Policy framework for Pastoralism in Africa

all passed legislation specifically in support of pastoralism. These laws were motivated by a desireto address the growing problem of conflict between pastoralists and farmers, and collectively, thelaws present many positive features:--Recognition and protection of mobility: there are strong provisions within both the PastoralCharter in Mali and the Pastoral Code in Mauritania that protect mobility.--Recognition of priority use rights over resources: the Rural Code in Niger recognises thatresidents are ‘primary users’ and have priority rights of access and use.--Recognition of ‘productive’ pastoral land use: the Pastoral Charter defines productive use ofpastoral land in a positive way.In Central Africa there are also examples of supportive policy processes for pastoralists. The introduction,by the Government of Chad, of a mobile school system was designed to provide educationservices to the children of pastoralists during transhumance. The Government of Cameroun hasappointed the sons and daughters of pastoralists in positions where they are directly responsiblefor designing and implementing appropriate livestock development measures and promoting theemancipation of pastoralists. The Government of the Central African Republic has recognized theimportance of pastoralists for the national economy, with subsequent allocation to pastoralistcommunities of land and appropriate veterinary services.In North Africa, pastoralists have been benefitting from broad-based, government supported livestockdevelopment programs designed and properly implemented e.g. in Algeria, Libya and Tunisia.More positive policy experiences are also beginning to emerge in Eastern Africa, with related effortsto improve coordination and understanding of pastoralism across central government.For example, in Kenya the Ministry of State for the Development of Northern Kenya and otherArid Lands was created in 2008, and has a multi-sectoral coordination role. An example of progressivepolicy influence includes the development of a policy framework for nomadic education,with the Ministry of Education, with attention to distance learning as a means to reach distant andmobile pastoral children.All of the policy processes outlined above are taking place within a trend of government decentralisationand localisation in many parts of Africa, and these trends have multifaceted implicationsfor pastoral development. Among other issues, they are meant to bring the issues of developmentcloser to the people. These have brought desirable outcomes when they are matched with the correspondingpower and resources. Capacity issues need to be addressed if the process of politicaldecentralisation is to bring sustainable change and development.Regional Economic Communities (RECs) are recognized by the AU as the pillars of African integration.At the level of RECs, the ECOWAS decision agreed in Abuja in October 1998 provided aregional framework for cross-border transhumance between fifteen member states. The decisionauthorized cross-border transhumance in respect of certain conditions, the chief of which was thegranting of an International Transhumance Certificate. The certificate aimed to: allow a controlof departing livestock herds; assure the protection of animal health of local herds in the host country;inform in good time the populations of ‘welcoming areas’ of the arrival of herds from neighbouringcountries. The rights of non-resident mobile herders are protected by the host countrieslegislation, but they also have to abide by the laws of the host country in relation to forests, wildlife,Securing, Protecting and Improving the Lives, Livelihoods and Rights of Pastoralist Communities23