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PASTORAL DATA SURVEY

Background

Despite improvements in data and research available on pastoralism, there remain major gaps in information available and a marked disconnect between the findings of this research and policy or practice.  These shortfalls have prevented the development of a commonly accepted vision for pastoral development, and resulted in interventions, which often fail to address dynamic pastoral realities.  The lack of longitudinal analysis for example has resulted in little strong evidence on the current status of pastoralism, or understanding on the trends and processes affecting pastoral livelihood systems.

Report on the status of pastoralism

The Report on the Status of Pastoralism (ROSP) initiative is designed to improve the quality and accessibility of information on pastoralism, within four countries of the Horn/Eastern Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda).  It will provide regular, authoritative analysis of the status of pastoralism, illuminating the trends in pastoral livelihood systems and assessing progress against appropriate indicators of poverty and vulnerability.
 
ROSP will work through collaborative partnerships between a range of governmental and non-governmental partners.  It will engage those who demand, generate and use information on pastoralism to help bridge the gaps between research, planning and policy-making and to build networks to encourage exchange and information sharing.

An extensive consultation process carried out during the initial phase of the ROSP indicated agreement from a wide range of actors from across the four countries on the benefits of the ROSP initiative.  Preliminary gaps in data, and priority areas were identified and broad commitment was expressed to collaborate in the project.  ROSP now proposes to develop a conceptual framework and management structure to enable the initiation of the project across the region.  To inform the development of these structures, ROSP seeks to garner opinions on data needs, availability and accessibility through the use of on-line surveys.  The results of these surveys will be discussed at an up coming Regional Partners Meeting.

Purpose of Surveys

These surveys are therefore designed to;

  1. Gather detailed information on data demand and supply to enable key decisions to be made on the research framework and approach of the ROSP project. 
  2. Provide the foundations for the production of a first baseline ROSP report, indicating the status of pastoralism, and of pastoral data.

By capturing responses from a wide audience we can ensure that ROSP is responding to real needs and providing data and analysis in ways, which can affect real change.  In order to make this project a success and ensure it reflects the views of a broad group, please spend a little of your time participating in the survey(s) most relevant to you.

CLIENT NEEDS SURVEY
Go to this survey if you wish to comment on pastoral information needs. This survey captures views on data currently available on pastoral communities and livelihoods, as well as determining information needs and opinions on the added-value of a ROSP process.  It asks respondents to comment on current data weaknesses, and suggest options for improvements in data availability, analysis and dissemination.

DATA AVAILABILITY SURVEY
Go to this survey if your organisation holds data on pastoral areas,populations or livelihoods. This survey captures detailed descriptions of currently available datasets on pastoral populations and livelihoods.  It collects information on both pastorally-specific datasets, and larger data sets in which pastoralists communities/livelihood systems may be represented or identifiable.  The survey asks for information on the content, coverage, methodologies, and availability of the data.  

It is envisaged that data from these surveys will be developed over time into a database of information on pastoralist areas, populations and livelihoods, easily accessible to a wide range of actors across the region

These surveys will be open to participants until 8th October 2006. 
 
For further information on the ROSP please follow the following link
www.oxfam.org.uk/what_we_do/issues/pastoralism
 
Or contact the ROSP project manager:

Sarah Gibbons
Oxfam GB
Tel:           254 20 282 0000

Email:       sgibbons@oxfam.org.uk