US Forest Service Technical Assistance Trip to the Federal Democratic Republic of

In Support to USAID-Ethiopia for Assistance in Rangeland Management Support to the Pastoralist Livelihoods Initiative for USAID-Ethiopia Office of Business Environment Agriculture & Trade

Training in Rangeland Ecology and Management for Improved Rangeland Health and Forage Productivity

Final Report – April 2007 Mission Dates: March 18-31, 2007

Pastoralist woman at river crossing in Oromia. Dave Bradford 10/06 Report Submitted by: Nancy Prall Range Management Specialist USDA Forest Service Humboldt-Toiyabe N.F. Elko, Nevada 89801 (775) 778-6113 [email protected]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3

BACKGROUND 3

MISSION ACTIVITIES 3

RECOMMENDATIONS 4

Suggested audience for the Ethiopian Range Management School 4 Suggested topics for Ethiopian Range Management School 4 Collaboration with Tufts University/IIED course 5 Tailoring the schools to local areas 6 Proposed locations for the May range schools 6 Recommended length and format of the schools 7 Needs for the May Range Management Schools 8

NEXT STEPS 8

Future locations for range schools 8 Technical college and university curriculum development 9

CONCLUSIONS 9

Appendix 1: Actual Mission Itinerary for USFS Team 10

Appendix 2: Scope of Work 13

Appendix 3: List of organizations and individuals involved in REM 3 16

Appendix 4: NEW CONTACT INFORMATION 17

Appendix 5: List of instructor participants at ATVET college 19

Appendix 6. List of participants at partner presentation 29 March 2007 20

2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This Rangeland Ecology and Management (REM) mission was conducted by Range Management Specialist Nancy Prall from March 18-31, 2007 to gain support and prepare for the Ethiopian Range Management Schools to be held in Gewane (ATVET college) and Yabello (YAPDARC – Yabello Pastoral and Dryland Agriculture Research Center) in May 2007. The purpose of these range schools is to work with Ethiopian counterparts to share information on rangeland management that we have learned in our respective experiences. The approach to the PLI Range School is modeled on a set of curriculum used in the western US. An important distinction, however, is that Ethiopia-specific data, examples, issues, projects, and challenges will be used in the PLI Range Schools to the extent possible. Once the materials and methods are available to Ethiopian range managers, they can then make a decision as to whether the schools will be useful as short courses to hold in their area, and if so, they can modify the course to their needs. At that time, more pastoralist knowledge from the local area can be incorporated into each individual school, and the future role of the Forest Service will be to exchange new information and support efforts by Ethiopians to tailor the schools to their local needs and to conduct the 2 day schools.

BACKGROUND

This is the second REM assignment, and is a continuation of the mission conducted by Range Management Specialists Dave Bradford and Nancy Prall from October 20 to November 5, 2006. The first mission resulted in a number of recommendations that may be found in the final trip report. The main finding reflected in the first report was that Ethiopian pastoralists / range management professionals need more information on the basic science of rangeland management. It was recommended that the next REM missions work toward implementing two day Range Management Schools in both Gewane and Yabello. These schools will use the US course as a template but incorporate Ethiopian photos, data, and examples as much as possible. The Ethiopian schools to be held in May will be based on Range Management Schools originally developed in Colorado, USA and modified throughout the western US to address specific issues and ecosystems in several states including Nevada. Dave Bradford, Nancy Prall, and Faith Ryan are working on presentations that will be customized for Ethiopia, using photographs, scientific research, and other information from the Afar and Oromia regions to the extent possible.

MISSION ACTIVITIES

During this mission, the main goal was to plan, prepare, and gain support for the Range Management Schools to be held in May 2007. The activities of this 2 week period had four distinct dimensions: 1. Meetings were held with NGO, GoE, USAID, ATVET college instructors and students in Gewane, and PLI partners to gain support, ask for help with field session locations, and identify classrooms for the May schools.

3 2. Requests and searches were for books, data, and photographs that could be included in the classroom (power point) session on day 1 of the school. 3. Visits were made to PLI partners, government agencies, and into the field to assist and learn from the invasive species mission being simultaneously conducted by Range Management Specialist Hans Bastian. This work with the invasives team is valuable because we plan to incorporate a session on invasives into the range school. 4. Nancy also discussed field sessions (day 2 of the school) with local on-the-ground personnel where rangeland management (rangeland issues, exclosures, grazing systems, or other practices, either successful or unsuccessful) and/or research are in progress.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Suggested audience for the Ethiopian Range Management School:

The schools are open to any interested individuals, especially on the ground practitioners who are working with pastoralists on rangelands. A good audience could include NGO personnel; GoE personnel at federal, regional, and woreda levels (and any others, although some individuals have concerns that this audience is not focused enough); ATVET/other technical college students and instructors; university students and technicians; research center personnel; and pastoralists (particularly during the field session). If we include students from the ATVET college in Gewane, early May is best due to the fact that the students have exams later in May. However, it may be best with these first schools to target instructors. Another suggestion that should be considered is the idea of presenting the range school first to PLI partners before the school is brought out to places such as Gewane or Yabello. This initial presentation would give partners the opportunity to critique the school. This decision should be made by key personnel at USAID and the FS before the team arrives in May. The main intent of the school is to share information about basic rangeland principles and livestock management with people who are learning the science of rangeland management. A notebook and/or CD will also be provided to all students, which will contain relevant journal articles, contacts, and other information for individuals who wish to pursue the topic further.

Suggested topics for Ethiopian Range Management School:

The following topics will be taught with examples from both the US and Ethiopia, with discussion about successes, failures, and lessons learned from what we have discovered and accomplished as we observe, study and manage rangelands.

Day 1: Classroom session

1. Invasive species – focus on prevention; early detection; control/eliminate spread; long term management, monitoring, rehabilitation for prosopis, acacia species, and other invasives that occur in Ethiopia. It was suggested at the ATVET college that we also incorporate examples of US invasive species management. We will coordinate with Forest Service invasive species missions and others such as Farm Africa for materials.

4 2. Prescribed fire as a management tool – we will coordinate with the fire missions and others for materials. 3. Plant physiology and growth – focusing on Ethiopian ecosystems and the dynamic equilibrium of rangeland ecosystems. 4. Rangeland monitoring techniques 5. Livestock nutrition – include Ethiopian breeds of cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, and camels and their interactions with local plants. 6. Animal behavior – we will talk to Dr. Fred Provenza of Utah State University to obtain permission to use the BEHAVE program materials. 7. Grazing systems and mixed species grazing 8. Conflict management – We will speak with Dr. Jeff Mosley and Dr. Tracie Brewer at Montana State University, Steve Smith (USAID Democracy & Government specialist), and Adrian Cullis of Save the Children US to obtain appropriate information to present in this section. 9. Agropastoralism vs. pastoral mobility – why pastoral mobility is so critical, how resources are managed in more sedentary ranching/agricultural systems. 10. People and issues on rangelands – The people side of rangelands is specifically addressed during the field session when we observe and discuss local issues with pastoralists and other “on the ground” practitioners. The field sessions will also provide an opportunity to discuss connections between pastoralist traditions, technical information, and policy development.

Day 2: Field session

The location and topics for the field sessions will be decided by local on the ground practitioners in Yabello and Gewane. When speaking with the instructors and NGO personnel in the (in Gewane), and with Ato Samuel Tuffa Kawa in Yabello, I communicated our need for help with this part of the course, since they know the local pastoralists, rangelands, issues, projects, and other items that would make good discussion in the field. Yacob Wondimkun (USAID, BEAT) is also aware of our need for help in this part of the school and has agreed to assist with field session preparation.

Collaboration with Tufts University/IIED course:

Three important items resulted from discussions including Nancy Prall (FS), Yacob Wondimkun (USAID), Solomon Wakgari and Adrian Cullis (Save the Children US), and Dr. Dawit Abebe and Dr. Berhanu Admassu (Tufts University):

1. While we will plan to go forward with the 2 day range schools in Gewane and Yabello, we will collaborate and share information with the Training Adaptation Team which is working on adaptation of Tufts Ethiopian pastoralist courses. It is recommended that we send our presentations and final plans to Dr. Dawit and Dr. Berhanu as soon as possible to obtain their ideas and input on our May schools. In the future, it is hoped that we can collaborate further with the information found in both the range school and the Tufts courses.

5 2. If time allows, Forest Service REM detailers or the long term policy and coordination detailer could try to attend all or part of the first Ethiopian IIED course after Tufts finalizes it on May 15, 2007. According to Dr. Dawit and Dr. Berhanu, they plan to hold the first Ethiopian IIED course on or around May 20, 2007.

3. In the future, the Forest Service could continue to share information about rangeland management and collaborate further with Tufts staff. The goals of the Tufts courses are very similar to the recommendations of FS Rangeland Ecology and Management missions: to develop informational training courses with relevant information to help support pastoralist livelihoods on rangelands, and, in the future, to assist with curriculum development at technical colleges and universities (the role of FS personnel in this phase would be primarily as support with some suggestions for curricula based on experience on the ground). Communication may be mainly via e-mail for the range specialists based in the US.

Several questions and comments were raised, which voiced the concern that USFS might plan to come to Ethiopia to teach the range school and tell people how to manage Ethiopian rangelands with little or no regard for pastoralist tradition or knowledge, nor with adequate knowledge to teach range management that is specific to Ethiopia. It is extremely important to make it clear that we are planning to come in May at the request of PLI partners, with the intention of sharing the knowledge we have based on our experiences and research, and that we plan to modify to the extent possible US-specific lessons to incorporate information and examples from Ethiopian rangelands. The range schools are merely a beginning to what we hope will be many decades of shared rangeland management information between the US and Ethiopia.

Another comment received during the course of this mission which is important to highlight, is that research is often done but the results are rarely used to implement actions on the ground. A positive result of increased opportunities for rangeland training in Ethiopia could be that research scientists and people on the ground can become more connected for both information exchange and the implementation of science in the field.

Tailoring the schools to local areas:

It will be very important over time to tailor the range school in Gewane to Afar ecology, livestock, and grazing systems (among other topics). Similarly, the course in Yabello must be connected to Oromia rangelands, animals, and pastoralist systems, as there are many differences between the two areas. However, the school is intended to give information about fundamental range principles that can be applied in many areas, therefore much of the basic information, photos and examples will be used in both range schools.

Proposed locations for the May range schools:

Gewane and Yabello are proposed because

6 1. Gewane is the site of an ATVET college where extension agents are trained, therefore college instructors were very interested in supporting the May range schools; and

2. Yabello is the location of the Yabello Pastoral and Dryland Agriculture Research Center. Director Ato Samuel Tuffa Kawa as well as the Oromia Agricultural Research Institute have been very supportive of our plans for the range school.

These two locations also have adequate classroom facilities and field locations to support the range school curriculum.

Recommended length and format of the schools:

I received several comments from individuals who had concerns about the fact that the range schools are only 2 days long. We are only introducing a method that has been very successful in the US, and which can be modified to fit Ethiopian needs in the future. It is very likely that after teaching the May 2007 schools, the FS will, in cooperation with Ethiopian personnel, make many modifications to make the schools more specific to each Ethiopian area. As we complete the schools in Gewane and Yabello, we will ask for input and new ideas from PLI partners and other participants so that we can continue to improve the course.

Several suggestions were made to change the format of the range schools. The first idea was to have day one consist of a morning in the classroom, afternoon in the field, followed by a similar format on day two with a second morning classroom session and afternoon field visit. Another recommendation was to have a 3 day session to accommodate the classroom curriculum and allow enough time for adequate field discussion. These suggestions may be incorporated into the sessions pending our coordination with local personnel for the field sessions.

One concern that has been mentioned is that pastoralist knowledge and traditions may not be included in the 2 day range school. Please note that pastoralist knowledge and traditions will be brought into our May schools during day two field sessions when we are discussing rangeland issues with local practitioners and pastoralist representatives.

Our school is much shorter than the Tufts course, because the school is meant to provide an introduction to rangeland science to a diverse audience. Instructors at US range schools include ranchers, government agency personnel, and university professors to provide a wide range of experience and expertise. The purpose of the schools we are proposing for Ethiopia is to summarize useful knowledge about rangeland management and to provide information that can be modified for courses in specific regions. Our range school is a 2 day short course meant to introduce range management principles; therefore it is not intended to be as comprehensive as some longer courses or college curricula. However, the subjects discussed can be a basic introduction of topics that could be developed in college curricula at technical college and university levels by more advanced personnel such as professors. Our intention in bringing the range schools to Ethiopia is only to provide basic information about rangeland management. The schools

7 will be taught and materials will be offered to students, after which participants may take this information to their own areas of work and modify the school to their own needs. At that time, more pastoralist knowledge and culture can be included that is specific to each area where a given school is taught. We recognize the impossibility of incorporating thousands of years of traditional knowledge into our 2 day schools in May.

Needs for the May Range Management Schools:

1. Projector for power point.

2. Notebooks and/or CDs with presentations, relevant publications, contact information, and other pertinent references.

3. Translators particularly for the field sessions where we hope to have pastoralists participating.

4. Photos and presentations from the fire and invasive missions.

5. Field locations with range issues, projects, research, etc. and local residents and practitioners to lead discussions about issues, successes, lessons learned, and other topics.

6. Rangeland management textbooks to give to instructors at the Gewane ATVET college, as they have no range textbooks at this time.

7. Obtain permission from Dr. Fred Provenza at Utah State University to use his BEHAVE program (condensed) for our Ethiopia range school.

8. Conflict management information from Dr. Jeff Mosley and Dr. Tracie Brewer (Montana State University).

9. A course evaluation form to be filled out by participants at the end of each 2 day session to help us improve the school.

NEXT STEPS

Future locations for range schools

A plan is in place at this time for two Ethiopian Range Management Schools to be held during May 2007 in Gewane and Yabello. If the Ethiopians are interested in using the curriculum themselves, the Afar Research Institute in Semera is similar to the Yabello Research Center but is not yet operational; this center may be a potential site to hold a future Range Management School. If the May schools are accepted as good training methods in Ethiopia, other possible locations include Awash, where we could involve CARE staff, and Negele, where in our previous mission we met regional officials who were interested in rangeland education. In the US, different western states have adapted the range school to their own needs and specific ecosystems, and then have utilized

8 government, university, extension staff and ranchers as instructors in each state. The best future for the Ethiopian schools would be similar. The future role of the FS would be to support information exchange and assist with development of the range schools in an Ethiopian context; over time, local people on the ground should take ownership in the school for their area and become instructors in their own range schools.

Technical college and university curriculum development:

There were several questions about how the FS will be helping with curriculum development in technical college (ATVET) and university programs in Ethiopia. While the current and May 2007 missions are focusing on sharing basic information about rangeland management, a logical next step (and also a recommendation in the 2006 REM final report) could be to assist ATVET curriculum developers by suggesting range management topics in a degree program for future extension agents in Ethiopia. Forest Service personnel could also assist curriculum development in university level range management programs by suggesting courses based on those found in college degrees at US universities. However, I recommend involving US university professors alongside Ethiopian professors when developing both technical college and university level programs of study due to their experience at college level teaching and research.

CONCLUSIONS

The range management schools we will be presenting in May are sources of information and discussion about rangeland management and are meant to supplement, not replace, the tools already available to Ethiopian range managers. The range schools focus on the basic science of rangelands, livestock and vegetation found in rangeland ecosystems, as well as including a field session where current issues and the role of people on the landscape are addressed. The schools are not intended to be the only information available to individuals working in Ethiopia or anywhere else. The two day course is intended to complement other excellent courses already available with a focus on fundamental concepts regarding vegetation, livestock, resource management, and the people who live and work on the land. In the future, more cooperation and collaboration with PLI partners and others will only improve everybody’s knowledge and understanding of Ethiopian rangelands, livestock, and the pastoralists who call these lands home. The ultimate goal of the range schools is to provide information and an example for the classroom and field session so that Ethiopians can use the format to create their own schools that incorporate local ecosystems and culture. If the range schools are accepted and utilized by Ethiopians, local people can take ownership in rangeland education. The Forest Service can continue to support local efforts by exchanging information and new ideas, but it will be Ethiopians who will guide the success of future Rangeland Ecology and Management training in their own country.

9 Appendix 1. Actual Mission Itinerary for USFS Team October 20-November 5, 2007

March 16-18, 2007

En route to Addis Ababa via Elko - Salt Lake City – Chicago- London - Alexandria Egypt – Addis Ababa, arrived approximately 0330 March 18. Arrived Sheraton Addis.

March 18, 2006

Began working on trip report, called Yacob Wondimkun to set up plans for Monday, he will call us at 0745 to set up time for driver to arrive. Tried to find the book by Alemayehu Mengistu that we need for our presentations, but no luck so far (Rangeland Management for Eastern Africa: Concepts and Practices). Night in Addis.

March 19, 2007

0900 met with USAID – Yacob Wondimkun, Joseph Hirsch (Program Officer) and Belay Demissie (acting BEAT chief). Gave them a summary of my mission and discussed the plan for May range schools. 1440 met with Oromia Agricultural Research Institute Director General Aliyyii Huseen and Deputy Director General for Research Dr. Asefa Taa Woyessa. They welcomed us and offered their cooperation and support. Received a phone message from Solomon Wakgari (Save the Children) and will be meeting with Solomon and Adrian Cullis on 3/20. Worked on trip report. Night in Addis.

March 20, 2007

0800 picked up at Sheraton. Saw John Stamm of USAID and did a short briefing with him about our mission this time as well as a briefing for us about what is expected at our presentations on Thursday (for the partners) and Friday (for the USAID director). Met with Ato Habtamu Tekka, commissioner or Oromia Pastoralist Area Development Commission in the morning, and Adrian Cullis and Solomon Wakgari of Save the Children at 1440. Met with CARE personnel Dr. Abay Bekle (Operations Manager) and Elias Abdosh (Designated Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor). Night in Addis.

March 21, 2007

Travel by road from Addis Ababa – Awash (to pick up Mandefro Gltsadik from CARE) – Gewane – Logia. Spoke briefly with Mekwenent Degnew of CARE Awash also. Eio When arrived in Logia, spoke with PLI partners associated with Afar Pastoralist Development Association (APDA): Kedar Mohammed (PLI project manager), Valerie Browning (program manager), and the Director Ismael Ali Gardo. Night in Logia.

March 22, 2007

10 Discussion with Mandefro, Kandar, and Afar government officials in Semera. APARI (Afar Pastoralist Agricultural Research Institute) staff present at the meeting: Ahmed Seid Ali (Director General of The APARI), and the head of the institute. Discussion was solely about invasives, I did not discuss the range school at Mandefro’s suggestion. Also went down Assayeta road to look at an area where prosopis is dying and could be from bugs or other unknown causes (many grasshoppers were about the area). Travel to Gewane, night in Gewane. Copied first mission trip report, US range school information and presentations for Mandefro and Kandar. Worked on photos and trip report.

March 23, 2007

Meeting with Farm Africa and pastoralists at the sugar cane cooperative near Gewane in the morning. Discussed prosopis removal and burning in the area. Mid morning I gave a presentation to instructors and students (approximately 75 people attended) at the Gewane ATVET college. I introduced the range school and fielded questions about it. Excellent, positive reactions from the instructors and some great input from at least one student! Travel to Awash, night in Awash. Worked on photos and trip report.

March 24, 2007

Invasives presentation in Awash in the Aledagi Plain community junior school. Travel to exclosure owned by investors and area cleared of prosopis near the community. During meeting discussed diversification for pastoralists, prosopis issues. Travel to Bedulale, where there is a 30 ha site cleared of prosopis (Farm Africa), cotton plantation, irrigation project, and charcoal production by highlanders. Looked at prosopis pod/seed crushing machine for livestock feed. Visited Awash National Park – falls and lots of wildlife! Travel to Nazret, brought Mandefro home and night for us at the Rift Valley hotel in Nazret. Worked on photos and trip report.

March 25, 2007

Travel from Nazret to Addis. Worked on trip report and did some searching for the Grazing Management book.

March 26, 2007

Called Yacob at 0730, spoke with John Stamm of USAID. While waiting for Yacob to return our call, worked on trip reports, presentations, and made phone calls to Ato Samuel Tuffa (also sent e-mail to Ato Samuel Tuffa) and Denis Gerard. Denis Gerard was out of town, left a message with his assistant, I will try again Tuesday. Communicated with Yacob via e-mail to confirm meeting with Tufts group scheduled for Tuesday. Night in Addis.

March 27, 2007

11 Picked up at Sheraton 0800. Arrived at PARIMA GIS office at 0900 to gain information for the land use planning mission, but the gentleman we were supposed to meet with had been called out of town unexpectedly. Met with Dr. Dawit Abebe and Dr. Berhanu Admassu from Tufts/IIED course and Solomon Wakgari from Save the Children US at 10 am at Tufts office. Called Dr. Gerard again and set up a meeting with him for 1330 in Sheraton lobby on Wednesday. Spoke with him about possible photo resources in the Institute of Ethiopian Studies at the University of Addis Ababa, but he did not think the photos would be what we were looking for. Worked on trip report and presentation. Night in Addis.

March 28, 2007

Picked up at Sheraton 0800. Meeting with Rezene Fessehaie of Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (invasives) at 0900, Dr. Girma Amente of Oromia Waterworks Design and Supervision Enterprise (land use planning) at 1100. Met with Dr. Denis Gerard (general information for photographs and invasive species) of Addis Ababa University at 1330 in Sheraton lobby. Worked on presentations, trip report. Night in Addis.

March 29, 2007

Prepared presentation and sent draft trip report to Lauren in the morning. Presentation workshop for PLI partners at Tufts office 1400, organized by Yacob. Night in Addis.

March 30, 2007

We were supposed to have a debriefing with USAID director and staff, but the director’s schedule was too full. However, John Stamm and Joe Hirsch saw our presentations yesterday and Yacob said they approved of what we had done. Departed for US 2230.

12 Appendix 2. USDA Forest Service Office of International Programs Scope of Work

Training in Rangeland Ecology and Management for Improved Rangeland Health and forage Productivity REM Mission 2

Background: Training in basic rangeland management and ecology has been identified as a current need in Ethiopia that USFS could help meet. There is a lack of technical training in pastoral aspects of rangeland management at agricultural training schools, and potentially a need to improve understanding of basic rangeland management and ecology amongst decision-makers in various government agencies. Finally, pastoralists and rangeland users at the field level, with whom the PLI project is working, could benefit from training in various aspects of innovative rangeland management as they strive to manage their herds. Based upon discussions in Addis in April 2006, and given both the current lack of formal training on this subject, and the short duration of the PLI activity, the USFS team observed that there is a need to “fast-track” this type of assistance.

Broad Objective of USFS Support to PLI, GOE on Training in Rangeland Ecology and Management for Improved Rangeland Health and forage Productivity: Apply USFS technical expertise and experience in design of training programs and curriculum to improve rangeland management capacity amongst practitioners, educators, and decision-makers.

Specific Objective: During the course of this mission, the objectives of the USFS Rangeland Ecology and Management expert, Nancy Prall, will be two-fold:

A.) The primary objective is to prepare for conducting the Range School in Gewane and, if security concerns are abated, Yabello, in May 2007. In the event that security risks are too great for the Range School to be conducted in Yabello in May, it is recommended that Awash substitute as the second site of the Range School. The purpose of this mission is to dialogue with appropriate GoE officials, share information about the proposed Range School Curriculum, and get the necessary buy-in to hold the Range School in May. The USFS representative will particularly focus on collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture’s training department and officials, and woreda and district officials. As the Range School curriculum might eventually be incorporated into university study of rangelands, as well, the USFS representative should contact appropriate university leaders at this time to inform them of the upcoming Range School courses in May, and invite observers / participants from appropriate universities. Additionally, the

13 USFS representative should take advantage of university contacts to conduct research to compliment the work completed state-side by Dave Bradford, Nancy Prall’s team mate in REM Mission 1. (Since his return from REM Mission 1, Dave Bradford has been working to identify historical and present-day photographs from Ethiopia to be used in the Range School, as well as other supporting information and documentation which Nancy Prall and Faith Ryan will use for conducting the Range School in May.) The USFS representative should also make contact with appropriate PLI NGO field extentionists at this time, so that they might be made fully aware of the upcoming Range School, as well.

B.) The secondary objective of this mission is to serve as support for Hans Bastian in fulfilling the objectives outlined in the Invasive Species Mission 2 Scope of Work. Working with Hans will not only assist in furthering the Invasives objectives, but will serve to deepen the understanding of the Ethiopia- specific rangeland ecology and management issues that must be addressed during the Range School in May, as the role of invasive species in the overall ecology of Ethiopian rangelands is profound.

Specific Activities might include, but are not limited to the following. Please note that USFS is reliant upon the suggestions of and feedback from USAID-Ethiopia and other PLI partners for guidance on exact locations to conduct the Range School, and contacts to make / approval to obtain in preparation for this. • Meet with Geshaw Geda, the head of curriculum development for ATVET. USFS believes it to be important to obtain buy-in from Mr. Geshaw Geda (who indicated a willingness to incorporate range management into a changed ATVET curriculum during a meeting with Nancy Prall and Dave Bradford in Oct – Nov 2006,) as well as ATVET school authorities in GEWANE and Yabello Research Center (YAPDARC) officials, such as Samuel Tuffa Kawo (the head of the Yabello Research Center, who has indicated a strong interest in rangeland ecology and management training.) It will be important to meet with appropriate government officials from Awash, as well, in the event that the Range School must be conducted here en lieu of Yabello because of security concerns. Alemayu Kuma and CARE will be important contacts and points of guidance for any work that is conducted in Awash. • Conduct research to locate historic photographs and / or written history from local people including government, NGO, or pastoralist workers and / or residents. This information serves an important role in teaching about ecological changes that have taken place over time, and is vital to presenting an effective set of lessons at the Range School. This research might be conducted (in part) at the University in Addis Ababa. USFS asks for the guidance of PLI partners in identifying the most appropriate places at and people with which to conduct such research.

14

Team: The team will consist of one 1 USFS Rangeland Ecology and Management Expert (Nancy Prall, [email protected]), who has previous experience working on rangeland ecology and management issues in Ethiopia.

Timing: Arrive Ethiopia on March 17, 2007 and depart March 31, 2007.

Deliverables: Agreed-upon curriculum and action plan for 2 range school courses in May, and confirmation of locations at which Range School will be held. Suggested: Gewane and (pending security clearance) Yabello. If Yabello is deemed unsafe, Awash is suggested as the alternative Range School site.

Location: Addis Ababa and potentially Gewane and / or Yabello and / or Awash.

Partners: PLI: CARE-Awash, SC-US, Mercy Corps, SOS Sahel, Farm Africa GoE: MoARD, EIAR, interested regional and zonal governments

Logistical Support to USFS: CARE (Afar) and, if possible, SC-US (Oromia). CARE and SC-US, along with support from other NGO’s under the CARE and SC consortiums, will develop a mission itinerary, arrange and facilitate meetings for this mission, provide any necessary translation, provide transportation outside of Addis Ababa, and arrange for hotel accommodations outside of Addis Ababa. USAID-Ethiopia will be responsible for arranging transportation within Addis Ababa, and for arranging lodging for the team within Addis Ababa.

N.B. Nancy Prall and Hans Bastian will travel as a team to Ethiopia from March 17, 2007 – March 31, 2007. Nancy’s primary area of focus will be preparation for the Range School to teach Ethiopia-specific rangeland ecology and management principles in May 2007. Hans’ primary area of focus will be carrying forward the invasive species work to limit their spread on rangelands, specifically in the Afar Region.

15 Appendix 3. List of organizations and individuals involved in the “Training in Rangeland Ecology and Management for Improved Rangeland Health and Forage Productivity” mission: USFS Hans Bastian – Range Management Specialist, invasives Nancy Prall – Range Management Specialist, REM USAID John Stamm – Private Enterprise Officer Yacob Wondimkun – Environment & Natural Resource Specialist Joseph Hirsch – USAID Program Officer Dr. Belay Demissie – USAID BEAT chief (acting) CARE Mandefro Gltsadik Dr. Abay Bekle – Operations Manager Elias Abdosh – Designated Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor PLI/ENABLE project Save the Children USA Adrian Cullis – Team Leader Food Security Unit, Ethiopia Country Office Solomon Wakgari – Natural Resources Management Technical Advisor OARI (Oromia Agricultural Research Institute) Aliyyii Huseen – Director General Dr. Asaffaa Taa’aa Wayyeessaa – Deputy Director General for Research OPADC (Oromia Pastoralist Area Development Commission) Ato Habtamu Tekka – Commissioner APDA (Afar Pastoralist Development Association) Ismael Ali Gardo - Director Kedir Mohammed – PLI Project Manager Afar Pastoralist Agricultural Research Institute Ahmed Seid Ali – Director General Ato Awol Arba – Pastoral Organizational Head or Head of Bureau of Agriculture Farm Africa Solomon Zewdu Pastoral Office of Gewane Woreda Tamrat Alemu Tufts University/Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy/IIED courses Dr. Dawit Abebe – Research and Policy Specialist Dr Berhanu Admassu – Senior Policy Advisor Oromia Waterworks Design and Supervision Enterprise Dr. Girma Amente Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research Dr. Rezene Fessehaie – National Project coordinator Mulugeta Demiss – coordinator for pilot site in Meseret Negash – coordinator for pilot site in Welechite Driver – CARE Awash Mitiku

16 Appendix 4.

NEW CONTACT INFORMATION

USAID Joseph Hirsch – USAID Program Officer, office 251115510887, cell 251911186054, [email protected]

Dr. Belay Demissie – USAID BEAT chief (acting), office 251115510713, cell 251911231191, [email protected]

CARE Mandefro Gltsadik (CARE Awash) – 0911-721731, [email protected]

Dr. Abay Bekle – Operations Manager, office 251116183294 x156, cell 251911891804, [email protected] or [email protected]

Elias Abdosh – Designated Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor PLI/ENABLE project

Mekuenent Degnew (CARE Awash) - 0911-112070

Note: Alemayehu Kuma has resigned from CARE Awash

OARI (Oromia Agricultural Research Institute) Aliyyii Huseen – Director General, office 0116187346, cell 0911840465, [email protected]

Dr. Asaffaa Taa’aa Wayyeessaa – Deputy Director General for Research, office 0116187343, cell 0911840466, [email protected]

OPADC (Oromia Pastoralist Area Development Commission) Ato Habtamu Tekka – Commissioner

APDA (Afar Pastoralist Development Association) Ismael Ali Gardo - Director

Kedar Mohammed – PLI Project Manager

Farm Africa Solomon Zewdu

17 Tufts University/Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy/IIED courses Dr. Dawit Abebe – Research and Policy Specialist, office 251(0)116626333/651.8619, cell 251(0)911684653, [email protected]

Dr Berhanu Admassu – Senior Policy Advisor, office 251(0)116626333/651.8615, cell 251(0)911243302 [email protected]

Oromia Waterworks Design and Supervision Enterprise Dr. Girma Amente [email protected]

18 Appendix 5.

List of instructor participants at Gewane ATVET college

Getahun Girma* Adm. And Development Vice Dean, 0911 569329

Kedir Mohammed PLI Project Manager, [email protected] Yoseph Selesli Rangeland Ecology 2nd degree Profr (M. Sc.) student 0911 057946, 025 5510937, [email protected] Addisu Negash M. Sc. Student, Land Resource Management, 0911 023263, [email protected] Biruk Teshaw Plant production (dryland farming (B. Sc.), 0911 717162 Deseje Haile Agricultural Extension (B. Sc.), 0911 060911, 058 2182058 Frew Abebe Agricultural Engineering and Mechanization 0911 821652 Dawit Terete Animal Science and Rangeland Manager, 0911 731863 Asress Geshome Irrigation Engineer, 0911 542548 Mohammed Bekem Animal Science Department Teacher 0911961619

*Contact for arranging the May range school

19 Appendix 6. List of participants at partner presentation 29 March 2007

Nancy Prall Hans Bastian Joe Hirsch John Stamm Genet Abebow CARE International Ethiopia [email protected] Solomon Wakgari Save the Children US [email protected] Ahmed Jemal Farm Africa [email protected] Cathy Watson [email protected] Berhanu Admasu [email protected] Solomon Desta [email protected] Getachew Gebru [email protected] 0911 23 7639 Dawit Mulu [email protected] 0911 44 3525

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