NAIROBI, Kenya (PAMACC News) - Research scientists, government and nongovernmental organisations’ representatives, entrepreneurs and pastoralists from Kenya, Senegal and Burkina Faso met in Nairobi on 12, November 2018 to share knowledge and experiences so as to strengthen the resilience of livestock systems in the future. “The livestock sector in Africa, especially the extensive livestock, has for a long time been mystified on its contribution to crucial sectors such as the economy,” said Kamau Kuria, the Chief Executive Officer for Kenya Markets Trust (KMT).The Regional Dialogue for Livestock Value Chain Transformation was organised by KMT in collaboration with International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) to support the resilience of extensive livestock production systems in semi-arid areas south of the Sahara, particularly in the Sahelian regions and in the Horn of Africa.The dialogue was based on latest research findings from different studies in Kenya and Senegal under the Pathways to Resilience In Semi-Arid Economies (PRISE) project, which indicated that private sector actors along livestock value chains are diverse, ranging from private individuals to entrepreneurs to small-medium enterprises and larger actors.“Studies have been done and evidences have been gathered from several arenas on the livestock value chain. It is now time to focus and relate that to actions that can show transformative results,” said Kuria. Abdikarim Daud of KMT observed that in the meat value chain, there is disconnect between pastoralists who are the producers, with the meat industry. “There is need for the meat industry to drive the production,” he said, observing that the industry so far depends on brokers.“Brokers can only choose the best animal, without telling the producers what the market demand is. But if the industry was to deal with the producers, then it will be possible for the producers to know what to do so as to satisfy the market demand,” said Daud.Dr Stephen Moiko, one of the PRISE researchers concurred with Daud, saying that pastoralists usually produce for the market, but they do not understand the market. “Pastoralists do not sell the best. Instead they sell weaker animals to get money to solve immediate social needs,” he told the delegates.Dr James Gakuo, an entrepreneur who buys severely emaciated animals to fatten them through an intensive feeding programme said that most pastoralists keep to their animals to a point of death especially during severe droughts. “We have now created a market for emaciated animals, and therefore pastoralists should not wait until their animals die,” he said.He urged governments, NGOs and the private sector to invest in the fattening programmes for value addition as a way of helping pastoralists adapt to climate change.“It is a pity when governments and NGOs decide to slaughter emaciated animals so as to give the meat to the poor as food aid,” said Gakuo. “Here is a scenario where drought is already killing animals, and the government and NGOs are also killing more animals. Are we not going to decimate all the animals, which are the lifeline for the…

Des maisons construites qui tiennent compte des matériaux adaptés à l’écosystème, à l’ensoleillement, à la pluviométrie et à la ventilation… Il y a longtemps que la chose est devenue rare sous nos cieux. Il n’est plus tenu rigueur à l’orientation, parce qu’on sait, de toutes les façons, que pour le confort et contre la chaleur, on peut faire usage du climatiseur ou du ventilateur. Les maisons, surtout celles des agglomérations urbaines sont donc illustrées par l’utilisation du ciment et de la tôle ondulée. Une telle maison, dans un contexte de changement climatique, risque de ne pas être confortable. L’Association de la Voûte Nubienne propose une technique qui prend en compte le climat et ses conséquences. Didier Hubert MADAFIME, CotonouCécilia Rinaudo, la Directrice Adjointe de l’Association de la VoûteNubienne était à la COP 23 qui a eu lieu à Bonn en Allemagne du 6au 17 novembre 2017. Accompagnée de la responsable du développement de ladite Association Amarys Preuss, elle était allée faire la promotion de la Voûte Nubienne. L’endroit était idéal parce qu’il était question des changements climatiques et surtout de ses menaces. Et au-delà des autres secteurs, le bâtiment est aussi celui qui sera davantage touché par le phénomène. Dans ce contexte précis d’économies menacées par des dépenses excessives en énergie, écrit Djossê Léobard Houénou, dans son ouvrage « Design7 : Architecture africaine, de la tradition à la modernité », il devient nécessaire d’imaginer des solutions innovantes qui prennent en compte nos réalités climatiques. De quoi s’agit-il en fait ? La Voûte Nubienne est une technique de construction ancestrale originaire de Nubie, au Sud de l’Egypte et du Nord du Soudan, inconnue en Afrique de l’Ouest, qui n’utilise ni le bois, devenu rare, ni la tôle, chère et inconfortable. Réalisée principalement en terre crue, matériau largement disponible, la Voûte Nubienne est une solution d’habitat adaptée, qui évite l’utilisation des ressources ligneuses, répondant aux usages privés et communautaires, en milieu rural comme en ville. C’est ce que propose l’Association la Voûte Nubienne pour plusieurs pays de l’Afrique de l’Ouest à savoir : le Burkina-Faso, le Mali, le Sénégal et le Bénin. Il est tout à fait adapté au climat du Bénin surtout au nord, souligne Cécilia Rinaudo. « Là, on est sur un climat sec où il va faire très chaud, renchérit Madame Rinaudo qui estime que c’est une technique de construction entièrement en terre crue qui permet la réalisation de bâtiment durable, écologique ». On ne va pas utiliser du bois, de la tôle ni du ciment. Une innovation en matière de construction La seule chose utilisée ici, ce sont des briques en terre crue séchée au soleil pour le mur et la toiture. La propriété de la terre va donner une qualité thermique très importante, une énergie passive très importante. « Quand il va faire chaud ou froid à l’extérieur constate la Directrice Adjointe de l’Association la Voûte Nubienne, le bâtiment va être très confortable. C’est très important dans le contexte des changements climatiques. Encore plus important également avec…

YAOUNDE, Cameroon (PAMACC News) - African Forest Forum, a pan-African Non-Governmental Organisation, is leading the way in empowering stakeholders in the forestry sector to develop strategies for sustainable forest management and the fight against climate change. The organisation says sustainable forest management in Africa is imperative to mitigate the effects of climate change. But the capacities of professional and technical stakeholders in African forestry sector have to be strengthened to permit for better forest management. It is against this backdrop that a four day training workshop under the theme ‘ ModellingClimate and Applications to the Forestry Sector, is taking place from 9-13 April 2018 in Osun State University, Nigeria. The workshop that brings over 70participants from 17 African countries according to Godwin Kowero, the Executive Secretary of AFF, is part the organisation’s strategic plan being put in place acrossAfrican countries to douce the effects of environmental degradation and climate change. « We are committed to work with the different stakholders to better drive efforts towards sustainable forest management, » Kowero said at the opening of the workshop Monday 9th April. Climate change currently affecting the African environment he noted, remains a serious threat to human lives, hence the urgency for sustainable forest management in Africa. AFF was therefore committed to drive sustainable management and forest conservation pathways to better improve the socio-economic well-being of people in the African continent, he said. The forum he revealed was working closely with the UN and ECOWAS to address the issue of deforestation, in Africa. According AFF, Africa requires strengthening professionalism and work ethic in the forestry sector in order to better manage and use African forest and trees resources sustainably. And this also applies to how the continent handles climate change issues. In this regard the “Strengthening sustainable forest management in Africa project” recognizes the important role Professional Forestry Associations (PFAs) play in promoting forest governance, professionalism in the forest sector and ensuring a high level of competence, independence and integrity in the profession. These are all critical to sustainable forest management in Africa, a note from African Forestry Forum said. The workshop training objectives is focused on facilitating mobilization of forestry and related stakeholders in ECOWAS countries to address issues more professionally and in a harmonized manner. Participants accordingly are drilled on the basic concepts and principles of modelling climate; climate models used in different sectors (agriculture, terrestrial/vegetation systems, water resources, coastal systems, and soils),information requirements for climate models used in the different sectors, how to use the models to predict climate impacts in different sectors, and with emphasis on forestry, among others. Moussa Leko, ECOWAS representative, also pointed out at the opening of the training session the commitment of his institution to support member-states create a platform for synergy among stakeholders, to sustain forest management globally. Leko emphasised on the importance of forestry on food security and renewable energy , the life –wire of sustainable development. He commended the AFF for the initiative thatwill go a long way to enhance forest…

NAIROBI Kenya (PAMACC News) - A team of scientists from the Kenya Markets Trust (KMT) on April 11, 2018 shared all the key research findings of four different thematic studies conducted in Kenya under the Pathways to Resilience in Semi-Arid Economies (PRISE) project.“The Kenya government is now focusing on the “Big Four” agenda aimed at improving livelihoods, creating jobs and growing the economy by focusing on critical areas of the economy in the next five years,” noted Kamau Kuria, the head of KMT. “It is noteworthy that part of the PRISE study, which aimed at strengthening the understanding and knowledge of decision makers on the threats and opportunities that semi-arid economies face in relation to climate change, will go a long way in helping unlock the potential of semi-arid lands in Kenya and thus enhance their contribution to the national agenda,” he told delegates drown from Kenya , Senegal, International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Overseas Development Institute (ODI) during the event to disseminate key research findings in a Nairobi Hotel. The study, which was commissioned by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Canada and the UK based Department for International Development (DFID) aims atsupporting climate resilient economic development in partner countries by identifying opportunities for adaptation that are also opportunities for investment by the public and private sectors.“These findings from Kenya will help change the narrative in semi-arid areas,” said Dr Eva Ludifrom the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) – which is coordinating the PRISE project at a global level.According to Dr Evans Kitui of IDRC, direct involvement of government officials both at the county and the national level is a pointer towards implementation of policies that will emanate from the four studies. “In the past, research has not been well appreciated. But now, we can see a lot of government participation,” he said.One of the studies found that in the past 50 years, temperatures have risen in all the 21 semi arid counties in Kenya, with five of them recording an increase of more than 1.5oC increase. They include Turkana (1.8oC), West Pokot, ElgeyoMarakwet (1.91oC), Baringo (1.8oC), Laikipia (1.59oC) and Narok (1.75oC). This, according to Dr Mohammed Said, one of the lead researchers, has impacted greatly on livestock survival, on one hand presenting a disaster, and on the other hand providing an opportunity that can be exploited“There were winners and losers,” he told delegates at the forum. “Generally, cattle do not survive the higher temperatures, while at the same time, sheep and goat population increased exponentially,” said Dr Said.According to the study, whose theme was to harness opportunities for climate-resilient economic development in semi-arid lands and identifying the potential for economic transformation and diversification in semi-arid lands especially in the beef value chain, the overall population of cattle in all the semi arid counties reduced by more than 26% between the year 1977 and 2016.However, the study also reveals that goats and sheep population increased tremendously by 76% in the same period, with camels’ population increased by 14%. “This…