DFID research: Pastoralism and Development in Africa: Dynamic change at the margins
A new book takes a fresh look at the livestock sector in the Horn of Africa.
A new book, published in the STEPS Centre鈥檚 , takes a fresh look at the livestock sector in the Horn of Africa.
Many reports from this region are of drought, famine, conflict and suffering. But this is not the full story. This publication investigates where pastoralists operate, in regional centres and their hinterlands, uncovering innovation and entrepreneurialism, cooperation and networking, and diverse approaches which are rarely in line with standard development prescriptions.
These areas reveal a booming livestock export trade; a flourishing private sector; growing investment and expanding towns; and the emergence of a class of entrepreneurs commanding a profitable market.
Through 20 detailed empirical chapters, the book highlights diverse pathways of development, going beyond the standard 鈥榓id鈥� and 鈥榙isaster鈥� narratives. Co-editor Ian Scoones states:
鈥淲hat we are saying is that if you shift your gaze from the centre, the capital cities, to the margins鈥ou can uncover a whole new array of different, alternative pathways which development agencies, policy makers and others need to really take seriously.鈥�
In watch editors Ian Scoones and Jeremy Lind and authors Hussein Mahmoud and John Letai explain how pastoralism is changing, and what this means for development and policy in the region.
Purchase the book from Routledge at .