On 11 March 2026, members of the Swiss Parliament gathered in Bern for an information event organised by the Agricultural Club of the Federal Assembly and the Parliamentary Group on International Cooperation. The discussion focused on the importance of pastoralism for global food security and resilience, ahead of the UN International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026.
During the event, Dr. Hans Wyss, President of Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Suisse (VSF-Suisse), shared insights from the field and highlighted how Swiss-supported initiatives are helping pastoral communities in the Horn of Africa strengthen their resilience.
Connecting animal health and human livelihoods
Pastoral communities depend heavily on livestock. Healthy animals mean food, income and stability for families living in remote and often harsh environments.
This is why VSF-Suisse works with a One Health approach, recognising the strong connections between human, animal and environmental health. When veterinary services reach remote communities, families can protect their herds and secure their livelihoods.
As Dr. Wyss emphasised during the event, supporting animal health in pastoral regions also contributes to global health security. Controlling livestock diseases where they emerge helps prevent their spread across borders, including to Europe.
VSF-Suisse focuses on reaching communities on the “last mile”, areas where access to veterinary and health services is often extremely limited. According to Dr. Wyss, these efforts make a tangible difference for local families, something he has witnessed himself during field visits.
Pastoralism remains a vital livelihood for millions of people worldwide. Globally, an estimated 200 to 500 million people depend on livestock in rangeland systems, often in environments where other forms of agriculture are not possible.
The HEAL programme: Swiss investment with global impact
A key example of this approach is the HEAL programme, One Health for Humans, Environment, Animals and Livelihoods, implemented in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.
Between 2020 and 2024, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) invested CHF 4.85 million in the programme. This contribution helped mobilise nearly the same amount from other partners, bringing the total programme value to CHF 9.83 million. In practice, this means that every Swiss franc invested helped leverage another franc for implementation.
Through integrated One Health Units, communities can access veterinary services, healthcare and environmental support in a single place. These platforms bring services to pastoral communities living far from conventional health systems.
So far, more than 105,000 people have gained access to integrated health services through the programme.
Building resilience in times of crisis
The impact of this approach became particularly clear during the severe 2023 drought in the Horn of Africa.
Thanks to a rapid crisis response mechanism supported by SDC, more than 4,400 vulnerable households received emergency support, including cash transfers, livestock feed, veterinary medicines and essential health supplies.
The SDC supported crisis modifier continues to be activated today, as drought conditions are again forecast in the region for 2026, allowing partners to respond quickly to emerging needs.
Early intervention allowed families to protect their breeding animals and maintain milk production, which is crucial for both nutrition and income in pastoral households.
Beyond crisis response, the programme also supports long-term resilience by strengthening rangeland management and cooperation across borders. As the world prepares for the UN International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026, the experience from HEAL shows how targeted investments in pastoral regions can generate lasting benefits for people, ecosystems and food security.
As Dr. Wyss emphasised during the parliamentary event:
“Development cooperation in pastoral regions is prevention, not charity.”