BKMC Youth Agrichampion 2024, Jacob Lekaitogo, shares his experience at UNCCD COP16 held in Riyadh from December 2 to 13 2024.
The 16th session of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) was a critical platform for addressing land degradation, climate change, and sustainable development. Through the support of the BKMC, I, as a 2024 Youth AgriChampion and representative of the African Youth Pastoralists Initiative (AYPI), travelled to Riyadh and participated in several discussions and engaged with key stakeholders in the areas of pastoralism, pastoralist youth empowerment, and environmental sustainability.
Participation in Side Events
During the conference, I participated in numerous side events, focusing on the importance of pastoral youth, climate restoration, and the many different strategies associated with the alignment of climate goals. Additionally here, I was able to present the Youth AgriChampions 2024 Demand Paper on multiple platforms, often emphasising Demand 3: Land Rights.
Listed below are some of the notable events and their descriptions
- “Just Transition to a More Sustainable Extensive Livestock Production”. In this session, I focused on the discussion of strategies for transitioning to sustainable livestock production systems that align with climate goals. The session emphasized the role of pastoralism in mitigating land degradation and promoting biodiversity while ensuring food security.
- “Mapping Grassland and Savannah Hotspots: Bridging Knowledge Gaps”. This session was focused on using evidence-based community initiatives to demonstrate the economic, social, and environmental benefits of integrating livestock into land restoration.
- “Sustainable Investing for large-scale rangeland restoration”. The session focused on the large-scale rangeland restoration. I had an opportunity to be engaged in the STELAR Project by ILRI and Partners. Through the representation and partnership with ILIRI, CIAT, and others, AYPI hopes to be engaged through the program. Through this engagement, the team managed to have three rangeland Champions in Tanzania, Kenya, and Ethiopia.
- “Sustainable land restoration through community participation: Success stories from Indigenous Land rights campaigns and Community Stewardship” The session highlighted the sustainable initiatives and role of indigenous and local communities in land restoration. It touched on issues of policy barriers, and system barriers to enable local communities to successfully participate in the initiatives.
Impact and Reflections
Attending the UNCCD COP16 was a transformative experience that underscored the critical role of pastoralist communities in addressing land degradation and advancing climate resilience. Engaging in side events and discussions allowed me to bring forward the unique challenges faced by pastoralist youth and women, including barriers to land tenure (Demand 3 from the 2024 Youth AgriChampions Demand Paper), equitable participation, and the impact of climate change on traditional livelihoods. The sessions also highlighted the untapped potential of pastoralism as a sustainable solution to restore rangelands and promote biodiversity.
My experience attending the UNCCD COP16 conference was a good opportunity to forge connections and participate in meaningful discussions. My participation at this conference has also trickled down to amplify the work by the AYPI and those connected to it. This includes initiating collaborative efforts to empower youth through leadership training with the Youth Negotiators Academy, and engage in policy advocacy and community-led restoration initiatives.
Furthermore, the exchange of knowledge and best practices will directly inform our projects, ensuring they remain inclusive, impactful, and scalable across Africa. The event was in mobilizing investments for land restoration, afforestation, clean energy, and water and food security, while also fostering potential partnerships with investors to direct funding toward these initiatives.
Prepared by:
Jacob Lekaitogo
2024 Youth AgriChampion, Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens
President of the Africa Youth Pastoralist Initiative (AYPI)
