valuable are used to buy food.
• Splitting of herds. Generally, this is a
coping strategy aiming at reducing
competition among herds for forage and
water resources and optimizing pasture
use. In times of crisis, it is mainly a
principle of mutual assistance whereby
pastoralists ensure optimal conditions
and habits for the animals through
reciprocal exchanges and support.
• Redistribution of assets. Mutually supportive
relationships among pastoral
communities assure that, in times of
need, food, cash and labour are
redistributed on a reciprocal basis.
It is important to note that pastoralists have
strong traditional institutions that play a
significant role in periods of stress.
Specifically, they regulate natural resource use
and conservation, manage risks, protect
resources and promote collective actions for
mutual safety.
transaction costs, low competition in the
supply of goods and services, and high
standards, making it difficult for
pastoralists to convert livestock in times of
stress. (Moreover, pastoralists are often
price takers rather than price makers).
Access to high-value export markets
remains elusive to pastoralists.
• Growing population pressure. One of the
consequences of population growth is to
make pastoral economies less selfsufficient.
• Other constraints. These include limited
access to financial services, poor delivery
of social services, low literacy levels,
insecure land tenure and absence of basic
infrastructure.