East Africa Pastoralist Expo kicked off today in Addis Ababa under the theme of “Pastoralist: The East African Mosaic.”
The expo organized by the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), will take place from January 26 February 1, 2024 at the Millennium Hall in the capital.
During the Expo, IGAD will have panel sessions where community representatives, experts, and other stakeholders will discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by pastoral communities and how to transform pastoralism in the IGAD region, including Ethiopia.
The expo will also provide a platform for dialogue, collaboration, and policy advocacy to enhance the well-being of pastoralists in the region.
The main objective of the expo, which drew more than 1,200 pastoralists from the IGAD region, is to promote trade and regional developmental integration.
The expo also aims at ensuring shared and mutual development among countries in the region by mitigating the challenges of the pastora
l communities.
Furthermore, the expo will celebrate the rich cultural heritage, resilience, and sustainable development of pastoral communities in addition to showcasing new heights of collaboration representing a crucial step towards greater regional integration.
The expo is meant to recognize the effect of pastoralists in the horn of Africa in terms of production and sustainable management of ecosystems and vast dry land, it was learned.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency