The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in agropastoral communities must be achieved through investments that enable seamless cross-border mobility, diversify skill sets and options for employment, and directly strengthen sociocultural and family ties.
According to a recent report by the Africa Borderlands Centre (ABC), a flagship project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), “Promise, Peril and Resilience: Voices of Agropastoralists in Africa’s Borderland Regions.”
Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant Secretary-General of the UN, Assistant Administrator of the UNDP, and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, spoke at the report’s release: “In Africa’s borderlands, governance lies at the centre of unleashing the potential of mobility, labour diversification and family ties. Borderland agropastoralists are demanding stronger laws, policies, budgets and actions from local governments, national authorities, regional organizations and international development partners, to better enable the maximization of their developmental potential.”
The report is based on 1,042 agropastoralists’ first-hand accounts from Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Uganda. It does so at a time when the livelihoods of agropastoralists, the majority of whom reside in arid and semi-arid lands, are being devastated by the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19, drought, and famine (ASALs).
Speaking in place of Cabinet Secretary Hon. Rebecca Miano, Hon. Idris Salim Dokota, Principal Secretary, State Department for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALS)&Regional Development, Government of Kenya, noted: “The affected borderland areas are treasures of diverse natural resources, untapped renewable energy and resilient people, whom, if supported by governments and international partners, will not only stand fully on their feet, but contribute significantly to food security and the overall sustainable development of Africa’s economies.”
The study provides distinctive insights into the difficulties, chances, and coping mechanisms of African border communities. Key findings show that borderland communities are significantly impacted by conflict and security threats. In borderland communities, fluidity and flexibility in income-generating activities are essential climate adaptation strategies. The family, as a social mobilisation unit, acts as the hub for labour diversification and mobility. The importance of women’s and young people’s inclusion in the economic sustainability and viability of Africa’s borderlands is also highlighted in the report.
The Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department (AUC-PAPS) of the African Union Commission was represented by Ambassador Fred Ngoga-Gateretse, who stated, “The African Union is seeking to bridge the development gap by placing borderlands at the centre of our efforts. The AU is dedicated to transforming obstacles into bridges by completing these efforts before the 2027 deadline despite the fact that only 40% of the continent’s borders are delineated and demarcated. We are committed to working with UNDP to realise this vision of an open, prosperous, and peaceful Africa.
Free and secure cross-border travel strengthens family and community ties, permits trade in goods and services, and opens doors to better livelihoods. It does more than just help us deal with threats. In the past year, half of those surveyed have travelled across an international border. One in five of these crossings happen on a monthly basis.
“This report challenges oversimplified notions of borderlands as lawless, backward, and developmentally peripheral places to live. It validates the point that agropastoralists have a strong attachment to their homelands by demonstrating a remarkable adaptability to living in rugged terrains and enduring vulnerabilities, therefore taking responsibility for their development journeys,” said the Dr. Zeynu Ummer, Senior Chief Technical Advisor and Team Leader of the UNDP Africa Borderlands Centre.
UNDP is listening to and learning from these infrequently visited communities through the work of the Africa Borderlands Centre, as well as showcasing the ingenuity, creativity, and potential of people and nature in border regions. Since its founding in 2021, ABC has increased the scope of its investments in border regions by concentrating on the development of value and supply chains, digital financial inclusion, investments in climate-resilient and smart infrastructure, and the promotion of social cohesion and cross-border peacebuilding.