Range land users association (RUA) - a model for transforming customary institution for sustainable management of natural resources in Merti Sub County Isiolo"

By Hassan HulufoManaging consultant

Drylands Development Co. Ltd

Customary NRM institution among Waso Borana

• Borana customary laws’ aada seera Boorana’ is formulated by Gada council with its seat in southern Ethiopia.

• Regulation of pasture and water fall under “ aada mara bisaani”• Elaborate unwritten laws binding on all members of Borana community and

whoever resides among them• Regulate access and use• Defined fines for law breakers which is enforced through customary institutions• Key Customary natural resource management institution• Aba Olla- owner of the village responsible for enforcing rules on those who reside

in his village. In consultation with other elders on his village he makes decision on migration

• Aba herega : father of wells/ponds: water regulation normally initiator of water source or his descendant

• Jars deedha; council of elders constituted from clan leaders / jalabs living in same deedha

• Customary laws; welfare of people, livestock, wild animals, vegetation

Key NRM management units

Unit Role in NRM Unit head/Decision making organ

Warr (household) •Manage own herd in accordance to defined communal rule of NR access•Educate HH members on customary laws•Responsible for paying fine in case HH member violates laws

•Aba Warra or male household head.

Olla (village); 30-100 hh •Decision on access to pasture and water around Olla• decision on migration and herd splitting

•Aba Olla( founder of the village or his descendant)

Ardha: Several Olla •Collaborate on management grazing resources around their villages•May make joint decision on migration

•Jars ardha ( ardha male elders)

Deedha; Wider grazing unit

•Regulate grazing regime; wet, dry and drought fall back•Maintain reciprocal NR access with neighbours

Jars Deedha

Deedha councils in Merti Sub county

Main Deedha are;• Cherab ; open grassland • Chari : bush thicket• Merti central: open grassland, bush thicket • Commonly shared : Drought reserve areas + flood plain (chaffa)• Historical transformation of deedha councils• Water and pasture access in all deedha regulated according to

Borana customary law during colonial time• Colonialist appointed respected elders as chiefs to administor

several deedha. Colonial chiefs enforced customary NRM rules• Post independence; authority of customary institutions eroded;

interference from provincial administration• Post independence chief appointed from administration police and

locals serving in other public service offices

Map of Isiolo county

Deedha council and management of key NR in Merti

Key NR managed by deedha councils are• Water especially shallow well in Chari, Individual

ponds, River water especially access points • Pasture ; wet season, dry season and drought season• From late 1970s boreholes were sunk( non

conventional water source)• Boreholes unlike shallow well and pond/pans are

initiated by outsiders(GoK)• Concept of konfi and aba herega would not apply• Borehole opened up critical grazing reserve area

Challenges in managing drought reserve boreholes

• 1980s managed by pump attendants employed by ministry of water• No user levies charged; opening and closure determined by

government• Break down common and repairs untimely and hence death of

livestock• 1990s formation of borehole adhoc committees• Committee dissolved after every drought• Committee lacked traditional authority and not recognized as user

groups representatives• Cost sharing levies misappropriated• Committee couldn’t enforce deedha laws; usurped by chiefs• Unregulated number of animals at boreholes, including influx from

neighbouring district• Effectiveness of borehole in mitigating drought undermined

Evolution of a hybrid NRM institution

• 1999/2000 drought DPIRP/OOP, Actionaid and District steering group initiated community reflection process on drought emergency management

• Need to strengthen customary NRM rules agreed on• Institution to regulate rangeland resources in Merti division was borne• Rangeland Users association; a membership organization formed• Drought reserve borehole treated as a deedha and RUA converted into

deedha council to manage it• Members are drawn from 4 deedha made up of 10 ardha(location)• Each ardha allocated slot on proportional basis on 19 member

management committee• Location representatives elected by ardha during general assembly• Investment in institutional strengthening of RUA; membership drives,

registration, training, exposure visits by partners GoK & NGOs

RUA management structure

General assembly(all members)

Management committee19 persons

Borehole 1 management

Borehole 2management

Borehole 3management

Borehole 4management

Borehole users/ RUA members + allowed immigrant users

RUA mandate • Management of drought reserve boreholes and grazing resources around the 4

boreholes• Enforce customary laws relating to water and pasture with • Represent members and wider community in district forum on NRM and drought

management• Collect levies and penalties set by general assembly on users when boreholes are

operational• Regulate number of animals allocated to each borehole based on available

pasture/browse and borehole yields• Regulate influx of animals from neighbouring communities through application of

customary rule on reciprocal access to cross border resources during• Periodic pasture surveillance during non drought period to ensure utilization of

drought reserve pasture by neighbors• Seek government recognition as representative of rangeland users and participate

in decisions on development of additional water points in the drought reserve rangeland

• Advice community on to Chari reserve when pasture is depleted to avoid denudation( alert ministry of interior as well since chari is prone to conflict)

Achievements• Registered as a trust• Has a constitution endorsed by general assembly last reviewed April 2014• Operation of drought reserve boreholes streamlined• Sense of ownership of boreholes and rangeland among communities• Authority of community to regulate pasture and water use restored through RUA• Recognition of RUA as user association by government and non state actors• Effectively moderated influence of chief on NRM• Sit on district steering group/county steering group• Death directly related to drought substantially reduced• Stockpiling of fast moving spares at borehole sites• All boreholes have standby genset and submissible pumps• Safe custody of genesets during normal time at RUA store in Merti• Effective resource mobilization for development of storage tanks, additional water troughs and

boreholes• Piloted trucking of water for calf, old animals and lactating animals when distance to boreholes

increased 2010/11 drought• Recognized and involved in proper selection of sites for new water sources development in

rangeland

Challenges• Irregular annual meetings due to cost implications• Political interference • Underrepresentation of women and youth in management

committee• Vastness of the reserve and cost of surveillance especially

when boreholes are not operation during normal time• Reliance on government technicians for major repairs which

is not free • Record keeping is rudimentary and has loopholes for

misappropriation of levies collected• Negative influence of INGO; setting up parallel grazing

committee, deedha committee in parts of Merti sub county

Opportunities to strengthen RUA

• RUA has taken advantage of the following opportunities;

• Water Act 2002; water users association • Constitution of Kenya 2010; devolved

government • Opportunity for county level legislation to

recognize customary NRM laws and institution

Key lessons

• Hybrid institution which draw on customary NRM laws and registered with government have better chance of getting recognized

• A community institution which evolve out of community need and run by community members will survive external interference

• Empowerment of community institutions should be seen as an essential component of drought resilience building

Livestock taking water at Yamicha August 2014