Objet: LEAD/ALIVE E-conf – S1 : Welcome message - Launching of first session 
Sent: 18 October 2006 13:31
To: LEAD-Alive-Econf-L@mailserv.fao.org

Electronic - conference: Maintening mobility and managing drought,
Policy options for pastoral livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa
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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