Promoting peaceful transhumance

Context

Transhumance – a process whereby herders and their herds of animals seasonally move between grazing areas – is the most important form of livestock production around Lake Chad in Central and Western Africa. As such, it makes an essential contribution to the region’s economy and food security.

For centuries, transhumance worked in harmony with settled farmers and a low population density. However, over recent years the increasingly noticeable effects of climate change, the expansion of agricultural land, the rise in livestock numbers and population growth have been driving a decline in grazing areas and access to natural resources such as water. For this reason, conflicts are on the rise and are threatening herders’ livelihoods as well as cultural practices and protected areas.

Objective

Government instruments for a peaceful and inclusive cross-border transhumance are developed further. Additionally, the methods for preventing crises in cross-border transhumance are improved and shared throughout the regions.

Approach

The project provides advice to regional organisations so that regional rules around transhumance are developed further and harmonised. It also contributes to the improvement of strategies and programmes for transhumance.

In addition, the project supports regional governments in the inclusive management of transhumance and the development of mechanisms for preventing conflicts. For example, making it common practice for regional governments to organise transhumance, i.e. the move to different grazing areas at certain times of year. This is integrated into a concept of integrated resources management.

The project also processes tried-and-tested practices – for example land commissions in Niger that adjudicate on land conflicts. In addition, the project promotes the exchange of experience across institutions and borders.

Last update: June 2023