Efforts to mitigate the impacts of hydropower-induced flood disasters in the Lower Omo Valley often focus on conventional flood early warning systems, which primarily rely on scientific data and models for information dissemination.
These solutions can save lives when flood disasters strike vulnerable pastoral and agro-pastoral communities of the Dassenech. However, they need to be complemented by actions addressing the underlying components of vulnerability and their interrelated human, socioeconomic, livelihood, and cultural factors. An important component in addressing these factors is the traditional Indigenous flood early warning system of local communities.
The researcher employed an interpretivist epistemological paradigm and qualitative research methodology to understand the experiences and perspectives of study participants. Evidence was collected from approximately 68 participants through key-informant interviews, in-depth interviews, focus-group discussions, and case-study research.
Indigenous flood early warning systems are particularly important where conventional flood-warning information is inaccessible. This article therefore describes and analyzes the Indigenous flood early warning system of the Dassenech in the context of hydropower-induced flood disasters and examines the extent to which local communities use it.
The findings indicate that local community acceptance of and responsiveness to flood warnings are essential to effective end-to-end early warning systems. The Dassenech Indigenous knowledge system represents a key element of flood early warning and provides the foundation for community-based warning and preparedness strategies developed across generations.
Therefore, integrating local communities’ Indigenous knowledge systems and practices into national disaster risk reduction policies and strategies could provide more sustainable solutions for responding to floods and related events, including drought, food insecurity, and disease outbreaks, while supporting the long-term well-being of pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in the Lower Omo Valley.
Authors: Seid Ahmed
