HYBRID CONFERENCE
GLF AFRICA 2026: STEWARDING OUR RANGELANDS
In the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, a global call to action for Africa’s pastoralist regions
Follow the event in English, French, Swahili and Portuguese.
DATE
6–7 May 2026
LOCATION
CIFOR-ICRAF Campus,
Nairobi, Kenya, and online
SOCIAL
#GLFAfrica
Share:
Did you know that rangelands support 60% of the world’s food production?
They also cover 54% of the Earth’s land area and sustain the livelihoods of 1.2 billion people.
And if you’ve ever been hiking or camping, you know how crucial they are for tourism and conservation.
But what are rangelands? In short, they’re lands that are grazed by livestock or wildlife and mainly stewarded by pastoralists.
And now is the time to act on them, because half of the world’s rangelands are under threat from the climate crisis, conflict, mismanagement and underinvestment – putting these pastoralist livelihoods at risk.
The UN has declared 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists – which is why GLF Africa will return with a special edition to bring these often forgotten landscapes and communities from the margins to the center.
This event is free for everyone to join online. Get your ticket now and join 8,000+ like-minded people as we revitalize our rangelands!
GLF Photography Awards 2026
To celebrate the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, we’re inviting photographers from across the world to tell powerful visual stories of these landscapes and the people who steward them.
So, get your cameras ready and show us what rangelands and pastoralism are all about – and stand a chance to win up to USD 500 and more!
Be sure to submit your photo before the deadline on 6 March to be considered. Don’t miss this opportunity to share your perspective and celebrate the vital role of rangelands and pastoral communities worldwide.
Explore the event themes
Rethinking rangeland governance
Design systems and institutions that help pastoralists gain access rights and protect rangelands.
A pastoralist-led stewardship economy
Invest in rangelands and pastoralist livelihoods, from ecotourism to sustainable commodities.
Innovating in rangelands
Develop new solutions for rangelands using AI, science, biotech and Indigenous knowledge.
MEET SOME OF OUR PAST SPEAKERS
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Executive Secretary, UN Convention on Biological Diversity UN Environment Programme (UNEP) -
Restoration Steward Moilo Grass Seed Bank
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Land Ambassador UNCCD
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Africa Managing Director and Global Partnerships World Resources Institute (WRI)
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Climate activist and Founder, Rise Up Rise Up
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Executive Secretary United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
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Regional Lead- Forests, Landscapes and Livelihoods Programme; Country Representative for Rwanda International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
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Founder & CEO Amini AI
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Co-founder Tanzania Conservation and Community Empowerment Initiative (TACCEI) & GLFx Maasai Steppe
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President & CEO ONE Campaign
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Economist and former Minister of Finance Nigeria
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Co-Chair International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists: Efforts towards dryland restoration
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Deputy Director Forestry Division, FAO
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Executive Director GreenAid
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Coordinator, Indigenous Women and Peoples Association of Chad Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee
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Country Director, Ghana World Cocoa Foundation
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Senior Environmental Specialist, FOLUR and Food Systems Programs Lead Global Environment Facility
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WWF Africa’s Food Future Leader WWF
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CEO and Chairperson Global Environment Facility
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Secretary, Committee on Forestry (COFO) Working Group on Dryland Forests and Agrosilvopastoral Systems Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Why should you join?
Connect.
Network with top experts, youth, Indigenous and local leaders, businesses, policymakers and financiers. Strengthen collaborations and lay the ground for resilient rangelands, pastoralist livelihoods, economies and ecosystems.
Share.
Exchange knowledge and experiences with 8,000 fellow participants from across Africa and the globe. Show the world how Africa is leading the way in restoring degraded rangelands through innovation and community-led action.
Learn.
Discover how to put these often forgotten landscapes and communities on the global map. Gain insights into the vital role rangelands play in climate stability, food security and regional biodiversity.
Act.
Play your part in rewriting Africa’s story. Help elevate the agency of pastoralist communities within climate, biodiversity and food system discourses to drive meaningful, long-term policy change.
Register to join GLF Africa in Nairobi, Kenya
Join GLF Africa in person in Nairobi, Kenya, at the CIFOR-ICRAF office, located next to the beautiful Karura Forest.
❗Please note we do not provide funding to attend the event in Nairobi, nor will we sponsor visa requests or travel arrangements.
Discover the best of rangelands and pastoralists
Past editions of GLF Africa
What others are saying about GLF Africa
South Africa
Kenya
South Africa
Namibia
Nigeria
Any questions? Get in touch.
General
Amos Amanubo
a.amanubocifor-icraf[dot]org
SPEAKERS
Tamika Du-Pont
T.dupontcifor-icraf[dot]org
MEDIA
Kelly Quintero
K.Quinterocifor-icraf[dot]org