Global Gathering of Pastoralist Women (Mera+16)

Organisers: Jointly organised by the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP) Working Group on Pastoralism and Gender (WGPG) and ICIMOD in partnership with RECONCILE, Women in Ranching, Anthra, Mujeres Ganaderas de Mexico (MUGAM) and others

The Gathering

The Global Gathering of Pastoralist Women (GGPW) will bring together women from diverse pastoralist communities around the world to share their knowledge and experiences, collaboratively develop a global action plan for sustainable pastoralism that addresses women pastoralists’ concerns, and launch a global network of pastoralist women. Representatives from this global gathering will carry their messages forward to various global fora during IYRP 2026, including the 17th Session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP17) in Mongolia, 31st session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP31), and the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD COP17). All participants will also take their learning back to their home communities, catalysing the formation of a global network of networks of women pastoralists. Such a network can help ensure that women pastoralists’ voices are always present and included in decision-making across multiple scales, from local to global.

Objectives

The objectives of the gathering are to:

• Facilitate knowledge exchange and sharing of skills, experiences and cultures to build solidarity, foster a sense of worth, and highlight the similar challenges and opportunities that pastoralist women and communities face worldwide
• Identify priorities for gender-responsive and transformative pastoralist interventions from pastoralist women and their networks around the world
• Strengthen networking and solidarity among pastoralist women’s organisations and, where appropriate, establish a global network, and develop a roadmap for strengthening global capacity in gender-responsive pastoralist interventions
• Revisit, reflect on and where appropriate revise or update the Mera Declaration (2010), resulting in a MERA +16 document that reflects the collective vision of participating pastoralist women and their networks

Expected outcomes

• A global network of pastoralist women and their organisations/networks to support continuous knowledge sharing, mutual support, and advocacy and to ensure women pastoralists’ voices and perspectives are consistently included in decision-making processes at local, regional and global levels.
• A revised and updated Mera Declaration (Mera+16) or a call to action, reflecting women pastoralists’ priorities for policy, practice and research worldwide.
• A strategy to deliver the declaration/call to action at key global platforms in 2026 and beyond, including the UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia (August 2026), UNFCCC COP 31 (November 2026), and UNCBD COP 17 (October 2026).

Participants

The main participants in the Global Gathering will be women from pastoralist women’s organisations and networks around the world. Other participants will be from government institutions, research organisations and civil society organisations that support pastoralist women. Approximately, 90 pastoralist women and local support people, and 10 organisers, facilitators, and researchers will be attending the event.

Background

Rangelands cover half of the Earth’s land surface and pastoralism is the world’s most widespread land-use. In recognition of the importance of rangelands, and pastoralists to humanity and the planet, the United Nations (UN) has declared 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP). The IYRP aims to raise awareness of the values that rangeland ecosystems and pastoral people provide the world and to catalyse action to protect rangelands, and the livelihoods and communities they support. The year 2026 is also the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer. Women and girls who make up half of the world’s pastoralist population make critical contributions to livestock care, land stewardship, food security, community resilience, innovation and entrepreneurship, while also passing on pastoralist traditional knowledge and culture. Yet to date they have little voice and power in many decisions that affect their families, communities and lands.

The 1st Global Gathering of Women Pastoralists took place in November 2010 in Gujarat, India. For the first time, pastoralist women from around the world united, shared experiences and developed a Global Action Plan, known as the MERA Declaration. The proposed 2nd Global Gathering (Mera+16) will mobilise pastoralist women to take stock of progress in delivering the Mera 2010 action plan and increase recognition of pastoralist women around the world and their representation in decision-making at all levels.