Regional Reports - the European External Action Service

� Need to support the regional NSA develop logistical and infrastructure capacity for sustaining
participation, including outreach to remote parts of the region,
� Need for supporting self-organization in NSA and also dialogue between NSA and
government
� Need to support national offices of the FBOs and Chamber of Commerce's to provide
outreach assistants (backstopping) to their regional counterparts,
10. Gambella Regional Report
1. General remarks on NSA at territorial level
1.1. Background about Gambella Region
� Gambella is one of the emerging regions, located at the far south-western end of Ethiopia. It is
a multi-ethnic region where four indigenous groups (Agnuwak, Nuer, Mejenger, Opo and
Komo) coexist with considerable number of highlanders settled by the previous government.
Some of the ethnic groups have shared identity with clans in Southern Sudan, thus the region
has been hosting hundreds of thousands of refugees displaced by the prolonged conflict in the
Sudan. During the field visit, it was seen that a large scale repatriation programme was in
motion. It looks, large scale population movement across the political boundary is left
unregulated, and this seems to be affecting the regional socio-economic and political process,
both positively and negatively.
� Gambella is a low-lying area through which the major rivers arising from the South-Western
highlands flow into the Sudan. Traditional and subsistence agriculture is the mainstay of the
population. The population of the region is estimated to be about 160,000. On observing the
large number of youth strolling on the main-roads of that small city, one does not need
additional statistics to appreciate the severity of unemployment or the underutilization of
available human capacity in the region.
� Of the ethnic groups, the Nuer is primarily agro-pastoral communities, while the Agnuwak
are mostly sedentary small scale farmers across the routes of the major rivers. Fishing is an
important source of nutrition and cash income. Unlike, the others, the Mejenger are huntergatherer
people settled in the coffee-rich natural forests of Godere Woreda.
� Because of the remoteness as well as other special contexts, local traditions and customs are
major factors dictating social life and well-being. Even within Gambella town, the two major
ethnic groups have separate neighbourhoods; intermarriage is uncommon and collective
identity is undeveloped. In the face rapid population growth, movement and adverse climate
change effects, this context could contribute to further perpetuation of conflicts and
instabilities in the region.
� Administratively the region is divided into four zones including the regional capital. The road
and communication networks are relatively undeveloped. According to key informants 24 , the
swelling of rivers and/or flooding of fields in some remote areas still cause untimely
termination of educational services as the pupils could not make it to the schools. Moreover,
flooding during the rainy seasons is a regular event resulting in the destruction of property and
life of the population. Supporting flood victims is amongst the important preoccupations of the
disaster prevention office. As indicated earlier, instability in weather patters could be further
exacerbated due to climate change.
24 From the discussion with Ato Tesfahun, President GNRS Teachers Association
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