The Impact of Climate Change 

Dr. Abukar Siraj | 18 Dec 2023

Climate change greatly impacts nomadic pastoralists who depend heavily on livestock and livestock products for their livelihoods and nourishment. The impact of climate change on nomadic pastoralists includes:

Loss of livestock: Lack of water access, pasture depletion, and increased incidence of diseases and pests during prolonged droughts and floods have led to significant losses in livestock populations. This has reduced the livelihood and wealth of nomadic pastoralists and has disrupted the cultural and social systems that revolve around pastoralists’ way of life. An increasing number of pastoralists who lost their animals are leaving livestock production altogether, making their way to peri-urban centers and refugee camps. This has increased the rate of pastoralist drop-outs in the Horn of Africa.

Resource-based conflicts: Nomadic pastoralists traditionally rely on the availability of natural resources, moving their livestock to find suitable grazing areas. Climate change exacerbates resource scarcity, leading to increased competition over limited resources. Competition for diminishing natural resources such as water and pasture has heightened tensions, resulting in conflicts among nomadic pastoralists.

Food insecurity and malnutrition: Climate change-related impacts on rangelands and livestock have resulted in severe food insecurity among nomadic pastoralists. The communities often face hunger and malnutrition due to the reduced availability and quality of livestock products. A decline in livestock productivity, such as milk and meat, has reduced access to animal-sourced protein and essential nutrients, which causes high cases of acute malnutrition within pastoralist communities. Children, pregnant and lactating mothers, are severely affected by acute malnutrition.

Increased health risk among nomadic pastoralists and their livestock: Climate change contributes to the spread of infectious diseases and the emergence of new diseases affecting both pastoralists and their livestock. Rift Valley fever, which #CGPP is monitoring with community volunteers and different government sectors, poses a substantial threat to human and livestock populations, particularly during heavy rains and flash floods. In addition to the direct impact on animal and human health, these diseases indirectly affect the livelihoods of nomadic pastoralists as they may be unable to sell or trade their sick animals during the outbreak.

Increased vulnerability to climate-induced shocks: Nomadic pastoralists face socio-economic and political marginalization, limiting their access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and social protection. These disparities worsen by isolating remote pastoralist communities and limiting their access to necessary support systems. This has pushed most nomadic pastoralists into poverty and a cycle of dependency on external assistance.