Pastoralist Goals Foundation at the IYRP Madrid Global Youth Gathering
This April, from the 8th to 11th, young voices from across the globe came together in Madrid for the “Young Pastoralists & New Technologies” Global Gathering, held in celebration of the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026. We, the Pastoralist Goals Foundation (Kenya), were represented on this global stage by our Executive Director, Basele Galgesa, contributing to critical dialogues shaping the future of pastoralist communities.
Indigenous Knowledge - A Pillar of Innovation
During the session on Traditional Knowledge, Indigenous Knowledge, and Social Innovation in Pastoralism, we delivered a clear and urgent message that indigenous knowledge is the foundation of our future, and a heritage that must be protected. Efforts must focus on strengthening and sustaining its practice within communities.
We emphasized that young pastoralists are indispensable innovators. They serve as a bridge between ancestral wisdom and modern science, integrating digital tools and research to develop practical solutions for climate adaptation, wildfire prevention, and improved land management. For pastoralist communities, technology should be embraced to enhance human skills, experience, and judgment.
Protecting Our Mobility
A central pillar of our advocacy in Madrid was the defense of mobility. We reaffirmed that mobility is a vital social, ecological, and cultural system that sustains biodiversity and strengthens resilience and especially in the face of climate change.
Our Executive Director stressed that no young pastoralist should be forced to choose between being a pastoralist (or choosing to be who they are) and accessing modern opportunities such as education and essential services. We call on policymakers to design and deliver public services that align with pastoralist mobile lifestyles, ensuring dignity, inclusion, and safety for pastoralist communities.
Building the Future Together
The gathering concluded with the development of a Final Declaration – The Madrid Call to Action - a collective roadmap shaped by the voices of young pastoralists from across the globe. As we move forward, we remain committed to safeguarding pastoralist communities from marginalization and ensuring their meaningful participation in decision-making at all levels.
Pastoralism should never again be treated as a relic of the past for it is a viable, innovative, and essential livelihood for the future. We are proud to have stood alongside our peers in Madrid to affirm our role as leaders, innovators, and decision-makers in this global movement.
We extend our sincere gratitude to the organizers of the IYRP Madrid meeting for providing a platform to share perspectives and strengthen our collective voice. We hope to get a chance to present this in Mongolia during the IYRP Summit this August.