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)

Projet de surveillance pastorale en Afrique subsaharienne (Départements d’Abala, de Banibangou et de Filingué), Niger (ACF / AREN)

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

GREAD (GREAD) - Niger

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

Action Contre La Faim International (ACF International)

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

06/09/2014

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

Yes

1.4 Reference(s) to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Technologies

2.1 Short description of the Approach

This approach, traditional in nature and supported by the National Mechanism for the Prevention and Management of Disasters and Food Crises (DNPGCCA), consists of a Geographical Information System, which integrates the water resources, the movement of populations, and the spatial distribution of grazing land, also in terms of the quantities of forage resources. The objective of the approach is to provide a tool to support the management of pastoralism and the identification, tracking and prevention of potential food crises.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

The 'Monitoring system for movements and spatial adaptation strategies of transhumant livestock keepers' in the department of Abala (Region of Tillabéri, Niger), is a traditional communal approach for the sustainable management of animal resources. The approach focuses on a community-based organisation of mobility, an information system and on rules for the movements of herds and people. These movements are characterized by several routes: the routes that become available after the clearing of fields in the agricultural zone (in October-November), and the routes starting to develop in the rainy season before the closing of the fields for grazing (in May-June). The period of transhumance varies with the direction and the distance of the grazing land from the regions of origin of the livestock keepers. The key drivers determining the length of the period of transhumance remain the vulnerability factors: rainfall, the condition of the grazing land, animal health, the infrastructure for social matters and education, the organizational capacities and the capacities for social change in the local communities, security and the relations between authorities and people. The combination of these factors explains the behavior of the herdsman during the transhumance. This behavior is of a twofold nature: (i) it is adaptive, which means that herdsmen anticipate on events based on their memories of past events, and (ii) it is rational, because the herdsmen invest in collecting available information which they integrate in their planning of activities. In this way, the strategies for spatial adaptation of the transhumant livestock keepers remain based on three principles: (i) only the livestock routes which are managed, and on which a substantial experience has been accumulated, are regularly monitored, (ii) any changes in the livestock routes are not systematic, frequent or drastic, and (iii) radical changes in the livestock routes are only made in case of a severe crisis, when the survival of the herd is under threat. Hence, the approach is a community-based system for monitoring and early-warning, connected to an information network, which allows to prevent crises in the short term.

The monitoring system has three objectives: (i) to establish a communal lifestyle which contributes to the sustainable management of natural resources through an extensive production system, (ii) secure food supplies for livestock and people (in quantity and quality, and on a permanent basis) throughout the year, using basically available natural resources (water and grazing land), (iv) to establish an early-warning system for the prevention and management of drought risks and acute food crises, based on criteria of vulnerability of livestock and people. The approach follows six stages: (i) preparatory work in collecting information to determine the livestock routes, (ii) performing the livestock route, while exchanging information with the other herdsmen, (iii) temporary settlement in the area of transhumance, (iv) preparatory work for the return journey and collecting information to determine the route, (v) performing the livestock route and information exchange with the other herdsmen, and (vi) return to the region of origin and exchange of information with the other herdsmen.

2.3 Photos 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

• traditional/ indigenous

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The main aims of the approach are:
- To establish a community lifestyle which contributes to the sustainable management of natural resources through an extensive production system.
- To secure food provision for livestock and people, of sufficient quantity and quality and on a continuous basis throughout the year, derived basically from available natural resources (water and grazing land).
- To establish an early-warning system capable of ensuring the prevention and management of drought risks and acute food crises, focused on vulnerability criteria relating to both livestock and people.

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	self-mobilization	The implementation of the approach is driven by the livestock keepers themselves. The approach remains in fact traditional; it is a combination of local know-how. The adaptation project was initiated by ACF in partnership with AREN. But the livestock keepers themselves have started to adapt the approach by using mobile phones and satellite phones.
planning	self-mobilization	The planning of activities is done by each transhumant livestock keeper, who determines the technical, spatial and temporal procedures of the transhumance. On the other hand, the planning of the adaptation project for the approach falls within the competence of AREN and ACF, in partnership with the livestock keepers and the researchers from GREAD. The Ministry of Livestock plans interventions by the State and development partners in cooperation with the other actors in the sector.
implementation	self-mobilization	The approach is carried out from start to end by the livestock keepers only. The livestock keepers cooperate with other partners in the implementation of the project activities: the technicians of the communal services for livestock and of AREN. Experts from GREAD conducted the baseline study for the project in together with the livestock keepers and the experts from AREN and ACF. The Ministry of livestock and the institutions of the DNPGCCA carry out their regular activities of informing, awareness raising, investment and training directly or by means of other structures (local and international NGOs).
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive	Every livestock keeper performs monitoring and evaluation of his activities using his own tools. At the level of the project, the experts from AREN and the communal technicians carry out the monitoring and evaluation, using a mechanism identified in the baseline study from GREAD. Similarly, ACF monitors and evaluates the activities based on the objectives and internal indicators. Finally, the Ministry of livestock and its regional, sub-regional and local bodies undertake regular missions to collect information on the availability of grazing land, animal health, and on other vulnerability indicators of the pastoral zone. There are also regular meetings to monitor and evaluate the situation in the livestock sector among all stakeholders in the framework of the DNPGCCA/the Prime Minister’s Office.

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 technologies applied in the context of this approach generally ensure the conservation of water and grazing land and the non-violent mitigation of conflicts through a regulated access to resources (for example firebreaks, corridors, half-moons, micro- and macro-basins, etc.). In theory, decisions are made in the framework of a participatory approach; all actors gather to decide on the types of technology to implement. But it must be acknowledged that in the framework of the DNPGCCA/the Prime Minister's Office, decisions are primarily taken by the administrative authorities without consulting the livestock keepers and their organizations. Several development projects operate without consulting the local populations and the local technical services beforehand. Thus there are two types of technology: (i) technologies decided upon by the livestock keepers themselves with the support from SLM specialists, and (ii) other technologies (the overall majority), for which the decision to implement these only result from a project, a NGO or from a technical structure of the public administration.

Specify on what basis decisions were made:

• evaluation of well-documented SLM knowledge (evidence-based decision-making)
• personal experience and opinions (undocumented)

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users
• field staff/ advisers

If relevant, specify gender, age, status, ethnicity, etc.

In the context of the project by ACF/AREN, transhumant livestock keepers have been trained in the use of cell phones, and particularly in the monitoring system. They all belong to the ethnic group of the Peulh and are young men (less than 40 years). Two community workers on livestock have been trained to handle the computer equipment (device for the collection, processing and dissemination of the data). These are young men (less than 40 years). It is important to stress that the livestock keepers transfer their knowledge in a traditional hands-on training from generation to generation. This training, which ensures the transfer of knowledge to younger generations, enables to continue the approach.

Form of training:

• on-the-job
• demonstration areas
• courses

Subjects covered:

The training of the livestock keepers covered the structure of the monitoring system for the movement of the herds and for early-warning. The training consisted of two components: (i) a component ‘superstructure of the mechanism’ and (ii) a material component on the handling of the mobile phones. Similarly, the two livestock officers of the communes of Sanam and Abala were trained on the mechanism to centralise, manage and disseminate the information. In this context they were trained in using the computer equipment which had been provided. All the trainings took place in several phases. In addition, under the framework of micro-projects financed by the Food Crisis Unit (CCA)/the Prime Minister’s Office, training was provided to the livestock keepers on community life and on the implementation of technologies on soil and water conservation and soil protection and restoration.

Comments:

In the context of the project by ACF/AREN, the trained persons are trainers, who obtained the capabilities required to train other livestock keepers and other field technicians. At the level of the micro-projects from the CCA/Prime Minister's Office, training programs are an essential component of the investments, usually performed by the NGOs and the associations of livestock keepers. The NGO AREN remains one of the beneficiaries of these micro-projects, which are carried out every year since 2004.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• at permanent centres

Describe/ comments:

In the implementation of the project of the organisations ACF and AREN, a communal centre was created in each [municipaility] (commune) to manage the collection, processing and dissemination of information. This centre also functions as a structure for support and advice for the livestock keepers, who can obtain technical support, training and advice at any moment. AREN regularly reinforces the capacities of its communal centres. The centres also take care of the maintenance of the equipment. Land commissions have been installed at the communal and village/tribal level, which provide ongoing guidance and support to the livestock keepers.

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, greatly

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

• local
• regional
• national

Describe institution, roles and responsibilities, members, etc.

At the local level, the approach has resulted in the creation of:
- Two centres for the local monitoring of the movements of herds, in the communes of Abala and Sanam. Each centre is managed by the Head of the communal livestock service and has one operating official.
- Land commissions at the level of villages or tribes aiming at the non-violent mitigation of conflicts resulting from the exploitation of natural resources. These commissions consist of: the head of the village or tribe, the Secretary, one representative of the farmers, two representatives of the livestock keepers (one of whom represents the transhumant livestock keepers, if any), one representative of other users of natural resources (the users of timber, hunters, fishermen, etc.), two representatives of women, and one of young people. However, in the pastoral zone, the different groups of livestock keepers are effectively involved in the land commissions at the level of the village or tribe. For instance, the commission could have representatives of herders of camelids, cattle and small ruminants. The communal land commission (COFOCOM) is composed of: the President, who is the Mayor in service of the [commune], the Permanent Secretary, generally the General Secretary of the [commune], other communal councillors (including one woman in three councillors for the [communes] with 11 to 20 councillors, and four female councillors for the [communes] with more than 20 councillors), and the heads of the technical services. The latter have expertise in the following fields: agriculture, livestock, environment, hydraulic operations, agricultural engineering, land management, community development, land registry, [state affairs] (les affaires domaniales), literacy, social development and the advancement of women. The land commission also includes: the heads of counties or associations, who have jurisdiction over the communal area, a representative of the farmers, two representatives of the livestock keepers (one of whom represents the transhumant livestock keepers, if any), two representatives of women, one of young people, one representative of timber users, and one representative of the management committees of water abstraction points. The Ordinance No 098/MDA/CNCR/SP of 25 November 2005 concerns the organisation, the responsibilities and the operating procedures of the land commissions at the level of the communes, villages or tribes (Ministry of agricultural development).
- At the local level, the approach has strengthened the capacities of communal organisations of livestock keepers in the department of Abala (cooperatives, women’s groups, associations and traditional organisations of livestock keepers). Furthermore, the local structures of AREN have been strengthened by training on community life, community-based management of pastoral resources, etc.
At the departmental level, the approach has strengthened the capacities of the sub-regional Committee for the prevention and management of disasters and food crises of the department of Abala. The part on pastoralism is better defined and now has specific indicators which are better adapted to the context of the pastoral zone. A departmental land commission was also installed. The approach has also resulted in the development of local NGOs involved in the livestock sector, and was integrated as a tool for the sustainable management of pastoral resources.
At the regional level, a steering committee was established for the monitoring mechanism in Tillabéri. This is the main decision-making body of the mechanism. The approach was also accompanied by the establishment of a regional permanent secretary for the Rural Code.
At the national level, the approach strengthened the DNPGCCA in the pastoral zone by determining indicators of vulnerability adapted to the context of the zone, and by considering specific factors of the livestock sector, in particular regarding climate change and resilience to crises.

Specify type of support:

• financial
• capacity building/ training
• equipment

Give further details:

Financial support for the approach is provided by the State and its technical and financial partners in the context of response to crises, in particular by the funding of micro-projects on SLM (by the Food Crisis Unit/the Prime Minister’s Office, one of the essential bodies of the DNPGCCA). Every year, local NGOs implement programs for financial support to micro-projects on soil and water conservation works and works for soil protection and restoration, according to the approaches of cash or food for work for vulnerable populations, which include the transhumant livestock keepers. In the pastoral zone, these projects concern the construction and maintenance of firebreaks, half-moons in grazing land and livestock corridors, which are conducted in parallel with investments in hydraulic and socio-economic infrastructure (wells for pastoral use, schools and health centres in the pastoral zone), and with the distribution of animal feed (free or at low cost).
Support for capacity building and training is provided by all partners, that is AREN, the local NGOs, financed by the CCA/Prime Minister’s Office, the technical services at communal and departmental level on environment, agricultural engineering, livestock and agriculture, development projects in the livestock sector and the Permanent secretary for the Rural Code. The capacity building focusses on technical facilities (administration, communication, etc.) and on techniques for management and organisation. The training addresses especially the regulations in force (the Pastoral Code), the implementation of technologies for soil and water conservation and soil protection and restoration, and new approaches in sustainable land management.

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

Monitoring and evaluation is an integral part of the approach, consisting of the monitoring of a set of indicators on vulnerability in the pastoral zone, which enable to promptly assess and prevent crises. Pastoralists have their own vulnerability criteria, which were identified in several research projects. These indicators were formally incorporated within the DNPGCCA.

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

Yes

Comments:

This documentation is a summary of the reports on the monitoring and evaluation carried out since the completion of the study performed by GREAD in September 2014.

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

Specify topics:

• sociology
• economics / marketing
• ecology
• technology

Give further details and indicate who did the research:

GREAD has conducted socio-economic, ecological/environmental and technological research on the approach. Subsequently, the University Abdou Moumouni of Niamey has carried out research on ecological impact assessment. Several research projects are still ongoing to understand and improve the approach.

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• > 1,000,000

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

On the one hand it is not possible to estimate the costs of the technologies implemented by the livestock keepers themselves, because there is no cost assessment of the outcomes. On the other hand, the investments by the development partners in the framework of the DNPGCCA and investments independent from this framework amount to more than 1.000.000 $ US per year in Niger since 2004. The main funders of the DNPGCCA are: UNICEF, PNUD, FAO, PAM, the European Union, the USA, Germany, Spain, Luxemburg, Switzerland, Italy, and France. A common fund for contributions from the partners of the DNPGCCA was established, which enables Niger to finance the prevention and management of crises every year.

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

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

Yes

If yes, specify type(s) of support, conditions, and provider(s):

In the framework of the project of the ACF/AREN, 16 livestock keepers received GSM phones from a Spanish organisation called ARGONGRA. These telephones are exempted from import taxes.

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• none

• labour

• equipment

• agricultural

• construction

• infrastructure

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• voluntary

Comments:

Livestock keepers provided labour for the implementation of the approach on a voluntary basis, because the approach is part of the private management of the herds. However, in the micro-projects and in other interventions of partners, labour by land users is directly paid by means of cash or food for work, and/or incentives (technical support, training, sale of cereals and animal feed at affordable prices, free distribution of food supplies, etc.).

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 is originally traditional. It has been set up and developed without any external support. In this way it can be continued without the DNPGCCA and other formal structures for early warning and forecasting, which largely depend on external support. In that case however, the implementation of large government programmes on investments in SLM will be undermined in the short and medium term.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
The approach is indigenous and communal in nature. It was created by the local populations themselves, and is an integral part of their social and cultural values. With this approach, they have access to natural resources on an equal footing, while respecting the environmental balance.
The approach is simple, practical and pragmatic. Other interventions can be built on the approach. This flexibility is without doubt a major advantage, and made it possible that the approach has continued until now despite the many environmental, ecological and socio-economic challenges. In the end the approach is open to any adaptation and offers many possibilities for upscaling to other regions in the world.
The low costs of the approach are a major strength, making the approach more readily adopted and sustained over the longer term.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The approach is a method for the sustainable management of herds, which continues to be far more profitable than all the other systems for livestock keeping in the given environmental and socio-economic context (other conditions being equal). This approach contributes to sustainable land management by introducing behaviour to conserve and restore the environment at the individual and communal level.
The implementation costs of the approach remain low. In general, these relate to labour by the livestock keepers. Minimising the costs facilitates the adoption of the approach and its application at larger scales (region).
By raising the issue of the access to natural resources, and particularly their valorisation in respect of climate change, the approach has laid the foundation for a progressive adaptation of the methods to regulate natural resources. It relies on the engagement of all stakeholders and strengthened their institutional and organisational capacities. The approach is currently relocating the production towards the market to improve its efficiency.

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?
The approach makes it difficult to educate children and to improve the living standards of families.	Building educational infrastructures in the region of origin of the transhumant livestock keepers by the State and its development partners should increase the rate of school attendance.
The approach requires significant efforts from the livestock keepers and other members of the family in terms of labour.	The use of paid transhumant livestock keepers offers a solution for this problem, but the cost is a disadvantage. Moreover, the low number of reliable herders makes this solution less suitable.
The approach does not enable to address the impacts climate change effectively and sustainably.	The resources needed by the livestock keepers to invest in SLM in the pastoral zone by themselves should be made available to them.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
There a two weaknesses in the management of herds: (i) the size of the herds not being adjusted to the availability of resources (water and grazing land), and (ii) livestock products not being valorised.	The livestock keepers should move from subsistence economy to a market economy (to produce mainly for the market).
The local know-how on SLM technologies is retained by several insiders who do not systematically transfer their knowledge to younger generations and to the other members of the community.	Research programs should be initiated to inventory the available local knowledge on SLM, and to disseminate this knowledge to the communities.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Etude de mise en place d’un système de suivi des mouvements et stratégies d’adaptation spatiale des éleveurs transhumants en zone sahélienne (Niger), Abdoulaye Sambo Soumaila, 2014

Available from where? Costs?

GREAD, AREN, ACF Dakar (free access)

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Système de surveillance pastorale Afrique subsaharienne, ACF Dakar, 2011

Available from where? Costs?

ACF Dakar, GREAD, AREN (free access)

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

no information available online