Haramaya University Hosted International Conference on Enhancing Pastoralists Livelihood and Resilience

Dr. Richard Wentzell, Dean of College of Law and Program Manager of HU-PRIME, welcoming the conference participants (PHOTO: HU)

Haramaya University’s Pastoralist Resilience Improvement through Market Expansion (PRIME) Project hosted an International Conference on Enhancing Pastoralists Livelihood and Resilience through Market Expansion from March 17-18, 2017 at the University’s Resource Center.

Dr. Richard Wentzell, Dean of College of Law and Program Manager of HU-PRIME, welcomed the conference participants and expressed his sincere wish for fruitful conference deliberation.

President of Haramaya University (HU), Prof. Chemeda Fininsa, in his opening speech, stated that it is an honor and privilege for HU to host this conference. The conference is the first of its kind in the history of the HU-PRIME to be hosted by a collaboration of several partners and stakeholders from various intuitions in Ethiopia and abroad.

Prof. Chemeda also mentioned that pastoralist problems need to be addressed with different approaches so as to improve livestock production and productivity, natural resource governance, to provide better livelihood and to improve market for their livestock and livestock products. “In this regard,” he said, “the purposes of this conference are disseminating research findings in the areas of and livestock productivity and health, natural resources and climate change; livelihood diversification and marketing and policy issues for stakeholders.”

On behalf of the Ministry of Federal Pastoral Development Affairs, H.E. State Minister Mr. Kaydaki Gezahegn explained the government’s interest to address the shortcomings and dilemmas that the pastoralist sector and community are faced with. He said, “The government addresses fundamental rights and development agenda of our citizens, specifically concerning the predicament of the pastoralist. Owing to their limited access to socioeconomic development and underserved status over the decades, our government identified 4 regions (Afar, Ethiopian Somali, pastoral areas of Oromia and SNNPR regional states) to give special support in order to change the livelihood of pastoralist.”

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