FAO supports herders in West Africa and the Sahel

On 3 December, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) participated in the Joint Meeting of the Economic and Social Council and the Peacebuilding Commission on “The Impact of Cross-border Transhumance on Sustainable Peace and Development in West Africa and the Sahel”.

In her speech, Director of the FAO Liaison Office in New York Carla Mucavi referred to the links between food insecurity and conflict: “FAO’s experience in the Sahel has shown that livelihoods can be an excellent entry point for addressing inter and intra community conflicts that are linked to natural resources.”

Pastoralism is an ancient practice common in the Sahel and West Africa region that sustainably exploits a very restricted agro-climatic territory by allowing pastoralists to cross the region following seasonal patterns. Longstanding agreements between pastoralists and farmers have allowed for relatively peaceful transhumance, but in the recent years these arrangements have come under increasing pressure due to a multitude of factors, including climate change-induced reduction of grazable land, water scarcity, food insecurity, and socioeconomic challenges.

FAO is working closely with local, national , and international institutions in the Sahel to address the vulnerability of pastoral communities through livelihoods interventions that seek to meet immediate needs, build resilience, promote social cohesion, and sustain peace.

You can read the full statement here.