Fiona Flintan recognized by Ethiopian government for contributing to sustainable rangelands

Fiona Flintan receiving certificate of recognition, flanked by the ILRI SLS Program leader, Polly Ericksen (photo credit: ILRI).

Fiona Flintan, a senior scientist with the Sustainable Livestock Systems program of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) has received a certificate of recognition from the Ministry of Agriculture Ethiopia for her ‘outstanding contribution’ to the development of sustainable rangeland management, particularly in the preparation of a manual for woreda participatory land use planning (WPLUP) for pastoral areas.

This unusual presentation is testament to the significant support that Flintan has been giving to the ministry and in particular the Land Administration and Use Directorate over the last six years in the development of the manual and related processes. The certificate was presented at a ceremony to launch of the manual in Bishoftu on Tuesday 17 September 2019. 

Flintan said she was delighted with the award, which came as a total surprise. She will continue to work with the Ministry of Agriculture in the roll-out of the WPLUP process, which she hopes will contribute to better, more-informed decision-making processes that include local land users, encourage protection of grazing areas and greater more appropriate investments in them.