Pastoralists usually have a little access to finance, health and education services or communications. New technologies are changing the picture quickly. These technologies, such as mobile phones, offer new tools for livelihood improvement in pastoralist communities. In this context the youth play a big role in introducing and spreading new technologies.

Women traditionally have defined roles (such as looking after young animals and small stock), while the men are responsible for herding. But women often have little say in major decisions, and few girls go to school.

Pastoralists are an important component of the indigenous struggle, although their arguments and needs sometimes have not been efficiently captured by the discussions. These shortcomings are often related to their need for mobility, communal tenure and shared use of their land.

Key fora in which pastoralists are currently engaged include:

• The UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII),
• The International Fund for Agriculture Development’s Indigenous Peoples Forum,
• The World Bank safeguard policies for the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF),
• The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Expert Mechanism for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP),
• Pastoralists are also involved in the discussions on The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity.