Meet the participants

My dream is to transform pastoral communities into spaces of opportunity, resilience, and peaceful coexistence, even in the most remote areas. I am a young pastoralist from Nigeria, an advocate for sustainable livelihoods, and a believer in the strength of community. Growing up in a Fulani setting shaped my values of discipline, respect and collective responsibility, and inspired my commitment to serve others. Through my experiences and background in Agricultural Economics and Extension, I have witnessed the impact of climate change, desertification, and resource-based conflicts on pastoralist lives. These challenges drive my passion for land rights advocacy, sustainable resource management, and bridging the gap between farmers and herders. I am excited to learn, connect and exchange experiences with fellow young leaders. I aim to strengthen my capacity to advocate for pastoralist rights, promote inclusive development, and contribute to building communities where peace, dignity, and opportunity are accessible to all.

I am 25 years old and a member of the Darkoye Women’s Group, as well as treasurer and community organizer for the Tin Hinan Association in Burkina Faso. As a member of the Tuareg pastoralist community, I dedicate my knowledge and expertise to serving the Darkoye Women’s and Youth Group and the Tin Hinan Association. My work focuses on supporting the organization of our grassroots activities as well as initiatives at the national level. I am involved in planning our activities and managing resources. I am committed to promoting the pastoral way of life and the empowerment of young women. I support and promote economic empowerment through income-generating activities and the promotion of crafts with internally displaced women and refugees, primarily based on pastoral and wood-based products, while raising awareness about GBV and girls’ access to education and land. Through local and international virtual meetings, I lead activities such as preparations for the World Indigenous Women’s Conference or the ongoing Global Pastoralist Women’s Meeting. I conduct community outreach, and my motivation is to consolidate these achievements to better serve my community. Beyond my commitment, I am passionate about preserving traditional craft skills and protecting the environment.

I am Abdo Abahaba, Founder and Executive Director of WAKLISA Development Association, working to improve pastoralist communities in Ethiopia. I come from a pastoralist background and studied Public Health, after which I returned to serve my community. Currently, our organization implements projects on scholarships for pastoralist students, viral hepatitis elimination, prevention of FGM and early child marriage, and strengthening community-based organizations. I am motivated to join this programme to strengthen my leadership, strategic management, and resource mobilization skills to further support community development and improve the wellbeing of pastoralist communities.

Working closely on a daily basis with ruminant livestock farmers’ organizations—and in particular with groups of women who process cow’s milk into cheese—my work focuses on capacity building in organizational governance, group structuring, and the promotion of AGRs. Through my efforts, I contribute to women’s economic empowerment and local development. Joining the ILC represents an opportunity for me to strengthen my leadership, amplify my impact, and contribute effectively to the inclusive and sustainable development of my community.

In West and Central Africa, millions of pastoralists live without birth certificates, without identity cards, and without any legal standing in the eyes of the state. Their transhumance routes are disappearing, their land rights are not recognized anywhere, and their voices are absent from the halls where public policy is decided. Millions of pastoralists live without birth certificates, without identity cards, and without any legal standing in the eyes of the state. This administrative invisibility deprives them of fundamental civil rights: they do not vote, do not have access to basic social services, and cannot legally defend their lands. Traditional transhumance corridors are shrinking every year under pressure from agricultural expansion, climate change, and land policies that disregard pastoral rights. Conflicts between farmers and herders are on the rise and claiming victims. And in the halls where public policies and development programs are decided, the voice of pastoralists is virtually absent. My mission is to ensure that pastoral communities stop being spoken about and start speaking for themselves. I advocate for greater visibility of the pastoral world through communication, training, and the sharing of on-the-ground experiences. I want to deepen my knowledge of policy advocacy and strategic leadership so that young pastors in Africa are no longer merely beneficiaries of development policies, but their true architects.

Gladys Kiplagat is an Indigenous youth leader from Kenya’s Endorois pastoralist community and a dedicated advocate for Indigenous land rights and climate justice. She serves as an Indigenous youth member with the Youth Initiative for Land in Africa (YILAA) and is the Executive Director of the Baringo Indigenous Peoples’ Organization (BIPO), where she leads community-driven advocacy on land rights, governance, and Indigenous peoples’ empowerment. The Endorois are an Indigenous pastoralist community from Kenya’s Rift Valley with deep spiritual, cultural, and ancestral ties to their land around Lake Bogoria. Their way of life is rooted in livestock herding, seasonal mobility, and sacred relationships with nature, though this has been disrupted by land dispossession and environmental pressures. Gladys grew up in this pastoralist context, where daily life involved herding livestock, fetching water, and navigating the realities of drought and limited resources. She carries visible scars from her childhood, including a mark on her forehead from a fall while fetching water as a young girl, and scars on her legs from herding goats through thorny terrain. These experiences reflect her lived reality of resilience, responsibility, and endurance within pastoralist life. Through her leadership roles, she works to amplify Indigenous youth and women’s voices in decision-making spaces, strengthen community-led land governance, and advance climate justice and Indigenous rights at local, national, and international levels. She is joining the ILC Inter-regional School of Young Pastoralists to strengthen her leadership capacity, deepen her advocacy impact, and connect with other Indigenous youth leaders working to protect land, identity, and livelihoods globally.

I am an indigenous youth leader from the Mbororo pastoralist community in Cameroon, currently serving as Head of Youth Affairs and the Educational Commission of the Mbororo Social and Cultural Development Association (MBOSCUDA). As a pastoralist, I inherited cattle from my forefathers, in line with our customs and traditions, and I continue to practise traditional grazing methods that have sustained our people for generations. I am participating in the ILC School of Young Pastoralists to acquire new knowledge and skills that will help modernise grazing practices within my community. My goal is to contribute to improved food security, particularly in dairy production and to help reduce the frequent conflicts between farmers and grazers in my country. I am also passionate about preserving and sharing indigenous knowledge, especially traditional methods of livestock care and treatment. These practices have supported the livelihoods of the Mbororo people for centuries, even without reliance on formal employment and I believe they remain valuable in today’s changing world.

Issack Lemorogo is a Communications Officer at Community Land Action Now! (CLAN!) in Kenya, where he works with Indigenous Forest and Pastoralist communities to advance secure land rights, climate justice, and grassroots legal empowerment. Coming from a pastoralist background in northern Kenya, Issack grew up herding livestock and learning the deep connection between land, culture, and livelihoods experiences that continue to shape his work and purpose today. Through his role, he documents community experiences, supports advocacy efforts, and amplifies the voices of communities facing land injustices. In 2025, he worked on a documentary highlighting the Ren’dille community’s struggle to secure their land heritage, while also exploring the revitalization of Ren’dille culture and traditions. The documentary is currently in production and yet to be released. Issack is motivated by the need to strengthen community agency and ensure that Indigenous voices are heard in decision-making spaces. He is particularly passionate about storytelling as a tool for advocacy and change. Through the ILC Inter-Regional School of Young Pastoralists, he hopes to deepen his skills in leadership, community organizing, and advocacy to better support pastoralist communities. Outside of his work, Issack enjoys storytelling through media, engaging in community dialogue, and exploring new places.

As a young lawyer in Zambia, I have a deep interest in how land shapes people’s lives, dignity, and opportunities. My journey into land and natural resource governance began through working closely with women and young people in communities who often feel excluded from decision-making processes. Listening to their experiences made me realize how closely land, identity, and survival are connected, and how important it is to ensure that legal and policy frameworks reflect these lived realities. Much of my work has focused on supporting community engagement processes and contributing to policy discussions around land governance, natural resource management, gender equality, and social justice. Through this, I have seen a growing determination among women to understand and claim their rights, and this continues to motivate my work. I am drawn to learning from pastoralist communities and understanding how mobility, climate change, and land access shape their ways of life. I see this program as an important opportunity to listen, learn, and grow from those experiences, while also reflecting on how inclusive land governance can be strengthened across different contexts. I am motivated by a desire to bridge the gap between communities and decision-makers, ensuring that real-life experiences shape policies that affect people’s everyday lives. Beyond my professional work, I am passionate about learning, leadership, and creating spaces where young people can meaningfully participate in shaping the future of their communities.

I am a member of an agro-forestry, livestock, and fisheries organization, the CNCR (National Council for Consultation and Cooperation of Rural Communities), where livestock farming, agriculture, forest resource management, and fishing are at the heart of our mission. These practices are deeply rooted in our culture, our environment, and our identity. Growing up, I learned the importance of resilience, solidarity, and respect for nature, because our daily lives depend on our ability to understand climate change and manage our resources sustainably. Within this organization, I play an active role in promoting sustainable practices and sharing knowledge, particularly with younger generations. I am also vice-president of the CNCR Youth Council, where I help amplify the voices of rural youth and advocate for their interests in decision-making forums. I am passionate about strengthening the voices of rural communities and ensuring that our realities and challenges are recognized in broader discussions on development and climate change adaptation. My dream as a young leader is to help build more resilient, inclusive, and self-reliant rural communities, where young people and women play a central role in decision-making. I want to promote sustainable solutions that build on our local knowledge while incorporating innovations tailored to our realities. My ambition is also to create more opportunities for young people, so they can thrive and fully participate in the development of their communities. I joined this program with a desire to learn, build connections, and contribute. I am motivated by the opportunity to exchange ideas, acquire new skills, and advocate for solutions that support agroforestry, livestock, and fisheries organizations in a rapidly changing world. I believe that collaboration and knowledge-sharing are essential to building a more secure and sustainable future for all.

My name is Melau, and I come from a Maasai pastoralist community in northern Tanzania, where, growing up, my daily routine included herding cattle, spotting wildlife, and occasionally wondering who really owns the land: us or the elephants. Life in the rangelands taught me resilience, responsibility, and how closely our lives are tied to nature. Today, I work with my community to raise awareness on issues like land rights, climate change, carbon credits, and human–wildlife conflict. I also spend time in the field researching interactions between people and elephants near Tarangire and Serengeti, which means my days can involve anything from community interviews to tracking wildlife corridors, followed by evening duties back home with the cows. It’s a balance I’ve come to appreciate. I’m particularly passionate about climate adaptation, making complex ideas like carbon markets easier to understand, and encouraging youth to explore opportunities like community-led tourism. I joined this program to learn, share, and connect with other pastoralist voices, while bringing a bit of humor, curiosity, and real-life field experience along the way.

I am a pastoralist and serve as a Rangelands, pastoral land, Climate and environment Advisor at My Land is My Life, within my community. Growing up in a pastoralist environment has deeply shaped my understanding of the close relationship between people, livestock, and the land. My daily life and experiences have taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of sustainable resource management in the face of climate change. In my role, I work to promote responsible land governance, strengthen rangeland management practices, and support community-led responses to climate challenges. I am committed to amplifying the voices of pastoralist communities, ensuring they are included in decision-making processes that affect their livelihoods and future. I joined this programme to expand my knowledge, share experiences, and collaborate with others who are working toward equitable and sustainable land use. I am motivated by the opportunity to contribute to solutions that empower communities and protect natural resources for future generations. Beyond my professional work, I am passionate about community development, youth engagement, and continuous learning. I believe in the power of collaboration and knowledge-sharing to create lasting, positive change.

I am 29 years old and a young researcher and advocate for pastoralism in the Sahel. Coming from a family of agro-pastoralists and having grown up in a purely pastoral setting before the 2010 drought, I have direct and in-depth knowledge of pastoral realities. I am currently the sub-regional assistant for early warning and information monitoring at the Billital Maroobé Network (RBM), where I contribute to the analysis of pastoral dynamics, cross-border mobility, and risks related to insecurity, climate change, and access to natural resources. I am a doctoral student affiliated with the Laboratory for the Study and Research on Sahel-Saharan Territories (LERTESS) and a member of the Pastoralism Research Team (ERPAS) at Abdou Moumouni University in Niamey. My career has been marked by a strong commitment to pastoralist communities, particularly through fieldwork, advocacy, and the promotion of indigenous knowledge. Having witnessed the transformations in pastoralism—including gradual sedentarization, the shrinking of grazing lands, and the restructuring of the pastoral cycle—I am dedicated to promoting greater recognition of this way of life and defending the rights of pastoralists. Through my participation in the ILC’s Interregional School for Young Pastoralists, I aim to strengthen my leadership skills, learn from experiences in other parts of the world, and help amplify the voices of young pastoralists in the Sahel in decision-making forums, such as my participation on the drafting committee for the Young Pastors’ Declaration in Madrid. Passionate about research, fieldwork, and social dynamics, I am particularly interested in issues of transhumance, land governance, and community resilience in the face of contemporary challenges.

Ali Fagouri is a pastoralist leader from Morocco and Secretary General of APABY (Association Pastorale Ait Ben Yaacoub). Growing up in a pastoral community, his life has been closely connected to livestock, rangelands, and seasonal mobility. He works to support pastoral livelihoods, strengthen youth leadership, and advocate for the recognition of pastoral land rights and mobility corridors. Ali is actively engaged in representing pastoral communities at local, national, and international levels. He is a member of Pasto-Arabic pastoral networks, the World Alliance of Mobile Indigenous Peoples (WAMIP), and the International Land Coalition (ILC). He is motivated to join this leadership programme to strengthen his advocacy skills, contribute to inclusive land governance, and amplify the voices of young pastoralists facing climate change, land pressure, and marginalization. His interests include sustainable rangeland management, climate resilience, and youth empowerment.

My name is Ahmad Saad Al-Huweitat, from Disi Village in Wadi Rum, Southern Badia of Jordan. I grew up in a large Bedouin family where herding sheep and goats has always been a central part of our life, culture, and identity. After graduating with a degree in Hotel and Tourism Management, I started working in the tourism sector in Wadi Rum. While I am passionate about tourism, I continue to help my family in herding livestock, which keeps me connected to my roots and traditions. Through my work, I try to connect tourism with pastoral life by inviting visitors to experience traditional herding. This gives tourists a chance to understand the Bedouin way of life and encourages young people in my community to see that pastoralism is not an outdated job, but a source of pride, income, and sustainability. I also work closely with women’s associations to help the community make use of sheep wool during the shearing season. The wool is spun and turned into rugs or bags that can be sold, providing income and helping reduce poverty and unemployment in our region. In the past, wool was a vital resource for Bedouins in many aspects of life, but now it is often burned, causing environmental pollution, so we aim to restore it as a sustainable and valuable resource. By combining modern tourism, traditional herding, and wool projects, I aim to preserve our Bedouin heritage, support my family, and inspire young people to value and maintain these traditional livelihoods that reflect our identity and culture.

I am a social environmental researcher working on human-nature interactions in rural territories, with pastoralism and fire as transversal themes, and activism and hope as key elements for societal transformation. I also collaborate with Iniciativa Comunales, a Spanish network that supports the recognition and strengthening of communal land and natural resource governance. I am particularly interested in pastoralist ways of life as systems of knowledge, governance, and care for the land, and how commons-based governance systems shape relationships between people, land, and Nature. As such, I join the ILC Youth Pastoralists School motivated by a desire to learn from pastoralist experiences globally and to contribute to collective reflections on the future of pastoralism, governance of the commons, and socioenvironmental resilience.