Photo: Royal Norwegian Embassy in Addis AbabaAfar Regional State in northeast Ethiopia is characterised by arid climate with a population mainly relying on keeping livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys and camels. Since 2007, the Norwegian Embassy has supported a UNCCD development programme by the Development Fund (DF) targeting pastoralists in Afar and Somali regions.
The DF UNCCD programme builds upon DF’s long presence and work in Ethiopia since 1982. In the programme, DF is collaborating with 13 partners, 11 in the Afar Regional State and 2 in Somali Region, with the main goal of implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Afar and Somali regions of Ethiopia.
Between 9 and 16 May 2010 Programme Officer Kidanemariam Jembere and Trainee Øystein Nedrebø from the Embassy and Resident Representative Jon Erik Nygaard and Programme Manager Ayele Gebre-Mariam from the DF visited project sites in Afar to get a view of progress made and challenges encountered. Read more about how the embassy supports agricultural development, water security, multi-purpose cooperatives and prevention and management of Prosopis in individual articles below.
• Harvesting rainwater
• Water conservation and irrigation
• Cooperative capitalism
• Combating Prosopis
Photo: Royal Norwegian Embassy in Addis Ababa