Description

Abstract: In the recent past, pastoralists of Ethiopia have become increasingly food insecure and vulnerable to drought and other shocks. This trend is corroborated by high levels of food aid and evidence that coping mechanisms are weakening. Through a Pastoralist Livelihoods Initiative (PLI) that began in October 2005, the USAID-Ethiopia Mission supported Ethiopia in undertaking urgent and timely interventions to respond immediately to emergencies and to improve livestock production and early warning systems targeted at reducing the prospect of disasters due to recurrent droughts (USAID, 2005). The Livestock Information Network and Knowledge System (LINKS) project is one of the multiple partners that contributed significantly to the implementation of the PLI. This brief describes the contribution of the LINKS project towards the establishment and strengthening of the capacity of the Somali and Afar regional states of Ethiopia to institute and manage region-wide district-based pastoral livestock Early Warning Systems (EWS).