Side event co-convened by the International Development Law Organization, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Réseau Billital Maroobè, the Resource Conflict Institute, and the Rights and Resources Initiative on the occasion of the UNCCD COP17.
Friday, 21 August 2026
10:30–12:00 (UTC+08:00)
Room MET-05
Rangelands are vital for food security, livelihoods, and ecosystem resilience, yet they are increasingly affected by land degradation, resource scarcity, and conflict among pastoralists and other land users. Rule of law solutions can help address these interconnected challenges by strengthening inclusive and sustainable land governance, preventing and resolving disputes over land and natural resources, and supporting the realization of the right to adequate food.
Anchored in the normative framework of the right to adequate food, the side event will explore the enabling role of legal empowerment and access to justice in strengthening rangeland governance. Particular attention will be given to community-based dispute resolution mechanisms that can help prevent and resolve conflicts among pastoralists and other rangeland users. These approaches can help strengthen governance systems, reduce tensions over land and natural resources, and support food security and resilience, particularly in fragile and food-insecure contexts.
The event will contribute to joint learning and exchange on practical rule-of-law solutions that can advance sustainable land governance, peaceful and resilient societies, and the realization of the right to adequate food. It will also explore how these approaches can contribute to the objectives of the UNCCD and the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) 2026.
Speakers
- Mr. Ward Anseeuw, Senior Land Tenure Officer and Lead of the Land Tenure Team, FAO
- Ms. Joselyn Bigirwa, Head of Mission to the Republic of Uganda and Gender and Land Expert, IGAD (video statement)
- Mr. Japheth Kasimbu, Transhumance Coordinator, IGAD Centre for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development (ICPALD)
- Mr. Ken Otieno, Executive Director, RECONCILE
- Mr. Ibrahima Dia, Programmes Manager at IED Africa and a member of the Technical Committee of the National Land Coalition of Senegal
- Ms. Ang Furba Sherpa, Representative, Yak and Chauri Farmers Association, Nepal
- Mr. Michael Warren, Customary and Informal Justice Advisor, IDLO (moderator)