The Jameel Observatory for Food Security Early Action is developing the Dryland Futures Academy, an ambitious training and learning programme to build capacities, expertise and know-how of people involved in food security early warning/early action the region.
We aim to empower pastoral communities – and the people working with them – through capacity development and sharing on improving food security and resilience of drylands. We anticipate this empowerment directly benefitting communities as well as the various public and private agencies that support dryland development.
Why the Academy?
Many of Africa’s most pressing climate adaptation challenges are concentrated in the drylands. Covering over two-thirds of Africa, the drylands are home to half a billion people (40% of the population) and, critically, are warming at up to twice the global average.
Climate change’s threat to life and livelihood in these areas is severe. The response to droughts often happens as the crisis unfolds, leading to livestock losses and harmful humanitarian consequences.
Pastoral communities have dealt with shocks and uncertainties for generations, building strong networks and collective action.
Their resilience is hampered by a lack of relevant investment or support, particularly worrying in an era of more intensive and regular climatic shocks. Policy misconceptions are equally obstructive – for example, that the drylands are empty, unproductive lands – and they are often shaped by incomplete, overly negative understandings of pastoral systems.
In the face of frequent droughts and other environmental shocks in the Horn of Africa, there is a growing consensus on the need to act before crises arise to minimise their effects and support the well-being of humans and animals.
High-level skills and experience are needed to address dryland communities’ complex and varied problems effectively. Any meaningful solutions must be built on engagement with the communities that call the drylands their home.
Our approach
The Dryland Futures Academy will build capacities, expertise, and knowledge among local stakeholders and communities involved in food security, anticipatory action, early warning, and early action in the East African drylands. Skilled people, effective institutions, and connected local capacities are vital for communities to enhance their resilience and manage environmental and climatic uncertainties. By improving forecasting and anticipatory action, we can limit the extent of the crisis, empowering local communities and other actors with the knowledge and skills to adapt to and manage environmental shocks. Capacity building can also foster resilience and reduce dependency on external aid during times of crisis.
Skilled people, effective institutions, and connected local capacities are vital for communities to enhance their resilience and manage environmental and climatic uncertainties. By improving forecasting and anticipatory action, we can limit the extent of the crisis, empowering local communities and other actors with the knowledge and skills to adapt to and manage environmental shocks. Capacity building can also foster resilience and reduce dependency on external aid during times of crisis.
Four learning pathways
Strengthening capacities for food security early action in East Africa
Academic and formal education
Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and vocational training for individuals to advance their learning on dryland issues
Community skills sharing
Pastoralist communities gaining livelihood and resilience building knowledge and skills
Our ambition
Over the next 5 years, we will grow the Drylands Future Academy organically, according to the needs and demands of people, institutions and partners working in the drylands. This approach will ensure we build in-country capacity to equip communities to manage challenging conditions as the climate changes.
By 2030, we envisage that the Academy will deliver a full programme of fellowships and mentoring for early-career and future leaders, CPD programmes for professionals, PhD and Masters-level opportunities, and skills sharing at local and community levels. These will be created and delivered in collaboration with regional organisations, NGOs, government organisations, and regional universities, ensuring the Academy delivers capacity and long-term solutions involving effective early action. We will build financial resilience through diversified income streams combining philanthropy, partnerships and impact investments, and a tiered fee structure tailored to different stakeholders, which ensures continued accessibility and inclusivity.
