Kenya’s Pastoralists Speak to the African Union Initiative for a Pastoral Policy Framework for Africa Summary Report and Recommendations from the Kenya National Consultative Workshop on the African Union Pastoral Policy Framework for Africa 17 April 2008, Nairobi, Kenya Summary Report and Recommendations from the Kenya National Consultative Workshop on the African Union Pastoral Policy Framework for Africa, 17 April 2008 * OCHA TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...........................................................................................................................1 OUTCOMES OF THE KENYAN PASTORALISTS CONSULTATIVE WORKSHOP.......................2 INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................................3 NATIONAL CONSULTATION BACKGROUND....................................................................................3 OVERALL GOAL AND OBJECTIVES ....................................................................................................5 OVERVIEW OF THE AU PASTORAL POLICY FRAMEWORK INITIATIVE ................................6 OVERVIEW OF THE AU PASTORAL POLICY FRAMEWORK INITIATIVE: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ...........................................................................................................7 PASTORALISM IN KENYA.......................................................................................................................8 MAJOR CHALLENGES FACING PASTORALISM IN KENYA..........................................................9 DEVELOPING PASTORAL POLICIES IN KENYA.............................................................................11 OPPORTUNITIES IN THE AU PASTORAL POLICY FRAMEWORK INITIATIVE FOR KENYA .......................................................................................................................14 RECOMMENDATIONS............................................................................................................................15 ANNEX: LIST OF PARTICIPANTS........................................................................................................16 Summary Report and Recommendations from the Kenya National Consultative Workshop on the African Union Pastoral Policy Framework for Africa, 17 April 2008 * OCHA 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Pastoralist from Turkana of Northern Kenya Merlin “A framework that promotes a transparent, participatory and citizen-based approach to policy formulation and implementation would promote development in pastoral commu- nities. A new approach to pastoral governance is urgently needed.” (African Union Pastoral Policy Framework for Africa Proposal) In July 2007 the African Union committed to a Pastoralism in Africa programme with the goal of formulating a Pastoral Policy Framework for Africa by 2009. The AU focus on a policy framework arises from the need for a tool to effectively address, in a more holistic manner, the many challenges confronting pastoral communities. The policy framework on pastoralism is expected to define the guidelines, principles and the modalities for bringing together all the essential elements needed for better under- standing of pastoral issues and for the development and implementation of interventions to address these issues. The humanitarian community has welcomed the AU initiative for its potential to facilitate collaboration amongst the relevant stakeholders in halting the cycle of increasing vulnerability by protecting livelihoods. The AU initiative is already being received by national pastoralist organizations as a resource for advocating for policies that will support the viability of pastoralism in Af- rica as the long term strategy for reducing the vulnerability of pastoralism to drought and other livelihood stresses. While facilitating engagement with regional and country-level planning processes, the AU pastoral policy proposal will play a catalytic role in promoting development in pastoral communities by providing a tool for bringing together the political, economic and technical resources needed to empower pastoral communities to better manage their resources for their own benefit. In particular, a pastoral policy framework driven by the following key issues will add value to the present situation of African pastor- alists. In support of the AU’s commitment to empowering Africa’s pastoralists through the pastoral framework formulation, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in collaboration with United Nations Funds for Children (UNICEF); hosted pastoralists from across Kenya to a national consultation in Nairobi on the AU process with the goal to: Inform and update pastoralists on the AU’s plans and processes for formulating policy framework on pastoralism for Africa; Explore and identify the most effective tools and processes for informing and consulting with pastoralists; Begin prioritizing national pastoralist issues in Kenya to be addressed in a Pastoral Policy Framework for Africa; and The April 17 consultative workshop was attended by 200 representatives of pastoralist communities and organizations, UN agencies, donors and civil society groups across Kenya and is the first national forum aimed at informing pastoralists on the AU initiative. This document, a report on the proceedings, outcomes and recommendations from the consultation, will be fed into the regional processes. As will, those from regional consultations organized across the continent by the AU through the re- gional economic communities. As the first national consultation, the Kenya process will be used to promote and stimulate other national events in other settings. Summary Report and Recommendations from the Kenya National Consultative Workshop on the African Union Pastoral Policy Framework for Africa, 17 April 2008 * OCHA 2 OUTCOMES OF THE KENYAN PASTORALISTS CONSULTATIVE WORKSHOP Outcomes, main findings and points Challenges in Kenya’s discussion pro-pastoralist policy development The national consultative workshop on the Policy Frame- Weak or lack of adequate involvement of a diverse work for Africa range of actors to enhance input and generate sense of Informed and updated pastoralists on the AU’s plans ownership and learning; and processes for an all-inclusive consultations with Weak political leadership to lobby for a pro-pastoralist pastoralists across Africa; policy environment; Identified the best processes and tools that pastoralists Lack of in-built processes and tools for monitoring and see as the most effective in these consultations learning; Clearly outlined the stakeholders roles, responsibilities Weak capacity of actors to engage in policy processes; and recommendations for the AU pastoral policy initia- tive. Lack of appreciation of what is at stake; Identified national pastoralist issues in Kenya and re- Lack of an adequate in-built advocacy component in the gional challenges that should be addressed by the AU policy process to enable ownership and requisite follow Pastoral Policy Framework for Africa; and ups; Highlighted UN agencies’ work and contribution to the Lack of recognition of the political aspect of the policy development of the pastoral policy framework. making process (e.g. the role of active lobbying); The event was attended by approximately 200 representa- Weak understanding by policy makers and other stake- tives from pastoralist organizations across Kenya, UN holders of the pastoralist way of life; and agencies working in pastoral communities, Governments Weak coordination structures and mechanisms which and NGOs. allow engagement, including information dissemination. Critical issues affecting pastoralism in Opportunities in the AU Pastoral Policy Kenya Framework Governance and Policy Kenyan pastoralists can benefit from experiences of Conflict and insecurity; pastoralists from the rest of Africa and be part of a criti- cal mass capable of influencing policies; Livestock marketing; Kenyan pastoralists can have access to greater techni- Land rights (the encroachment on rangelands by arable agriculture); cal, institutional and resource capacities beneficial to pastoralists; Inadequate provision of social services; Kenyan pastoralists can begin to push their agenda at Inadequate provision of transport and communications the national level; and infrastructure; Kenyan pastoralists can have an important and legiti- Inadequate provision of water points and animal health mate governmental platform for articulating their chal- services; lenges and seek solutions. Drought and dependence on food aid; and Lack of the political will to implement and adopt pastoral policies in Kenya. Cross-section of Pastoralist at the April 17th National Consultative Meeting Summary Report and Recommendations from the Kenya National Consultative Workshop on the African Union Pastoral Policy Framework for Africa, 17 April 2008 * OCHA 3 INTRODUCTION Welcome note by the Chair of the consultative workshop: Hon. Ali Wario, Pastoralist ; Chair of the AU Specialist Task Force for A Pastoral Policy Framework for Africa and former Assistant Minister for Special Programmes, Kenya: “The challenges facing pastoralists in Kenya and Africa are enormous. Even more challenging is the failure to appreciate pastoralism as a viable livelihood that is supported by millions of Africans. “We are gathered here today to have an input on an initiative by the AU. The AU proposal to formulate a Pastoralist Policy Framework for Africa signals