Welcome message - Launching of first session

Dear Participants,

On behalf of ALive and LEAD Initiative it is my pleasure to welcome you to this E-conference entitled “Maintaining Mobility and Managing Drought - Policy Options for Pastoral Livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa”.
The e-conference begins today with the discussion of the first session.

SESSION 1 (18 October - 15 November): PASTORAL LIVELIHOODS BETWEEN AID DEPENDANCE AND SELF-RELIANT DROUGHT MANAGEMENT? What are the reasons and options for reducing the vulnerability of pastoral livelihoods to drought?

This session aims to discuss the content of the policy note “Community-Based Drought Management for the Pastoral Livestock Sector in Sub-Saharan Africa”. You are invited to read the paper, which can be downloaded from the conference website at: http://www.virtualcentre.org/en/ele/econf_03_alive/download.htm.

The first session is further subdivided into two consecutive sub-themes.

SUB-THEME A (18 October -2 November): WHY INVEST IN A DROUGHT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM?
Drawing a balance between the costs of late response as opposed to the costs of developing and sustaining a community-based drought management system.

SUB-THEME B (3 November – 15 November): HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN THE PASTORAL PRODUCTION SYSTEM SUSTAIN? Shall public policies facilitate the rehabilitation of destitute pastoralists or support diversification and exit strategies of pastoral people?

To kick off the discussion of the first sub-theme a key note has been prepared and key questions have been formulated. The key note and the key questions will be sent to you for your consultation in two separate messages.

We look forward to receive your contributions in the form of response to the questions, comments on the paper, sharing of related personal experiences, relevant information and ideas, perceptions, questions and / or case-studies.

Please send your contributions to: LEAD-Alive-Econf-L@mailserv.fao.org

Thank you for openly sharing your experience and for your critical remarks in the discussion.

Yours virtually,
Nikola Rass

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