Are the Efforts of The Aid Agencies Coffectly focused?
VetAid is a Scotland based charity working in the livestock field in developing countries and has been working in Somaliland since 1991, firstly in Erigavo, later in Sool and is now based in Hargeisa. VetAid is currently working in both the Agro-pastoral sector and in the Pastoral sector. In the programme there is a section entitled “Advocacy on behalf of the Pastoralist” and it is in this spirit that I present this paper today for your attention and perhaps discussion. Somaliland is unique. All Somalis are aware of this fact. Though they do not understand it in the context of this paper. Somaliland is unique in that it is the only country, so far as I am aware, which derives almost its entire national wealth, both government revenue and private, directly from the livestock population. 60% of the population of this country are pastoralists and as such their only means of support are their livestock. They have no other income source. 20% of the population are agro-pastoralists, the majo
