My team in different organizations across the developing countries initiated analysis and reform of institutional policies of our organization and government policies to address critical bottlenecks and drive progress. We have directed several schemes, achieving significant successes while gaining invaluable lessons from ongoing challenges. These efforts have underscored the importance of evidence-based, context-specific, participatory, and sustainable frameworks in policy development and reform.
- Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) Representation in Ethiopia: Advocated for the formal inclusion of CAHWs in the contexts of regional government structures to enhance recognition, coordination, and efficiency in delivering animal health services.
- Semi-Private Veterinary Pharmacies in Ethiopia: Introduced a hybrid model where government veterinary staff manage pharmacies part-time while mentoring CAHWs, improving service accessibility, professional capacity and surveillance reporting at the grassroots level.
- Emergency Slaughtering Policy in Ethiopia: Contributed to disaster preparedness by developing policies and training government bodies on emergency slaughtering protocols for livestock during crises, safeguarding livelihoods and food security.
- Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Policy Integration in Ethiopia: Championed the incorporation of DRR measures into district and zonal policies, focusing on early warning systems, capacity building, and community resilience.
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- Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards in Afghanistan: Played a pivotal role in advancing reforms to align national standards of livestock disease surveillance and control through support of the AHDP/EU program. Successfully navigated political challenges to sustain progress in enhancing prevention of notifiable animal diseases.
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- Engaging Customary Institutions in Afghanistan: Strengthened collaboration with locally elected institutions and traditional leaders, building trust and enhancing participation. These efforts ensured the sustainability of field activities and reforms by aligning them with local governance systems.
- Nexus of Climate Change, Livelihoods, and Conflict in Pastoralist Areas in Ethiopia and the Horn: Advocated for integrated policy frameworks addressing the intersection of climate change, livelihoods, and conflict. Our work promoted climate resilience, livelihood diversification, conflict-sensitive strategies, and cross-border cooperation, while integrating climate-smart policies with disaster risk reduction measures. These efforts enhanced sustainability, stability, and resilience for pastoralist communities, addressing the multifaceted challenges they face.
Organizational/Internal Policies
- Prevention of Harassments, Sexual Exploitation, and Abuse (PHSEA) of DCA: Developed and institutionalized policies to prevent sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. These frameworks prioritize reporting mechanisms, accessible accountability systems, and organizational integrity, building a culture of trust and safety.
- Safeguarding and Protection of DCA: Established comprehensive policies to protect children, women, and individuals with disabilities against harm, abuse, and exploitation, ensuring their rights and dignity are integral to all our operations.
- Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) of DCA: Designed and implemented a robust AAP framework based on IASC principles. This included a rights-based approach in establishing community feedback mechanisms to address grievances, enhance transparency, and strengthen community participation in decision-making processes. Key highlights include integrating AAP commitments into governance, leadership, and program design while linking them to other critical organizational policies such as PHSEA and workplace protection.
- Global Pastoralist Development Opportunities: Differentiated policy frameworks for pastoralist movements and refugee dynamics, enabling tailored interventions that respect their unique needs and priorities.
These experiences have deepened my understanding of the complexities and interdependencies in policy analysis and transformation. Local policies are critically important in directing and interpreting national and global ambitions. They highlight the critical need for context-based, inclusive, adaptable, and evidence-based policies that respond to local realities while aligning with broader developmental goals. By emphasizing participatory approaches, networking institutional and community partnerships, and integrating cross-cutting themes like safeguarding, accountability, and disaster preparedness, I continue to focus on driving impactful reforms that promote equity, resilience, and sustainable progress.
