The African Union – Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) has officially launched the African Pastoral Markets Development (APMD) Platform Technical Pillar Planning and Stakeholder Engagement Workshop in Naivasha,Kenya.
The workshop is set to address the challenges faced by Africa’s pastoral communities and to create a collaborative ecosystem that empowers these communities, strengthens their market access, and fosters sustainable development across the continent.
The event which will run from October 21 to 24, 2024, brings together a diverse array of stakeholders, including policymakers, development agencies, and pastoral communities themselves. By providing a unified platform for dialogue and action, the initiative seeks to tackle the longstanding issues that have hindered the growth and prosperity of Kenya’s pastoral regions.
Pastoral communities are the backbone of Africa’s economy and social fabric, especially in the arid and semi-arid regions where livestock rearing sustains the livelihoods of millions. However, these vital communities face persistent obstacles, including limited market access, the impact of climate change, and gaps in policy support, all of which have prevented them from reaching their full potential.
The APMD Platform, which is a joint effort by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Government of Kenya, is therefore designed to provide practical to these challenges. The platform’s three key pillars—policy development, data ecosystems, and private-sector integration—are expected to drive sustainable growth and transformation in pastoral markets.
The APMD Platform is set to improve market access for pastoral communities. Through targeted interventions, the platform aims to enhance the infrastructure, logistics, and information systems that connect pastoral producers to lucrative domestic and regional markets. This, in turn, will enable pastoral communities to fetch better prices for their livestock and dairy products, ultimately improving their livelihoods and economic resilience.
Alongside market access, the APMD Platform also looks to address the pressing challenges of climate change, resource scarcity, and conflict that have plagued pastoral regions. By fostering collaboration between policymakers, development partners, and pastoral communities, the initiative seeks to develop innovative solutions that build the resilience of these vulnerable communities, ensuring their long-term sustainability.
During the workshop, the three key pillars will be the main focus, so as to enhance pastoral communities’ resilience and drive market transformation. The launch of the APMD Platform in Kenya is a significant milestone, as the country is home to a substantial pastoral population that plays a crucial role in the national economy. With Kenya identified as one of the “lighthouse” countries for the project, the lessons learned here are expected to guide other African nations seeking to enhance their pastoral markets.
The APMD Platform will contribute to four key African Union strategies: Agenda 2063, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), the Policy Framework for Pastoralism in Africa, and the Livestock Development Strategy for Africa (LiDeSA). Through its collaborative approach and focus on sustainable solutions, the platform holds the promise of ushering in a new era of prosperity and resilience for pastoral communities across the continent.
