Policy framework for Pastoralism in Africa

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many African countries have already made considerable advances in terms of supporting alternativeanimal health delivery systems with pastoralists, especially systems which link community-basedanimal health workers to higher levels of para-veterinarians and veterinary professionals. There isalso increasing support to the private sector provision of clinical services, under the regulation andsupervision of national veterinary services. All of these approaches are supported by the internationalstandards of the World Animal Health Organization (Office international des epizooties)and AU/DREA. Some African countries have also revised veterinary legislation as a means to formalizeand regulate privatized, CAHW-type systems in pastoral areas. There is now a need forfurther support to these systems to ensure wider application in pastoral areas, and stronger linksto national livestock disease surveillance systems.b) Risk-based disaster managementThe principles of risk-based drought management are widely known in Africa. Drought is a slowonsetdisaster and although the exact timing of drought cannot be predicted, within a given period(e.g. five years) it can be predicted that a major drought will occur at least once. Therefore, droughtis both expected within a given timeframe, and when it occurs, allows sufficient time for detectionand early response.Evaluations of early drought responses in pastoral areas of Africa have demonstrated the economicrationale for working with pastoralists to protect core livestock assets during drought. Pastoralistsrarely aim to protect all livestock when drought occurs, but focus on the maintenance of adultbreeding stock with a view to maximizing post-drought recovery. Early market-based interventionssuch as commercial destocking with private sector partners, combined with supplementary feedingof selected breeding stock, have been highly effective. These approaches are supported by internationalguidelines and standards for emergency livestock projects, and in some countries, nationaldrought management guidelines.However, livelihoods-based drought cycle management has yet to be fully institutionalized in mostAfrican countries whereas in contrast, food aid is institutionalized and therefore, the standardresponse to drought. Strategy 2.3 includes the need to re-align disaster management policies towardsrisk-based, livelihoods approaches and early response in pastoral area, rather than waiting forlivelihoods crises to evolve, and then delivering food aid.Strategy 2.4 Marketing of pastoral livestock and livestock productsThe marketing of pastoral livestock and livestock products takes place at three levels: domestic,regional (including cross-border trade), and international. Some constraints to market access canbe common across all three broad market categories, whereas other constraints are specific to thetype of market. For example, excessive taxation is a common constraint, whereas internationalstandards and related challenges apply mainly to access to international markets. Each type ofmarket also has advantages and disadvantages, with high value markets in terms of foreign exchangebeing relatively high risk and high cost, compared to lower value domestic markets which carrylower risks. There are also area-specific variations in constraints and options, and many constraintsare not specific to the livestock sector e.g. the availability of air freight to transport chilled meatwithin Africa. It follows that efforts to improve the marketing of livestock and livestock productsrequire economic and market analysis, including comparative analysis of the different marketSecuring, Protecting and Improving the Lives, Livelihoods and Rights of Pastoralist Communities39
options. In general, much previous policy analysis has tended to emphasize access to high-valueexports market to Europe. Therefore, while this strategy certainly does not discourage investmentsfor the European markets, it also stresses the need for far more attention to markets within Africa,and the need to support regional trade. The general trend of urbanization in Africa indicates agrowing domestic market for meat and milk which is an important opportunity for pastoral producers.There are also growing markets in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. A second strategyrelates to added value, and where economically viable, the need to retain value locally throughmore processing of livestock products.As with other areas of pastoral development, it is recognized that some countries and RECs arealready enhancing support to livestock marketing. For example, the creation of certification systemsto formalize African regional and cross-border livestock trade is an important development, tailoredto regional contexts.In addition to the generic need for market analysis with stakeholders, are the following specificstrategies:i. Develop livestock value chains, improve market access, reduce livestock trade barriers andnon-tariff barriers, enhancing market information systems and financing mechanisms;ii. Support the development of infrastructure and communications which enable livestock tradefrom pastoral areas, with emphasis on road networks and mobile phone networks;iii. Support economic analyses of the potential for free regional trade in livestock and livestockproducts and other commodities in pastoral areas to generate relevant benefits to participatingcountries; this includes cost-benefit analyses of conventional ‘border control and taxation’approaches compared with forex arrangements and commodity imports in free trade areas;iv. Develop comprehensive regional TAD control programmes based on contemporary epidemiological,economic and market analysis in cross-border pastoral ecosystems, with involvementof all relevant stakeholders;v. Coordinate and organize African representation at the international standard setting bodiesresponsible for trade standards on food safety and disease control.Strategy 2.5 Financial and insurance services tailored to pastoral areasIn common with many other services, conventional banking systems are not accessible to mostpastoralists. Formal loan arrangements are also based on collateral, defined in part as insurableassets. Although pastoralists can possess substantial financial capital in the form of livestock,in general the banking systems in Africa do not classify livestock as insurable, and therefore,pastoralists are excluded from formal credit systems.In some countries there are progressive, alternative credit systems developed by private or government-ownedbanks that are tailored to the pastoral context. These schemes warrant expansionacross pastoral areas, with relevant policy and regulatory support. Two important elements includelivestock insurance arrangements, thereby providing pastoralists with collateral against which tosecure loans, and, mobile phone networks which enable low-cost financial transactions to and fromremote areas. Livestock insurance also has important implications for risk-based drought management,particularly if pilot schemes currently underway in Africa prove to be operationally andeconomically feasible.40 Policy framework for Pastoralism in Africa
Page 2 and 3: DEPARTMENT OF RURAL ECONOMY AND AGR
Page 4 and 5: 2.4 Social and cultural contexts 18
Page 6 and 7: AbbreviationsAUAUCAU/DREAAU/IBARCAA
Page 8 and 9: traditional pastoral institutions i
Page 10 and 11: people. The key principles of this
Page 12 and 13: devising effective governance frame
Page 14 and 15: 2.2.1 Mediterranean and Saharan zon
Page 16 and 17: equatorial humid forest. Pastoral a
Page 18 and 19: pastoral areas include the use of l
Page 20 and 21: to pasture and water resources are
Page 22 and 23: In Burundi where population pressur
Page 24 and 25: all passed legislation specifically
Page 26 and 27: with resident farmers. These proble
Page 28 and 29: issues, they are meant to bring the
Page 30 and 31: i) Climate changePastoralist produc
Page 32 and 33: policies and legislation, and furth
Page 34 and 35: The process for reaching a common u
Page 36 and 37: iv. The need to acknowledge the leg
Page 38 and 39: within and between states, supporte
Page 42 and 43: Strategy 2.6 Protect African geneti
Page 44 and 45: --enactment of new and revision or
Page 46 and 47: iii. Policy information delivery an
Page 48: 6. ConclusionSustainable pastoral r

Policy framework for Pastoralism in Africa

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