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Kenyan families in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) are among more than 100,000 households set to benefit from a €47 million (Sh6.1 billion) programme designed to strengthen the resilience of pastoralists in Eastern Africa.

The four-year programme, implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Union (EU), aims to support households across Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

FAO’s director at the Office of Emergencies and Resilience, Rein Paulsen, said in a statement posted that the Pastoralism and Livestock Adaptation to Climate Change in Eastern Africa Programme (PLACE) can address challenges in developing sustainable, climate-resilient pastoral systems. These systems address the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of pastoralism in the face of a rapidly changing climate.

“We welcome this timely programme as the region’s rangelands face increased incidence and severity of climate-related shocks and a gradual degradation of the natural resource base,” said Paulsen.

Livestock as major lifeline

He observed that livestock is a lifeline for over 250 million people in the region and is deeply embedded in the communities’ social, cultural, and spiritual fabric.

Pastoralists undertake livestock keeping not only as a commercial enterprise but also as a social investment.

“They have provided, over centuries, ecosystem services that are difficult to convert into commercial values, with these intangible values comprising many interrelated cultural and environmental benefits. However, pastoralism is at a critical juncture,” he added.

He argued that societal shifts in the region mean fewer young people are interested in what is traditionally considered a pastoral lifestyle. In addition, severe and frequent droughts have devastated rangelands, resulting in the loss of over 13 million livestock between late 2020 and early 2024.

PLACE’s holistic approach aims to foster an environment that promotes comprehensive and innovative solutions to enhance resilience, improve food security, and establish sustainable livelihoods. The project will be implemented across four cross-border cluster areas —the Bahr el-Arab, Karamoja, Mandera, and Mara-Serengeti Clusters—spanning Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Efforts will focus on several key areas, including strengthening land tenure systems, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, preserving biodiversity and natural resources, building strong local economies within the livestock sector, fostering sustainable economic growth, reducing resource-based conflicts, and creating jobs. The program’s initiatives will aim to improve living conditions, ensure fairness and inclusivity, and amplify the voices and participation of pastoralists, with particular attention to gender and youth inclusion.