Drylands Coordination Group

A previous DCG study provided an in-depth analysis of the determinants of household food insecurity and coping mechanisms used in three selected zones of SNNPR (namely, Sidama, Guraghe and Wolaita zones). This study came up with a number of key findings and policy recommendations with regard to ameliorating the high level of household food insecurity in the study areas. One of the most important research gaps identified in this study was the role of local institutional factors in food security and natural resource management. The study therefore recommended that further investigations on these issues should be done in order that the program implementers can best utilize the potentials during the course of interventions.

Evidence from other countries suggests that when the societal mechanism works well, household specific shocks may not require outside intervention. Also, implementation of rural development activities at local level, mobilizing local participation, and handling emergencies at the local level with conscious links to reconstruction, prevention and preparedness requires the pivotal role of local social institutions.

There are evidences that in name of “development”, the local institutions which were once very strong are now breaking and disintegrating in many parts of rural areas of the region. Hence, addressing the issues, in such a region where melting pot of many ethnic groups with defined local and indigenous institutions with a well established and traditionally proven role of facilitating forums for local self-governance, may give insight to researchers and policy makers on how the problem could be curbed.

The main objective of the study is to examine the existing problems related to natural resource management and food security and to document the contribution of local social-institutional arrangements to rural livelihood (especially food security and natural resource management) in selected areas of SNNPR. The specific objectives are:

i) To assess the type of local institutions and arrangements existing in the selected areas and asses the influence of institutional factors on management decisions.

ii) To explore and map out the overall set up, organization and working mechanisms of the local social institutional factors in the study area.

iii) To identify the role of these institutions in ensuring household food security in the study areas.

iv) To examine the major contribution of the local indigenous institutions in Natural Resource Management and Conservations.

v) To make comparative and cross-cultural analysis of the roles of the local institutional factors and arrangements among the three selected cultural groups.

vi) To create awareness and understanding of the problem among policy makers and relevant stakeholders, and thereby creating alliances and linkages with regard to the issue under discussion.

The activities of the project fall under three phases: namely, the preparatory, the execution phase and reporting/dissemination phase. The first phase consists of literature review, preliminary visits to the study sites and social mapping, development of checklists by which information will be collected from target groups at individual, household, and community level. The second phase will be devoted to data collection, data organization and analysis, and preparation of the draft report. In the third phase, all efforts will be made to make use of the results through sharing the result with the relevant stakeholders and policy makers at regional level through a workshop. Upon identification of the various indigenous social institutions and arrangements and completion of the analysis, the 60 key informants (local government administrators, religious leaders, extension workers, local NGO) will be given intensive training on the possible means of strengthening the indigenous social institutions.

i. The major type of local institutional arrangements, their forms, organizations, and working mechanisms will be explored.

ii. Cross-cultural comparisons of the local institutional arrangements as coping mechanisms of household food security and natural resource management in the study areas will be examined.

iii. The role of the different local institutions to rural livelihood will be identified.

iv. On the basis of the findings, some problems and prevailing challenges of local institutional arrangement will be identified.

v. On the basis of the major findings, workable recommendations will be forwarded pertaining to household food security and natural resource management in the study areas.

This study will contribute to the understanding of the role of local institutions and organizations in the design and implementation of strategies (such as disaster risk management), as well as the role of local authorities in building community social capital for coping with risks and sustainable natural resource management. The major stakeholders are expected to consider the findings in their planning and implementation endeavors. The Hawassa University, for instance, will use the result of the study in classroom teaching and share the findings to students and staff for common understanding of the problem. The office of Agriculture and Rural Development at local and regional level may take up the most important recommendations related to food security and natural resource management and then incorporate these findings in their planning and implementation activities. The local and regional offices of culture and social affairs may take up some of the most important recommendations related to dynamism and organization of the indigenous social institutions so as to rehabilitate, modernize, and strengthen them. Because the results of the study will be communicated to the ultimate beneficiaries (through scheduled advocacy programs), the public and local leaders may make use of the opportunity to re-organize, rehabilitate and strengthen the local indigenous social institutions.