GLOBAL PASTORALIST GATHERING
Dec 9th – 15th 2013
Ending the year 2013 in Kaijado- Kenya is a global gathering of mobile livestock keeper from over 40 countries from all over the world including Tanzania. Hosted by IUCN in collaboration with UNEP and WAMIP [World Alliance for Mobile Indigenous People], this gathering mainly aim to strategize on implementing sustainable pastoralism for a sustainable future. TNRF, as a stakeholder of natural resource governance, had a pleasure to be part of this united gathering and from it; voices and experiences for Tanzania were shared.
Complementing the main agenda, Pastoralism for a Sustainable Future, a series of viable and discussions centered on a “unified voice”. These included;
Challenges and opportunities on developing pastoralism. Promoting investment on pastoralism
Pastoralist for sustainable development goal
Endorsing the multiple values of pastoralism
Strengthening rights and empowerment of pastoralists
Pastoralism and the transition to a green economy; Development of recommendation
Introduction and Discussion on the FAOs Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock and the LEAP Partnership. Introduction to the Thematic Areas
RAI – Responsible Agricultural Investment
And as resulting most of the intense discussions, Regional groups to seeing the agendas through were developed under the WAMIP umbrella. The regional group including Tanzania was formed constituting also of Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. This Eastern Africa group agreed to an alliance affiliation networking idea under the umbrella name, WAMIP, East African Chapter.
WAMIP EA Chapter does not imply a new organ but rather a joint communication strategy for a regional voice on pastoral issues. A structure of a secretariat is still a matter of discussion but tentatively 3 members from each country will directly represent individual states. Tentatively each country should have a government representation, non-government representation and community [community authority] representation. WAMIP EA anticipates on speaking on behalf of the region to WAMIP Global and other global initiatives reached.
Attending the Gathering has proven more fruitful and with UNEP as the United Nations representative and funder, ideas shared by the group have taken advocacy anew – to a global perspective.
Immediate Outcomes
World pastoralist day awareness – November 22nd
Regional networks formed, strategies on advocacy on progress
Global youth movement network on pastoralism awareness formed. A Facebook page and other media awareness tools used especially by youth to be formed
Individual networks and experience sharing on pastoral issues
Civil Society Mechanism [CSM] working group formed