Omo-Turkana Research Network

One means of sharing information via the network is through a series of briefing notes. These briefings are intended to contribute scientifically robust evidence to better inform debate among policymakers and the Kenyan and Ethiopian publics. Briefing notes can be found below and are freely available, but please cite accordingly.

OTuRN Briefing Note #1: The Kuraz Sugar Development Project

Author: Benedikt Kamski, Arnold-Bergstraesser-Institute, University of Freiburg (Germany).

Published: June 2016

Citation: Kamski, B (2016). The Kuraz Sugar Development Project (Briefing Note #1). In Omo-Turkana Research Network Briefing Notes, edited by J. Hodbod & E.G.J. Stevenson. East Lansing, MI: OTuRN.

OTuRN Briefing Note #2: Multiple environmental shocks impacting livelihoods and food security in Nyangatom, the Lower Omo, Ethiopia

Authors: Emma J. Tebbs, Jennifer Hodbod, David-Paul Pertaub, Fana Gebresenbet, Edward G. J. Stevenson, Kristofer Chan, Mercy Fekadu Mulugeta. 

Published: May 2019

This research was carried out as part of the ESRC/DFID funded project ‘Shifting In/equality Dynamics in Ethiopia: from Research to Application’ (SIDERA) (Grant Ref: ES/R002460/1), which aims to understand the links between environmental change, poverty, and conflict in the Lower Omo.

Citation: Tebbs, E., Hodbod, J., Pertaub, D-P., Gebresenbet, F., Stevenson, E.G.J., Chan, K. and Mulugeta, M.F. (2019). Multiple environmental shocks impacting livelihoods and food security in Nyangatom, the Lower Omo, Ethiopia (Briefing Note #2). In Omo-Turkana Research Network Briefing Notes, edited by J. Hodbod & E.G.J. Stevenson. East Lansing, MI: OTuRN.

OTuRN Briefing Note #3: Flood Retreat Agriculture in the Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Authors: David-Paul Pertaub, Dessalegn Tekle, Edward G. J. Stevenson

Published: May 2019

This research was carried out as part of the ESRC/DFID funded project ‘Shifting In/equality Dynamics in Ethiopia: from Research to Application’ (SIDERA) (Grant Ref: ES/R002460/1), which aims to understand the links between environmental change, poverty, and conflict in the Lower Omo.

Citation: Pertaub, D-P., Tekle, D. and Stevenson, E.G.J. (2019). Flood Retreat Agriculture in the Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia (Briefing Note #3). In Omo-Turkana Research Network Briefing Notes, edited by J. Hodbod & E.G.J. Stevenson. East Lansing, MI: OTuRN. 

OTuRN Briefing Note #4: Coping Strategies in Nyangatom, Ethiopia

Authors: Jennifer Hodbod, Shubhechchha Sharma, David-Paul Pertaub, Emma J. Tebbs and Kristofer Chan

Published: May 2019

This research was carried out as part of the ESRC/DFID funded project ‘Shifting In/equality Dynamics in Ethiopia: from Research to Application’ (SIDERA) (Grant Ref: ES/R002460/1), which aims to understand the links between environmental change, poverty, and conflict in the Lower Omo.

Citation: Hodbod, J., Sharma, S., Pertaub, D-P., Tebbs, E. and Chan, K. (2019). Coping Strategies in Nyangatom, Ethiopia (Briefing Note #4). In Omo-Turkana Research Network Briefing Notes, edited by J. Hodbod & E.G.J. Stevenson. East Lansing, MI: OTuRN.

OTuRN Briefing Note #5: Violent Conflict Implications of Mega Projects in Nyangatom Woreda, Ethiopia

Authors: Fana Gebresenbet, Mercy Fekadu Mulugeta and Yonas Tariku

Published: May 2019

This research was carried out as part of the ESRC/DFID funded project ‘Shifting In/equality Dynamics in Ethiopia: from Research to Application’ (SIDERA) (Grant Ref: ES/R002460/1), which aims to understand the links between environmental change, poverty, and conflict in the Lower Omo.

Citation: Gebresenbet, F., Mulugeta, M.F. and Tariku, Y. (2019). Violent Conflict Implications of Mega Projects in Nyangatom Woreda, Ethiopia (Briefing Note #5). In Omo-Turkana Research Network Briefing Notes, edited by J. Hodbod & E.G.J. Stevenson. East Lansing, MI: OTuRN.

OTuRN Briefing Note #6: Sugar industry in the Lower Omo: Exploring different scenarios of privatization

Author: Mercy Fekadu Mulugeta, Fana Gebresenbet, Benedikt Kamski

Published: August 2019

This research was carried out as part of the ESRC/DFID funded project ‘Shifting In/equality Dynamics in Ethiopia: from Research to Application’ (SIDERA) (Grant Ref: ES/R002460/1), which aims to understand the links between environmental change, poverty, and conflict in the Lower Omo.

Citation: Mulugeta, M.F., Gebresenbet, F., and Kamski, B. (2019). Sugar industry in the Lower Omo: Exploring different scenarios of privatization. (Briefing Note #6). In Omo-Turkana Research Network Briefing Notes, edited by J. Hodbod & E.G.J. Stevenson. East Lansing, MI: OTuRN.

OTuRN Briefing Note #7: Constructing a Coping Strategies Index for Agro-Pastoralists: Assessing food security in Nyangatom, Ethiopia

Authors: Sarah Slinkman, Jennifer Hodbod, Chris Merchant, Dessalegn Tekle, David-Paul Pertaub, and Jed Stevenson 

Published: July 2021

This research was carried out as part of the ESRC/DFID funded project ‘Shifting In/equality Dynamics in Ethiopia: from Research to Application’ (SIDERA) (Grant Ref: ES/R002460/1), which aims to understand the links between environmental change, poverty, and conflict in the Lower Omo.

Citation: Slinkman, S., Hodbod, J., Merchant, C., Dessalegn T., Pertaub, D-P. and Stevenson, E.J.G. (2021). Constructing a Coping Strategies Index for Agro-Pastoralists: Assessing food security in Nyangatom, Ethiopia (Briefing Note #7). In Omo-Turkana Research Network Briefing Notes, edited by J. Hodbod & E.G.J. Stevenson. East Lansing, MI: OTuRN. 

OTuRN Briefing Note #8: Environmental uncertainty and livelihood change in Turkana, Kenya

Author: Samuel Derbyshire

Published: April 2022

This research was facilitated by funding from St John’s College, University of Oxford, the National Geographic Society, the Wenner-Gren Foundation, and the British Institute in Eastern Africa.

Citation: OTuRN and SIDERA Briefing Notes are freely available, but please cite accordingly: Derbyshire, S. (2022). Environmental uncertainty and livelihood change in Turkana, Kenya (OTuRN Briefing Note #8). In Omo-Turkana Research Network Briefing Notes, edited by J. Hodbod & E.G.J. Stevenson. East Lansing, MI: OTuRN.

OTuRN Briefing Note #9: Severe Food Insecurity in the Lower Omo, 2022-2023

Authors: Joshua O'Mahony, Samuel Brooke, Marta Gaworek-Michalczenia, Dessalegn Tekle, Eshetu Ewnetu, Jennifer Hodbod, Edward G.J. Stevenson.

Published: March 2025

This product was made possible through support provided by the Office of Relief and Resilience, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID/Ethiopia), under the terms of Award No. 72066322CA00004. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Citation: OTuRN and SIDERA Briefing Notes are freely available, but please cite accordingly: O'Mahony, J., Brooke, S., Gaworek-Michalczenia, M., Dessalegn Tekle, Eshetu Ewnetu, Hodbod, J. & Stevenson, E.G.J. (2025). Severe Food Insecurity in the Lower Omo, 2022-2023 (OTuRN Briefing Note #9). In Omo-Turkana Research Network Briefing Notes, edited by J. Hodbod & E.G.J. Stevenson. East Lansing, USA: OTuRN.  

OTuRN Briefing Note #10: Seasonality in the Lower Omo, 2022-2024

Authors: Samuel Brooke, Marta Gaworek-Michalczenia, Henry Thompson, Eshetu Ewnetu, Jennifer Hodbod, and Edward G.J. Stevenson

Published: March 2025

This product was made possible through support provided by the Office of Relief and Resilience, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID/Ethiopia), under the terms of Award No. 72066322CA00004. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Citation: OTuRN and SIDERA Briefing Notes are freely available, but please cite accordingly: Brooke, S., Gaworek-Michalczenia, M., Thompson, H., Eshetu Ewnetu, Hodbod, J. & Stevenson, E.G.J. (2025). Seasonality in the Lower Omo, 2022-2024 (OTuRN Briefing Note #10). In Omo-Turkana Research Network Briefing Notes, edited by J. Hodbod & E.G.J. Stevenson. East Lansing, USA: OTuRN.