Unlocking Africa's pastoral potential: A call for inclusive market development

Abstract

Pastoralism contributes 60-80 percent of the continent's meat and up to 50 percent of meat exports, while supporting national economies with 2-7 percent of GDP. Beyond numbers, they provide crucial ecosystem services, sequestering carbon, managing water resources, and sustaining life in marginal lands. Yet, despite their immense value, pastoralists remain on the periphery of Africa's economic and development agenda.