1. FAO’s advocacy activities on pastoralism
Vivian Onyango and Gregorio Velasco Gil

2. Why is the IYRP important?
Drawing attention to approximately over 500 million people (including traditional knowledge, land tenure, institutional development that enhance customary arrangements).
Better knowledge and understanding of the unique ecosystems and biodiversity.
Better understanding of the ecosystem services provided by rangelands and pastoralism as an adapted animal production system.
Improving pastoral production systems while safeguarding the environment
©Michael Benanav

3. What are we doing within FAO?
FAO Pastoralist Knowledge Hub advocates for sustainable pastoralism, pastoralist-friendly policies and a strong pastoral civil society. The initiative supports the IYRP through their events and communication channels.
Projects and programmes further help with bilateral discussions with countries (including Great Green Wall, Global Project on Rangeland Monitoring, Voluntary Guidelines on Responsible Governance of Tenure).

4. FAO’s engagement so far
1. International
Involvement in the consortium to promote the IYRP
Participation at and support of pastoral representatives to speak at:
Convention on Biological Diversity 13 (COP 13) that resulted in the Cancun statement.
International Rangelands Congress 2016.
United Nations Environment Assembly 2 (UNEA 2) and resulting call on IYRP.
Advocacy events
Side event on climate change and conflict in pastoral areas in Africa held at the Committee for World Food Security (CFS) together with the World Bank and pastoralist representatives.
Speaker corner on technical guide “Improving governance of pastoral lands” at the Committee on Agriculture (COAG).

5. FAO’s engagement so far
2. Regional
West Africa - Present during the first technical seminars on “The way for securing rangelands” of the World Bank programme The Regional Sahel Pastoralism Support Project (PRAPS) in six Sahelian countries.
Europe - Biannual meeting on “Mountain pastures and livestock farming facing uncertainly: environmental, technical and socio-economic challenges” organized by the European Mountain Pastures Network in Zaragoza, Spain.
North Africa - Regional meeting in Tunis, Tunisia with Maghreb countries to assess the needs for rangeland management and pastoral support.

6. FAO’s engagement so far
3. National
Mauritania - Bilateral meetings with the Ministry of Agriculture and GNAP (national pastoral organisation).
Mongolia - Bilateral meeting with Director General of the Livestock Policy Implementation and Coordination Department at FAO head quarters.
Niger - Bilateral meetings with the Ministry Agriculture-Livestock and RBM (West African regional pastoral organisation).
Angola - IYRP promoted during national workshop on implementation of the technical guide “Improving governance of pastoral lands”.

7. Future engagements International level
World Bank Land and poverty conference-Washington. Friday March
Pastoralist Knowledge Hub partnership meeting. Rome. April 2017
Regional level
African Regional Workshop on the Globally Important Agriculture Heritage Systems. Arusha. Tanzania-27 February – 3 March 2017.
Regional meeting of pastoral women of Central Asia. Mongolia. Date TBD
Country level
Workshop on role of the women within pastoral communities in Senegal. 21st February 2017
Workshop on role of the women within pastoral communities in Mali. 5th March 2017
Project implementation in respective countries with attention to policy aspects relevant to pastoralism.

8. Thank you for your attention
Website:
Presentation prepared by
Vivian Onyango, Gregorio Velasco Gil and Oliver Mundy
A special thanks to: