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📰 The quick summary: A special summer school program in northern Kenya brings together 47 young researchers from East Africa to study pastoralism in their native drylands, helping preserve and advance crucial knowledge about sustainable livestock herding practices.
📈 One key stat: 47 researchers and academics gathered at Camp Simpirre in Isiolo county, bringing vital pastoralism research directly to the communities it impacts most.
💬 One key quote: “Pastoralism is a product of climate change, it always changes with the climate. Some people say that because this way of life is vulnerable, it will collapse, but that’s the old narrative,” said Mohammed Abdi, a PhD student from eastern Ethiopia.

1️⃣ The big picture: Young researchers from East Africa are gathering in northern Kenya’s drylands to study and document pastoralism – the traditional practice of herding livestock across vast distances. The Drylands Summer School, hosted at Camp Simpirre in Isiolo county, brings academic discussions directly to pastoral communities rather than holding them in distant cities. Many of the 47 participating researchers come from pastoral backgrounds themselves, aiming to change outdated narratives about their communities’ relationship with the environment. The program combines academic training with hands-on fieldwork, allowing researchers to study how pastoral practices have sustainably managed these landscapes for thousands of years.

2️⃣ Why is this good news: The program marks a significant shift in how pastoralism research is conducted, moving from distant academic settings to the actual communities being studied. This approach ensures more accurate and culturally informed research about pastoral practices and their positive impact on local ecosystems. Many participants are breaking educational barriers in their communities, like Halima Alinoor who is the first woman from her community to pursue graduate studies. The initiative helps preserve crucial knowledge about sustainable livestock management practices that have kept rangelands healthy for millennia.

3️⃣ What’s next: Researchers aim to turn their findings into policy recommendations that better represent pastoralist communities in government decisions. The program plans to continue training young academics who can influence future policy and research institutions. Participants will also study how pastoral communities are adapting to climate change, including the increasing shift from cattle to more drought-resistant camels in northern Kenya.

Read the full story here: Mongabay – In the drylands of northern Kenya, a ‘summer school’ for young researchers