A Statement of Afar Development Conference
Aysaïta, Afar National Regional State
December 30, 2004

Afar Pastoralist Development Association (APDA) organized an Afar National development Conference between 15th and 30th December 2004 in Aysaïta in Afar Regional State of Ethiopia. The participant of the conference consisted Afars from the Diasporas, Djibouti, representatives from Afar regional government, pastoralist communities to discuss Afar development problems and future development perspectives. During the period of 15th to 25th December a group of five went to each of the five zones and visited different weredas of the Afar Regional State. During this visit, they observed development achievements that have been made in the past twelve years and the difficulties encountered. While they were impressed with development program made in the region, equally, they have come to realize the growing disappointment of development expectations and the appalling situation of the recurrent drought and famine, inadequate facilities that are not catered to service the end users, transportation problem, insufficient medical facilities and medicine, lack of educated people to run the program designed by the regional and federal government, and lack of security were among many subjects discussed.

To begin with there is an urgent need to avert human catastrophe due to looming imminent hunger, which is showing its effect! We appeal to both authorities and the international organizations to rapidly assist the Afar pastoralists in Teeru, Barahle, Chifra and other critically affected Woredas as soon as possible! The most affected are children, elderly people and animals. It is evident that there is a critical water shortage in most of these woredas. Malnutrition and waterborne diseases are rampant. Unless an urgent aid is in its way, there will be a catastrophic result in human and animal life.

The conference participants suggested that the need for a new and holistic approach to tackle the Afar development problem. The Afar region in Ethiopia occupies a large geographical area and has a substantial varied natural resources. Nevertheless, these resources are either under developed or totally untapped. Consequently the Afar remains as one of the most impoverished people in the country today. The traditional Afar economy survived for centuries by adapting and perfecting a lifestyle of pastoralism. Loss of grazing land, water sites and increased population has meant increased poverty as the natural resource base on which they depend continues to be degraded.

Poverty in the Afar often has been described as being caused by natural factors and by man-made practices. These are by no means separate from one another; on the contrary, they reinforce each other. Afar region in Ethiopia is one of the most impoverished areas in one of the world’s poorest countries. Its history of chronic externally induced conflicts, instability, and inaccessibility has contributed substantially to the neglect and underdevelopment that persist to the present day. Even though attempts to engage the Afar people in development schemes are evident. However, it is equally evident that there is much to be done in a manner that can bring enduring improvement.

One of the obstacles for regional development has been the geographic and ecological factor of the region of the Afar, which is in any case prone to drought and ecological degradation because of erratic rainfall patterns. This has led to recurrent drought and famine throughout many years. Out of necessity, the Afar has evolved a highly adapted mode of transhumance pastoralism, which is, the most efficient land use in such an environment. Traditional livestock management is based on herd diversification. However, it appears that this process has been altered by recurrent drought and hence exposing the pastoralist to unprecedented harm.

The other major factor has been lack of proper policy to address the grave situations of the people up to 1994 E.C. There are no policies, which specifically address pastoral dynamics, and as result a far-reaching effect on pastoralist development is evident. Even today there are no by-laws, which address pastoral land administration. The land ownership and right of use of the Afar were neglected in the past. In 1995 E.C. a proclamation on property rights was formulated that protected the right of pastoralists not to be displaced from their land. This however has not been formalized and the by-law is still not in place. The absence of such by-laws has created confusion on land rights. At present the expansion of construction and urbanization has no parallel in Ethiopian history and the Afar is no exception. But the basic poverty question has remained, as in the past, untouched. The situation for pastoral people today has not improved very much compared with the past.

The open market policy has exacerbated the pastoralist condition. Livestock products are becoming an increasingly scarce commodity. The food habit of the Afar pastoralists diet is changing due to the drought situation leading to food insecurity. The Afar pastoralists in some areas of the Afar region are affected by the declining of livestock per capita characterized by instability, decreasing income, increasing poverty and environmental degradation. Pastoralist Afar have poor access to education, limited educational opportunities and the existing school curriculum does not reflect the pastoral way of life in general and their cultural values in particular. Poorly developed infrastructure, makes remote parts of the Afar area inaccessible.

Communal grazing is currently under increasing pressure, due to the expansion of poorly planned investments and the construction of roads and urbanization. Important grazing areas, which are close to the highlands, riverbanks, and swampy areas are increasingly occupied mainly for cultivation purposes. Therefore they are no more accessible for livestock use. Some rangeland areas are reserved as military security zones. As a result livestock are forced to move to already over grazed areas. In addition, bush encroachment has been expanding and has further reduced the grazing potential of the rangelands. The stage of deterioration at present, for instance, around the Awash Valley is serious and may already be irreversible. It should be understood that it is leading not only to the destruction of the Afar as pastoral society but is affecting the long-term dynamics of the entire Awash Basin ecosystem.

There are hardly any references to specific social structures or administrative units, and little evidences of understanding of the internal rules of different tribal groups. Too little has been done in understanding the know-how and resources the Afar already controls. This neglect lends to the reinforcement of dependence and to the diminution of self-reliance.

A major constraint, however, to the development of the region has been instability related to internal and external border clashes. In particular, the participant of the conference overwhelmingly agreed that the Afar and Issa conflict requires an immediate solution in order to bring stability and lasting peace in the areas affected in particular, and to Ethiopia in general. To find solution they identified and recommend the following:

1. The Afar National Regional Government should make strenuous efforts to bring solution to the problem

2. The Federal Government, which is expected to bring solution to the conflict and protect its citizens, should act soon

3. In the interim, both the Afar Regional and Federal government must put pressure to safe guard and protect the lives of daily civilian victims of the conflict.

Further, it is evident that the absence of effective administration and lack of capacity, which all are the legacy of past rules and policies are still rampant. All these factors are interrelated. First of all considerable emphasis should be placed on Afarisation articulated in a clear policy orientation and should be reflected in various regional government institutions. In this context priority should be given to social services, training, employment and capacity building. The driving force for this should be a close cooperation between the few educated Afars and non-Afar experts to work in their full potential in collaboration with the federal and regional government. The lessons learned indicate that the pastoral development strategy should focus on improving food security, minimizing risks, improve livestock production, enhancing emigration and increasing long-term sustainability of the pastoral system. This should take into account not only social and ecological factors but also a broad and often neglected question of whether projects contribute to economic self-reliance and enhance measures that promote independence. For this to happen projects have to be owned by the community, have to be wereda based and could be executed through government institutions, local communities or in partnership with NGOs.

The lack of clearly defined and directed pastoral holistic approach based on the sustainable development of the arid and semi-arid regions remains an obstacle. At present, the Afar consider their life is at stake because much of the land that used to serve as grazing land is now either engulfed with swamps/marsh or has become non-productive because of insufficient flooding from Awash river. Indeed, a kind of destruction chain reaction appears to have been put in motion since the beginning of the last few decades. Obvious increase in the density of livestock has resulted in a progressive reduction of the availability of high quality herbs in the region. With a reduction of pasture land and high quality of fodder at the rate that is being observed, the Afar population will be in great economic crisis unless mitigation measure are taken sooner than later.

It is clear that the sustainable development of the Afar pastoral production system within the framework of the development of the regional and the Federal government is not a simple task but one that requires the collaboration and good will of the federal and local government; and NGO’s for considerable period of time. Whether or not the Afar people seize this moment to define their future in terms of their own priorities, needs and aspirations is a matter for Afars to choose. When it comes to pastoralist communities like the Afar, there is a need for a different approach that is strategically suited to the pastoralist way of life. But to ensure food security on a permanent basis much more is needed. But it is also the responsibility of the Federal and Regional Government, NGOs and the international community to encourage the Afars to set their own agenda, but not to set the agenda for them. A comprehensive Development Program along the above-described lines could be developed but it should be designed in Afar with Afar leaders and with the support of Federal State. It is only through this process that a reliable and sustainable development program could be formulated and implemented. For this to happen Federal, regional Governments and NGOs that support the efforts of development should create an appropriate space and environment to work in. An effective implementation structure would have to be worked out to the mutual satisfaction of all partners.

The participants unanimously identified the following development obstacles, which needs an immediate attention. These obstacles are categorized into external and internal factors. The external factors are those obstacles that Afars could not resolve by themselves and therefore requires proactive role to be played by both the Federal and Regional Government. Equally, the internal factors refer to remain with the domain the Afar society to tackle.

External Factors:

1. Drought
2. Conflict/security
3. Investment and Landownership (also internal)
4. Water resource (partially internal)
5. Transport and communications
6. Lack of veterinary drugs

Internal Factors:

1. Consumption of chat and its impact on the society
2. Empowerment of women
3. Afars attitude towards work
4. Education and culture
5. Health and heath education with particular emphasis on HIV/AIDS
6. Environment

The above-identified obstacles need serious consideration and participation of four stakeholders:

1. Afar society itself
2. Afar National Regional Government and the Federal Government as well.
3. Afar intellectuals in Diaspora as well as in the region
4. Local and International NGOs

It is also recommended that an active and viable involvement of the Federal and Afar Regional governments are of utmost and immense importance. Such involvement calls for formulating policies that can work for the Afars and empowering the people to alleviate their problems. If an achievement in development and conflict resolution is sought in the Afar region, the participation of the Afars themselves is necessary. In addition, it is also mentioned that the role of some Afar intellectuals aboard has not been active and are called upon to engage themselves fully or during their visits in the development of the region.

The participants have also highly recommended such a gathering of Afars from all places to be held every two years. It was evident the collegiality displayed can bring people together and forge friendship to better understand each other. Through such gatherings and discussions it is believed that the benefit is evident. The participants agreed that the Afar National Regional State and Afar Pastoralist Development Association make every effort to conduct and facilitate such gathering every two years.