Recording & Resources (Africa Dialogue)
Thank you for joining the Regional Dialogue on Sustainable Rangelands & Pastoralism – Africa.
If you missed the session or would like to revisit key discussions, you can access the materials below:
Session Recording --> Passcode: k$1?o87h
Powerpoint Slides presented during the session
Rangelands & Pastoralism Resource Hub
We look forward to continuing collaboration on sustainable rangelands on the road to UNCCD COP17 and the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026.
Rangelands sustain biodiversity, rural livelihoods, and climate resilience across vast landscapes. Yet they face growing pressures from land degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change.
The UNCCD COP16 decision (Decision 29/COP.16) calls on countries to scale up policies and investments to conserve, restore, and sustainably manage rangelands in alignment with Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets and other global goals.
These regional sessions will bring together UNCCD national focal points, government representatives, Pastoralists, CSOs and key stakeholders from across to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and identify joint priorities for implementing the UNCCD COP16 decision on rangelands.
The dialogues will provide an opportunity to:
- Advance integrated rangeland management and share best practices
- Build a global Coalition on Rangelands and Pastoralists
- Support UNCCD COP16 goals on rangeland restoration and sustainable livestock systems
- Strengthen networks and align with climate, biodiversity, and land strategies
- Mobilize coordinated global action for sustainable rangelands and pastoralism
Road to UNCCD COP17 | Global Virtual Rangelands Dialogue Series
Join policymakers, pastoralist leaders, and global experts to explore how sustainable rangelands can drive climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and livelihoods — on the road to UNCCD COP17.
Date: 4 February 2026
Time: 14:00–15:15 UTC
Languages: English, French, Portuguese
Programme
14:00 – 14:10 | Welcome & Opening
Fiona Flintan, Senior Scientist, ILRI – Welcome & housekeeping
Jan Brix, Senior Policy Officer, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) – Opening remarks
14:10 – 14:17 | The Value Proposition: Why Rangelands Matter
Economic, climate, biodiversity and cultural value of rangelands
Clarisse Umutoni, Livestock & Rangeland Systems Scientist, ILRI
14:17 – 14:25 | COP16 Decision & the Rangelands Flagship Initiative
Implications for rangelands and pastoralists, national entry points toward COP17
Sasha Alexander, Policy Officer, UNCCD
Louise Baker, Managing Director, Global Mechanism, UNCCD
14:25 – 14:31 | Regional Context of Rangelands & Pastoralism
Regional challenges, opportunities and link to IYRP 2026
Ken Otieno, Co-Chair Eastern & Southern Africa IYRP Regional Support Group; Executive Director, RECONCILE
14:31 – 14:36 | Interactive Poll
14:36 – 14:47 | Country Case Studies & Solutions
Best practices in sustainable rangeland management and pastoral governance
Halima Nenkari, Head of Livestock Programmes Coordination & Multilateral Relations, Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock Development, Kenya
Teshome Tamirat, Head of Bamboo Development & Technology Desk & UNCCD National Focal Point, Ethiopia
14:47 – 14:57 | Future Policy Pathways toward COP17
Vision for advancing rangeland priorities nationally and regionally
Baitshepi Hill, UNCCD National Focal Point, Botswana
14:57 – 15:12 | Live Q&A
15:12 – 15:15 | Closing & Next Steps