Key objectives include:

1. Enhanced Rangeland Management: Promoting regenerative practices to ensure the coexistence of migratory and sedentary livelihoods, thereby improving ecosystem health and increasing food, nutrition, and water security.
2. Sustainable Livestock Production: Improving herd management and market access for small-scale producers, and strengthening the competitiveness of markets within an improved policy environment.
3. Institutional Strengthening: Enhancing the institutions and policy frameworks governing the livestock sector, and fostering collaboration among communities and government structures to support economic, environmental, and social development.
4. Research and Evidence-Based Programming: Developing robust spatio-temporal data sets to inform decision-making, mitigate climate change impacts, and prevent further land and rangeland degradation.

Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution

Beyond environmental and economic objectives, the RANGE programme actively supports peacebuilding efforts in the region. In August 2024, leaders and community representatives from Isiolo, Marsabit, Samburu, and Meru counties signed a peace accord in Laisamis, Marsabit County, to address longstanding conflicts over resources such as water and pasture. The agreement includes measures like prohibiting armed herding and promoting inter-county grazing committees to manage livestock movements, aiming to reduce tensions and promote peaceful coexistence. (Isiolo, Samburu, Marsabit sign peace accord to end ceaseless conflicts)

Additionally, the programme emphasizes the inclusion of women and youth in peacebuilding processes. In March 2024, over 200 women and youth leaders from Marsabit and Isiolo counties participated in a three-day training on capacity building and conflict prevention. The training, facilitated by the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), aimed to empower these groups to play active roles in fostering peace and development in their communities. (Isiolo, Marsabit women and youths undergo training on peacebuilding)

Implementation and Capacity Building

The RANGE programme is designed to reach over 500,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries, including small-scale pastoralists and agro-pastoralists, through producer associations, community structures, and women and youth groups. It also engages government stakeholders, private sector actors, and development partners.

A significant component of the programme involves capacity building through research. ITC supports and improves existing Earth observation solutions for obtaining data on rangeland conditions, leveraging both in-situ sensors and satellite-based sources. The programme also supports five PhD and eleven MSc students from Kenya, whose research will strengthen institutional partnerships and contribute to sustainable development in the region.

Collaborative Efforts and Community Engagement

The RANGE programme actively collaborates with county governments, mandated governmental institutes such as the Department of Resource Surveys and Remote Sensing (DRSRS) and the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), local universities, research organizations, and conservancies. These partnerships aim to build strong institutional frameworks and leverage ongoing local and national initiatives.

Community engagement is central to the programme’s approach. For instance, the Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC) has facilitated peace meetings among communities from Marsabit, Isiolo, and Samburu counties under the RANGE programme, promoting cohesion and conflict resolution.