Background

PENHA is an African-inspired and African-led initiative, established in 1989 by a group of research and development workers who were concerned about the future of pastoralists and determined to identify strategies and policies for the improvement of their quality of life.

Its main mission is to eliminate poverty among the pastoralists in the Horn of Africa through the empowerment of communities and the fostering of sustainable and dignified livestock-based and non-livestock-based livelihoods.

PENHA’s mission is premised in the belief that the Horn Region has the necessary human, natural and livestock resources and with the determined efforts of its people can generate development processes leading to self-reliance and peaceful co-existence among the communities and nations of the Horn of Africa.

PENHA’s first founding conference on November 30th 1989 was held at the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) in London andbrought together leading experts on pastoralism, NGO representatives and representatives from Horn communities in the UK. To know more about PENHA’s work please Visit our website:

PENHA 25thAnniversary conference in London

PENHA will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary in on Friday October 2nd, 2015 in close collaboration with ODI and other interested parties.

Purpose

The main focus of the anniversary conference will bereflections on PENHA’s history, achievements and lessons learnt.Various long-standing friends of pastoralists will be contributing to these reflections. Given that ODI is the host for the day, the link with the ODI Pastoral Network will be highlighted.

Themes and panel discussions:

Theone-dayconference (Friday October 2nd, 2015) will be based on a wide range of panel discussions as follows

Introduction

9:00- 9:15: Welcome, Purpose and Objectives of the conference.

9:15-10:15: Key Note Address: Reflections on PENHA’s 25 year journey:

Panel Discussion

The following four sessions will consist of panels of experts who will each contribute to that session’s theme - and then respond to comments and questions from the floor.

10:15 - 11.30 Panel one: Putting pastoralism on the political map

This will take a retrospective look at how pastoralism has moved away from being a political irrelevance to become more mainstreamagenda. This session could include country specific experiences and the work that PENHA was involved in and the role of regional actors such as IGAD, the AU and others. It is to be hoped that such discussions could also lead into some reflections on the contemporary opportunities and challenges in the political arena.

11.30 -11.45 Coffee /tea break

11:45- 13.00 Paneltwo: Evolution of the pastoral economy

Proposed sub-themes to include: Links into private sector; market linkages; urbanization; role of remittances.

The panel will comprise a group of experts with quite different perspectives or knowledge about the opportunities and challenges pastoralists face in the 21st century e.g. private sector focus (possibly extractives); someone working on linking pastoral economy into the market mainstream etc.

13:00 -14.00 Lunch break

14.00-15.30 Panelthree: Pastoralism and the environment: adapting to shocks:

Proposed sub-themes to include: Climate; resilience; managing the rangelands and emergency.

15:30 -15.45: Tea Break

15.45-17:30: PanelFour: Pastoralism into the future: exploring where pastoralism is headed in the next 25 years:

Proposed sub-themes: Shifting paradigms in pastoralism, youth; women; changing face of pastoral civil society a future - role for PENHA and other actors.

17: 30 -19.00 Closing session reception and informal discussions:

Post Conference activities in London (October Monday 5th to Saturday 10th)

Asix day exhibition:Photo exhibition, showcasing pastoralist artistic/cultural contributions and creative enterprises, such as music, culture, cuisine, products from pastoralist communities of Africa and other continents.

  • Present a brief history of PENHA by relaying simple messages about what PENHA does and showcasing its work as an African organization.
  • Photographic exhibition showing PENHA in action over the last 25 years.
  • Visual art exhibition and sale of products from Africa and other pastoral regions of the world.
  • Performing arts, including poetry, storytelling and music from the Horn of Africa.
  • Traditional food from the countries of the Horn of Africa.
  • Engagesecond generation Horn youth and communitiesinthe UK and encourage them to contribute to PENHA’s work.

For more information about these events please email to.

To register your interest to attend in person,please contact Tesfaldet() or Call 07932767610

Partners:

Overseas Development Institute

The Bartlett Development Planning Unit (University College London)

Coalition of European Lobbies for Eastern African Pastoralism (CELEP)

Dragonfly Communications

Panel one: Putting pastoralism on the political map

Panel two: Evolution of the pastoral economy

Panel three: Pastoralism and the environment: adapting to shocks:

Panel Four: Pastoralism into the future: exploring where pastoralism

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