Climate Information that Moves with Pastoralists
A Global Evidence Review of Weather and Climate Information Services for Pastoralists
Pastoralist communities depend on healthy rangelands, access to water and forage, and the ability to move herds in response to shifting weather and climate conditions. Yet across the globe, especially across the Horn of Africa, pastoralists face uncertainty as climate variability intensifies, rangeland resources decline, and extreme events such as droughts and floods become more frequent. Weather and Climate Information Services (WCIS) have the potential to strengthen the resilience of these communities, but to date the design and delivery of such services have largely focused on crop agriculture, leaving out the distinct needs of pastoralists.
To help fill this gap, Mercy Corps, with the Supporting Pastoralism and Agriculture in Recurrent and Protracted Crises (SPARC) consortium, has released an up-to-date evidence review on WCIS for pastoralists. Drawing on 51 studies published between 2000 and 2024 and spanning Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and Australia, the review synthesizes what is currently known about pastoralist information needs, preferred communication channels, indigenous and scientific forecasting, and the barriers that limit uptake and effective use. The evidence highlights the complexity of pastoralist decision-making and the central role of trust, localization, and cultural legitimacy, all of which shape how climate information can support adaptation and resilience.
The review finds that pastoralists consistently use both indigenous and scientific forecasts, often drawing on each for different types of decisions. Across regions, the greatest gaps stem from WCIS that are not localized, timely, or aligned with pastoralist priorities such as rainfall onset, forage conditions, and mobility planning. When information is tailored, accessible, and delivered through trusted channels, it can shape herd movement, grazing decisions, and drought preparedness. Yet most WCIS continue to fall short due to accuracy issues, inadequate downscaling, uneven access to communication technologies, and broader constraints such as restricted mobility and limited resources to act on forecasts.
This evidence review provides a foundation for thinking of how WCIS can better serve pastoralist livelihoods. It points to clear opportunities for co-production between information providers and pastoralist communities, deeper integration of indigenous and scientific knowledge systems, and more sustained investment in systems that reach pastoralists. By centering the priorities and realities of pastoralists, Mercy Corps aims to support climate information services that are not only scientifically robust, but also legitimately grounded in local contexts. This evidence review is a starting place for designing information services that strengthen resilience, support sustainable rangeland management, and enable pastoralist communities to adapt in a rapidly changing climate.
