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Supporting Pastoralism and Agriculture
in Recurrent and Protracted Crises

Livestock production and trade are the backbone of the livelihoods of many people and economies in drylands. Pastoral communities in these regions have adapted to differences in rainfall and annual changes in weather by moving their herds and flocks. They are also adopting other ways to earn a living - including farming, trading in livestock and consumer goods, working in public services, and migrating to cities from where they send home remittances. However, these livelihoods are challenged by further climate and environmental risks in the short and long term, including pests, diseases, conflict and climate change.

We will distil and share key lessons from our analysis of how communities and businesses in drylands generate and share income and adapt to hazards, and how public policies and investments in these regions affect local economies and communities.

Here we present some recommended resources on the theme of Economies, Markets and Livelihoods specially selected by SPARC’s experts:

 

Featured resources

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Two young Sudanese boys with livestock in the drylands (c) Mercy Corps Publications

Dynamism in the drylands of South Sudan

This report looks at volatility in South Sudan's drylands, and discusses the short-term strategies pastoralists use when responding to emerging threats and the longer-term changes to their priorities.
Huge herds of camels drink from the permanent water source at Guelta d'Archei in the Ennedi Mountains of northeastern Chad - Image by David Stanley - CC BY 2.0 Publications

Issue brief: Transboundary climate risks to African dryland livestock economies

This brief explores how policies at the sub-national, national and regional levels can help and hinder options for the management of transboundary climate risks at local, national and regional levels.
Food being cooked for students in a school in Makalondi, Tilaberri Region, Niger - Image by the Global Partnership for Education - CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Publications

Innovation in governance: Integrating technical and contextual perspectives to address fragility

This brief is the first of two and focuses on how using process innovations can improve decision-making within complex and fragile environments in Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Niger and Somalia.
Researchers interview women in Hayin Ade - image by Maryam Yusuf Bayero FUDECO Publications

Livelihoods, conflict and mediation: Nigeria

This research is the first in a series of longitudinal studies into the impact of violent and non-violent conflict on lives and livelihoods, and mediation dynamics, in Nigeria and Somalia.

Latest news and features

Female pastoralist pictured in drylands Features

Social Media: Potential to Harness the Power of Influencers for Impactful Campaigns in the Drylands

This blog reflects on our recent webinar in which we explored how pastoralists use social media, what the recent trends are in mobile use, and how these are informing livelihoods in dryland regions.
Young Sudanese woman in yellow with livestock in village (c) Mercy Corps Features

Dynamism in the drylands: How pastoral livelihoods are changing in South Sudan

Volatility in South Sudan and the world’s drylands raises questions as to the long-term viability of pastoral livelihoods. A new report from SPARC begins to answer them.
Somali region drought response - Image by Mulugeta Ayene / Unicef Ethiopia - CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 News

Opportunity: Post-Doctoral Fellowships at the International Livestock Research Institute

SPARC partner the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) announces two new post-doctoral fellowships in anticipatory action and humanitarian relief and resilience programming.

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