After six years of working as part of UN OCHA Ethiopia, the Pastoralist Communication Initiative became an independent DFID project in May 2008. After extensive discussions with our pastoralist advisory panel, whose members are drawn from across Africa, PCI decided to increase its independence and become more pastoralist-directed.
The Pastoralist Communication Initiative is now solely managed by Pastoralist Consultants International, a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom
Formed in 2002 to support pastoralists’ knowledge and communication activities, the company currently has a board of four directors, two executive and two non-executive. Non-executive directors are Dr Jeremy Swift and Ivo Philipps. Jeremy has studied and worked with pastoralists for several decades. Ivo is a manager for international banking group Standard and Chartered PLC. We are currently expanding the board to include more directors from pastoralist backgrounds.
The Pastoralist Communication Initaitive project is also guided by the advice of a panel of seven pastoralist leaders from four African countries; Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Mali.
The 6-10 consultants who work with PCI come mainly from pastoralist backgrounds. They have extensive connections within the world of pastoralism, expertise in pastoralist issues and skills in communication and event management.
The initiative promotes dialogue and understanding. Our projects focus on organising pastoralist gatherings; linking pastoralists to non-pastoralists; and responding to pastoralist requests for research.
Our team works in partnership with the customary leadership of more than 30 pastoralist groups in East Africa and are connected to pastoralists in more than 30 countries.
Our projects assist members of bilateral, multilateral and international agencies, governments, politicians and local agencies in learning from and coming to agreements with pastoralists about their issues and aspirations.
