Establishment

 Mission/Objectives

Establishment 
Pastoralist Concern Association Ethiopia (PCAE) is a local non-governmental organization established in 1995, by few development oriented individuals who are dedicated for pastoral development and also belongs to the area (brought up in pastoral area and know their problems). It is non-political, non-religious, non-racial, and non-profit-making development organization devoted to make a positive lasting change in pastoral livelihoods.

Director's Message

PCAE's Growth from Strength to Strength:
PCAE's emergence in 1995 marks a unique opportunity for Ethiopian pastoralists. Created by few concerned and committed citizens, it is beyond the shadow of doubt, it become a patronage for pastoral development policy setting. The Ethiopian Pastoralist Day annual celebration for the fifth year in Southern Nations, Nationalities and People is a good example.
Our effort in development projects include water schemes, human and livestock health, education, capacity building for women through income generation, credit and saving, and research and constructive advocacy. We are also involved in early warning information and emergency operations for pastoral areas of Somali region. In the reporting year PCAE has an estimated direct and indirect beneficiaries of 46,735 households (233,672 people) in Afdheer, Liban and Shinile zones.
The year 2003 was a year that PCAE started to approach pastoralists' issues in strategic manner. It is both a year of challenge and great opportunities. A challenge because we start looking in-ward and to focus our efforts to a process rather than projects alone. An opportunity because we were able to find partners solidarity for innovation and creativity to reach more beneficiaries. We restructured the organization to serve the vested interest of pastoral community in Ethiopia. We have put in place a five years strategic plan that would shape our thinking and consolidate our practice. Through restructuring we brought in new blood and energetic work force to the organization both at executive and governing body levels.
However, pastoralists are some of the most marginalized groups in Ethiopia. They occupy the periphery geographically, environmentally, economically, socially and politically. In a sense, those pronounced elements of marginalization are the results of political marginalization. Without effective representation of their interests, pastoralists are unable to articulate policies which would work in their favor. In this regard, the Ethiopian constitution and other regional policies are in favor of pastoralists besides confusion in its implementation strategy. However, with little understanding of legal and political systems, they often unable to resist policies which are detrimental.
The situation of Pastoralists marginality should be addressed by designing processes through which pastoral societies can integrate into the national system in ways which are beneficial to them. In some ways, the past is the future of pastotalism, in pursuing strategies which work in such environments. In other ways, pastoralists still need to be equipped to compete in the present world of globalization. Therefore, enabling Pastoralists to pursue their preferred futures should be the task of state primarily and that of development agencies.
Finally, Pastoralists do realize things are changing. They must be able to compete in the national economy. They want better education, which provides modern skill and knowledge at the same time retaining what is important to their culture and livestock production. There envision is further diversification of the economy with more people engaged in various occupations in and outside their home areas. Furthermore, they understand the importance restoring traditional systems that sustained life in such harsh environment and social relationships that are eroded.
These are what PCAE has been trying to do and committed itself to do more in an innovative and creative manner in the future. This thinking has to be institutionalized at all levels within PCAE. The achievements of PCAE cannot be over emphasized. I would encourage the management to continue working toward building the credibility that the pastoralists have enjoyed so far.
Finally, it is the collective efforts of everybody in the organization as staff and the community leaders, government authorities at different levels and the donor community from outside that made possible the achievements recorded here in the 2003. I heart fully thank every body on behalf of PCAE board and pastoralists who benefited from these programs.
Best wishes and regards for you all in the future endeavors for sustainable pastoral development.
Abdi Abdullahi Hussein
Executive Director

Missions,Visions and Objectives of PCAE

Vision:
PCAE is committed to see sustainable and better livelihood of the pastoral community of Ethiopia and further realize strong cooperation with neighbouring countries’ community with similar mode of life.
Mission:
PCAE's Mission is to help bring positive changes and sustainable development in the lives of poor and marginalized pastoralists in Ethiopia by improving pastoral livelihood through Implementation of sustainable development projects in pastoral areas, conducting action - oriented research and advocacy.
Objectives:

*  To promote rehabilitation and development intervention in pastoral areas;

* To conduct action - oriented research on socio - economic and anthropological aspects of pastoral communities and continually endeavour to discover the adverse effects of the problem in order to make evaluations of the impacts they have on the living conditions of the pastoral communities; and
 

* To advocate pastoralist development, problems, and policies.

• Believes that Pastoralism is a viable and sustainable production system efficiently utilizing scare resources in arid and semi-arid harsh environments of Ethiopia and the Horn countries. Millions of people depend on pastoralism for their livelihoods with no or minimum inputs from state or other partners.

•   Promotes sustainable development programs (as a basic for mitigating natural and man made disasters) and emergency operations in remote and inaccessible pastoral areas.
   
• Advocates for positive policy measures to reduce pastoralist vulnerabilities, by encouraging government and non-government organizations to review and adjust policies that negatively affect pastoralist life.

 
• Enhances better utilization of indigenous knowledge and skills through action-oriented research, which focused on traditional ethno-veterinary knowledge to drought coping mechanisms, and

 
• Committed to mutual and effective partnerships among development stockholders.

What PCAE is all about?
 

• PCAE is a local non-governmental organization founded in 1995, by few development oriented individuals who are dedicated for pastoral development and also belongs to the area (borne and brought up in pastoral area so that know their problems).

 
• PCAE is a pioneer organization in pastoral advocacy in Ethiopia; the initiation of Pastoralist Day is a vivid example.

 
• PCAE manages a total of 106 staffs (73 permanent and 33 contractual) working at the Head Office and Field Offices. Female workers account for 29% in the whole staff and 27% in the permanent staffs of the organization. PCAE is currently operating in the Somali Regional State in Liben Zone (in Filtu and Dollo districts), Afdhere Zone (Chiratti, Gura-dhamole, Goro-baqaqsa and Hargelle districts) & Shinille Zone (Shinille, Afdem and Dambel district).

 
• Focuses on participatory development interventions, advocacy and policy change to preserve and enhance the pastoralist way of life.

 
• Has realized considerable success in designing and establishing effective and locally appropriate programs for human and animal health; supporting small business development for pastoral women through establishment of locally managed revolving loan funds; and taking the lead in establishing various networks for information and experience exchanges, awareness raising and policy changes.

 
• Has a strong and effective relations with pastoralists, leaders and community members, that enable PCAE to respond quickly and appropriately to the emergency needs.

 
• Has strong support, encouragement and partnership from National and regional states in general and from that of Somali Regional National State line bureaus in particular.






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