Investing in Pastoralism · Sustainable Natural Resource Use in Arid Africa and the Middle East

This document offers guidelines for development in arid lands where pastoralism is practiced. It focuses on natural resource management (NRM) on arid rangelands used by pastoralists in Africa and Middle East. Chapter 2 is an introductory chapter on the nature of NRM. Part One provides advice on preparing for project intervention. Effective pastoral development has four basic requirements: a) differentiate the type of pastoral system(s) (Chapter 2 and Annex D); b) assess population pressure and societal coping mechanisms in order to establish whether present population pressure represents a serious impediment to progress (Chapter 3); c) ensure that enabling policies and infrastructure are in place to support pastoral development (Chapters 4 and 5); and d) ensure a project design that combines participation, flexibility, and the prospect of sustainability (Chapter 6 and Annex E). Part Two is guidelines for specific project components, which address five essentials of pastoral development projects: a) Herder organizations (Chapter 7). b) Support systems (Chapter 8). c) Drought management (chapter 9). d) Phasing of technical inputs (Chapter 10). e) Process monitor (Chapter 11). A concluding chapter considers the broader implications for international agencies such as the World Bank. Eight annexes provide additional background information and advice, and a user guide is offered for the practitioner.