TOWARDS “SUSTAINABLE USE OF RANGELANDS AND CROSS-BORDER NATURAL GRAZING RESOURCES IN IGAD"

In line with the University of Nairobi’s mandate to generate and transfer knowledge to inform practice and influence policy, and Department of LARMAT’S vision of providing leadership in dryland training, research and outreach, Prof. Oliver Vivian Wasonga from LARMAT has been providing technical support to AU-IBAR and ICPALD on Rangeland Resource management in IGAD region. The process that started with the development of the IGAD Regional Rangeland Management Strategic Framework (RRSF) has culminated into a cross-border rangeland use and management study, which was the basis for the policy dialogue held in Naivasha from 25-26 April, 2023. The regional validation and policy dialogue workshop on cross-border rangeland resources use and management was facilitated by Prof. Oliver Vivian Wasonga and involved among others, review of the recently undertaken cross-border study, as well as a policy dialogue on the gaps, proposals for joint cross-border rangeland use and management interventions, and requisite plan of action. Other deliberations during the workshop were on how to promote adoption and implementation of the study report and the RRMSF among IGAD member states.

The cross-border study was commissioned by AU-IBAR in coordination with ICPALD to “Facilitate Regional Policy Dialogue on Sustainable Use of Rangelands and Cross-Border Natural Grazing Resources", in the cross-border of four IGAD Member States: Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda.

The workshop was attended by senior officials from relevant government ministries of IGAD region including Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, South Sudan and Ethiopia.