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The influence of complexity theory on action research scholarship and practice has been kaleidoscopic. Further integrating ideas derived from the complexity sciences could enrich this research tradition, but there are choices to be made about what to prioritise. We distinguish complexity-informed approaches that privilege control from those adopting radical open-endedness. The former often aligns with managerialist assumptions, which tend to deny the messiness and moral dimensions of living and working. In contrast, ‘neo-complexity’ aims to reemphasise the most intellectually, politically, and emotionally radical implications of complexity science: embracing unpredictability, plurality, and practice-based ethics. An example of an action research coalition of Ethiopia, Mursi and UK researchers allows us to describe what this means in practice. La influencia de la teoría de la complejidad en la investigación-acción académica y la práctica ha sido caleidoscópica. Una mayor integración de las ideas derivadas de las ciencias de la complejidad podría enriquecer esta tradición de investigación, pero es necesario tomar decisiones sobre qué priorizar. Distinguimos los enfoques basados en la complejidad que priorizan el control, de aquellos que adoptan una perspectiva radicalmente abierta. Los primeros a menudo se alinean con los supuestos gerencialistas, que tienden a negar el desorden y las dimensiones morales de la vida y el trabajo. En contraste, la “neocomplejidad” busca volver a enfatizar los elementos más radicales intelectual, política y emocionalmente de la ciencia de la complejidad: la adopción de la imprevisibilidad, la pluralidad y la ética práctica. Un ejemplo de una coalición de investigación-acción de investigadores de Etiopía, Mursi y el Reino Unido nos permite describir lo que esto significa en la práctica.

Observation of leadership in small-scale societies offers unique insights into the evolution of human collective action and the origins of sociopolitical complexity. Using behavioural data from the Tsimane forager-horticulturalists of Bolivia and Nyangatom nomadic pastoralists of Ethiopia, we evaluate the traits of leaders and the contexts in which leadership becomes more institutional. We find that leaders tend to have more capital, in the form of age-related knowledge, body size or social connections. These attributes can reduce the costs leaders incur and increase the efficacy of leadership. Leadership becomes more institutional in domains of collective action, such as resolution of intragroup conflict, where collective action failure threatens group integrity. Together these data support the hypothesis that leadership is an important means by which collective action problems are overcome in small-scale societies.

Flood disaster is considered a significant natural hazard due to their devastating effects. The 2019 flood in Northern Iran drastically affected the lives of Indigenous Turkmen pastoralists. This work assesses the vulnerability of the pastoral families living in flood regions. We used the Geographical Information System, Multi‐Criteria Decision Analysis, and semi‐structured interviews to analyze the flood vulnerable areas. Initially, we interviewed 20 individuals and then formulated a questionnaire completed by 69 pastoralists in rangelands affected by floods in Golestan province. Result showed that 91% of the participants thought road networks and 76% thought livestock were the most affected components of the rangeland ecosystems in the 2019 flood. Moreover, we found supplementary feeding, watering costs, and forage quantity to be the most affected items in the economy of pastoral families. The main rangeland degrading factors were overgrazing, climate change, drought, and water shortages. The main reasons for overgrazing were the high prices of supplementary feeding, low forage productivity of the rangelands, and financial difficulties of pastoralists. We indicated that pastoral communities in the semi‐arid rangeland of Northern Golestan were highly vulnerable to flood. Hence, proper management of rangelands and building pastoral family resilience requires the attention of nature conservationists and management organizations at the national level.

Protected area management in developing countries faces legitimacy issues, especially with supposed participatory governance reforms and social-ecological disturbances. The legitimacy of decentralized governance, however, depends on its response to conservation promises and illegal resource extraction. This paper examines how unfulfilled promises, illegal resource extraction, and the legitimacy of protected area governance interact in agro-pastoralist communities. In this study we draw on primary data collected through household surveys, group discussions, and interviews. Using thematic analysis, we find that failure to deliver on promises of livelihood projects erodes governance legitimacy by fostering mistrust and injustice. This increases communities’ vulnerability to climate shocks and drives illegal resource extraction, which in turn weakens regulations and fuels further illegal activity through informal networks. Ultimately, pro-conservation behavior hinges on keeping promises and legitimate governance, not past motivations. We highlight the need to fulfill promises of livelihood projects as a pathway to restore the legitimacy of protected area governance and address livelihood vulnerability.

This paper highlights key barriers to the accessibility of basic education among pastoralist communities in Tanzania. It addresses the existing policy requirements in provision of basic education and the mismatch with actual practices which create a dilemma as far as learning for children in pastoralist communities is concerned. A number of factors have been addressed, which include inappropriate cultural values among parents in pastoralist communities as well as other systemic factors. Pupils’ dropout, conflicts, the long distance to school and inappropriate learning environments have been mentioned as some of the inhibitive factors influencing inequalities in accessing basic education in pastoralist communities in Tanzania. Overall, this paper interrogates the existing paradox between policy statements and the actual strategies for providing basic education among vulnerable minority pastoralist pupils. This article recommends deliberate investment and prioritisation of the learning agenda for minority children in pastoralist communities. Specific emphasis should be placed on the utilisation of technology by establishing mobile digital learning solutions to cater for the learning needs of children in these communities.

Ethiopia is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, with the increasing geographic extent, intensity, and frequency of drought. This study aimed to examine how pastoralist communities understand climate change and its impacts. We conducted a qualitative study among pastoral communities in Ethiopia using focus group discussions with community representatives and key informant interviews with human and animal health and agriculture experts. The collected data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Participants viewed deforestation and population growth as the main causes of climate change. They found that climate change caused high temperatures, a shortage of rainfall, and drought. These changes affected the environment, food security, and animal health, impacting their livelihoods, health, and social systems. Coping strategies included engaging in new economic activities, environmental recovery attempts, migration, and seeking food aid for survival. They suggested providing food aid, improving access to human and animal health care, and implementing early warning systems at the community level. The pastoralists perceived that climate change destroyed the natural environment, increased food insecurity, and negatively affected social systems and health. Collaborative actions are needed to mitigate these effects, initiate local environmental adaptation mechanisms, enhance water and food security, and improve animal and human health services.

Traditional reindeer husbandry in Russia is a fascinating phenomenon of northern pastoralism and nomadism. Russia is home to over two-thirds of the world’s total domesticated reindeer herd. Reindeer husbandry in Russia is practised by 15 indigenous peoples, some of whom still pursue a nomadic lifestyle. The purpose of this article is to visualise reindeer husbandry, together with its hosting biophysical and social environment, as a socio-ecological system or a reindeer pastoralist landscape, and to present its diversity as a geographical system of landscape zones and regions. Such a holistic landscape approach is rooted in the landscape ecology and reflects the basic patterns of reindeer husbandry’s connections with its surroundings. The research includes 3 stages. We started by dividing the entire reindeer husbandry area of the Russian North into several landscape zones focusing on the predominant migration patterns of reindeer herders, as such patterns reflect the interaction of reindeer husbandry with the geographical environment as a whole. The next stage was zoning by cultural types of reindeer husbandry. In the final stage, we divided the particular reindeer husbandry areas into smaller regions according to the local features of reindeer pastoralism. The research has resulted in a map of traditional reindeer husbandry landscape zoning. This map embraces the whole territory of Russia where traditional reindeer husbandry still exists and comprises 35 units (reindeer pastoralist landscapes) related to four taxonomic levels. The present zoning scheme of Russian reindeer husbandry is, on the one hand, a result but, on the other hand, a tool for further research on reindeer pastoralism within a holistic landscape ecology approach.

Background Globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2023 report, more than 14.3 million children in low- and middle-income countries, primarily in Africa and South-East Asia, are not receiving any vaccinations. Ethiopia is one of the top ten countries contributing to the global number of zero-dose children. Objective To estimate the prevalence of zero-dose children and associated factors in underserved populations of Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional vaccine coverage survey was conducted in June 2022. The study participants were mothers of children aged 12–35 months. Data were collected using the CommCare application system and later analysed using Stata version 17. Vaccination coverage was estimated using a weighted analysis approach. A generalized estimating equation model was fitted to determine the predictors of zero-dose children. An adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and a p -value of 0.05 or less was considered statistically significant. Results The overall prevalence of zero-dose children in the study settings was 33.7% (95% CI: 34.9%, 75.7%). Developing and pastoralist regions, internally displaced peoples, newly formed regions, and conflict-affected areas had the highest prevalence of zero-dose children. Wealth index (poorest [AOR = 2.78; 95% CI: 1.70, 4.53], poorer [AOR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.02, 3.77]), single marital status [AOR = 2.4; 95% CI: 1.7, 3.3], and maternal age (15–24 years) [AOR = 1.2; 95% CI: 1.1, 1.3] were identified as key determinant factors of zero-dose children in the study settings. Additional factors included fewer than four Antenatal care visits (ANC) [AOR = 1.3; 95% CI: 1.2, 1.4], not receiving Postnatal Care (PNC) services [AOR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.5, 3.0], unavailability of health facilities within the village [AOR = 3.7; 95% CI: 2.6, 5.4], women-headed household [AOR = 1.3; 95% CI:1.02, 1.7], low gender empowerment [AOR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.3, 2.1], and medium gender empowerment [AOR = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.2, 2.5]. Conclusion In the study settings, the prevalence of zero-dose children is very high. Poor economic status, disempowerment of women, being unmarried, young maternal age, and underutilizing antenatal or post-natal services are the important predictors. Therefore, it is recommended to target tailored integrated and context-specific service delivery approach. Moreover, extend immunization sessions opening hours during the evening/weekend in the city administrations to meet parents’ needs.

Background Adolescents have special sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) needs and are susceptible to poor health outcomes. The global burden of ill sexual health includes a significant proportion of Adolescents. The existing ASRH services in Ethiopia and particularly in the Afar region are currently not well suited to meet the needs of pastoralist adolescents. This study assesses the level of ASRH service utilization among pastoralists in Afar regional state, Ethiopia. Method A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2021 in four randomly chosen pastoralist villages or kebeles of Afar, Ethiopia. A multistage cluster sampling procedure was used to select 766 volunteer adolescents aged 10–19. SRH services uptake was measured asking whether they had used any SRH service components during the last year. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews with a structured questionnaire; data entry was done with Epi info 3.5.1. Logistic regression analyses was used to assess associations with SRH service uptake. SPSS version 23 statistical software package was used for advanced logistic regression analyses to assess the associations between dependent and predictor variables. Results The study revealed that two-thirds or 513 (67%) of the respondents are aware of ASRH services. However, only one-fourth (24.5%) of the enrolled adolescents used at least one ASRH service in the past twelve months. ASRH services utilization was significantly associated with gender (being female [AOR = 1.87 (CI 1.29–2.70)], being in school [AOR = 2.38(CI: 1.05–5.41), better family income [AOR = 10.92 (CI; 7.10–16.80)], prior discussions of ASRH issues [AOR = 4.53(CI: 2.52, 8.16)], prior sexual exposure [AOR = 4.75(CI: 1.35–16.70)], and being aware of ASRH services [AOR = 1.96 (CI: 1.02–3.822)]. Being pastoralist, religious and cultural restrictions, fear of it becoming known by parents, services not being available, income, and lack of knowledge were found to deter ASRH service uptake. Conclusion Addressing ASRH needs of pastoralist adolescents is more urgent than ever, sexual health problems are increasing where these groups face broad hurdles to SRH service uptake. Although Ethiopian national policy has created an enabling environment for ASRH, multiple implementation issues require special attention to such neglected groups. “Gender-culture-context-appropriate” interventions are favorable to identify and meet the diverse needs of Afar pastoralist adolescents. Afar regional education bureau and concerned stakeholders need to improve adolescent education to overcome social barriers (e.g. humiliation, disgrace, and deterring gender norms) against ASRH services through community outreach programs. In addition, economic empowerment, peer education, adolescent counseling, and parent-youth communication will help address sensitive ASRH issues.