A case of benign neglect

The respondents made a number of recommendations, all of which are presented in the Methodology Report . A selection of the recommendations that are most relevant to the gap analysis is available in Box 5.

gap. One reason for this discrepancy may be that the respondents interpreted the questionnaire differently, though it is also likely that they have very different experiences with information and technical support. Since most respondents had a country focus, their responses are most likely based on their local experiences.

Although certain trends were identified in the survey responses, respondents perceived the information gaps and gaps in technical support very differently. For example, credit/loan was rated as a technical support measure with both the smallest and largest gap, while information on voices of pastoralists was rated as having the smallest and largest information

Box 5: Highlights of the respondents’ recommendations most relevant to the gap analysis

The conclusions and recommendations of this gap analysis have been enriched by the opinions of the workshop participants, survey respondents, peer reviewers and Advisory Committee members. Below is an overview of the survey respondents’ recommendations.

• Broaden the understanding of the natural and cultural value of pastoralism and rangelands, and the effects of environmental change on pastoralist livelihoods toenhance sustainabilityand resilience, through conducting accurate and up-to-date assessments on rangeland health/conditions and regular targeted surveys on pastoral system diversity, integrating indigenous knowledge, facilitating exchanges of good practices in land use and natural resource management and providing support for postgraduate research. • Enhancepastoralists’voicesbybuildingthecapacity of pastoralist communities and organizations to collect, analyse, store and package information on pastoralism and rangeland management.

• Empower pastoralists and ensure their participation through supporting local autonomous institutions run by pastoralists to engage in making laws, policies, programmes and projects relevant to pastoralism. • Obtain recognition from authorities that positive discrimination is good for achieving realequality–i.e.thatextrameasuresbenefiting pastoralists are needed. Provide more long- term support, including donor support, as well as a national helpline or knowledge hub and develop mobile information resource centres. Provide pro bono assistance for managing legal issues, including land titles, make more credit and resources available and raise investments for pastoral livelihoods and rangeland improvements. facilitate development by conducting surveys in villages and in native languages, not online and in English, establish country focal points responsible for translating reports and recommended actions into local languages and facilitating a two-way flow of information, and publish information in magazines, on the radio, and on websites targeting pastoralists. • Enhance communication to

Recommendations for filling the gaps in information on pastoralists and rangelands:

• Enhance the existing information and increase the awareness of decision makers and the general public on pastoralism and rangeland challenges by encouraging governments to better disaggregate information on pastoralists and rangelands, and requiring all publicly funded projects, research and workshops to make information easily accessible. • Use the Internet as a means of facilitating information-sharing for all actors through, for example, open-access platforms or mobile phones, or by producing regular information booklets and brochures, and using media (such as social media). availability of

Recommendations for filling the gaps in the provision of technical support to pastoralists:

• Support all forms of education and capacity- building for pastoralists, including post-secondary education and extension programmes, informal sessions and small practical workshops, exchange programmes, demonstration sites and household demonstrations, inspirational programmes for pastoralist youth, and develop guidelines relevant to pastoralism and livestock mobility.

60