The terms indigenous knowledge, traditional knowledge, traditional ecological knowledge, local knowledge and to a lesser degree, local science, are used to describe the knowledge (or knowledge systems) unique to a given culture or society.

This knowledge is not simply information, it refers to the knowledge systems developed and adapted continuously to gradually changing environments and passed down for generations and closely interwoven with people’s cultural values.¹⁵ It has been described by the World Bank as “the social capital of the poor, their main asset to invest in the struggle for survival, to produce food, to provide for shelter or to achieve control of their own lives.”¹⁶

Indigenous knowledge is fundamental to rural livelihoods as the basis for local-level decision-making in agriculture, health care, food preparation, education, natural resource management, and a range of other activities in rural communities.¹⁷

Drawing on indigenous or traditional knowledge can increase effectiveness and sustainability of IR projects, particularly in the context of One Health, which recognizes the delicate balance between people, animals and the land they live upon.

Background: Drylands cover three-quarters of the African continent, characterized by harsh conditions such as dust storms, extreme temperatures, variable rainfall and the emergence of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases. Achieving environmental sustainability, human development and controlling vector-borne diseases (VBDs) in these regions has historically been challenging.

In sub-Saharan and Sahelian drylands, issues such as VBD burden, food insecurity, environmental degradation and social vulnerability are particularly severe. Climate change is expected to worsen these challenges by intensifying climate extremes and droughts, further complicating conventional VBD control efforts and necessitating more adaptive approaches. Recognizing the intricate interactions between populations and environments in drylands is crucial for developing sustainable interventions.

Scoping review: This review focuses on the complexities of VBD control in African drylands amid dramatic and ongoing environmental and social changes. The complexity and unpredictability of dryland ecosystems poses unique challenges to sustainable development and VBD control. The decline of resilience in dryland societies is linked to environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and disruptions in traditional land management practices, increasing the vulnerability of populations to VBDs.

Integrated approaches: Integrated approaches to disease management are essential, considering the complex interactions between environments, disease vectors and human populations. Social-ecological systems frameworks can guide VBD control strategies, emphasizing community participation and ecosystem-based approaches. Indigenous health systems in dryland communities often incorporate disease surveillance, and traditional knowledge has been effective in managing and treating illnesses, including VBDs such as malaria.

Resilience: Understanding how dryland societies sustainably utilize biodiversity is crucial for assessing the resilience of social-ecological systems in the face of climate change. Traditional and modern grazing systems in drylands function to maintain resilience by adapting to environmental changes while maximizing livestock production. This dynamic relationship, often described as a co-evolutionary ‘dance’, is influenced by the concept of landscape function, which reflects the diversity of species and ecosystem processes (see figure on Adaptive management of VBD risk in a pastoral grazing system). Managing VBD outbreak risk can be integrated into this framework, considering its impact on landscape function and community well-being.

Community-based solutions: Building adaptive capacity through community-based, participatory methods that leverage local knowledge and cater to local ecological conditions is essential. This includes involving local communities in VBD control programmes, promoting traditional land management practices that enhance biodiversity, and fostering sustainable livelihoods to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience to environmental changes.

Social-ecological systems resilience (SESR) framework: The SESR framework emphasizes the importance of viewing dryland systems as integrated social-ecological systems, where human and environmental components are deeply interconnected. This perspective is crucial for developing effective strategies for VBD control, as it acknowledges the interplay between ecological changes and social dynamics. By focusing on the resilience of these systems, the SESR framework aims to enhance the capacity of communities to adapt to, and recover from, environmental and social shocks.

Conclusion: Adopting the SESR framework and prioritizing community-based, participatory approaches can enhance the resilience of dryland societies and improve the effectiveness of VBD control efforts. This integrated approach not only addresses immediate disease control challenges but also contributes to the long-term sustainability and well-being of dryland communities.

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Figure. Adaptive management of VBD risk in a pastoral grazing system