Women voices from the rangelands
The African Pastoralist Women Gathering (APWG) will convene pastoralist women leaders, civil society actors, policymakers, and partners from across Africa to strengthen women’s leadership in land rights, climate resilience, and pastoral governance.
Held under the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026), the gathering places African pastoralist women at the centre of continental dialogue and advocacy.
Dates: 15–21 March 2026
📍 Location: Kampala, Uganda
👥 Participants: 150+ pastoralist women leaders and allies across Africa
Why this gathering matters
Pastoralism supports millions of livelihoods across Africa and sustains vital rangeland ecosystems. Yet pastoralist women, who play key roles in livestock management, land stewardship, food systems, and peacebuilding, remain largely excluded from decision-making spaces.
At a time of growing climate stress, land pressures, and policy transformation, APWG creates a platform to:
- Amplify grassroots women’s voices
- Advance secure land rights and tenure
- Strengthen climate justice and ecosystem stewardship
- Build solidarity across African pastoral regions
To strengthen the visibility, voice, and policy influence of African pastoralist women in the lead-up to IYRP 2026 and beyond.
Goal
To strengthen the visibility, voice, and policy influence of African pastoralist women in the lead-up to IYRP 2026 and beyond.
Key Objectives
- Influence national and regional policy on land governance and pastoralism
- Facilitate cross-regional learning across the Horn, Sahel, Southern, Central, and North Africa
- Co-develop a Pan-African Women’s Charter for Rangelands and Resilience
- Strengthen transboundary networks for advocacy and peacebuilding
- Position pastoralist women as central actors in climate resilience and sustainable food systems
Expected Outputs
- African Women’s Charter for Rangelands and Pastoralism.
- Pan-African Pastoralist Women Forum and learning platforms.
- Policy brief targeting AU, IGAD, EAC, ECOWAS, SADC, and global partners.
- Shared advocacy messages aligned with IYRP 2026
Thematic Focus Areas
- Women’s leadership, voice, and agency.
- Gender-responsive pastoral policies
- Women’s land rights and tenure security
- Climate resilience and rangeland stewardship
- Pastoralism and sustainable food systems
- Recognition of pastoral mobility as a right
Who will participate
The gathering will bring together approximately 150 participants from all African Union regions, including:
Primary Participants
- Grassroots pastoralist women leaders
- Women in livestock and value-addition enterprises
- Indigenous women land and environmental defenders
- Pastoralist youth and intergenerational knowledge holders
Strategic Stakeholders
- Policymakers and government representatives
- Researchers and journalists
- Regional institutions and networks
- Development partners and INGOs
What to expect
15 March - Arrival Day
Registration & Welcome Reception
17 March - Climate & Charter Development
• Climate Justice & Rangeland Stewardship
• Development of Pan-African Women’s Charter
• Charter Presentation & Validation
• Charter Adoption Ceremony
19–20 March - Field Learning Visits (Optional)
• Rangeland Management Good Practices
• Women-Led Value Addition & Climate Adaptation
16 March - Opening + Policy & Mobility Focus
• Opening & Keynote Addresses
• Voices from the Rangelands
• Thematic Panel: Mobility & Pastoralism
• Women, Leadership & Policy Influence
• Cultural Evening
18 March - Policy Dialogue (Closed)
- Policy Roundtable
- Institutional Commitments
- Next Steps Toward IYRP 2026
21 March - Departure
Travel to home countries
Organisers & Partners
APWG is spearheaded by the IYRP 2026 Women Working Group with voluntary support from:
- Ateker Cultural Center (Lead organiser – Uganda)
- Resource Conflict Institute (RECONCILE)
- Organization for Pastoral Peace and Development
- Coalition of Pastoralist Civil Society Organisations (COPACSO)
- Eastern and Southern Africa Pastoralist Network (ESAPN)
- NLC Uganda
- ILC Africa
Supported by partners including FAO, NIATERO, GIZ, MISEREOR, and others.
Are you working on land rights, gender justice, climate resilience, or pastoral development?
- Join the conversation
- Partner with the gathering
- Help elevate the voices of pastoralist women across Africa
Together, we can shape a more just, resilient, and inclusive future for Africa’s rangelands.
Contact for partnerships & co-design
Ateker Cultural Center (Uganda)
Longole Hannah - acckaramoja82@gmail.com / hlongole@gmail.com
Resource Conflict Institute (RECONCILE)
Laureen Ongesa - laureen@reconcile-ea.org
Organization for Pastoral Peace and Development (OPPD)
Fozia Noor - fozia@oppdkenya.org
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