SOS Sahel, the Norwegian Peoples’ Aid (NPA), and members of DCG Ethiopia are implementing a study on the implications of externally-driven land dispossession and economic marginalization on pastoral environment and livelihoods, among the Borana, Gujji and Karrayu pastoral communities. The research project will:

• Examine the root causes of pastoral vulnerability, poverty, destitution as a result of policy-induced external pressures and their implications on pastoral food security and livelihoods.
• Investigate the extent to which land dispossession, i.e. loss of rangeland to farming, national parks, private sector ventures and resettlement schemes, impoverishes pastoral societies, restricts their access to natural resources and limits their mobility.
• Argue how access to land and natural resources, and sustainable management of these resources are vital for the continued existence of pastoral societies and livelihoods.
• Study the adaptive capacity of pastoralists to the changes and lobby the decision-makers to bring changes in the policy and legal framework which recognize and protect pastoral customary and environmental rights and ensure equitable and inclusive access to common property resources and sustainable management of dryland resources in the pastoral settings.

The project spans a period of nine months from April to December 2007. SOS Sahel is the lead organization for the implementation of the project.

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