Policy framework for Pastoralism in Africa

and Burundi) have multi-faceted development challenges. For example, levels of poverty rangefrom 57 percent in Rwanda to 71% in the DRC; in DRC the level of poverty among pastoral communities(80 percent) is higher than the national average. In Burundi the livestock sector contributes14 percent to national GDP and 29 percent to agricultural GDP.2.3.4 Eastern AfricaThe multipurpose socioeconomic and cultural features of pastoralism are better exploited in EastAfrica compared to other regions. The region includes Sudan and Somalia which are major livestockexporters to the Gulf States, whereas Ethiopia has a substantial informal export trade throughSomalia, and a growing formal export trade to the Gulf States, Egypt, Sudan and other countries.Most of the livestock entering these markets are sourced from pastoral areas. Livestock exportfacilities along the northern Somali coast and Djibouti continue to grow, often with private sectorinvestment. Eastern Africa is also characterized by exploitation of pastoral areas for wildlife conservationand tourism, especially in Kenya and Tanzania, although the extent to which revenuesbenefit pastoralists is unclear. The region also has substantial oil, mineral and natural gas reservesin pastoral areas.In Sudan, the pastoral-dominated livestock sector contributes 80 percent of the agricultural GDP.In Ethiopia the livestock-dependant leather industry is the second largest source of foreign currencyafter coffee. Recent reviews of the livestock sector in Ethiopia conducted by government indicatea substantial under-valuing of the sector. In Uganda, pastoralist and small livestock producerscontribute the fourth largest share of foreign currency earnings. Kenya and Tanzania have vast aridlands occupied by pastoralists, who supply the substantial domestic meat markets.2.3.5 Southern AfricaIn South Africa pastoralism account for about 60 per cent of the national cattle herd, where thelivestock sector, including pastoralism, is an important meat export market for neighbouringNamibia. In Namibia pastoral-dominated livestock sector contributes 3 per cent of GDP and 28percent of the agricultural GDP. Namibian pastoralists hold 80 per cent of the national cattle herd,which contribute about one-third of income in traditional households. Pastoralism seems to playa less important role in the economies of Lesotho, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Angola.2.4 Social and cultural contextsThere are approximately 268 million African pastoralists and therefore, pastoral culture is a corepart of Africa’s culture, history and heritage. In common with other peoples in Africa, pastoralgroups have their own languages and traditions, a rich body of oral and written stories and poetry,and songs and music.The livestock and natural resource management practices used by pastoralists require well organizedcollective action, especially in the harsh environments in which they live. Pastoralists organizethemselves to split herds and move animals to distant grazing areas, to control access to communalgrazing areas, to manage the watering of livestock, and to provide security. Partly for these reasons,pastoralists have very strong social organizations and leadership. In pastoral ecosystems of theMediterranean, Saharan and sub-Saharan zone, Islam is a common religion and the rules of access18 Policy framework for Pastoralism in Africa