The tech that helps these herders navigate drought, war, and extremists

In more recent years, various Western players touting tech trends like artificial intelligence and predictive analysis have swooped in with promises to solve the region's myriad problems. But Garbal--named after the word for a livestock market in the language of the Fulani, an ethnic group that makes up the majority of the Sahel's herders--aims to do things differently. Building on an approach pioneered by a 37-year-old American data scientist named Alex Orenstein, Garbal is focused on how humbler technologies might effectively support the 80% of Nigeriens who live off livestock and the land. "There's still this idea of'How can we use new tech?' But the tech is already there--we just need to be more intentional in applying it," Orenstein says, arguing that donor enthusiasm for shiny, complex solutions is often misplaced.