USAID Hands Over Jijiga, Hartishek, Togochale and Lafessa Livestock Markets in Somali Region (10/29/07)

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) inaugurated the Jijiga, Hartishek, Togochale and Lafessa Livestock Markets in Somali Region last week as part of its Pastoralist Livelihoods Initiative (PLI) to improve the lives of pastoralists.  These markets represent the first strengthened link in a value chain to improve livestock sector performance and lead to economic benefits for pastoralists who produce livestock for sale.

The handing over signing ceremony, organized by ACDI/VOCA (formerly VOCA-Ethiopia), was attended by Ato Ahmed Shade, Head of the Somali Regional Pastoral and Rural Development Coordination Bureau, as well as officials of respective municipalities and the DPPB.

In October 2005, USAID launched the PLI project in Somali, Afar and Oromia Regions of Ethiopia to help pastoralist communities build more sustainable livelihoods and become less vulnerable to drought and other shocks.  Overall, PLI has invested over $12 million in Somali Region through NGO partners including the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Save the Children US, Save the Children UK and ACDI/VOCA.  The livestock marketing component of PLI, implemented by ACDI/VOCA, seeks to strengthen Ethiopia’s livestock marketing system by increasing sales to high value domestic and export markets.  An essential activity toward achieving this goal is to construct key livestock market facilities to reduce costs and improve pastoralists’ access to markets.

The Somali region markets are part of a series of market sites to be constructed to boost pastoralists’ livelihoods with integrated services such as water, feed and veterinary care.  In the short term, pastoralists will be able to boost their bargaining power by providing the option of holding their animals until the next market day to obtain a higher price. In the medium and long term, these market improvements will increase Ethiopia’s competitiveness at an international level.

“These new livestock markets built with USAID support are making a tremendous difference in the lives of pastoralists,” said Brutawit Dawit Abdi, ACDI/VOCA Country Representative and Chief of Party for the project. ACDI/VOCA is an international development organization which has been working in Ethiopia since 1994 to improve the livelihoods of small-scale farmers and pastoralists through enhanced market opportunities.