Supporting Africa’s Pastoralist Youth to mobilize and engage in policy dialogues: the Africa Youth Pastoralist Initiative

Founded in 2022 with support from the CGIAR Research Initiative on Livestock and Climate, the African Youth Pastoralist Initiative (AYPI) aims to mobilize and build the capacity of pastoralist youth across Africa to raise their voices and engage in policy dialogues. To date, members have participated in international forums, such as COP27 and the Africa Climate Summit. 

The forum served as a critical meeting point for the original group to resolve issues, and propose a renewed vision, mission, and statement. 

Despite AYPI’s impressive achievements, governance and communication challenges have hampered its progress and unity. In June 2024, ILRI and Procasur (a global organization specialized in knowledge management for rural innovation) supported the Initiative to come together, regroup and chart a clearer path forward. The two-day meeting brought together 14 youth leaders from Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia to develop a unified roadmap for AYPI’s future, reaffirming the initiative’s mission to support pastoralist youth and advocate for their communities across Africa. 

Rebuilding Unity and Strategy 

Key objectives of the forum included strengthening the governance structure of AYPI and developing a comprehensive strategy document. The agenda featured team-building activities and group exercises, enabling members to work together on issues such as leadership, operational management, and long-term sustainability. The youth leaders participated in discussions on the technical management of AYPI, focusing on key topics like capacity development, partnerships, and resource mobilization. 

The forum’s crowning achievement was the development of a unified vision for AYPI’s future. Participants agreed on the importance of effective communication, sustainable governance, and a clear operational structure to guide the initiative’s growth. The group also worked on refining AYPI’s mission, which centers on climate justice and the empowerment of pastoralist youth across sub-Saharan Africa. 

“Our meeting in Nairobi, was yet another important achieving in strengthening our commitments as young pastoralism. As AYPI, we are committed that the voices of young rangeland and pastoralist youth are amplified, to attain a just and inclusive future for Africa’s rangelands,” Joshua Laizer, Secretary General of AYPI. 

Vision AYPI 

AYPI’s members successfully came up with a new vision and way forward. The new vision is “AYPI is a youth-led initiative that champions climate justice for pastoralist communities in Sub-Saharan Africa.”  

Three focus areas emerged as critical for supporting this vision: advocacy, by promoting policies that support pastoralist communities, training, by providing educational opportunities for pastoralist youth, and community, by fostering engagement amongst members.  

Governance and organizational structure were also clarified, emphasizing the need to create a clear constitution that defines roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes. This will ensure transparency, accountability, and effective leadership within the organization. Other critical aspects are the creation of a shared knowledge database and roadmap and selecting members to form the governance structure.  

AYPI is better equipped to empower pastoralist youth and make a lasting impact on the national and international stage. Overcoming past internal conflicts, the participants collaboratively addressed key challenges, fostering a sense of shared purpose and commitment to the organization’s mission. With a renewed focus on governance, sustainability, and advocacy, AYPI is well-positioned to continue its mission of empowering pastoralist youth and advocating for climate justice across Africa.  

“The AYPI meeting in Nairobi was a groundbreaking step in accelerating the  empowerment of  young pastoralists and driving climate-smart solutions, fostering sustainable livelihoods and resilient ecosystems for future generations,” Charity Nashipae, Kenya Communications Officer, AYPI. 

For more information on the Africa Youth Pastoralist Initiative please visit aypi.org. 

If you would like more information, contact Fiona Flintan, Senior Scientist, ILRI at f.flintan@ilir.org.  

Banner photo: AYPI Members convene to discuss the initiative’s vision. Photo by Charity Nashipae/AYPI.