Cooperative members in their shop in Selemeo. Photo: Øystein Nedrebø/Royal Norwegian Embassy in Addis AbabaBusiness activities like investment and marketing are to some extent novel to Afar. As part of its United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) programme, the Norwegian Development Fund is partnering local implementing NGOs to establish small scale cooperatives who can engage in economic activity. Several cooperatives have seen their businesses flourish.
In Selemeo, the Afar Pastoralist Development Association (APDA) has assisted the establishment and initial development of a cooperative engaging in merchant trading. The Selemeo cooperative both operates a permanent outlet in town as well as mobile traders offering household products to pastoralists.
Handicraft produced by cooperative members in Eliwuha. Photo: Øystein Nedrebø/Royal Norwegian Embassy in Addis AbabaIntegrated Development for Pastoral and Agro-pastoral
Communities (IDPAC) is another implementing partner supporting the establishment of cooperatives. One of their cooperatives in Eliwuha has used the start-up capital made available to engage in production and export of goat butter to Djibouti as well as making and marketing of traditional handicraft.
The Norwegian Embassy recently visited the APDA, IDPAC and other implementers in Afar. Click here to read more about the UNCCD project.