IGAD Strategy for Sustainable and Resilient Livestock Development in View of Climate Change (2022 - 2037) (August 2022)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Strategy for Sustainable and Resilient Livestock Development in view of Climate Change in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Region is a holistic and comprehensive plan designed to build a livestock sector resilient to the effects of climate change, while promoting simultaneous growth and sustainable development throughout the region. The initiative to create the Strategy was launched in 2020 as a regional collaboration between IGAD and the World Bank. The Strategy seeks to provide IGAD Member States (MS) with a framework to support the identification and prioritization of policies and actions to enhance the resilience and sustainability of the livestock sector to climate change. It focuses on pastoral and agro-pastoral production systems in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) because they are often the most exposed and vulnerable to the impact of climate change; however, a number of actions described in the Strategy are also relevant to other production systems.
The Strategy reflects the existing priorities expressed in Member States’ national policies, consolidating relevant priorities at the nexus of livestock sector development, climate change, and sustainability into a unified, strategic thrust. It also draws upon regional and national stakeholder input, as well as on extensive diagnostic work and modeling to assess the effectiveness of policy interventions aiming at improving the sector’s resilience.

The Strategy builds on an analysis of the critical issues related to sustainability and climate change in the IGAD region, as well as the progress achieved within the existing policy framework to address these challenges (section 1). This analysis is the basis for the rationale and justification of the need for the Strategy presented in Section 2, and its goal and strategic objectives that can be found in Section 3. The proposed five priority areas for intervention are detailed in Section 4, drawing on existing knowledge and experiences from the region and in select cases, underpinned with original modeling and analysis. Finally, key needs for strategy implementation are described in the monitoring and evaluating strategy for implementation (Section 5).

The Strategy was developed as a 15-year proposition (2022-2037) for implementation in three 5-year phases, with a design feature of a review at the end of each phase to assess the status, relevance, and effectiveness of implementation and to inform prescriptions for subsequent phases. The Strategy identifies five priority intervention areas:

1. Mechanisms for climate risk management. An extensive review of information, data collection, and consultation was conducted to identify effective policies and instruments that can mitigate the impact of climate on livestock production. They include financial instruments for climate risk management, early warning and response, and risk profiling and contingency planning.

2. Natural resource base and ecosystem services for livestock production. Most of the impact of climate on livestock is not direct, but indirect, by affecting natural resources that are vital for livestock production, land and water, in particular. Actions in this priority intervention area target rangeland and woodland management, water availability and access, and biodiversity and the control of invasive species.

3. Livestock production and income diversification along livestock value chains. Improving livestock productivity has a direct effect on making the sector more resilient, while diversifying income sources within and outside of livestock production. It is also an adaptation strategy. A specific Output in the Strategy, thus, addresses alternative and complementary livelihoods, while the other four Outputs tackle livestock production and productivity at the animal level, through better animal health, improvement of feed production and management, and strengthening marketing of livestock products.

4. Research, innovation and knowledge management. This priority intervention will enhance research capacity and knowledge sharing in and between IGAD MSs to accelerate knowledge development and innovation for resilience among stakeholders. It provides an opportunity for regional cooperation and the development of future innovations for longer-term adaptation. Outputs include the support to research, innovation and technology application, and the dissemination of knowledge and information.

5. Policy alignment, coherence, and coordination for transboundary issues. The objective is to streamline and improve the alignment of policy action throughout IGAD intraregional boundaries. Outputs include strengthening governance and cross-border coordination mechanisms, as well as policy alignment and coherence.