This paper examines the policies and practices of the Ethiopian and Tigray Governments in response to environmental issues in the framework of development, and compares these with endogenous efforts to address these same issues. The differences in perception are highlighted. When the Government tries to integrate environment and development, environment is perceived primarily as something to be protected, although these perceptions are gradually changing. In local perceptions, environment and development are inextricably intertwined. The issue of perception is important, as it influences the nature of dialogue between stakeholders. Divergent perceptions can lead to misunderstandings, miscommunication and disregard of the priorities and insights of key stakeholders. The paper takes a closer look at some good local practices in environmental management, and extracts lessons that could guide environmental policy and its application in Tigray Region.

Tanzania is undergoing a rapid pace of policy change and reforms which will affect different communities in different ways. This reflects the difficulty accommodating the huge diversity of Tanzania's environment and natural resources, and the varied livelihoods of its citizens. Some of the institutional reforms will have serious repercussions on pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihoods, the good management of the environment and peaceful co-existence among communities. The rapid pace of change has also prevented many citizens from participating in and shaping the policy options and directions being proposed by government. As a result, many communities have been left behind, particularly rural people, and in particular the pastoral and agro-pastoral communities. This report is an edited version of a study reviewing existing and planned policies and laws on pastoralism and analysing how they actually impact, or are likely to impact, on pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihoods.

La Tanzanie traverse une période de réforme politique prolifique et rapide. Ces réformes affecteront différentes communautés de diverses façons. Ceci témoigne en partie de la difficulté que revêt l’élaboration de politiques au niveau central qui tiennent compte de l’immense diversité des ressources naturelles et de l’environnement tanzaniens mais aussi des multiples façons dont les citoyens tanzaniens assurent leurs moyens de subsistance. Certaines des réformes institutionnelles vont avoir de profondes répercussions sur les moyens de subsistance pastoraux et agropastoraux, la bonne gestion de l’environnement et la cohabitation paisible des communautés. La vive cadence des changements a aussi empêché beaucoup de citoyens de s’impliquer et d’influer sur les options et l’orientation des stratégies proposées par le gouvernement. De ce fait, nombre de communautés ont été laissées à l’écart. C’est le cas notamment des populations rurales et des communautés pastorales et agropastorales parmi elles. Ce document est basé sur une mission consultative – “Examen des politiques et lois actuelles touchant au pastoralisme en Tanzanie” – commanditée à l’Université d’Agriculture Sokoine, à Morogoro en Tanzanie par le projet pastoral Ereto II de Ngorongoro.

Can Land Registration Serve Poor and Marginalised Groups? Summary Report draws on case studies in Ethiopia, Ghana and Mozambique. This research has shown that land registration is not inherently anti-poor in its impacts and that the distributional consequences of land registration depend on the design of the process and on the institutions responsible for its management. Land registration systems can be designed so as to address the risk of bias against poorer and marginalised groups. To protect and secure the land rights of these groups, attention needs to be paid to registration processes with regard to language used, registration fees, geographical accessibility; to recognising and recording “secondary” land rights; to establishing effective accountability and oversight mechanisms for the institutions implementing registration programmes; as well as to inclusive dispute settlement institutions. The study shows the need to avoid “one-size-fits-all” solutions and documents considerable experience from which to learn.

This paper examines the impact of the promotion of agri-business on small holder farmers in the Niayes area of Senegal. The Niayes area was chosen because of the development of commercial farming in the region and because the expansion of peri-urban areas has created growing markets for agricultural produce. This work is part of IIED’s programme on transformations in West African agriculture and the role of family farms which aims to feed into the development of agricultural policy.

Land Registration and Women’s Land Rights in Amhara Region, Ethiopia assesses the ongoing land registration process and its outcomes for women. While land policy and registration procedures aim to guarantee women’s access to land, practice on the ground suggests more needs to be done to support women’s rights in the implementation process. Land registration, initiated in 2003, stipulates that both spouses should be named on the certificate. However, research findings in one-third of all kebeles in Amhara, found that only 39 per cent of the plots was registered under joint title, while 29 per cent was under female holding (including many female headed households), and 33 percent registered with men. Married women therefore continue to be denied joint titling. Most local land administration committees were only composed of men and local leaders and government officials had not promoted women’s participation. However, where women were part of committees, they were active in protecting women’s rights, particularly of women who were vulnerable and lacked family support or social networks.