The Ecosystem-Based Adaptation and Mitigation of Communal Rangelands project team, comprising members from the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) and Conservation International (CI), participated in the 2025 Herding for Health (H4H) Indaba held in Hoedspruit, South Africa. This engagement served as part of a benchmarking exercise focused on the H4H initiative which is aimed at supporting rural communities by promoting sustainable livestock management. 

 

The Ecosystem-Based Adaptation and Mitigation of Communal Rangelands project is sponsored by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Government of Botswana and is implemented by Conservation International in collaboration with BUAN. BUAN's role in the project include the development of professional herders curricula and the provision of training to the herders across three designated districts: Ngamiland, Bobirwa, and Kgalagadi. The training will be facilitated through the Centre for In-Service and Continuing Education (CICE).

 

The Indaba featured the participation of esteemed representatives: Dr. Israel Legwaila, Dr. Keneilwe Kgosikoma, and Dr. James Machete. The team presented a summary of  curricula developed by a Team of 15 experts from BUAN covering several topics. Additionally, various teams from several Southern African countries currently implementing the H4H projects shared their experiences, challenges encountered, and proposed solutions.

 

Participating countries included South Africa, Madagascar, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Mozambique, Germany (represented by GIZ), the United States of America (through Conservation International and the Peace Parks Foundation), and Kenya.