Drylands partnership project looks toward delivering impact

Jameel Observatory for Food Security and Early Action is developing pathways to research outcomes to support food security in pastoralist communities in East Africa. Since its launch, the programme's partners, the University of Edinburgh, Community Jameel, Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), International Livestock Research Institute and Save the Children, have focused on improving forecasting and anticipatory intervention to limit the impacts of drought and other climate shocks.

"Acting in advance of a crisis reduces human suffering and costs less money. It's much better to be prepared, rather than to respond in emergency mode. That's the nub of what the Jameel Observatory is about," explains Professor Alan Duncan, project lead, Jameel Observatory for Food Security Early Action and professor of livestock & development, University of Edinburgh.

Much of the programme's early work involved consulting with various stakeholders, particularly pastoralists to identify key challenges and areas of focus. The team is studying how to generate reliable data that, along with local expertise, can inform policy and efforts to cope with crises in the future.