The inconvenient truths of water development in the drylands of the Horn of Africa: how to use new water sources to support resilience for pastoralists

Analysed water policy in the drylands and the language used to describe new water development.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
27 February 2026
Country:
Ethiopia and Kenya
Document Type:
Briefing
Theme:
Climate and Environment and Water and Sanitation
First published:
30 June 2025
Authors:
Balfour, N.

Abstract

The research analysed water policy in the drylands and the language used to describe new water development. It compared this with the evidence from visits to 25 boreholes across 4 sites in Marsabit county, Kenya and 5 sites in Somali Region, Ethiopia.

This work is part of the Supporting Pastoralism and Agriculture in Recurrent and Protracted Crises  (SPARC) programme.

Citation

Balfour N and others. ‘The inconvenient truths of water development in the drylands of the Horn of Africa: how to use new water sources to support resilience for pastoralists. London, UK: SPARC, 2025

The inconvenient truths of water development in the drylands of the Horn of Africa: how to use new water sources to support resilience for pastoralists

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Published 27 February 2026
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