West and Central Africa

Western and Central Africa is considered pastoral, with approximately 13% of its inhabitants being nomadic or semi-nomadic, including the Tuareg, Fulani, Peuls, Maures, and other ethnic groups. The Sahel covers about 5.7 million hectares between the Sahara and the wetter savannah to the south. It is characterized by an alteration of a long dry season (8-9 months) followed by a short rainy season (3-4 months), which directly impacts the available vegetation and fodder resources. Pastoralists in the region follow long mobility routes, crossing multiple countries from the edge of the Sahara to the coastal countries.

Camels, cattle, sheep, and goats are kept in pastoral and agropastoral production systems in this region. Livestock production accounts for at least 25% of the GDP of countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Chad. Animal-source products are the leading item in the food industry trade and the second most important in the overall commercial trade in the Sahel. It provides employment to 80% of the population, produces meat and other commodities, and provides draught power. The sector also generates tens of billions of West African CFA francs in terms of value addition in coastal countries such as Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo.

These days, the Sahel is experiencing an increase in herder-farmer conflicts in agropastoral areas. The disruption of mobility routes, land acquisition for agro-industrial projects, increasing climate fluctuations, and adverse policies have increased the vulnerability of pastoral communities, resulting in their concentration in specific resource zones, which has increased the threat of violence. These conflicts are often also linked to religious extremism and ethnic violence. Many youths from pastoral areas are now migrating to cities or other countries, including Europe.

The priorities of pastoralists in this region include securing and facilitating pastoral mobility, which is essential for following seasonal pasture cycles and avoiding conflicts. Economic and social support, including inclusion in decision-making processes and access to microfinance, is crucial for marginalized pastoralist communities. Climate change adaptation is vital, requiring initiatives to promote resilient and sustainable practices. Security concerns, such as threats from armed groups and cattle rustling, must be addressed to protect pastoralists and their herds. Innovation and technology, such as livestock tracking systems and mobile applications, can play a key role in modernizing pastoralism. Improving access to health, education, and veterinary services is necessary for pastoralist welfare. Additionally, government policies and support are needed for natural resource management, training, and financial assistance. Addressing these priorities through frameworks like cross-border dialogues and community development programs is crucial for ensuring the sustainability of pastoralism and improving the living conditions of pastoralists in the region.

Several regional initiatives support pastoralism in this region, with a focus on improving food security, economic resilience, and cross-border cooperation. The Food Security and Nutrition Initiative (FSN) aims to build pastoralists’ capacity in sustainable resource management and animal productivity. The FAO has supported monitoring and early warning systems to help livestock farmers better anticipate crises while also working on institutional capacity building in pastoral management and land policy. The Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) project in the Liptako-Gourma area focuses on strengthening cross-border cooperation, creating decent jobs, and rehabilitating community infrastructure. Regional networks such as the Association for the Promotion of the Livestock in the Sahel and the Savanna (APESS), Réseau Billital Maroobe (RBM), Confederation of Traditional Herder Organization of Nigeria (CORET), Réseau des Peuples Pasteurs du Sahel (PRPS) are active in decision-making processes, advocating for pastoralists’ rights and needs. These efforts are complemented by broader regional projects like PRAPS (Regional Sahel Pastoralism Support Project) and PREDIP (Regional Dialogues and Investment Project for Pastoralism and Transhumance in the Sahel and Coastal countries of West Africa), which support pastoralism and transhumance across the Sahel.

At the 4^th high-level meeting in West Africa in 2017, RBM and APESS put forward the proposal to implement mechanisms and facilitate coordination between the Sahel and Coastal countries for a peaceful transhumance. Pastoralists have been issued transhumance certificates to allow cross-border movement.

In October 2019, livestock experts from 17 countries across the ECOWAS-West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA)-CILSS area gathered at the 6^th high-level meeting on the theme, “Peaceful transhumance and livestock mobility in the Sahel and West African coastal countries.” Several counties, such as Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, are developing Pastoral Codes to regulate resource access and mobility. Representatives from the regional civil society networks have also participated in policy processes such as the Committee on World Food Security and the Global Agenda on Sustainable Livestock Transformation, as well as technical meetings at the regional level.

The Hub has worked extensively with the regional civil society networks. The Hub supported:

RBM to organize a regional meeting of pastoral representatives in Bamako, Mali in January 2015.
A study on perennial fodder sources with the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRAN) in Niger and facilitated a study of the indigenous food system in Mali.
A country-wide study of pastoralism data in Chad was conducted through the IFAD-funded project on the Pastoralist Driven Data Management System in partnership with RBM.
Various FAO initiatives in the region, such as the VGGT implementation and capacity building and a study on youth migration from pastoral areas in Chad and Burkina Faso.
The establishment of multistakeholder platforms and transhumance committees and three local guides were developed inclusively with pastoral organizations in Mali, Mauritania,and Nigerto organize more secure and peaceful transhumance.
The development of a white paper on the benefits arising from transhumance in the region to support advocacy initiatives promoting cross-border mobility.
A study on the economic contribution of pastoral households to GDP in Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger highlighting the crucial role of pastoral livestock in household economic resilience.