A two-day workshop aimed at fostering peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders amid climate and security challenges kicked off in Dakar on Wednesday,
Organised by the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), the event, which started on February 26, brought together practitioners, experts and representatives of international organisations to tackle the pressing issues driving tensions between farmers and herders in West and Central Africa.
This gathering marks the first in-person meeting of the Community of Practice on Farmer-Herder Dynamics, an initiative launched in November 2023 to enhance local, national, and regional governance in response to escalating conflicts between these vital groups.
Across West and Central Africa, farmers and herders face mounting challenges, including climate change, environmental degradation, dwindling natural resources and rising socio-economic pressures.
These factors intensify disputes over access to land, water, and grazing areas, threatening food security, regional stability, and social cohesion.
“For generations, farmers and herders have been the backbone of our economies and cultures in West and Central Africa. They’ve fed our nations, preserved our traditions, and supported our communities. Yet, in recent years, the relationship between these two essential groups has been strained by competition for land, water, and pastures,” said Leonardo Santos Simao, the UN Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, in his opening address.
A Platform for Exchange and Innovation
The Community of Practice was established to anticipate, analyze, and devise practical solutions to the challenges undermining peaceful farmer-herder relations. The platform seeks to bolster collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and strategic planning among key players in the agricultural and pastoral sectors.
A standout achievement of the initiative is the Compendium of Good Practices for Preventing and Resolving Conflicts Between Farmers and Herders in West and Central Africa, published in December 2023. The document provides actionable strategies to promote harmony and cooperation across the two regions.
The Dakar workshop is expected to spotlight collective efforts made over the years to ease tensions between the two groups. Notable initiatives included the 2018 ECOWAS-UNOWAS study on pastoralism and security, and the 2019 CEEAC-UNOCA Regional Workshop on Pastoralism and Transhumance in Central Africa. In 2022, a technical seminar led to the development of a joint ECOWAS-UNOWAS manual to promote peaceful coexistence in West Africa.
Simao also emphasized the critical role of water in development and peacebuilding. “Recognizing water as both a development resource and a conflict flashpoint, UNOWAS is collaborating with the Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel under the UNISS framework to promote water as a tool for peace and progress,” he noted.
Sharing Solutions, Building Resilience
The workshop offers participants a chance to exchange best practices, innovative solutions and experiences aimed at reducing farmer-herder conflicts. Discussions focus on key themes such as climate change’s impact on livelihoods, sustainable farming and pastoral practices, and regional and cross-border cooperation.
The goal is to craft a strategic work plan for the Community of Practice, integrating climate and environmental dynamics alongside existing traditional and institutional mechanisms.
“Through initiatives like this workshop, we can turn challenges into opportunities, transform conflict into cooperation, and build a future where farmers and herders thrive together,” Simao asserted.
He expressed confidence that with unity, determination, and innovation, “we can forge a future where farmers and herders coexist peacefully, where our lands are fertile, our waters plentiful, and our communities resilient and prosperous.”
ARD/te/lb/gik/APA