From Conflict to Coping: Evidence from Southern Ethiopia on the Contributions of Peacebuilding to Drought Resilience Among Pastoralist Groups
Publisher: Mercy Corps
Author(s): Jon Jurtz and Greg Scarborough
Date: 2014
Topics: Climate Change, Livelihoods, Programming, Renewable Resources
The idea of promoting resilience has gained increased attention in the wake of recent drought in the Horn Africa – the worst in 60 years. Humanitarian and development actors, keen to avoid the need for massive relief assistance, are looking toward programming that can mitigate the effects of future shocks and speed recovery from them. However, there is little reliable evidence on strategies, interventions and policies that work to strengthen resilience, especially among pastoralist groups who are among the most vulnerable to climate-related shocks.
In mid-2011, Mercy Corps received anecdotal evidence from local officials that drought-affected communities that had benefited from Mercy Corps-supported peace processes were better able to cope in the face of these harsh conditions than other pastoralist groups in the SomaliOromiya areas of Ethiopia. While recognising that peacebuilding initiatives are only part of broader efforts needed to address pastoralists’ vulnerability and resilience (see Pavanello, 2009), Mercy Corps undertook this study to examine if and how its peacebuilding programmes have affected key factors associated with drought resilience. Through this research, Mercy Corps sought to generate greater insights and evidence on the extent to which peacebuilding efforts that rely on skills building and sustained dialogue among conflicting parties can serve as an effective form of disaster risk reduction.