Evidence-Based Approaches for Enhanced Production and Livelihood Diversification to Ensure Nutrition and Food Security: Insights from Beekeeping and Climate-Smart Fodder Interventions in Ethiopia and Uganda

Evidence-Based Approaches for Enhanced Production and Livelihood Diversification to Ensure Nutrition and Food Security: Insights from Beekeeping and Climate-Smart Fodder Interventions in Ethiopia and Uganda





Evidence-Based Approaches for Enhanced Production and Livelihood Diversification to Ensure Nutrition and Food Security: Insights from Beekeeping and Climate-Smart Fodder Interventions in Ethiopia and Uganda



Pastoralists in arid lands of the IGAD region migrate to take advantage of the rangeland’s temporal and seasonal variability in terms of feed and water. Their livelihoods integrate variability into processes of production: use of inputs, breeding, accessing land for grazing/browsing, marketing strategies, and links with other livelihood systems. Since the beginning of the 21st century, climate change has influenced pastoral mobility trends – locally and in trans-border areas as pastoralists transcend international borders due to perennial droughts in search of better pasture and water, as well as trade to a smaller extent.

Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) account for about 60-70% of the land area of IGAD countries. Pastoral, agro-pastoral rain-fed agriculture and livestock production systems are the primary economic enterprise and main economic driver in the ASALs. Majority of these areas are affected by moderate to severe land degradation and desertification.

About 30% of the IGAD Member State (MS) population lives in the ASALs. Social, technical and economic services are however not well developed, especially due to the mobile nature of the pastoral populations. In addition, the long-term development needs of the ASALs are generally under resourced. Insecurity in the region exacerbates vulnerability and hinders effective response and other development interventions.

ICPALD has the mandate of promoting and facilitating sustainable and equitable drylands and livestock development in the region which occupies an area of about 5.2 million Sq. Km, and has a population of about 283 million people growing at a rate of 3% (IGAD Statistics Facts and Figures, 2023).

Since inception in July 2012, ICPALD has been engaged in several interventions including: – Linking climate prediction products to end users in ASALs; contributing to conflict resolution through targeted development interventions; expanding sources of wealth and employment creation in the ASALs; supporting regional drylands training and research institutions networks and the expansion of frontiers of knowledge.

Crop production is generally considered not viable in ASALs due to ecological and social-cultural reasons. Such generalizations do not take cognizance of the great geographic diversity of the region and wide flexibility of the populations. When and where the conditions allow (water availability and soil fertility) communities have engaged in rain-fed and irrigated crop agriculture which has been shown to make significant contributions to livelihoods.

Pastoral production systems in the IGAD region depend on natural vegetation, water and other natural resources. They play a key role in the protection and maintenance of ecosystems and services. These ASAL ecosystems are characterized by highly variable temporal and spatial production of herbaceous biomass, which impact livestock production and productivity.

The dependence of the IGAD region on rain-fed crop agriculture and livestock production systems and the associated industries makes it vulnerable to the adverse impacts of increased frequency and intensity of climatic extremes associated with climate change. It is widely acknowledged that the HoA is facing a daunting challenge of pursuing sustainable development in the face of Climate Change (CC).

Most of the IGAD region is highly vulnerable to the extremes of climate variability especially droughts, floods, severe cold and warm spells, among others which cause serious human suffering and huge economic losses. Such climatic extremes often wipe out years of national development investments in water, agriculture, industries, tourism, infrastructure, health, shelter, transport, and communication, resulting in mass migrations. Women and the youth are most vulnerable to the effects of these climatic calamities since they are the ones who are at the forefront of agricultural production.

With the mandate to address development challenges in ASALs of IGAD MS, ICPALD provides evidence based sustainable development options. The Centre is also mandated to facilitate appropriate and applicable knowledge, research and technology development; including their domestication, adoption and transfer so that MS and their partners share and use best practices at regional, national and local platforms. Knowledge Management (KM) also facilitates innovation within the organization, partners and beneficiaries.

Shared knowledge contributes to congruence in ideas, judgments, perspectives and concepts within MS. This enhances future planning, minimizes risks and enables MS to take advantage of available opportunities. It also enables the region to develop its knowledge base, competitiveness and improve efficiency in allocation of human and technological resources. To build adaptive capacities, the people of IGAD region need flexibility and equitable access to transformative knowledge for production, trade, markets, health, and investment among others.

Sustainable Ecosystem Management (SEM) for Pastoralism in Cross-border Areas of IGAD Region is a three year (15th Dec 2022- 14th Dec 2025) regional project funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) to enhance the resilience of pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihoods through sustainable management and the use of shared rangelands in cross-border areas of Ethiopia-Sudan and South Sudan-Uganda. The rangelands provide multiple benefits such as pasture and water for livestock, alternative livelihood products e.g. minerals, bee keeping, gums, aloe vera among others, that can be exploited for the benefit of local inhabitants.

Since food and nutrition insecurity remain critical challenges in ASALs, SEM project conducted a study to uncover evidence-based lessons, impactful stories, challenges, successes, and good practices arising from community-focused interventions in Akendeyu Kebele, Kurmuk Woreda, Benishangul-Gumuz Region-Ethiopia and Morungole Parish, Kaabong District-Uganda. The project supplied apiary (bee hives, protective gear and honey processor) equipment and farm inputs (dairy goats, crop and vegetable seeds and farm implements), followed by extensive training on beekeeping, honey processing, and climate-smart fodder production to enhance local food systems and livelihood diversification.

The introduction of beekeeping not only provided a sustainable income source but also contributed to improved crop pollination and biodiversity. Community training sessions (49 and 52 in Morungole and Akendeyu respectively) significantly increased technical knowledge and empowered local groups, including women and youth. Meanwhile, the promotion of climate-smart fodder production has improved livestock resilience, milk yield, and overall food availability in Morungole Parish.

Despite challenges such as limited initial technical capacity, sporadic weather conditions, and market access constraints, the interventions are expected to yield positive outcomes. Already, communities in Morungole have reported increased household incomes from supplied dairy goats, enhanced dietary diversity, and stronger resilience to climatic shocks. Key success factors included participatory training methods, integration of traditional knowledge, and ongoing local government support.

This initiative highlights the value of context-specific, multisectoral approaches to achieving food security through livelihood diversification. It underscores the critical role of capacity-building and local ownership in sustaining the gains of agro-ecological and apicultural innovations across fragile ecosystems in the IGAD region.

Project Implementation Modalities

SEM project is being implemented by ICPALD in close collaboration and partnership with relevant government ministries, other non-governmental organizations, and within communities. At ICPALD, it is led by the Technical Officer supported by a thematic technical team. At country level, ICPALD is working with relevant government staff at national and local levels. The team is guided by a Project Steering Committee (PSC) which meets once a year to review the project implementation status and give necessary guidance to enhance efficiency.