Kenya’s University of the Bush mobilised pastoral capacities. Photo: Pastoralist Communication Initiative
In the face of frequent droughts and other environmental shocks in East Africa there is a growing consensus on the need to act in advance of crises to minimise their effects and support the wellbeing of humans and animals. Anticipatory Action has become the mantra.
However, acting early is not straightforward. Working with a diverse community of practice composed of humanitarian agencies, civil society organizations, government officials and pastoralists, the Jameel Observatory for Food Security Early Action has identified five key challenges in this area: data, finance, coordination, trust and local action. The Observatory has been working in each of these areas through research, convening dialogue, fostering collaboration and communication.
Capacities for effective anticipatory action emerged as a further critical challenge during our Community of Practice meeting in 2023 and has been reiterated by several key stakeholders in the region since.
In mid-2024, in response to this challenge, the Jameel Observatory will launch a Drylands Academy to build capacities, expertise and know-how among a range of actors involved in food security early warning/early action in East Africa’s drylands.
To be hosted in Africa, this collaboration will draw from expertise and excellence of the Observatory partners: In particular, it will combine ILRI’s applied capacity, research and development track record with the strong education credentials of the University of Edinburgh. The Academy will also draw on our other partner’s expertise – the frontline experience of Save the Children UK, the research and evaluation and policy engagement skills of J-PAL, and the wide international networks of Community Jameel.
We also look to partner with other agencies working in this area, drawing in expertise on drylands, education, training and innovative approaches to capacity development and delivery.
Still under early development, the initial idea is for the Academy to deliver face to face, online and blended learning as well as on the job fellowships and project opportunities.
A Massive Open Online Course from IIED
The Academy aims to build critical capacities among those working in and for the drylands, enhancing the transformative anticipatory and management capacities of pastoral communities and the agencies serving them.
In the coming months, we will discuss and refine these ideas with partners and develop an overall educational framework to help shape and take this agenda forward. We invite you to join with us in co-developing the Academy concept or to work on specific components.