Climate change: UNDP says agropastoralists in Africa taking responsibility for development
The Sustainable Development Objectives (SDOs) within agropastoral communities ought to be fulfilled through investments that facilitate seamless transboundary mobility, diversify skill sets and employment opportunities, and directly reinforce sociocultural and familial connections.
A recent publication by the Africa Borderlands Centre (ABC), a flagship endeavor of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), states, “Promise, Peril and Resilience: Voices of Agropastoralists in Africa’s Borderland Regions.”
During the report’s launch, Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant Secretary-General of the UN, Assistant Administrator of the UNDP, and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, remarked: “In Africa’s borderlands, governance is pivotal to unlocking the potential of mobility, labor diversification, and familial ties. Agropastoralists in border regions are advocating for more robust laws, policies, budgets, and actions from local administrations, national entities, regional organizations, and international development allies, to better facilitate the enhancement of their development potential.”
This study is rooted in 1,042 personal testimonies from agropastoralists hailing from Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Uganda. It emerges at a time when the livelihoods of agropastoralists, a majority of whom inhabit arid and semi-arid zones, are severely impacted by the socioeconomic repercussions of COVID-19, drought, and famine (ASALs).
Speaking on behalf of Cabinet Secretary Hon. Rebecca Miano, Hon. Idris Salim Dokota, Principal Secretary, State Department for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALS) & Regional Development, Government of Kenya, remarked: “The affected borderland regions are jewels of diverse natural assets, unexplored renewable energy, and resilient populations who, with support from governments and global partners, will not only regain their footing but also significantly contribute to food security and the overarching sustainable development of Africa’s economies.”
The investigation provides unique perspectives on the challenges, opportunities, and coping strategies of African border communities. Principal findings reveal that borderland populations are markedly affected by conflict and security dangers. In these communities, fluidity and adaptability in income-generating pursuits are crucial strategies for climate adaptation. The family unit, as a mechanism for social mobilization, serves as a central point for labor diversification and mobility. The report also emphasizes the necessity of including women and youth in the economic sustainability and viability of Africa’s borderlands.
Ambassador Fred Ngoga-Gateretse, representing the Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department (AUC-PAPS) of the African Union Commission, mentioned, “The African Union is striving to close the development gap by placing borderlands at the forefront of our endeavors. The AU is committed to transforming barriers into connections by fulfilling these initiatives before the 2027 deadline, even though only 40% of the continent’s borders are delineated and marked. We pledge to collaborate with UNDP to realize this vision of an equitable, prosperous, and tranquil Africa.
Unrestricted and secure transboundary travel strengthens familial and community bonds, facilitates trade in goods and services, and opens avenues to improved livelihoods. It transcends mere assistance in addressing threats. Over the past year, half of those surveyed have crossed an international border, with one in five of these crossings occurring monthly.
“This report challenges simplified perceptions of borderlands as lawless, undeveloped, and peripheral regions for habitation. It affirms the notion that agropastoralists have a deep connection to their territories by demonstrating remarkable adaptability to thriving in harsh landscapes and withstanding vulnerabilities, thus taking ownership of their development trajectories,” explained Dr. Zeynu Ummer, Senior Chief Technical Advisor and Team Leader of the UNDP Africa Borderlands Centre.
UNDP is tuning into and learning from these often-overlooked communities through the operations of the Africa Borderlands Centre, as well as highlighting the ingenuity, creativity, and possibilities of individuals and nature in border areas. Since its inception in 2021, ABC has broadened the scope of its investments in border territories by focusing on the development of value and supply chains, digital financial inclusion, investments in climate-resilient and intelligent infrastructure, and the advancement of social cohesion and transboundary peacebuilding.
