SNV and RBM strengthen their partnership

On 3 April the Billital Maroobè and SNV signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

The economic contribution of  pastoralism is substantial for West African countries. In Burkina Faso and Mali, for instance, the monetary value of the pastoral livestock sector is about half of the entire agricultural sector. In addition, the urbanisation trend in Africa generates an increased demand for livestock products; creating additional economic opportunities for the pastoralist population. SNV and RBM signed an Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen their cooperation to create an enabling environment and unleash the economic development of the pastoralism sector.

SNV has been working with the Billital Maroobè Network (RBM) since 2008. Due our collaboration, RBM has been able to strengthen its organisational and institutional capacities and RBM has been able to establish a proper regional network of pastoralists. The network has enabled RBM to represent the voice of pastoralists at the local, regional, national and international level on issues that affect them, such as:

• cross-border transhumance and a secure access to pastoral resources;

• improving the productivity of pastoral production systems;

• direct access to markets and the development of trade value chains;

• pastoralist access to basic social services;

• food security / sovereignty.

RBM President Mr. Zakariaou Diallo, and SNV CEO, Mr. Allert Van den Ham, signed the MoU, which will help strengthen the existing collaboration between both organisations and achieve sustainable results for the pastoralist population.