Dieri Pastoralist Initiative
An Indigenous-Led Movement for Sustainable Land Stewardship
Northern Senegal’s Diéri pastoral zone stands on the front line of climate change, serving as a critical ecological buffer that helps slow the advance of the Sahara Desert. Yet chronic underinvestment is pushing households toward crisis-driven displacement, distress livestock sales, and avoidable herd losses, threatening the stability of this centuries old way of life.
3-year, 3-village Pilot Initiative:
The Diéri Pastoralist Initiative responds to these challenges starting with a 36-month pilot to stabilize communities, reduce economic loss, restore degraded lands, and empower Indigenous knowledge systems that have sustained life in this fragile environment for centuries.
Click here to view a short pamphlet about the pilot initiative and the support needed to launch this work in January 2027
10-Year 30-Village Scale-up plan
The pilot will expand in two subsequent phases, first to 7 additional villages, followed by 20, creating a cohesive network of 30 service hubs across the Diéri within 10 years. At full scale, the network is designed to support more than 75,000 Indigenous pastoralists.
Click here to view the comprehensive brief outlining the full 10-year, 30-village scale-up initiative.
It All Begins with Water...
Andando is seeking funding partners to deliver the pilot’s first and most catalytic investment. $370,000 is needed for three village boreholes, solar pump systems, water towers, distribution networks, and Year 1 implementation support, enabling Andando to begin the pilot in 2027.
Local leaders have asked Andando to bring this model deeper into the Diéri, and we are ready to deliver. To discuss partnership opportunities, email garrison@andando.org
