A sub-national cross-border committee on transboundary pastoralism is meeting in Dikhil, Djibouti, to strengthen the implementation of the IGAD Protocol on Transhumance and its Implementation Roadmap.
The three-day meeting, taking place from May 17 to 19, 2026, brings together sub-national coordination committees and key stakeholders from the Dikhil Cluster for engagement and training on safe, coordinated, and regulated cross-border livestock mobility.
The initiative is being led by the IGAD Centre for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development (ICPALD) with support from the European Union.
According to ICPALD, the training is aimed at building the capacity of local coordination committees and stakeholders to understand and implement the IGAD Protocol on Transhumance, a regional framework designed to guide livestock movement across borders while promoting cooperation among neighbouring communities and governments.
The training highlights the importance of the protocol in strengthening pastoral livelihoods, supporting animal health, enhancing livestock trade, and improving resilience within Djibouti’s livestock sector.
Participants are also expected to examine ways of promoting safer and more predictable livestock mobility, especially in cross-border areas where pastoral communities depend on seasonal movement in search of pasture, water, and markets.
The Dikhil Cluster meeting comes at a time when pastoralist communities across the region continue to face challenges linked to climate variability, resource pressure, animal disease risks, and cross-border coordination gaps.
By strengthening local committees, the initiative seeks to ensure that transhumance is better managed, reducing potential conflicts while improving access to essential services for pastoralists and their livestock.
ICPALD noted that regulated livestock mobility is central to sustaining pastoral economies and building resilience in arid and semi-arid areas.
The EU-funded initiative also aims to enhance regional cooperation by aligning local-level action with IGAD’s broader regional agenda on pastoralism, livestock development, animal health, and trade.
Stakeholders said the training will help communities and authorities better coordinate livestock movements, protect livelihoods, and promote peaceful coexistence across border areas.
The meeting is expected to contribute to stronger implementation of the Transhumance Protocol and support Djibouti’s efforts to build a more resilient, productive, and well-coordinated livestock sector.