Stakeholders meet for EAC's meeting on Pastoralism and Drylands Development

On June 17^th to 18^th 2013, The East Africa Community(EAC) regional secretariat called a session to discuss the regional issues on land in Drylands of EAC and thereafter develop a regional action plan for pastoralist in these Drylands. In this regard, TNRF participated as a key stakeholder working in the area of Pastoralism and Drylands development in Tanzania alongside a few other representatives from Tanzania including the Ministry of Livestock Development and Fisheries; and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives. Other equally important participants were official representatives from other Partner States, that is, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.

Rationale

The East African region consist of large swaths of Dryland areas in which livestock keeping is practiced as the main economic activity, pre-dominantly the pastoralism system. Pastoralism in Drylands is a complex nexus of man managing livestock in vast rangelands with scarce natural resources. This state of affairs presents formidable challenges that the pastoralist communities in the Drylands of EAC are experiencing. The EAC Agriculture and Food Security Council of Ministers during its 3^rd meeting held on the 19^th of August, 2011, cognizant of the challenges pastoralists face in the Drylands of East Africa directed the EAC Secretariat to constitute a Regional Steering Committee on Pastoralism and Drylands Development to advise it on these matters.

Proceedings

In this Regional working group meeting, the following were presented and discussed by esteemed members of the various Partner State Institutions.

The Background Paper: Pastoralism and Drylands Development in The EAC

By Timothy Wesonga, EAC Secretariat

This presentation highlighted the Challenges in the Drylands of the EAC that include; the climate change challenge, the “Land Rush” Challenge and the Policy Challenge in the region.

Policy Framework for Pastoralism in Africa

By Dr. Edward M. Nengomasha, Animal Production Expert, AU- IBAR

This presentation focused on the objectives and strategies of the framework, progress towards its implementation, and the role of non-state actors under the framework, pastoralists’ opportunities and challenges under the AU Pastoralism Policy Framework. 

Foreign Direct Investment in the Drylands of EAC

By Benjamin Mutambukah, Chairman - Coalition of Pastoralist Civil Society Organizations (COPACSO), Uganda

In his presentation, Benjamin talked about Land grabbing and large scale acquisitions, “The raising interests in farmlands”. Proceeding into details, the drivers for the affair – Food, Fuel, Finance; and Carbon Markets, was discussed followed by a review on the perceptions on investment in Drylands and Policy Responses.

The TNRF Experience on Land in Pastoral Areas

By Mary .W. Marealle, Drylands Programme Officer – Tanzania Natural Resource Forum

This presentation took the audience through a brief informative journey on Pastoralism and Drylands in Tanzania and addressing the land issues whilst highlighting the current challenge posed by Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs).

Pastoralism: Alternative Livelihoods

By Prof. Abdi Yakub Guliye, Associate Professor of Animal Nutrition – Egerton University, Kenya

Professor Guliye adequately covered the Drivers of alternative livelihoods in pastoralism and the various potential alternative activities for the Drylands. Further, Prof Guliye insisted on the need for pastoralism to adopt to other Drylands activities, thus complementing pastoralism, due to the increased world dynamics and economic global patterns and patents.

Conclusion, Recommendation and Way Forward

Winding up the two days session was a group discussion on a paper by the EAC titled, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation for Pastoralists in the EAC - Regional Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan of Action for Enhancing Resilience of pastoralists. From the discussion, the essence of information sharing amongst the 3 partner states was insisted upon together with the cross-border initiatives. A couple of points were highlighted as the way forward during this session. The Major points included;

• The establishment of National and Regional (EAC) sterling committee that oversees pastoralism and climate change issues in the Region.
• Establishment of units to coordinate pastoralism and climate change issues at National Level and EAC Secretariat Level.
• Country-wise advocacy on filling the knowledge gap on pastoralism in all levels, Local, National and Regional and/or International level.