Drought Response Project in Borena Zone, Oromia Region Ethiopia. Borena is a pastoral zone in the southern part of Ethiopia bordering Somali region in the east, Northern Kenya to the south, Guji zone to the northeast and SNNPR to the West. It is one of 18 zones in Oromia regional state located in the arid and semi-arid southern lowlands. The predominant economic activity is pastoralist and agro-pastoralist. Livestock keeping is a vital source of food and sale of livestock brings family income to purchase cereals and meet other household needs. During years of sufficient rains, the zone is a major source of livestock supply in the local and international market.

During the last 'ganna' (long rains), the area received a good amount of rain which contributed to improvement of pasture availability and livestock conditions. However, the rainfall also damaged traditional water facilities and motorized water schemes which used to serve both humans and livestock. The current 'hagaya' (short rains) have failed affecting livestock and crop production significantly thus increasing the vulnerability of the community.

A joint inter agency assessment was conducted by Help Age, the Ethiopia Joint Office (CAFOD, Trocaire, SCIAF), four local partner NGOs (GPDI, AFD, CIFA and SOS SAHEL), Zonal and district government authorities between 27th and 31st December 2010.

The results from the joint inter agency assessment found that the food security situation is getting worse as a result of the current drought. In addition, livestock body conditions in the area are deteriorating, resulting in a negative impact on the lives and livelihoods of the pastoralists and agro-pastoralists communities. The interventions proposed in this project will therefore be in the context of an overall deteriorating environment in the affected areas until the ‘hagaya’ rains expected around October-November are received. The project will be implemented over a period of nine months with three phases. 

Phase 1 Direct Cash Transfers to 4,800 most affected households (March- May 2011):
During this phase there will be direct cash transfers to 4,800 most affected households (1,200 HH in each of the four districts (Dire, Miyo, Moyale and Dillo) for two months. It is expected that the most affected households will recover sufficient access to food using the direct cash transfers. The actual amount of cash to be given to each selected household will be confirmed after the cash for work program market study results are released.

Phase 2 Full cost recovery supplementary emergency livestock feed support benefiting 1,600 livestock (May- August 2011).
During this phase there will be continued direct cash transfers for 4,800 most affected households for the first three consecutive months of phase two of the project. In addition, there will be a full cost recovery home take supplementary emergency livestock feed support for 1,600 poor but productive targeted pastoralist households.

Phase 3 Emergency supplementary livestock feeding with 50% cost sharing and slaughter destocking services targeting 1,600 poor but productive pastoralists and rehabilitation of water points (September-December 2011)
a). Continued supplementary emergency livestock feed during the first two months will be done with a 50 % cost share by the beneficiary. The project provides a cost share arrangement in which the targeted 1,600 poor but productive targeted pastoralist’s households pay 50% of the emergency livestock feed service using the voucher system. In addition targeted households are expected to deliver a free labour input for the establishment and management of the feeding camps (12 in total-4 per district). Follow up mechanisms will be put in place to replace any livestock whose body condition has improved with another one from the same household.

b). Destocking of livestock using direct cash and vouchers for slaughtered livestock targeting 1,600 poor but productive targeted pastoralist households for four months will also be done during this phase. De stocking will be done to respond to the situation of a large and weak herd of livestock that will eventually die as a result of the drought. The projects will off-take weak animals to increase the feeding situation for the number of strong animals. Each selected pastoralist will have the opportunity to destock three heads of livestock (I cattle, I sheep and 1 goat) resulting to a total of 4,800 livestock. As a result of destocking, there will be free distribution of fresh meat and livestock hide targeting 4,800 households. This will be to respond to the severe need for protein food to affected households. 

c).During the last three months of the project duration, damaged water facilities mainly 6 deep wells, 10 hand pumps, 50 community ponds and 47 traditional wells and four solar pumps will be rehabilitated through cash for work. An experienced local consultant will be engaged to conduct a further assessment by meeting with the community and customary leaders to identify and agree which water points should be rehabilitated and to prioritize those which are of strategic importance.   Rehabilitation of water facilities will be done through cash for work where 6,400 beneficiaries will be assigned into 64 different working groups each with a membership of 100 beneficiaries. Each group will be assigned a leader selected through a vote. Each group will be given a kit of working tools and group leaders will be given technical orientation by the implementation partner’s project officers. Beneficiaries will be engaged in cash for work activities 20 days a month and will be paid 15 ETB per day (300 ETB/ € 18.75 a month.)
 
Traditional administration of the project:
An important aspect of the project is that the overall implementation respects and builds on the joint community-customary leaders views. The Borana community is traditionally governed by the gada and qallu institutions. The gada is elective while the qualla is hereditary and both play complementary roles in administering the society. The customary laws (called adaa-seera) are crucial in Borana governance in that major decisions are made in an open and transparent manner at various meetings.