12/10/2025
Day 2 of the SADC Farmers Agriculture Budget Summit 2025 focused on deepening understanding of the Herding for Health (H4H) model - a community-driven livestock management approach that integrates healthy rangelands, healthy animals, thriving livelihoods, and good governance.
Farmers, Non-State Actors, and technical experts explored how Herding for Health (H4H) can be scaled and integrated into the SADC RASIP 2030, SADC Climate Change Strategy regional and national frameworks.
The discussions highlighted the model’s potential to restore ecosystems, strengthen resilience to climate shocks and position SADC farmers as key contributors to the region’s climate action.
Farmers and Non-State Actors developed joint action plans on how to advance the H4H model in Eastern and Southern Africa at all levels; district, national, regional and continental levels. Some of the key priorities identified include:
🌿Positioning H4H as a practical contribution to COP30 commitments, NDCs, and Land Degradation Neutrality targets.
🤝 Working with diverse stakeholders to mainstream H4H in District, National and Regional Agri-food Systems Investment Plans (DAIPs, NASIPs, RASIPs).
📊 Aligning H4H with the SADC RASIP 2030, CAADP Kampala Declaration 2035, and the SADC Livestock Policy and Strategy.
🎓 Strengthening capacity building, awareness, and policy engagement at all levels.
👩🌾 Advocating for gender-sensitive working groups, dedicated budgets and the inclusion of H4H indicators in agriculture and livestock policy monitoring frameworks.
The event was jointly organized by ESAFF Headquarters, GIZ Botswana and SADC , Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA), and Greenpeace Africa, bringing together regional voices and partners to chart pathways for sustainable livestock and rangeland management.
