Charting new futures in Africa’s drylands – SPARC documentary
We are pleased to share a powerful new documentary produced under the SPARC (Supporting Pastoralism and Agriculture in Recurrent and Protracted Crises) programme, which highlights the critical role pastoralists play in shaping a sustainable future for Africa’s drylands.
Pastoralists hold the keys to that future—but much depends on how governments, businesses, and development partners engage with pastoralism. The film follows five stories of pastoralists driving positive change across Kenya, Nigeria, and South Sudan, showing how communities are adapting, innovating, and leading transformation in their own environments. It paints a picture that challenges common perceptions of the drylands—not as fragile or static, but as landscapes of resilience, creativity, and untapped potential.
Released ahead of the UN’s International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists in 2026, the documentary sheds light on one of Africa’s most vital yet often marginalised livelihoods. It calls on all development actors to recognise and strengthen the systems that pastoralists themselves have built to thrive amid climate stress, shifting governance, and evolving social realities.
SPARC is delivered by a consortium led by Cowater International, in partnership with ODI (Overseas Development Institute), Mercy Corps, and ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute). Together, the partners combine evidence-based research, on-the-ground experience, and strategic programme management to inform better policy and practice in dryland regions.
This documentary is one expression of SPARC’s broader mission: to elevate pastoralist voices, share practical insights, and promote approaches that reflect the realities and strengths of dryland communities.
Watch the documentary below and discover how pastoralists are charting new futures for Africa’s drylands.
