1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Programme d’Appui au Secteur de l’Elevage au Niger (PASEL 7)

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Book project: Guidelines to Rangeland Management in Sub-Saharan Africa (Rangeland Management)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Vétérinaire Sans Frontière Belgique (VSF-Belgium) - Belgium

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

01/06/2017

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

2.1 Short description of the Approach

Management of transboundary transhumance in order to create the conditions for conflict-free access to resources for livestock keeping in Niger and northern Benin.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

This approach involves multiple actors, and is based on cooperation between them in the border region between Benin and Niger. The aim is to handle the concerns of livestock keepers practicing transhumance, who are victims of harassment and conflicts related to access to resources for livestock. It is a framework of exchange between the various actors in charge of managing the mobility of livestock keepers across the border.
The approach aims at the appropriation and application by the multiple stakeholders of the community legislation on transboundary transhumance - as adopted by the Economic Community of West African States (CEDEAO). The context is increased competition for access to natural resources, exacerbated by the effects of climate change. The approach consists of: (i) implementing a framework for cooperative management of transboundary transhumance between Benin and Niger; (ii) ensuring wide dissemination of community legislation of the CEDEAO on the management of the transhumance practices, and (iii) enabling conflict-free and sustainable access to resources for livestock keeping in the two countries.
The main methods used are: (i) the development of the Scheme for regional Land Management (SAF); (ii) building the necessary infrastructure for livestock keeping (marking of corridors and grazing areas, restoration and management of rangelands, establishment of vaccination centres, etc.); (iii) the raising of awareness among livestock keepers, through the organisation of livestock keepers on the ground (grassroots land commission, local committee of transhumance); (iv) the organisation of transboundary and local for a; and (v) monitoring of the implementation of recommendations forthcoming from the meetings.
The process took place in several stages: the actors of the civil society and the livestock keeping services first identified, together with the livestock keepers, the difficulties related to the transhumance in the two countries. Next they proceeded to inform the livestock keepers and farmers about the community legislation of the CEDEAO. Under the responsibility of the authorities of the two countries, transboundary and local fora were organized periodically to discuss difficulties related to transhumance. The census of all transhumant livestock keepers enabled facilitation of the delivery of travel documents (International Certificate of Transhumance - CIT - and identity document). The committee for receiving the transhumant livestock keepers was established and is functional. It is composed of municipalities, the civil society, and heads of the livestock keepers. Its role is to receive and guide the livestock keepers and to facilitate their stay. A mechanism has been put in place to monitor the implementation of the decisions and recommendations during the periodic meetings between the parties.
The regional council is the contracting authority, and ensures the general coordination of the process, and the monitoring of the recommendations. The administrative and customary authorities participate in information and awareness-raising of the population, and in the management of conflicts. The municipalities implement the recommendations and facilitate access to travel documents. The role of the civil society organisations is to watch the process, to identify the key actors, and to inform and make aware the leaders of the livestock keepers and the transhumant livestock keepers. The services for livestock keeping issue the International Certificate of Transhumance (CIT), and take part in awareness-raising and census of the transhumant livestock keepers. The land commissions secure the resources for livestock keeping. The water and forestry services provide information about the management of protected and listed resources. The Program to Support the Livestock Keeping Sector (PASEL7) finances the process and provides technical support.

The livestock keepers have appreciated the participatory and inclusive character of the approach, which has enabled them to share their concerns with all key actors, and to use their language (Fulfulde) in the exchange during the sessions of awareness-raising. The livestock keepers have also appreciated the selection of the municipality of Karimama in Benin as the main entrance zone to Benin for transhumant livestock keepers. However, the livestock keepers regretted the poor logistical organisation of the sessions for awareness-raising, which did not enable participation of the maximum number of livestock keepers in any of the municipalities in Niger.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.4 Videos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The objective of the approach is to achieve understanding, and application, of the community legislation on transboundary transhumance, which was adopted by the heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (CEDEAO) in order to prevent and reduce conflicts related to the mobility of livestock keeping, and to foster better use of resources for livestock keeping in the two countries.

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	interactive	The regional council planned the activity following discussions with livestock keepers from the region.
planning	interactive	Exchanges with the livestock keepers to specify problems and to suggest appropriate strategies and actions
implementation	self-mobilization	The initiative to practice transhumance and the compliance with regulatory requirements are within the competence of the livestock keeper.
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive	The communities provide useful information and take decisions regarding solutions.

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• all relevant actors, as part of a participatory approach

Explain:

The processes to secure rangelands are defined in Niger through the provisions in the rural code. Consultation with the local population is essential to select the works to implement. The project has conducted all the processes on the ground with the participation of the farmers and the livestock keepers in all the intervention zones.

Specify on what basis decisions were made:

• evaluation of well-documented SLM knowledge (evidence-based decision-making)

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

No

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• at permanent centres

• in the settlements and grazing areas

Describe/ comments:

The livestock keeping services provide useful information to the livestock keepers on transhumance and on enabling conditions. They issue the International Certificate of Transhumance to transhumant livestock keepers, after vaccinating their herds. They are present in the field to organize joint meetings to inform livestock keepers, and receive the leaders and livestock keepers who seek information in their offices. The Civil Society Organisations participate in these services, especially in the field, and support the mobilization of the community.

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, moderately

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local
• regional

• transboundary level

Describe institution, roles and responsibilities, members, etc.

An advisory committee is established for transboundary transhumance, bringing together actors from Benin and from Niger. The committee is set to the level of the municipalities, the region and the border region. It includes the mayors, Civil Society Organisations of livestock keepers, the decentralized technical services, the land commissions and the leaders of the communities of livestock keepers.

Specify type of support:

• financial

• guidance

Give further details:

The Program to Support the Livestock Keeping Sector (PASEL7) contributes to funding and provides guidance and support to the actors in the implementation of the process.

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

The monitoring and evaluation are integrated in the steering of the process through periodic cross-border meetings, and are operated by the regional council with the support of PASEL7.

If yes, is this documentation intended to be used for monitoring and evaluation?

No

Comments:

n/a

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

No

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 100,000-1,000,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

The funding is provided by PASEL7, a program financed by the Swiss Cooperation in Niger, and implemented under the lead of VSF-Belgium. In the long term, it is envisaged that the actors themselves will be fully in charge of financing the approach.

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

No

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• none

Comments:

n/a

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

No

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

If yes, describe how:

The approach has fostered contacts between the actors involved; they only need to ensure their continued accountability. The results which have already been achieved will enable actors to sustain the approach in the long term. Considerations will be made on how to secure funding by the actors themselves. The Land Management Scheme will serve to guide such an approach to manage the mobility of livestock keeping.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Flexibility in the acquisition of civil status documents and of the International Certificate of Transhumance
Effective involvement of the authorities of Niger and Benin
Reconciliation of the leaders of livestock keepers, the Civil Society Organisations and the border authorities of the two countries

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Weak feedback of recommendations in Benin	Informing the established monitoring committee in writing
Insufficient information on the boundaries of the protected and listed areas in Benin

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
There is a high risk that the approach will be abandoned or becomes irregular after the end of the PASEL7 project.	Support to the mobilization of other partners is ongoing.
The lack of supplies in the forms for the International Certificate of Transhumance frequently slows down their issuance.	The Regional Directorate for Livestock Keeping makes arrangements to ensure the availability of forms in the period of preparation for the transhumance.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Guide Méthodologique: Processus d'élaboration du schéma d’aménagement foncier (SAF), Secrétariat permanent du code rural Niger, avril 2011

Available from where? Costs?

Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Keeping, Permanent secretary of the rural code in Niger

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Conflits fonciers ruraux au Niger: les mécanismes de prévention et de gestion, Secrétariat permanent du code rural Niger, édition 2014

Available from where? Costs?

Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Keeping, Permanent secretary of the rural code in Niger

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Recueil des textes sur le pastoralisme, Secrétariat permanent du code rural Niger, mai 2014

Available from where? Costs?

Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Keeping, Permanent secretary of the rural code in Niger

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Sécurisation des Espaces Pastoraux, Programme d'Appui au secteur de l’élevage phase 6 (PASEL6), 2015

Available from where? Costs?

VSF-Belgium in Niger

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Capitalisation sur les stratégies et adaptation aux évolutions du contexte, PASEL6, 2015

Available from where? Costs?

VSF-Belgium in Niger

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Opérationnalité des structures du code rural, PASEL6, 2015

Available from where? Costs?

VSF-Belgium in Niger

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Accompagnement des acteurs sur le SAF, PASEL6, 2015

Available from where? Costs?

VSF-Belgium in Niger