Pastoral and Environmental Network in the Horn of Africa
(PENHA)

Activities Who is Who ?Donate Research Publications Art Gallery Join our Team Contact us

Remember Us!

Eritrea

Eritrea has a population of 3.5 million people. About one third of the population are believed to be agro-pastoralists and pastoralists. They live mainly in the Eastern and Western Lowlands of the country and own goats, sheep, cattle and/or camels. Although the pastoralists communities are well adapted to the climate conditions and the fragile natural environment they are broadly neglected by national and international development efforts. Their actual and potential contribution to food security and national income in Eritrea has until this point not been acknowledged.
The recent closure of borders with the Sudan and Ethiopia resulted in the restriction of traditional migration routes of Eritrean pastoralists in search for water and grassland during the dry season. This led to a serious shortage of fodder sources for their livestock.

Ongoing/Recent Activities

Name of Project: "Establishment of Pastoralist Forums"
Time frame: July 2004 - June 2006
Funder: NOVIB
Geographical Area of Intervention: Western Lowlands: Shambuko, Geluj, Forto-Sawa
Project: The project is a pilote project. It includes the set up of three pastoralist forums in the three project sites. So far over 120 pastoralists of which are 50 % women are participating. They will be trained in educational programmes and leather processing skills enabling them to generate small income. The last project year will include an awareness rising programme to advocate for the needs and concerns of Eritrean pastoralists within Eritrea.

Household Interviews

Previous PENHA Eritrea activities:

Training on Pastoral and Rangeland Management of MoA extension workers (1994)
Health Need Assessment (1998)
Research: "The Impact of the Ethio-Eritrean War 1998-2000 on Pastoralism in Eritrea" (2002)

Current Local Partners

OXFAM GB
National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students (NUEYS)
PENHA has also close working relations in Eritrea with Norweign People's Aid (NPA)

PENHA Eritrea Office:

224 Awet Street
Asmara
Eritrea
Tele/Fax: 0029-11-127643
e-mail: penha@gemel.com.er