The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Union (EU) have formed a strategic partnership. 

This collaboration aims to tackle the urgent issues confronting pastoralist communities in Eastern Africa. The partnership will focus on addressing these pressing challenges through coordinated efforts.

The €47 million program aims to enhance food security, resilience, and livelihoods for millions of people who depend on livestock for their sustenance and income.

Pastoralism, a traditional livelihood system centered on livestock rearing, is deeply ingrained in the cultures and economies of many Eastern African countries. 

These communities play a vital role in food production, trade, and ecosystem management. 

However, they face significant impacts from climate change, including erratic rainfall patterns and prolonged droughts. 

Weather conditions have become increasingly unpredictable. These climate shocks worsen food insecurity and strain pastoralist households.

 Economic vulnerabilities and limited access to essential services further compound these issues. 

The FAO-EU initiative, known as the Pastoralism and Livestock Adaptation to Climate Change in Eastern Africa Programme (PLACE), is designed to boost the resilience of pastoralist communities.

This comprehensive effort focuses on four key cross-border regions: Bahr el-Arab, Karamoja, Mandera, and Mara-Serengeti. 

The program is set to benefit over 100,000 households. It spans across Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

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A cornerstone of the PLACE program is strengthening land tenure systems. The initiative focuses on securing land rights for pastoralist communities.

By doing so, it aims to empower these communities and reduce land-related conflicts. Additionally, the program facilitates access to essential services. 

With secure land rights, pastoralists can make long-term investments in their livelihoods. 

This includes improving livestock breeds, adopting climate-smart practices, and diversifying income sources.

The program will invest in early warning systems and climate information services. It will also focus on livestock health interventions. 

The measures aim to boost pastoralists’ ability to anticipate and respond to climate shocks.

Timely updates on weather patterns, disease outbreaks, and market trends will be provided. This will help pastoralists make informed decisions and lower their risk of losses.

The PLACE program also recognizes the importance of market development and access for pastoralist communities. 

By improving infrastructure and facilitating market linkages, the program aims to help pastoralists secure better prices for their livestock and products. 

This will boost their incomes, enhance food security, and support local economic development. 

The program will also focus on building pastoralist communities’ capacity to adapt to climate change. 

Through knowledge sharing, technology transfer, and capacity development, pastoralists will learn climate-smart practices. 

These include improved grazing management, drought-resistant livestock breeds, and water harvesting techniques.

The FAO-EU partnership in the PLACE program marks a significant advancement in addressing the challenges faced by pastoralist communities in Eastern Africa. 

By investing in resilience, livelihoods, and sustainable development, the program aims to transform millions of lives. It also contributes to a more food-secure and climate-resilient region. 

Discover supplementary details regarding this article by reading this post: https://www.fao.org/europeanunion/en.