Global Pastoralists Gathering in Ethiopia , 29 January-2 February 2005  

Pastoralist groups from around the world will gather in a pastoralist area of East Africa . 120 people will attend, the majority of whom will be pastoralists who wish to meet other pastoralists, and who are interested to find and exchange new ways of negotiating an improved deal for pastoralists. The gathering will focus on how pastoralist wisdom can be more widely understood, how governments and powerful institutions can recognize their needs and interests and how they can influence change.  

WISP (World Initiative for Sustainable Pastoralism) will be one of the major themes at the gathering. This is a UNDP initiative designed to lobby for the sustainable management of pastoral lands through the custodianship of pastoralist peoples. The gathering will explore how WISP can provide pastoralists with opportunities to talk directly with powerful institutions.  

Examples of pastoralists' communication initiatives are of particular interest. Suggestions of pastoralists who might wish to attend welcomed. In the first instance contact Kate Prudden. Email: kate.prudden@qeh.ox.ac.uk

(23 November 2004 by Kate Prudden)