Drylands Transform

Dryland Transform (DT) is a research project led by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in partnership with a multidisciplinary team from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Linnaeus University, Makerere University, Umeå University, University of Gothenburg, University of Nairobi, and World Agroforestry (ICRAF).

Drylands Transform investigates the links between land health, livestock-based livelihoods, human well-being, and land management and governance. The project will contribute new knowledge for transformative change and sustainable development of rangelands in the drylands of East Africa. Through strong stakeholder engagement in interdisciplinary research, DT explores the challenges and pathways towards a social-ecological transformation in drylands that optimizes synergies among the sustainable development goals (SDGs) while minimizing the trade-offs. Dryland Transform uses innovative field research approaches focusing on livelihood improvement through rangeland restoration and governance interventions in the Karamoja border region between Kenya (West Pokot & Turkana) and Uganda (Napak & Moroto). The four-year research project commenced in late 2021 and is funded by Formas, the Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development.

The overall goal of Drylands Transform is to contribute knowledge for implementing and achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the East African drylands while optimizing synergies and minimizing trade-offs between these. Through strong stakeholder engagement in interdisciplinary research, DT has set out to explore the challenges and pathways towards a social-ecological transformation in drylands that optimizes synergies among the sustainable development goals (SDGs) while minimizing the trade-offs.

The project is structured into five areas corresponding to the main project objectives:

1.            Assessments of soil and land health using the Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF)

2.            Rangeland restoration & sustainable management in knowledge-sharing hubs (Livestock cafés)

3.            Linking climate to health and nutrition

4.            Land governance mechanisms and practices

5.            Alternative scenarios for sustainable dryland transformation

ICPALD is the main project scaling partner and disseminates the project results at the cluster (Karamoja cluster), national and regional levels.

Contact:

Ahmed Mohamoud

Operations Officer

IGAD Centre for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development

Tel: +254 737 777742

Mobile: + 254 710 939333 

Email: [email protected] 

Kabete Vetlabs, Kapenguria Road, Off Waiyaki Way, 

P.O. Box 47824-00100, Nairobi, Kenya