMI’s GIS expert and ILRI’s IBLI (Index based Livestock Insurance) project. Students will be recruited from the local Madawalabu University in Robe to assist with the research collection.

The objectives of the study are to improve the understanding of livestock-based livelihood systems, livestock management, related land use and how they have changed over time; to identify constraints and challenges to these and opportunities for overcoming them. It is anticipated that the study will provide research evidence and guidance to the SHARE Bale Eco-Region project in its further development interventions. Results will be shared through (amongst others) a Research Brief, a journal article, and an Issue Paper under ILC’s Making Rangelands Secure Issue Paper Series.