The Africa Pastoral Markets Development Platform

Overview
With support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (B&MGF), AU-IBAR is spearheading the Africa Pastoral Markets Development Platform (APMD) Platform, a four-year continental eendeavour aimed at catalyzing investment-driven, adaptable transformation within pastoral communities. This initiative, building upon previous efforts, seeks to fortify the enabling environment for pastoralism by:

  • Facilitating the integration of pastoralists into livestock markets, fostering positive investment cycles within the value chain, ensuring business resilience, and making livestock-derived products more accessible to consumers.
  • Unleashing the full potential of planned pastoral investments, estimated at up to USD Three Billion, over the next 3-5 years.
  • Promoting best practices and knowledge sharing to facilitate the integration of pastoralists into livestock markets.
  • Identifying opportunities to redirect long-term funding and investments for improved pastoral outcomes.

AU-IBAR recognizes the pivotal role pastoralists play in fostering Inclusive Agricultural Transformation across Africa. Pastoralists contribute significantly to national GDP (ranging from 2-7%) and provide a substantial portion (60-80%) of the continent's meat supply, with up to 50% of meat exports in certain regions. The demand for meat and milk in Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to surge by over 250% by 2050.

Moreover, pastoralists play a crucial role in preserving ecosystems, employing indigenous climate-adaptive practices on marginal lands, sequestering carbon, and managing water resources in arid and semi-arid regions. Despite their potential contributions, past interventions have predominantly focused on humanitarian aid rather than integrating pastoralists into livestock markets.

However, pastoralists face severe marginalization and are disproportionately affected by climate change. Previous investments, while substantial, have yielded limited results. In light of escalating demand for livestock products, mounting pressure on natural resources, and increasing climate-related challenges, AU-IBAR is committed to advocating for a long-term systemic approach and coordinated efforts across countries and sectors/stakeholders. This approach aims to tailor interventions to the diverse needs of pastoral communities.

The APMD Platform will strategically drive, promote, and raise awareness about market-oriented initiatives aimed at integrating pastoralists into livestock markets among key stakeholders. This will be achieved through convening multi-stakeholder forums and coordinating actions under three pillars:

  • Strengthening policy frameworks and implementing strategic measures.
  • Enhancing the integration of pastoralists into livestock marketing.
  • Improving and disseminating functional data ecosystems.