Why We Need Pro-Pastoralist Policies

Pastoralism holds tremendous socio-economic significance while contributing to territorial and climatic resilience, ecological balance and cultural diversity. Yet pastoralism continues to be misunderstood and undermined. 2026 is the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. Let’s support pastoralists!
European policies and projects in the areas of biodiversity, nature conservation, agriculture, trade and climate change have a significant impact on pastoralism and on the human rights of pastoralists in Eastern Africa.
We call on European institutions and policymakers to recognise, valorise, protect and support pastoralism. By investing in pro-pastoralist policies and programmes, European institutions can promote social and political stability, environmental resilience and economic inclusion in Eastern Africa.
The livestock sector tends to be regarded negatively in national climate and biodiversity strategies. Livestock is seen as a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, as well as a cause of biodiversity loss via ecosystem degradation. The positive contributions of pastoralism to biodiversity and food
security are not properly considered.
We call on Eastern African countries to include pastoralism-based strategies in their national climate and biodiversity strategies.
We identify 7 pro-pastoralist measures and call on the EU and Eastern African States to: (1) Protect pastoralists’ lands and livestock mobility; (2) Support food and water security and economic resilience; (3) Invest in decentralised infrastructure development and ensure people-led service delivery in pastoral areas; (4) Ensure socio-ecological and climate resilience; (5) Enhance pastoralist institutions,
voices and culture; (6) Raise awareness and address negative stereotypes; (7) Finance public research on pastoralism.