Pastoralists are nomadic and semi-nomadic herders who have been the caretakers of Africa’s savannahs and grasslands for thousands of years. These lands cover 40% of the continent, support 250 million people, and are vital to Africa’s future.
For generations, pastoralists have guided their herds across vast landscapes, reading the land and the skies to decide where and when to move. These choices shape the well-being of their animals, the health of the land, and the future of their families.
But climate change is disrupting the patterns pastoralists have relied on for centuries. Rainfall has become less predictable. Droughts are getting longer and more frequent. Traditional wisdom alone no longer provides the certainty it once did.
Without reliable information, the risks are significant. Families often travel long distances only to find pastures their animals need for survival have already been depleted. In some regions, pastoralists lose up to a third of their livestock each year, placing livelihoods, food security, and local economies under growing strain, and increasing instances of conflict over resources.
At the same time, overgrazed pastures and dwindling water sources are stripping once-thriving ecosystems of their vitality, leaving the land, wildlife, and people who depend on them struggling to survive.
Better information can change these outcomes.
AfriScout transforms how pastoralists manage their herds and lands by fusing traditional knowledge, mobile and satellite technology, and evidence-based regenerative practices.
AfriScout Steward
AfriScout Regen
Result: Healthier herds, stronger pastoral livelihoods, and more resilient grasslands.
One day while I was looking after my goats, a friend posted an alert concerning the presence of hyenas in the field where my herd was. I was able to quickly change my direction and secure my goats.
AfriScout alerts help me detect areas influenced by drought so that I can request the government to support and provide for residents’ basic needs.
The AfriScout app helps pastoralists to search for water, pasture and better places for migration right from home using their smartphones. This has reduced the interference of young schoolboys’ education who previously used to scout for water and pasture.
I saw several alerts on AfriScout about the contagious ecthyma disease in my area. I mobilized the leaders to help vaccinate our animals. Over 90,000 livestock were vaccinated thus safeguarding our herd from falling sick or dying.
When herders are disturbed by wild animals or their property destroyed by elephants, they post the predator alert on the AfriScout app and the Kenya Wildlife Service takes immediate action to prevent any loss and further conflict.
I showed some of my friends the app and they did not believe it was telling the truth. I dared them to go with me and they were surprised how accurately the map depicted the situation at the ground. Now they believe in the power of AfriScout.
The Meru-Isiolo border has always been rife with conflicts. Now, when I hear any hint, I post the conflict alert on the AfriScout app and herders on the way to the border who see my alert turn back immediately. This has helped us to save many lives.
I have used AfriScout and trained others how to use the app for more than two years now. I can attest that the app is digitizing pastoralism. Can you imagine knowing the exact distance to where you are migrating your livestock to and planning your route in advance? That was unthinkable just a few years […]
The AfriScout app is very resourceful. There was a time an alert was posted that the Merille Melako market was razed by fire. We were able to respond to it immediately.
Conflict between tribes has almost completely been reduced or is near zero… AfriScout has helped reduce this because the application has provided options for migration and grazing.
The application helps us do away with the practice of keeping a large herds as security against mortality in case of drought or disease outbreak.
It has reduced livestock mortality during the dry season and many herdsmen are happy with it.
I get preliminary diseases incidence information via the AfriScout app alerts which are posted by herders themselves. Now if there is an outbreak, he can notice and take action within a day.
I joined Afriscout because it is a way for me to serve my community.
Previously, we have been moving with livestock for long while from place to place. In the midst of that journey our cows and calves used to die. So, these maps have enormously benefits. Now, we have ridden ourselves of those challenges. Our cattle, calves and children are safe.
I saw alerts on Chronic Bovine Pleuro-Pneumonia (CBPP) in the neighboring village of Oerendeke andseveral alerts on deadly Ormilo. We therefore decided to vaccinate out cattle and de-worm our shoats. While our neighbours’ herds were highly affected with many of their animals dying, our herd was safe. None of our animal died
