AU-IBAR launches continental initiative to strengthen Africa’s pastoral livestock markets

ETHIOPIA – The African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) has launched a continent-wide initiative to strengthen pastoral livestock markets, aiming to unlock investment, improve livestock value chains and expand intra-African trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The initiative was unveiled during the inaugural African Pastoral Markets Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, bringing together policymakers, investors, financial institutions, livestock industry leaders, and development partners to identify practical solutions to commercialise Africa’s pastoral livestock sector.

AU-IBAR Director Dr Huyam Salih said Africa must shift from viewing pastoralism as a humanitarian challenge to recognising it as a strategic economic sector capable of driving food security, industrialisation, employment and regional trade.

“We are making a deliberate continental shift from treating pastoral livestock mainly as a vulnerability issue to recognising it as a strategic economic system capable of supporting food security, trade, jobs, investment and regional integration,” she said.

According to AU-IBAR, livestock contributes nearly one-quarter of agricultural GDP in sub-Saharan Africa and accounts for between 30% and 80% of agricultural value added in many African countries. 

More than 268 million pastoralists and agro-pastoralists depend directly on livestock production.

Despite holding one of the world’s largest livestock populations, Africa captures only a small share of global livestock value due to underinvestment, limited access to finance and weak market integration.

To address these constraints, AU-IBAR established the African Pastoral Markets Development (APMD) Platform, supported by the Gates Foundation, to strengthen livestock value chains, validate commercially viable business models, promote policy reforms and attract private investment.

Pilot programmes in Kenya and Nigeria have already demonstrated that structured livestock markets can improve market efficiency, strengthen value chains and increase private-sector participation.

Investment targets livestock value chains

Representing the African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, Dr Janet Edeme called for harmonised livestock trade regulations, stronger veterinary services, improved disease surveillance, digital livestock traceability and greater investment in livestock markets, processing facilities and transport infrastructure.

Ethiopia’s State Minister of Livestock and Fisheries, Dr Fikru Regassa, also urged increased investment in veterinary services, cold-chain infrastructure, processing industries and digital technologies to improve livestock productivity and market access.

The Gates Foundation reaffirmed its support for the initiative, with Senior Officer for Livestock and Economic Opportunity Dr Tom Osebe announcing plans to help unlock up to US$3 billion in investments in pastoral livestock over the next three to five years.

According to Osebe, improved livestock markets will strengthen disease surveillance, increase access to animal-source foods and create sustainable income opportunities for pastoral communities.

The five-day forum is expected to develop a continental investment pipeline, promote policy reforms and establish the African Pastoral Markets Forum as a permanent platform for expanding regional livestock trade and attracting investment into Africa’s pastoral livestock economy.

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