Resilient Approaches in Natural ranGeland Ecosystems (RANGE)

Agricultural training between two kenyan women.
Antonella (left) guides Ulauli in Laisamis Ward, Marsabit Count – Kenya, on the recommended shape of half moons used in resilience design. She became a Trainer of Trainers in resilience design following training sessions conducted by the RANGE Program.

Program context

In the fragile context of the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), livestock is the primary economic sector that populations rely on. Yet even with decades of investment, growth remains a challenge as the sector struggles to function within a complex landscape of shocks and stresses, including climate change, floods, pests, and disease, many furthering cycles of land degradation and soil erosion, which in turn compromise livelihoods and productivity and increase levels of conflict. Despite these challenges, livestock remains the most important and most immediate lever for improved food security, nutrition, and resilience for small-scale pastoral and agro-pastoral inhabitants of the ASALs. Finding sustainable pathways to improve the overall functioning of the livestock sector is necessary for sustained economic growth in the region.  

Program description

Resilient Approaches in Natural RanGeland Ecosystems (RANGE) is a five-year (2024-2028) programme funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The programme goal is to strengthen the resilience of the ASAL communities that contribute to sustainable economic and social development in a well-managed landscape. In order to achieve this, RANGE will primarily focus on the livestock sector as the most immediate driver of improved resilience, while also building support for alternative livelihoods and appropriate agro-pastoralism approaches. RANGE will target a diverse array of stakeholders, including community members (women and youth; livestock owners; ward planning committees), government stakeholders (national, county, and ward-level), private sector actors, peace-building structures, land management structures, development partners, research and policy agencies, and financial institutions, among others.

Technical approach

RANGE employs the Resilience Framework and the Market Systems Development Approach in the implementation. Grounded in robust analytics, the programme uses evidence to inform interventions strategy.  

RANGE works through existing market actors — including private firms, NGOs, and government agencies — to diagnose and address systemic constraints within market systems. These constraints may include missing or weak support services, limited accessibility, poor quality or affordability of inputs, lack of economies of scale, weak relationships between farmers and traders, and insufficient risk mitigation mechanisms that discourage investment.

By identifying opportunities to incentivize and crowd in market actors, RANGE collaborates with partners to pilot viable business models and scale those that demonstrate sustainability and impact.

Outcome areas

  • Improved Rangeland Management repairs ecosystem health and increases food, nutrition, and water security.
  • Sustainable livestock and alternative livelihoods production and competitiveness of markets strengthened within an improved policy environment.
  • Improved linkages among and between communities and government structures to support collaboration on economic, environmental, and social issues promote stability and sustained.
  • Strengthened Research and evidence-based programming contribute to impactful project implementation, effective coordination, early warning and early action, innovation and learning for resilient.

Research and resources

Crisis Modifier

The Crisis Modifier Mechanism is used in development programs in vulnerable areas to facilitate innovative responses to acute shocks, preserve development progress, and prevent regression.

Read more

Program Inception Reports

Mercy Corps is implementing the RANGE, program to strengthen rangeland management and encourage regenerative practices, ensuring migratory and sedentary livelihoods can peacefully co-exist.

Read more

About the RANGE program consortium

The RANGE consortium brings together a multi-sectoral team with the strengths to achieve our ambitious goals and promote systemic transformation across the three counties. The consortium comprises Mercy Corps together with Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC), and the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, University of Twente (ITC). Through Mercy Corps, RANGE  is working with Local Implementing Partners across Samburu, Marsabit, and Isiolo Counties, namely IMPACT (Samburu), PACIDA (Samburu and Marsabit), Strategies for Northern Development - SND (Marsabit and Merti Integrated Development Programme - MID-P (Isiolo).  Additionally, RANGE is also working with private sector partners namely Holland Greentech Kenya, Savanna Circuit Technologies, GENCO Livestock and Fresh Meat Export, and Sidai Africa.

Please contact Bonface Kaberia, Program Director, for additional information or questions.

Follow RANGE on X: @RANGEProgramme  - https://x.com/RANGEProgramme