COMESA Policy Framework for Food Security in Pastoralist Areas
Under the PACAPS project COMESA developed a consultative draft of the Policy Framework for Food Security in Pastoralist Areas (PFFSPA), under CAADP Pillar III. The policy framework is specific to vulnerable and food insecure pastoralist populations in the COMESA region, while also being closely aligned with the CAADP principles. The PFFSPA also complements the generic Framework for African Food Security which has been developed by the African Union/New Economic Partnership for Africa Development (AU/NEPAD).
The PFFSPA examines the special and complex challenges facing pastoralist communities within the context of the COMESA regional mandate of promoting the free movement of goods, services and people. Therefore, the framework emphasizes the cross-border and regional aspects of pastoralist livelihoods and the policy options for strengthening these livelihoods through better integration of pastoralists into national and regional economies.
Read the policy framework document here or refer to the COMESA website.
Ministerial Decisions on Pastoralism and Livestock
Following briefings by PACAPS at the COMESA Council of Ministers of Agriculture and Environment Meeting in Victoria, Zimbabwe, September 2009, the Ministers made the following decisions:
- The COMESA Secretariat should hasten the preparation of a long term program for livestock development that will cover most of the Member States where the sub-sector significantly contributes to the national economy, and food security and livelihood of the people;
- Member States with significant areas under the pastoral production system should recognize the necessity for mobility as a strategy for production, access to markets (trade) and survival in situations of natural and man-made disasters;
- Pastoral policies should recognize and reflect pastoralist’s crucial role within local, national and regional economies;
- COMESA should support and facilitate trade in livestock and livestock products regionally and internationally through harmonization and streamlining of livestock trading standards among COMESA member states;
- Member States should develop financial services to enable access to micro-finance institutions in support of Livestock insurance, especially for animals in transit.
Pastoral Livelihoods Analysis and Training with COMESA and partners
The process for developing the PFFSPA included three Regional Livestock and Pastoralism Policy training courses with COMESA staff and partners.
- Part 1: Livestock, Trade and Economics, Garissa, Kenya, September 2008
- Part 2: Mobility Matters, Adama and Awash, Ethiopia, November 2008
- Part 3: Drought, Livelihoods and Food Security, Nairobi, Kenya, June 2009
COMESA Policy Briefs on Pastoralism
- Hidden Value on the Hoof: Cross-Border Livestock Trade in Eastern Africa. COMESA/CAADP Policy Brief 2, February 2009, by Peter Little.
- Income Diversification Among Pastoralists: Lessons for Policy Makers. COMESA/CAADP Policy Brief 3, March 2009, by Peter Little
- Modern, Mobile and Profitable: Assessing the Total Economic Value of Pastoralism. COMESA/CAADP Policy Brief 13, February 2010, by Ced Hesse.
- Legislation to Support Cross-Border Livestock Mobility. COMESA/CAADP Policy Brief 14, March 2010, by Ced Hesse
COMESA Regional Livestock and Pastoralism Forum (RLPF)
- COMESA flyer for the RLPF: PDF Flyer
- First RLPF Meeting, Lusaka, Zambia, May 2008: PDF Report
- Second RLPF Meeting, Nairobi, Kenya, March 2009: PDF Report
COMESA and PACAPS support the book "Modern and Mobile: the future of livestock production in Africa's drylands"
Published by the International Institute for Environment and Development.
