Villagization and access to water resources in the Middle Awash Valley of Ethiopia : implications for climate change adaptation

Abstract

Since the 1970s, the Government of Ethiopia has implemented villagization, whereby nomadic pastoralist groups are supported to develop sedentary lifestyles and livelihoods. Recently, villagization was reintroduced for arid and semi-arid regions as a strategy for adaptation to climate change, and as part of the country’s green growth agenda. The paper evaluates to what extent this phase of villagization has contributed to adaptation strategies among pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in the Middle Awash Valley, Ethiopia. It argues that villagization may play a role in some aspects of adaptation, if programmes address the drivers of livelihood change, and embed equity and rights.