Accelerating the Potential of Pastoralism for Food Systems Transformation

Pastoralists hold significant potential to drive food system transformation, yet they remain among the most marginalized communities. Although policies and investments aimed at improving livelihoods in pastoral regions exist, the impact pathways have not been sufficient in integrating pastoralists into markets, accelerating productivity, empowering women and youth, enhancing nutrition, and fostering climate adaptation.

Despite their role in providing valuable ecosystem services, including indigenous climate-adaptive practices on marginal lands and promoting livelihoods for an estimated 50 million pastoralists in Africa, the sector faces several challenges. These include issues with inputs, demand aggregation, a fragmented value chain, and an unfavorable enabling environment, all of which impede the sector's growth.

AFSF 2024 Summit theme is on: Innovate, Accelerate, and Scale: Delivering Food Systems Transformation in a Digital and Climate Era. Therefore, Strathmore Agri-Food Innovation Center (SAFIC) side event will focus on innovative approaches to enhancing pastoralist livelihoods, market integration, and resilience in the face of climate change.