Capitalisation, Commoditisation And Obligation Among Ethiopia's Afar Pastoralists

Abstract

This paper on the Afar pastoralists of north-eastern Ethiopia examines their livelihood goals to understand how they view the institutions that are central to their existence. The paper examines the choices made in allocating livestock resources to accumulate different forms of capital. Using qualitative and quantitative research the paper considers the value of internal livestock exchange for accruing insurance and the impact that such value has on the commoditisation of livestock.