presentation: livelihoods, power and choice

8/14/2019 Presentation: Livelihoods, Power and Choice

1/26

11

Livelihoods, Power and Choice:

The Vulnerability of the Northern Rizaygat

Darfur Region, Sudan


2/26

22


3/26

33

Exclusion from International

Processes

Politicized image & demonization

Lack of knowledge

Less vulnerable??

Access; hard-to-reach, scattered

Broader regional discrimination of pastoralists


4/26

44

The Chief at the wedding party.

Since the problems began people say

Arabs are the source of all the problems,

and have driven people from their homes they blame them for the problem, and the

NGOs have changed their approach why

do they only work with one side and why

do they blame us?


5/26

55

There are increasing signs that Arab tribes

feel left out from the provision of

assistance/ services by the internationalcommunity, which is mostly targeting

African tribes (with the notable exception

of ICRC). This is becoming another actor

breeding resentment and tension between

the communities.UNHCR Protection Officer, March 2005


6/26

66

Research aims

Promote understanding and raise awareness aboutthe livelihood challenges facing specific pastoralistgroups;

Engage a broader group of stakeholders andpromote a dialogue in order to promote theirinclusion as stakeholders in relevant national andinternational level processes

Sharpen the focus and effectiveness of strategichumanitarian action aimed at supporting thelivelihoods of these groups now and in the future.

: to review the major environmental issues affectingpastoralists,


7/26

77

Livelihood Vulnerability

What are the historical and prevailing institutional,

environmental and policy processes that are shaping

and driving livelihood vulnerability, and how does this

play out in terms of livelihood adaptations, and

(power) relations between groups?


8/26

88

Research Methods


9/26

99

Who ar e the Nor ther nRizaygat? Tribe and ecology

Northern & Southern Rizaygat

Abbala (camel herders) & Baqqara(cattle herders)

Mahriyya - abbala & baggara,

Nuayba, - abbala & baggara

Mahamid - abbala & baggara Ireyqat - abbala

Iteyfat - abbala

Demography: 200,000 to 350,000


10/26

1010

Long term processes of economic marginalization,

social and political exclusion

Long-standing (and inequitable) systems of land

tenure and natural resource management Passive and active neglect by national authorities

of pastoralist groups

Conflict; locally (e.g. Fur Arab war, Arab

Zaghawa conflict), nationally (links to war insouth) and regionally (Chad and Libya).

Role of ecology and climate variability function of

governance & power relations

Informed Choice, or Coercive Offer?


11/26

1111

Direct Impact of the conflict

Government mobilization and militia recruitment

Targeted attacks, kidnappings and killings,forced displacement and livestock raiding

Lack of visibility of the losses of the NorthernRizaygat

The Fur, Masalit, Zaghawa, started acting together.Theytold the Libyans that their intentions were to

attack the GoS but their real intention was to attackthe Arabs

The fear was that after they dealt with the GoS theywould then attack the Arabs


12/26

1212

International Commission of Inquiry

in 2005

Para 287 .. an attack described to theCommission by some eyewitnesses, wheremembers of the nomadic Rezeigat tribe were

attacked while in the Kulbus area by members ofthe SLA and JEM. The attackers killed forty eight

persons including women and children and stoleproperty and livestock from the market and then

destroyed it. The victims were buried many daysafter the attack in areas surrounding Kulbus.


13/26

1313

Livelihoods in Transition:

From Marginalization to Mal-adaptation

Traditional nomadic systems rapidly change Contraction of pastoralist domain

Blocked livestock trade & labour migration/

remittances Cultivation increasing

Maladaptive strategies Military salaries

Firewood

Quick returns, short-term

Depend on distorted markets, conflict and

violence


14/26

1414

Shift in livelihood strategies

Nur el Huda (near Galala), West

DarfurBarka Alla, North of Kutum,

North Darfur

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Lives tock Farming Trade M igrat ion Salaried

(Military

recruitment)

Before

Currently

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Wild Foods Libya Handicrafts Agriculture Livestock Firewood

Before

Currently


15/26

1515

Vulnerability qualitatively different

Broadened livelihood options

Strengthened access to assets

Natural

Financial

Physical

Depleted other assets

Social Human

Political

Skewed assets portfolio


16/26

1616

Choice is driven by livelihood goals

Camels

Land

Education

Militarization


17/26

1717

Exclusion, Marginalization and

Misrepresentation

Ongoing processes shaping vulnerability:

Processes of sedentarization

Youth and militarization Social polarization

Loss of local & transnational markets

Lack of representation, leadership International processes of exclusion and

misrepresentation


18/26

1818

Recommendations

Participatory policy review of pastoralism

Local civil society advocacy on camel pastoralism and theabbala

Localising the peace process and linking Human and social development adapted to pastoralist

lifestyles

Improving accountability, transparency, responsiveness ofgovernance

Encouraging a new generation of leadership

Reversing militarization as a livelihoods strategy

Best practice programs,

joint research and learning


19/26

1919

Conclusions: no quick-fix

Good governance -a pre-requisite for lasting peaceand for reversing long-term processes

Valid and legitimate claim to land and naturalresources

International peace processes risk reinforcing powerimbalances Need to challenge western models of humanitarian,

recovery and development Narrow view on vulnerabilty (based on food security)

Narrow range of hum interventions dominated by food Short timeframes for analysis and lack of confilct

analysis Pastoralism as an adaptation to climate variability

Reaffirm core human rights and non-derogable

human rights principles


20/26

2020

Thank you

[email protected]


21/26

2121

QUESTIONS

What can be done in the short-term to

address the vulnerability of the Northern

Rizaygat? What can be done to raise awareness,

promote understand and increase the

visibility of the camel-herding groups, andthe way they are portrayed internationally,

and by international actors in Sudan?


22/26

2222


23/26

2323


24/26

2424


25/26

2525


26/26

2626

presentation: livelihoods, power and choice

Documents