Towards an Inclusive Social Protection Among Pastoralist Communities

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Register here to join onlineThe book traces the transformational journey that began with the initiative "Social Protection for Inclusive Development in Afar Region, Ethiopia: Lessons for Sub-Saharan Africa," a pioneering effort spearheaded by a collaborative consortium team from both the Global North, comprising members from PENHA and UCL, and the Global South, including team members from Adigrat University and Samara Universities in Ethiopia..This unique cross-continental collaboration fostered an innovative approach to inclusive social protection strategies in pastoralist communities and the funding was provided by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO-WOTRO).

A pivotal focus of the initiative was to confront the challenges stemming from the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) in pastoral areas. One notable outcome of the project is the publication of a book titled "Social Protection, Pastoralism, and Resilience in Ethiopia; Lessons for Sub-Saharan Africa." The book, a result of contributions from various scholars, is likely to provide valuable insights and knowledge on the dynamics of social protection in pastoral areas and its impact on local communities. The book vividly captures the dynamic strategies and interventions employed by various researchers to mitigate the adverse effects of the PSNP and to promote sustainable development among pastoralist communities in the Horn of Africa particularly the Afar communities in Eastern Ethiopia.

Such a collaborative initiative is expected to yield positive impacts in terms of sustainable development, community resilience, and the promotion of inclusive practices in the Afar Region and beyond. By fostering a multi-dimensional approach that integrates both local and global perspectives, the project has likely contributed to the enrichment of academic discourse and the development of more effective strategies for sustainable development and social protection among pastoralist communities.

Chair

Dr Lulsegged Abebe, an expert on peace and security, an independent researcher, consultant, and PENHA Board of Trustees chair and former senior staff member for International Alert

Speakers

• Zeremariam Fre, Principal Investigator and author, Associate Professor (Teaching), Development Planning Unit (DPU), UCL
• Bereket Tsegay, Speaker and co-author, Senior Research and Policy Analyst at PENHA and a Research Associate at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London
• Angela Raven-Roberts, Speaker and contributing author, An independent consultant and researcher and affiliate at the Department of Education, University of Oxford 
• E John Wibberley PhD, NSch, FRAgS, FIAgrM, Panelist, Professor of Comparative Agriculture & Rural Extension at The University of Reading and at The Royal Agricultural University Cirencester, and immediate past-Chairman of TAAI (Tropical Agriculture Association International) & chairs Farming Community Network (FCN) in Devon, England