Our History

Our History

The Pastoralist Development Agenda (PDA) was founded in 2010 as the Centre for Community Change (CCC), born from a deep-seated commitment to the communities of Isiolo County. Our journey began as a grassroots response to the intersecting challenges of poverty, resource scarcity, and marginalization faced by pastoralists.

From these local origins, we have grown into a registered national NGO, now operating across 9 counties in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands. This expansion was driven by a proven model of community partnership and a focus on sustainable, inclusive interventions.

We recognize that climate change, diminishing natural resources, and conflict disproportionately impact women and youth, even as they hold the key to resilience. Therefore, our evolution has been marked by a dedicated focus on empowering women and youth as central agents of change, building their capacity in leadership, sustainable agribusiness, and natural resource management to foster peace, improve food security, and drive equitable development for a resilient tomorrow.

A Message from Our Founder

The journey of the Pastoralist Development Agenda began with a simple belief: that the arid and semi-arid lands of Kenya hold immense potential, and the pastoralist communities who call them home possess the resilience and knowledge to unlock it. Our role has never been to bring solutions from the outside, but to partner with communities, especially the women and youth at their heart to build upon their strengths.

We start by working with community groups to revitalize their land and resources. This means promoting sustainable practices that restore ecosystems while introducing climate-resilient, high-value activities. By integrating agro-value chains, from drought-tolerant crops to non-timber forest products, we help create diverse sources of food and income. The real transformation, however, comes through continuous capacity building. We train in sustainable agriculture, business management, and market access, empowering groups to develop enterprises that are both economically viable and environmentally sound.

This community-led model has a profound ripple effect. As women and youth gain economic independence through ventures like producing aloe-based products for local and international markets, they gain confidence and a powerful voice. They become pivotal leaders in managing natural resources, advocating for peace, and driving inclusive development in their villages. This is the core of our vision: empowering communities to build their own resilient, prosperous, and peaceful future, from the ground up.

Patrick Ekwam

Founder

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Our Guiding Philosophy

Our work is guided by a commitment to integrated, sustainable development that is rooted in the realities of Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands. We believe that the most effective and lasting solutions arise from a synthesis of indigenous knowledge, community led innovation, and proven practices from the fields of climate adaptation, agroecology, and natural resource management.

We design our interventions through careful observation and in deep partnership with pastoralist communities. This approach ensures that every initiative, whether in water access, agro-value chains, or ecosystem restoration is context-specific, uses resources efficiently, and works to regenerate the natural environment. In the face of climate change, erratic rainfall, and resource scarcity, this philosophy is not a choice but a necessity. It enables us to create systems that minimize external inputs while maximizing social, economic, and environmental benefits for the community.

The core of our mission is mirrored in a simple, powerful ethos: care for the land, care for the people, and a fair share of resources for all. These principles give purpose to our work and connect us to a global movement striving for a more resilient, equitable, and harmonious future. For us, sustainable development means working with nature and community wisdom to build systems that endure.