Four million pastoralists to benefit in the first five years
The African Development Bank today signed a US $57.66-million loan agreement for
the multinational Drought Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods Program
(DRSLP) in the Horn of Africa (HoA) with the Government of Kenya, bringing
to US $3.04 billion the Bank's commitment in the country's various sector
The program will be carried out in phases, with the first phase beginning in
2013 in Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya. It will focus on about four million
beneficiaries in the first five years.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, AfDB Regional Director for the East Africa
Resource Centre (EARC) Gabriel Negatu explained that the entire program
would cover eight countries in the Horn of Africa over the next 15 years,
including Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda, in addition to
the three countries in the current phase.
"It is necessary to have all the countries in the program because if one
country has better water, pasture and livestock services, the pastoralist
will move there and this could lead to overgrazing, transmission of
trans-boundary animal diseases and conflicts. The next phase is expected to
start as soon as funds are available for the remaining countries. This could
be as early as end of 2013," Negatu said.
In Kenya, the project will cover the counties of Baringo, Isiolo, Marsabit,
Samburu, Turkana and West Pokot. It seeks to provide assistance to enhance
drought resilience and improve sustainable livelihoods of the communities in
the arid and semi-arid lands of Kenya. In this regard, the project will
contribute to the development of water supply and development and
rehabilitation of irrigation schemes; improvement of livestock
infrastructure and their management; and strengthening of both human and
institutional capacity to improve operational capabilities in the project
area.
Phase one will look at improving management of natural resources, livestock
market infrastructure and agro-pastoralists' livelihoods. It will also
include the enhancement of animal health system and regional cooperation for
the management of trans-boundary natural resources.
The Horn of Africa (HoA) region is often affected by severe recurrent
droughts and chronic food insecurity. In 2011, the region faced the worst
drought in decades that decimated crops and livestock, and left over 12
million people, mainly the pastoralist communities, in total distress across
the affected region.
Based on this analysis, during the African Union Summit in August 2011, the
Bank reiterated its long-term commitment to provide support for a lasting
solution to drought and to build resilience and improve sustainable
livelihoods of the pastoral communities in the HoA region.