-: There are more than 100 million nomadic herders
in Africa, supplying up to 80%
of all the meat consumed on the continent.
But this population is severely marginalized
despite its huge economic and environmental contributions.
My name is Shruthi Baskaran-Makanju,
and this is my Impact in Sixty.
The livelihoods of pastoralists are heavily threatened
by extreme drought, poverty, and conflict.
Past efforts to address this situation have largely focused
on humanitarian approaches,
but the pastoralists don't want handouts.
They want to contribute more productively to the sector.
And the private sector is a critical solution
to this human impact challenge.
We have taken a trans-boundary, market-focused approach,
getting meat processors to work more directly
with pastoralists. And by better integrating pastoralists
into livestock markets,
their contributions are more fairly valued,
incentivizing production and contributing
to a better food system across Africa.
And that is my Impact in Sixty.