A review of tenure and governance in the pastoral lands of East and West Africa

Over the past two decades, pastoral lands in Africa have faced mounting pressures from competing land uses, resource scarcity, and governance challenges. Pastoralists and their tenure systems are increasingly unable to withstand these pressures, leading to rangeland fragmentation, reduced mobility, and the loss of critical grazing areas near water sources. These dynamics weaken pastoral production systems, heighten vulnerability to shocks such as droughts, and increase the likelihood of violent conflict over land.

This report examines the persistence of land tenure insecurity in pastoral areas, outlining the distinctive characteristics of pastoral tenure systems and the difficulties of formalising them within broader governance frameworks. It reviews current trends in land tenure and governance, including government initiatives to safeguard pastoral lands and the strategies pastoralists employ to access land despite insecurity.

The analysis highlights the disproportionate impact of losing linchpin resources, the cyclical degradation of accessible rangelands, and the structural barriers to anticipatory adaptation. The report concludes with reflections on research gaps and pathways forward, emphasising the need for long‑term, context‑sensitive interventions that strengthen tenure security and support pastoral resilience.