Description

Abstract: Cross-border livestock trade in the Horn of Africa has grown significantly in recent years and has met increased urban demands for meat and provided benefits for a range of actors, including herders, traders, and transporters. Most of the animals in the trade are procured from pastoral areas and are moved to terminal markets through complex market arrangements and channels that involve numerous actors. Despite the positive benefits of this commerce, governments rarely acknowledge its importance and the activity remains subject to inconsistent policies, random order closures, and livestock confiscation. This paper addresses cross-border cattle trade in two of the region’s most significant cross-border markets: the Ethiopia/Kenya (E/K) and the Somalia/Kenya (S/K) trade. We show that while there are important similarities between the two markets, there also are significant differences that relate to risk and institutional and social factors. In the face of significant security and market risks, the paper shows how cattle traders have developed innovative institutional responses to mitigate them.