On 6 and 7 May, the Observatory is co-organizing a pavilion at the GLF Africa event on ‘Stewarding Our Rangelands.’ With eight sessions spread across the two days, the pavilion aims to bridge global discourse with local realities and contribute to the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.
Showcasing practical solutions for pastoralist futures, the pavilion is a joint effort by Welthungerhilfe (WHH); Jameel Observatory for Food Security Early Action (JO); International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI); Pastoralist Community Initiative and Development Assistance (PACIDA); Karamoja Herders of the Horn (KHH); Lotus Kenya Action for Development Organization (LOKADO); Action for Development (AFD); and the Resource Conflict Institute (RECONCILE).
The eight sessions, see below, bring together expertise from across the Greater Horn of Africa to provide opportunities to strengthen collaboration across research, policy, the private sector, civil society and pastoralist communities. They are delivered alongside the wider GLF Africa hybrid conference that aims to elevate sustainable rangeland management and pastoralists on the regional and global development agenda.
Our pavilion program is guided by a recognition that rangelands really matter – but are often forgotten; that several key challenges undermine the resilience of rangleands; but we can be optimistic and grasp opportunities to enhance both the resilience of rangelands as well as the prosperity of people who live in them.
Why Rangelands Matter
- Rangelands cover more than half of the world’s land surface and support the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people, particularly in Africa’s drylands.
- Pastoral and agropastoral systems are central to maintaining these landscapes while contributing to resilient food systems.
Key Rangeland Challenges
- Rangelands remain under-prioritized in policy, financing, and development planning.
- Short-term humanitarian responses dominate, limiting long-term resilience.
- Mobility systems are increasingly restricted, undermining adaptive pastoral systems.
- Local communities are insufficiently included in decision-making and governance.
Rangeland Opportunities
- Recognize rangeland potential: Rangelands are climate, economic, and food system assets that sustain livelihoods, food security, biodiversity, and climate resilience.
- Shift from Aid to Long-Term Investment: Move from short-term responses to sustained, investment-driven approaches that strengthen livelihoods, markets, and ecosystem restoration.
- Strengthen Local Leadership and Governance: Support locally led solutions, secure land and resource access, and strengthen inclusive governance systems led by pastoral communities. Scale Anticipatory Action and Climate Services: Invest in early warning systems, climate information, and anticipatory action to reduce risk and protect livelihoods before crises escalate.
- Protect Mobility and Transhumance Systems: Recognize mobility as a core climate adaptation strategy and integrate it into policy, planning, and cross-border frameworks.
- Promote Climate Justice and Social Inclusion: Ensure all groups are meaningfully included in governance, finance and policy frameworks.