Between 23–24 January, Tezera Getahun, WAMIP Regional Coordinator for East and Southern Africa and Executive Director of the Pastoralist Forum Ethiopia (PFE), co-hosted the IYRP 2026 Familiarisation Workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Representation of Ethiopian pastoralists, over 12 million people largely from Afar, Oromo, and Somali communities, is especially important, as they manage nearly 60% of the country’s land.The workshop aimed to:️ Create awareness of the IYRP among a wider range of pastoralist and pastoral stakeholders️ Draw lessons from pastoral and rangelands development in Ethiopia️ Recommend future directions for pastoral and rangelands development️ Propose submissions for global IYRP 2026 actions and the August 2026 inauguration in MongoliaThe two-day workshop brought together representatives from government, pastoral communities, civil society, researchers, and resource partners, strengthening national coordination and contributing to the IYRP process. Discussions highlighted the blending of customary knowledge with climate-smart rangeland solutions to protect and transform pastoral livelihoods across the Horn of Africa.The workshop also marked the formal establishment of a National IYRP Chapter in Ethiopia, creating a platform to bring diverse actors together to strengthen coordination, policy alignment, and outreach throughout the Year.Through WAMIP’s engagement, pastoralist voices continue to shape national and global processes for rangelands and pastoral futures.📸 Photos courtesy: FAO Ethiopia#IYRP2026 #Pastoralists #Rangelands #FoodSovereignty #ClimateResilience #IndigenousKnowledge #Pastoralism #HornOfAfrica #Ethiopia #LandRights #SustainableLivelihoods #WAMIP