GLF Africa 2026: Resilient Rangelands Pavilion
Practical solutions for pastoralist futures
United Nations Avenue
Nairobi, Kenya
Note: All times are shown in EAT (GMT+3).
Welthungerhilfe and partners invite you to the Resilient Rangelands Pavilion at Global Landscape Forum Africa 2026
The pavilion brings together a thought-provoking and pragmatic set of contributions on practical, locally led, scalable and investment ready pathways towards more resilient rangelands and more prosperous livelihoods for pastoralists. Drawing from the wider Horn of Africa, speakers will link rangeland ecology, pastoral livelihoods, food systems, markets, and governance systems into a coherent resilience approach.
Why Rangelands Matter
Rangelands cover more than half of the world’s land surface and support the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people, particularly in Africa’s drylands. Pastoral and agropastoral systems are central to maintain these landscapes while contributing to resilient food systems and ecosystem stewardship.
Yet rangelands remain under-prioritized in policy, financing, and development planning, with short-term responses often overshadowing long-term resilience. Mobility systems are increasingly restricted, undermining the adaptive capacity of pastoral systems, while local communities remain insufficiently included in decision-making and governance processes.
These key opportunity areas will be explored throughout the pavilion sessions:
- Recognize rangeland potential: Rangelands are climate, economic, and food system assets and solutions that sustain livelihoods, food security, biodiversity, and climate resilience.
- Shift from Aid to Long-Term Investment: Move from short-term responses to sustained, investment-driven approaches that strengthen livelihoods, markets, and ecosystem restoration.
- Strengthen Local Leadership and Governance: Support locally led solutions, secure land and resource access, and strengthen inclusive governance systems led by pastoral communities.
- Scale Anticipatory Action and Climate Services: Invest in early warning systems, climate information, and anticipatory action to reduce risk and protect livelihoods before crises escalate.
- Protect Mobility and Transhumance Systems: Recognize mobility as a core climate adaptation strategy and integrate it into policy, planning, and cross-border frameworks.
- Strive for and promote climate justice and social inclusion so all groups are meaningfully included in governance, finance, and policy frameworks.
Pavilion sessions
Wednesday 6 May:
- 10:30–1:30 AM
Rethinking resilience and investment in drylands. Lead: Jameel Observatory - 12:00–1:00 PM
Healthy rangelands, healthy livestock, healthy people – Integrating rangelands in One Health. Lead: ILRI - 2:15–3:15 PM
From participation to power: Strengthening community voices in rangeland governance. Lead: WHH - 3:30–4:30 PM
Shaping Kenya's Camel Centre of Excellence for sustainable impact. Lead: ILRI
Thursday 7 May:
- 9:00–10:00 AM
How can we make anticipatory action work for pastoralists in rangelands? Lead: Jameel Observatory - 10:15–11:15 AM
Mobility and transhumance: Policy pathways for pastoral systems. Lead: RECONCILE - 11:45 AM–12:45 PM
Rangelands as sustainable and resilient food systems. Lead: WHH - 2:00–3:00 PM
IYRP Roundtable - The road to COP17 - Closed Door Session. Lead: RECONCILE
Pavilion partners
Aiming to strengthen collaboration across research, policy, private sector and pastoral actors, bridging global discourse with local realities and contributing to the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, the Pavilion program is provided by:
- Welthungerhilfe (WHH)
- Jameel Observatory for Food Security Early Action
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
- Pastoralist Community Initiative and Development Assistance (PACIDA)
- Karamojong Herders of the Horn (KHH)
- Lotus Kenya Action for Development organization (LOKADO)
- Action for Development (AFD)
- Resource Conflict Institute (RECONCILE)