Pastoral Civic Society in East Africa

What is Pastoral Civic Society (PCS)? Reinforcement of PCS in East Africa The PCS Programme Activities Download PCS Documentation (PDF) PCS Newsletters and Past Documentation

Programme Activities

Phase 1 (2002 – 2006) of the programme on the reinforcement of Pastoral Civic Society in East Africa focuses on two key areas: improving policy makers' and development practitioners' understanding of the rationale and dynamics of pastoral production systems; and building the capacity of pastoral leaders to articulate the “outside world” how these systems work. Through training, collaborative policy research and networking activities this phase will establish a favourable environment for the promotion of pastoral self-determination in subsequent phases of the programme.

Phase2 will extend the process developed in Phase 1 to two different levels. First, it will build the capacity of pastoral groups to promote – among their members – greater understanding of the dynamics of pastoral livelihood systems in relation to the policy environment in order that local people, rather than those outside the system, frame the context in which pastoral development is designed and implemented. Second, the programme will institutionalise greater understanding of pastoralism within the formal education system in East Africa in order that future generations of policy makers and development practitioners fully understand the rationale if pastoral land use.

Phase 3 will see the gradual emergence of a strong and viable pastoral civic society movement with a shared vision of how pastoralism should develop in the future, playing an active and informed role in the design and implementation of policies to improve livelihood opportunities for their members.

Come and Join Us!

Although the Resource Conflict Institute (RECONCILE) and the Drylands Programme of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) are responsible for the implementation of the programme, its success depends on developing strong partnerships with all organisations working on pastoral issues in East Africa.

If you would like to know more about the programme, participate in its activities, or join the mailing list to receive the programme's newsletters, please contact us.

The Programme on Reinforcement of Pastoral Civic Society in East Africa is generously supported by the Civil Society Challenge Fund if the UK Department for International Development (DFID), The Swiss Agency for Development (SDC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark (DANIDA) through the ERETO Ngorongoro Pastoralist Project II.