In December 2025, ESAPN organized a critical validation meeting in Nairobi to finalize a comprehensive “Regional Advocacy Strategy for Pro-Pastoral Legal and Policy Reforms.” This strategy, developed under the framework of the PLACE Programme, is the result of extensive consultations and reflects the collective priorities of ESAPN’s members across the region. The document serves as a roadmap for the network’s engagement with national and regional parliamentary groups, aiming to influence the legislative frameworks that govern rangelands and pastoral mobility.
The strategy focuses on several key pillars: secure land tenure, climate change adaptation, and the protection of cross-border movements. It also emphasizes the importance of gender-sensitive peacebuilding and the inclusion of marginalized groups, such as youth and persons with disabilities, in policy processes. By validating this strategy, ESAPN has created a unified voice for advocacy, enabling its members to speak with one accord when engaging with policymakers. This strategic alignment is essential for addressing the “anthropogenic pressures” on rangelands and for ensuring that pastoralism is recognized as a modern and adaptive livelihood system. The validation meeting marks a transition from strategy development to active implementation, setting the stage for more robust and evidence-based advocacy in the years to come.
