ILRI Blog Posts and News Updates

ILRI Blog Posts and News Updates https://www.ilri.org/ en Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:02:20 +0300 Tue, 07 Apr 26 15:00:00 +0300 In Ethiopia, bundled forage innovations are closing the livestock feed gap https://www.ilri.org/news/ethiopia-bundled-forage-innovations-are-closing-livestock-feed-gap Since 2023, ILRI’s bundled forage interventions have benefited 50,000 farmers, advancing livestock productivity and building climate resilience across five regions in Ethiopia. For many years, Kebebush Admasu’s day began with the same anxious question: would she find enough to feed her dairy cow? The mother and farmer in the Hadiya Zone of Ethiopia's highlands knew that her family's well-being was tied to the well-being of the animal. But like millions of other smallholders in the country, she faced a relentless challenge – the scarcity of quality livestock feed. During the dry season, the search for fodder would consume hours of her day, her cow would grow weak, its milk production would drop and with it a source of nutrition for her children, and source of income.&nbsp; Smallholder mixed crop-livestock farms are central to the livelihoods of millions in Ethiopia. They offer powerful economic links between the land, animals, and the people who tend them; providing a buffer against climate shocks and income from sale of animal products. But lack of adequate and high-quality feed for animals reduces livestock productivity, limits the supply of milk and meat for a growing population, and traps families in a cycle of subsistence. The<a href="https://www.ilri.org/news/radio-and-mobile-voices-cultivate-climate-smart-farming-changes-ethiopia"> International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI),</a> through <a href="https://www.ilri.org/research/themes/livestock-climate-and-environment">Livestock Climate and Environment (LCE)&nbsp;</a>program and bilateral projects, is tackling this problem by introducing improved forages whose cultivation can be scaled easily. The aim is to increase feed access and build lasting resilience for farming communities like Kebebush’s.&nbsp; &nbsp; <img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9d914e68-b6e7-4ce9-94ed-83eeebf385ea" height="477" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/Kebebush.jpg" width="714"> Kebebush Admasu harvests a fresh bundle of green fodder from her forage plot in central Ethiopia. Photo credit: MoPIX&nbsp; For example, in 2025, across the Amhara, Oromia, Sidama, and Central Ethiopia regions, ILRI piloted a bundled innovation approach that involves developing and scaling climate-smart forage options such as high-yielding desho grass, oat-vetch mixture, elephant grass, tree lucerne, dual-purpose maize and improved legumes like alfalfa. At the same time practical feed utilization methods including feed troughs, choppers and silage makers are introduced to reduce waste.&nbsp; To ensure adoption, these efforts were complemented by capacity sharing using a revolving forage seed supply arrangement, training, media engagement (radio and mobile messages) and on-farm demonstrations. Capacity sharing was integrated in the roll-out of the bundled innovations. Farmers like Kebebush received the bundled innovations, along with on-farm demonstrations. This allowed them to see the benefits of using improved forages to increase milk production, reduce feed wastage through better feed utilization, and improve animal health with nutrition. Forage seed commercialization systems were developed to improve market access and sustainability. Led by LCE bilateral projects such as <a href="https://aiccra.cgiar.org/">AICCRA</a>, <a href="https://taat-africa.org/">TAAT II&nbsp;</a>and CGIAR <a href="https://www.cgiar.org/cgiar-research-portfolio-2025-2030/sustainable-farming">Sustainable Farming</a> and<a href="https://www.cgiar.org/cgiar-research-portfolio-2025-2030/scaling-impact"> Scaling for Impact</a> programs, the project piloted local forage seed multiplication systems in 98 hectares of dedicated land in 2024 and 2025. These activities are centered&nbsp;in the North Shewa Zone of Amhara, and Hadiya and Kembata zones of Central Ethiopia. These systems created a local supply chain and engaged private sector actors such as the Eden Field seed company. By integrating technical solutions with institutional and communication support, ILRI’s innovation has optimized resource use, mitigated adoption risks and addressed farmers' complex food and feed needs from multiple angles. This approach has enhanced adoption rates and community resilience, making a real difference in the lives of smallholder livestock keepers. As highlighted in the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-cnHK8phwc">Bundling of feed and forage innovations for adoption and impact&nbsp;</a>video, Kebebush now harvests nutritious feed from the oat-vetch, tree lucerne, and desho grass, providing her cow with a consistent, high-quality diet. "I now have a consistent milk supply," she shares proudly. Her children can drink milk regularly and she has surplus to sell at the local market, boosting her household income and food security.&nbsp; She is one of over&nbsp;31,900 smallholder livestock keepers&nbsp;who have been directly reached by the initiative across Ethiopia in 2025. Critically, the project has ensured that&nbsp;23–25% of the direct beneficiaries are women, recognizing their central role in livestock management and household nutrition. Women, who often bear the burden of feed collection, are now experiencing the labor-saving and income-generating benefits of access to improved fodder. &nbsp; <img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="97162a4b-9259-4aa4-b1f2-a0226b62fa55" height="664" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/Kebebush%20with%20her%20son%20.jpg" width="995"> Kebebush Admasu shares coffee with her family, a moment of joy after a long day. Photo credit: MoPIX&nbsp; A robust network of partnerships and a deliberate dissemination strategy has paved the pathway from innovation to widespread impact. Key partners in this work include Werabe and Debre Berhan agricultural research centers, Jimma and Wachemo universities, development organizations like SNV, and government bureaus of agriculture at regional and zonal levels. Local extension workers, development agents, and farmer cooperatives are a crucial link, translating research into practice on the ground. To scale the impact, a major multi-channel campaign using <a href="https://www.ilri.org/news/radio-and-mobile-voices-cultivate-climate-smart-farming-changes-ethiopia">community radio, mobile messaging</a>, and digital advisory tools has extended the reach of the project messages to over&nbsp;283,000 additional beneficiaries, spreading best practices on forage management and utilization far and wide. This mass communication campaign has been complemented by intensive in-person capacity-building for over 6,000 farmers, extension agents, and technical experts, who continue to support their communities.&nbsp; Kindu Mekonnen, senior scientist at ILRI, who has led the mixed farming system development efforts for over a decade, reflected on the outcomes, emphasizing the scientific basis for the approach. "Our research over many years has consistently shown that technology alone does not guarantee adoption," he explains. "The feed gap in Ethiopia is not merely a seed deficit problem; it requires an integrated effort to solve. By bundling improved forages with capacity building and digital advisory tools, we are addressing the multifaceted constraints farmers face, from lack of knowledge to poor access to quality feed and forage utilization technologies." Today, the result is a strengthened and more resilient farming system in Ethiopia. By closing the feed gap for tens of thousands of households, this bundled approach is nourishing families, empowering women, and building a more productive and climate-resilient future for Ethiopia's smallholders. Haimanot Seifu bace0f53-cfd9-44ff-8b12-ca99ac422bd1 Tue, 07 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000 RSS Feed Closing the silage quality gap: A demand-driven study with smallholder dairy farmers in Kenya https://www.ilri.org/news/closing-silage-quality-gap-demand-driven-study-smallholder-dairy-farmers-kenya Silage offers farmers a practical and cost-effective way to stabilize milk production by preserving forage during periods of abundance. If done well, silage enables more consistent milk yields, improves household incomes, and strengthens food security. Despite its promise, many farmers are not realizing the full benefits of silage due to low-quality silage. Silage&nbsp;is high-moisture green fodder (such as maize, sorghum, or nappier grass) that has been chopped, compacted, and fermented under anaerobic (air-free) conditions to preserve it for feeding livestock during the dry season or periods of feed scarcity.&nbsp; To better understand why silage quality remains low, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Adaptation Pioneers and Feed and Forages teams, designed a demand-driven silage quality study in Nandi and Bomet counties between October and November 2025. Using a participatory approach, the research focused on pioneer farmers—those recognized as innovative and relatively successful under similar constraints as their peers. One surprising finding from the ILRI study is that even pioneer farmers, many of whom had attended silage training, were producing suboptimal silage. This finding revealed the need to move beyond assessing adoption and instead examine how effectively farmers are implementing silage technologies at the farm level. The study concentrated on smallholder dairy farmers in Nandi and Bomet counties with at least two years of experience making silage. It sampled&nbsp;90 households, including both farmers currently producing silage and those who had abandoned the practice.&nbsp;In each county, the study involved&nbsp;45 farmers. Data collection combined farm visits, structured interviews, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews with farmers, extension workers, dairy cooperatives, and private sector actors.&nbsp;ILRI researchers also collected silage samples to analyze forage types, storage methods, and silo temperatures, providing a robust empirical foundation for assessing silage quality. “The silage quality testing that was done by ILRI gave us as farmers an opportunity to ask ourselves what we needed to improve in the silage making process and the best forages to use, especially in our area where there are feed shortages during dry seasons,” says Calistus Kipsang, a farmer from Kembu in Bomet County.&nbsp; Why silage quality matters for smallholders “I started making silage because my grazing field is small. when I feed it to the cattle in the morning, they only need to graze for a short time to be satisfied,” says Felix Sum, a farmer from Chepterwai&nbsp;Ward in Nandi County <img alt="Felix Sum, a farmer from Chepterwai&nbsp;Ward in Nandi County, training other farmers on silage during a farmer-to-farmer field day he hosted on his farm in May 2021. (Credit:&nbsp;Nathan Maiyo/ILRI)" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="44fa1b38-dbb0-430f-9623-73405b696d46" height="493" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/image_91.jpeg" width="370"> Felix Sum, a farmer from Chepterwai&nbsp;Ward in Nandi County, is training other farmers on silage during a farmer-to-farmer field day he hosted on his farm in May 2021. (Credit:&nbsp;Nathan Maiyo/ILRI) &nbsp; “As a dairy cooperative, we train farmers on feeds including silage making, because we want them to supply more milk to us when&nbsp;dairyproductivity improves,” says Isaac Kirui, a veterinary officer at Siongiroi Dairy Cooperative in Bomet County. His perspective highlights the importance of evidence-based insights in strengthening both farmer livelihoods and cooperative performance. Poor-quality silage produced at the farm level undermines livestock productivity and discourages farmers from fully committing to the practice. Without visible success stories among neighbors or peers, silage can appear risky and unrewarding. This reality raises a critical question about what prevents smallholder farmers from producing high-quality silage and how these challenges can be addressed in ways that respond directly to farmers lived experiences. <img alt="Photo A2: Cornelius Kosgei, a farmer from Kurgung&nbsp;Ward in Nandi County,&nbsp;demonstrates&nbsp;how to make silage using silage bags during a farmer-to-farmer field day at his farm&nbsp;in&nbsp;May 2021. (Credit:&nbsp;Nathan Maiyo/ILRI)" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2d2a43ba-3334-4a6d-b8c9-ca44e9f9b6cf" height="304" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/image_92.jpeg" width="329"> Photo A2: Cornelius Kosgei, a farmer from Kurgung&nbsp;Ward in Nandi County,&nbsp;demonstrates&nbsp;how to make silage using silage bags during a farmer-to-farmer field day at his farm&nbsp;in&nbsp;May 2021. (Credit:&nbsp;Nathan Maiyo/ILRI) &nbsp; &nbsp; <img alt="Photo A7: John Koech and Kibitok, from Kobujoi&nbsp;Ward, Nandi County, demonstrating silage making during a farmer-to-farmer field day at their family farm in April 2024. (Credit:&nbsp;Emmaculate Kiptoo/ILRI)" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bcdf9950-2e1f-4ea1-85c5-2ec28cbae6aa" height="362" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/image_93.jpeg" width="483"> Photo A7: John Koech and Kibitok, from Kobujoi&nbsp;Ward, Nandi County, demonstrating silage making during a farmer-to-farmer field day at their family farm in April 2024. (Credit:&nbsp;Emmaculate Kiptoo/ILRI) &nbsp; &nbsp; Looking beyond adoption The ILRI study showed that several constraints continue to hinder effective silage production. Labour shortages during harvesting and processing, limited access to suitable equipment, inadequate technical knowledge, and challenges with storage and preservation all affect the quality of silage produced. These factors determine whether farmers can harvest forage at the optimal stage, chop them to the right size, compact sufficiently, and store it under airtight conditions—key requirements for proper fermentation and nutrient retention. Compounding these challenges is a significant lack of empirical data on the actual quality of silage produced by smallholders. Without this evidence, interventions tend to focus on promoting adoption rather than addressing quality bottlenecks.&nbsp; Strengthening silage quality through farmer-led learning Feedback from the study shows that farmers acquire most silage knowledge informally&nbsp;from&nbsp;neighbors or&nbsp;through&nbsp;trial and error. While farmers recognize the importance of good compaction, airtight sealing, timely harvesting, and proper chopping, many struggle to apply these practices consistently. Despite these challenges, farmers and stakeholders widely recognize the benefits of silage.&nbsp; Esther Omayio, the&nbsp;livestock&nbsp;production&nbsp;officer, County Government of Nandi, explains. “In Nandi County, silage is particularly important in our dairy production. Our farmers make silage from maize, Napier grass, sorghum, and a few from oats, mixed with maize. If you compare farmers who are&nbsp;using silage and the others who are not, you will see that farmers who are&nbsp;making silage&nbsp;have good milk production in all the months of the year, even in the dry spells.”&nbsp; Next steps Laboratory analysis of the samples collected during the ILRI study is now underway to assess dry matter content, pH levels, lactic acid concentrations, and fibre composition.&nbsp;ILRI will share these results through farmer-friendly, anonymized reports, allowing households to compare performance without stigma. The researchers will disseminate the findings through farmer field days, pioneer farmer demonstrations, media engagement, and targeted capacity-building sessions to strengthen extension services and inform dairy development strategies.&nbsp; Acknowledgement This work was conducted by ILRI as part of the CGIAR Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods (SAAF) Science Program.&nbsp; Link to&nbsp;resources <a href="http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/164417">Adoption of Improved Forage Technologies and Its Effect on Household Income Among Dairy Farmers in Bomet County, Kenya</a> <a href="https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/agj2.20954?utm_medium=article&amp;utm_source=researchgate.net">Forage conservation in sub-Saharan Africa: Review of experiences, challenges, and opportunities</a> <a href="https://www.ilri.org/adaptation-pioneers">Empowering producer-led innovation for climate resilient livestock</a> Saleef Nyambok 3955e62e-3d36-4405-ac92-de7ba6f5c188 Fri, 03 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000 RSS Feed Hidden in plain sight: Meeting the pastoralist pioneers redefining resilience https://www.ilri.org/news/hidden-plain-sight-meeting-pastoralist-pioneers-redefining-resilience <img data-entity-uuid="c369a690-18fe-4534-bc7d-d77dd4256a50" data-entity-type="file" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/shared%20image.jpg" width="2000" height="1126" alt="Pastoralist herding flock">In the South Omo Zone and Afar Region of Ethiopia, pastoralist communities have shaped and reshaped their landscapes for generations. Long before climate change became a global concern, herders here were already adapting to rainfall variability, rangeland pressure, and shifting seasons. Yet despite this lived expertise, pastoralists are often treated as passive recipients of aid rather than as holders of solutions. Too frequently, development responses arrive packaged as external fixes, overlooking the knowledge already embedded within communities. But, what if the answers to building resilience&nbsp;are already here – right in front of us? This question lay at the heart of the Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods (SAAF) National Stakeholder Engagement Workshop, held at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) campus in Addis Ababa in November 2025. The event brought together government officials, researchers, NGOs, and development partners to explore the Pioneer Positive Deviance (P-PD) approach, which challenges conventional problem-solving by focusing on what is already working. Learning from what already works The P-PD approach starts from a simple but powerful insight: within any community facing hardship, there are individuals or households achieving better outcomes than their peers, despite having access to the same limited resources. These “positive deviants” are not outliers because of external support, they are ‘pioneers’ who find local solutions while using the same limited resources as their neighbors.&nbsp;Whether it is a specific way of managing animal health or a unique strategy for securing forage to cover droughts, these innovations are the key to a more resilient future. For example, in Afar Regional State, Sabure Kebele, some households have implemented timely rotational grazing to protect the availability and quality of their pasture. This adaptation can now inform broader national strategies. By identifying, understanding, and amplifying their practices, P-PD offers a pathway to resilience that is locally owned and socially sustainable. In her opening remarks, Birgit Habermann, a scientist at ILRI, captured this shift in thinking succinctly. “The idea is that you learn from solutions on the ground, solutions that have already proved to work here, and you work with those,” she said. “And those solutions are not necessarily completely new innovations.” Her words resonated with participants who have seen well-intentioned interventions falter when they fail to align with pastoralist realities. The workshop built on field data collected in pastoral kebeles such as Sabure and Dudub in Afar Regional State, where project teams identified 39 potential positive deviant households. These households demonstrated practices that improved animal health, protected forage, or strengthened livelihoods, even during drought. One pastoralist from Sabure kebele described how small adjustments made a big difference. “By resting certain grazing areas early and moving animals at the right time, our pasture survived the dry season, and our animals stayed stronger than before,” he explained. From individual practices to collective learning The real power of the P-PD approach lies not only in identifying successful households, but in turning individual practices into collective learning. During the workshop, participants examined how positive deviant behaviors could inform broader strategies across three interconnected pillars: animal health, feed and forage systems, and social norms. In animal health, discussions emphasized moving away from dependency on sporadic external aid toward community-led wellness practices. For feed and forage, participants explored how local grazing management and forage harvesting and storage techniques could be scaled without undermining traditional systems. Social norms, focused on&nbsp;understanding the human side of how practices take hold – that is often overlooked, emerged as a critical factor in determining whether innovations spread or stall. Livestock extension officers attending the workshop reflected on how this approach could reshape their role. One extension officer noted, “For a long time, our job was to teach communities what to do. With P-PD, we learned that in addition to teaching the community of new practices, we can also facilitate learning among pastoralists themselves. This is because when advice comes from a fellow herder who has succeeded under the same conditions, it is trusted and adopted much faster.” A recurring message from the room was that while data and technical evidence matter, they are not enough on their own. Real transformation happens through social learning—through dialogue, observation, and trust. The workshop itself became a microcosm of this process, blending scientific analysis with lived experience. As one NGO representative at the workshop observed, “Pastoralists have shown over the years that they are innovators. Our responsibility therefore is to listen, document, and help remove barriers so their solutions can be scaled.” Scaling in, scaling out: The road to 2026 As the workshop ended, attention turned to what comes next. Feedback from participants is already being used to refine how the P-PD approach can be integrated into Ethiopia’s National Pastoral Extension System. A key milestone was the launch of&nbsp;<a href="https://hdl.handle.net/10568/177274">new P-PD practitioner guidelines</a>, designed to support real-world application and consistency across regions. Looking ahead to 2026, the strategy is to focus is on “scaling in” locally—deepening impact within communities—while also “scaling out” regionally through structured partnerships. Central to this vision is the establishment of a trainer of trainers program, ensuring that successful local practices can be shared, adapted, and sustained across pastoral areas. The opportunity is clear. By bridging research and reality, and by placing farmers and pastoralist expertise at the center, Ethiopia has a chance to turn local innovation into a national pathway for resilience. Acknowledgments&nbsp; This work was conducted under the CGIAR Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods (SAAF) and Climate Action Science Programs, supported by contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund. As a global research partnership, CGIAR is dedicated to transforming food, land, and water systems to better respond to the climate crisis. This research is also linked to the ILRI-led European Union-funded project, Restoration of Livestock Services in Conflict and Drought Affected Areas of Ethiopia (<a href="https://www.ilri.org/research/projects/restoration-livestock-services-conflict-and-drought-affected-areas-ethiopia">RESTORE</a>). Further reading <a href="https://www.ilri.org/adaptation-pioneers">Reimagining research Empowering producer-led innovation for climate resilient livestock</a> &nbsp; &nbsp; Saleef Nyambok cf405500-bd38-4b5d-8bd8-806e93b6aaf6 Fri, 03 Apr 2026 12:00:00 +0000 RSS Feed Asia-Pacific countries gather in Hanoi to tackle the future of livestock as food demand, climate pressures and disease risks grow https://www.ilri.org/news/asia-pacific-countries-gather-hanoi-tackle-future-livestock-food-demand-climate-pressures-and Hanoi, 24 March 2026 – The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam (MAE), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and&nbsp;the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD)&nbsp;are co-organizing the regional conference “Sustainable Livestock Transformation in Food Systems in Asia and the Pacific” in Hanoi from 24–26 March 2026. More than 150 participants—including policymakers, managers, scientists, and researchers from various countries, as well as representatives from embassies, international organizations, research institutes, financial institutions, and the private sector—are attending the conference. Delegates will discuss solutions to promote sustainable livestock development in the context of rising demand for safe and nutritious animal-source foods, alongside the need to expand production and improve farmers’ livelihoods, while the livestock sector faces increasing pressure from climate change, disease outbreaks, environmental degradation, and growing consumer expectations for safe and sustainable food. The meeting comes at a critical moment for the region. Asia and the Pacific are home to nearly 60 percent of the global population and around 44 percent of the world’s livestock. As populations grow, cities expand and incomes rise, demand for meat, milk and other animal-source foods is increasing. At the same time, livestock systems in the region are both contributing to and affected by climate change, environmental degradation, zoonotic threats and transboundary animal diseases, alongside growing expectations for safe and sustainably produced food. <blockquote>Opening the conference, Vice Minister Phùng Đức Tiến of Vietnam’s MAE emphasized the importance of collective action.&nbsp;“Sustainable livestock transformation is not only a requirement for individual countries, but also a shared global responsibility to ensure food and nutrition security and sustainable development. Therefore, increasingly deep international cooperation among countries, international organizations, and key stakeholders is the foundation for promoting innovation, technology transfer, and capacity building for the livestock sector in the region.” </blockquote> In Asia, the livestock sector supports the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of smallholder farmers, pastoralist communities, and actors along the value chain, while contributing 18–30% of agricultural GDP in many countries. However, the sector is also facing increasing risks. The region accounts for a significant share of global livestock-related greenhouse gas emissions, while the spread of transboundary animal diseases and zoonotic diseases continues to pose challenges to both livestock production and public health. According to FAO, one in four people in Asia still faces moderate or severe food insecurity, and many households cannot afford diets that include sufficient animal-source foods rich in protein and micronutrients. In his message to the conference, Mr. Alue Dohong, Assistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, emphasized the need to transform livestock systems to contribute to healthier and more sustainable food systems. <blockquote>“Livestock systems play a key role in ensuring access to nutritious and affordable diets in Asia and the Pacific. Transforming the sector is essential to strengthening food security while safeguarding the environment and public health,” he said. </blockquote> Researchers say the solutions already exist. Climate-smart livestock practices, One Health, better feed management, and stronger food safety standards can significantly reduce environmental impacts while improving productivity. However, scaling these solutions remains a major challenge, often due to fragmented policies, limited coordination between countries and gaps between scientific research, investment and implementation. Siboniso Moyo, Deputy Director General of ILRI, said the conference aims to bridge those gaps. <blockquote>"Science and innovation are key to transforming livestock systems. Research on animal health, climate-smart livestock and One Health can help countries improve productivity while managing disease risks and environmental pressures," she said.&nbsp; </blockquote> Participants will discuss key priority issues, including food security and nutrition, rural livelihoods, animal health and the One Health approach, as well as climate-smart livestock systems. The conference also provides a platform for countries and partners to share experiences, identify successful models, and strengthen regional collaboration. François Roger, Regional Director for Continental Southeast Asia at CIRAD, stressed the value of scientific cooperation to solve complex challenges. <blockquote>“For millions of farmers in the region, livestock is a cornerstone of livelihoods. Research partnerships help develop solutions suited to diverse farming systems, while ensuring that the transformation of the livestock sector contributes to inclusive and sustainable development,” he said. </blockquote> At the conclusion of the conference, participants are expected to develop recommendations for a regional roadmap toward sustainable livestock transformation, including priorities for research, policy, and investment. These recommendations are expected to guide future regional collaborative actions, while also contributing to global efforts to transform livestock systems within the broader transformation of food systems. -30- Contact: Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam Department of International Cooperation Email: <a href="mailto:mybinhbui@gmail.com">mybinhbui@gmail.com</a> International Livestock Research Institute Email: <a href="mailto:c.nguyen@cgiar.org">c.nguyen@cgiar.org</a> Food and Agriculture Organization FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Email: <a href="mailto:le.ly@fao.org">le.ly@fao.org</a> CIRAD Email:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hoailinh.vole@gmail.com">hoailinh.vole@gmail.com</a> Chi Nguyen 53403871-a866-4e2d-8d95-c5202dbc18f5 Tue, 24 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 RSS Feed CGIAR in Tanzania support mothers of children living with disabilities on International Women’s Day https://www.ilri.org/news/cgiar-tanzania-support-mothers-children-living-disabilities-international-womens-day To mark the International Women’s Day (IWD), on 9 March 2026, <a href="https://www.cgiar.org/">CGIAR</a> women staff in Tanzania, led by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iita.org/">International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)</a>, stepped away from their offices and research work to visit the Antonia Verna Rehabilitation Center for children living with disabilities in Kawe Municipal, Dar es Salaam. This year’s IWD under the UN theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls” was a call to action to dismantle barriers such as discriminatory laws, weak protection and harmful norms to ensure equal rights for all women and girls. The official campaign theme “Give to Gain” emphasized collaboration and reciprocity because when individuals, organizations and communities give through donations, mentoring, time or resources, everyone gains. The visit by the CGIAR to the rehabilitation center targeted the women caring for children with disabilities, whose contributions in Tanzania are often ignored or forgotten. <a href="https://thrivechildevidence.org/updates/system-level-analysis-of-early-detection-of-disabilities-among-children-strengths-and-constraints-in-the-context-of-tanzania/">Over one million children under 18 are estimated to be living with disability across Tanzania</a>, and a significant number of their primary caregivers, mostly women,<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1936657422001583"> report experiencing domestic violence linked to disability and social stigma within the family.</a> These mothers, aunts, and other guardians carry out demanding and largely unrecognized work of raising children with disability in a country where that work is almost entirely unsupported. <blockquote>“As women and mothers, we understand your exhaustion and the sacrifice you make every day to care for these children. We appreciate the support the center offers these women and these children,” said Mwantumu Omary, a researcher at IITA.a researcher at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). </blockquote> <img src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/women.jpg" data-entity-uuid="c82745c3-0d58-447d-853b-24099b391f82" data-entity-type="file" alt="Group photo of CGIAR staff with Sr. Angela Jeremiah, Director of the Center during their visit. (Photo by ILRI/Gloriana Ndibalema)" width="516" height="344" class="align-left"> These women caregivers experience what advocates and researchers call “double discrimination and compounded inequalities”. Living in a society that still, in many spaces, measures a woman’s worth through productivity, marriage, and motherhood, they are&nbsp;<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10699-020-09701-0">disadvantaged at the intersection of gender bias and disability stigma</a>. The children, meanwhile, are often treated as burdens, sources of shame, or targets of ridicule. Many women with children living with disabilities also face difficult tradeoffs. They often leave income-generating work to give full-time care to their children, which exposes them to economic risks with no safety net. Some are abandoned by spouses who reject children with disability, while others face judgment from their communities or religious circles. Over time, the combined weight of exhaustion and stigma can make it hard to sustain relationships or maintain a sense of connection, leading to social isolation. <blockquote>“We are grateful for your visit. It has renewed our strength and given us new hope despite our challenges,” said Eva Moses, one of the mothers at the Antonia Verna Rehabilitation Center. </blockquote> During the visit, the CGIAR women donated diapers as well as food items such as fortified flour, soybean, rice, and powdered milk to help address malnutrition among the children and a cash contribution towards health insurance. <blockquote>“CGIAR recognizes that supporting the youth, women, and people with disabilities plays an important role in achieving more equitable and sustainable food systems,” Anthony Whitbread, Tanzania country representative for the International Livestock Research Institute reflected. “Our work is about creating an environment that better supports business opportunities and the creation of decent and fulfilling jobs.” </blockquote> The occasion gave both groups of women the opportunity to recognize that, despite their different backgrounds, they share common challenges, and that a shared understanding is the foundation from which women can work together. Staff from IITA, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ilri.org/">ILRI</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irri.org/">International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://worldfishcenter.org/">WorldFish,&nbsp;</a>participated in the visit. <a href="https://www.ilri.org/research/projects/gender-equality-and-social-inclusion">ILRI's gender program</a> recognizes that women in food and livestock systems cannot contribute fully when they remain economically excluded and socially marginalized. Caregiving mothers of children with disabilities are primary household decision-makers whose capacity to contribute is severely constrained by stigma and lack of support. Across CGIAR, reaching the women most excluded by intersecting inequalities is the test to whether the gender agenda is real across households in agrifood systems. Gloriana Ndibalema c3556f14-3f8c-448f-99cf-d7a5ec4db725 Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 RSS Feed Kenya has a new contingency plan for tackling Rift Valley fever https://www.ilri.org/news/kenya-has-new-contingency-plan-tackling-rift-valley-fever At the end of 2006, heavy rains battered East Africa, causing massive flooding. In the murky floodwaters, millions of mosquitos hatched—and hiding dormant in their eggs was the devastating Rift Valley fever Virus. As the clouds of insects fanned out to feed on warm-blooded animals, they spread the virus to sheep, cattle, goats, and camels.&nbsp; The young were most affected. Lambs and kids died from internal bleeding. Cows and ewes spontaneously aborted their fetuses. And as pastoralists and veterinarians tried to help their animals, they caught the virus too. Across East Africa, 40,000 people are estimated to have gotten sick. In Kenya alone,&nbsp;<a href="https://rr-africa.woah.org/app/uploads/2000/11/diop1.pdf">158 people died</a>.&nbsp; The economic effects were severe, too. In addition to the loss of livestock—a source of emergency cash, milk, food and livelihood for people in remote areas—the disease also shut down livestock trade to key markets in the Middle East, costing the country US$32 million in total. (Somalia fared even worse that year, with Rift Valley fever<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11361445/%20"> losses estimated</a> at US$471 million dollars.)&nbsp; “The disease causes havoc,” says&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ilri.org/people/bernard-bett">Bernard Bett</a>, a veterinarian and senior scientists at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). And while subsequent epidemics in 2018 and 2024 weren’t as severe as the one in 2006,&nbsp;<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11361445/%20">outbreaks are becoming increasingly frequent</a> as climate change alters regional weather patterns. In 2015, Kenya began work to update its Rift Valley fever contingency plan, aiming to improve the country’s response to the disease and minimise the impacts of future outbreaks. After a decade of research and fine-tuning by the Kenyan Government, ILRI, and other partners, in November 2025 <a href="///Users/kateevans/Downloads/One-Health-Strategic-Plan-_Kenya_2021-2025.pdf">the plan was finalised and implemented</a>.&nbsp; <blockquote>“This disease is one of the priority zoonotic diseases as a country that we deal with,”&nbsp;says Mathew Mutiiria - a medical epidemiologist from the Government of Kenya’s&nbsp;<a href="http://www.zoonotic-diseases.org/zdu-road-map-to-one-health/">Zoonotic Disease Unit</a>.&nbsp;“The contingency plan is a wake-up call for the government, and for our partners, to put our efforts together so as to adequately prepare for when the disease next appears.”&nbsp; </blockquote> The first step, Mutiiria says, was work Bett’s team at ILRI did to pioneer a risk map for Kenya—identifying the specific counties that are at particularly high risk of Rift Valley fever outbreaks.&nbsp; Most of these counties are in the country’s northeast, a generally arid area characterised by pastoral livestock systems, where herders move their animals seasonally from place to place. Counterintuitively, wetter areas are less affected by disease outbreaks, since livestock there live with mosquitos year-round, allowing them to build up immunity to the virus. In the arid northeast, however, many animals only encounter mosquitos after unusually heavy rains, making them extremely vulnerable. Vaccination in these areas is also less effective, because the region’s severe droughts frequently wipe out entire herds, making it harder to sustain herd immunity. “If heavy rains and flooding come, you have a naive population—and explosions happen,” says Bett.&nbsp; Knowing which counties are most at risk allows Kenya to focus its surveillance efforts, biosecurity equipment, training and preparation in a more cost-effective and targeted way, says Mutiiria—and can encourage at-risk counties to budget and plan for eventual outbreaks.&nbsp; The contingency plan identifies several phases in disease control. Between epidemics, there’s a passive surveillance network in place. The government relies on tip-offs from vets, human health workers, and ‘community disease reporters’—village elders and other lay people tasked with keeping their eyes open for unusual events. “Because of the vastness of these areas and the few veterinarians, we really rely on the community,” says Khadija Chepkorir, a veterinarian from Kenya’s Zoonotic Disease Unit. “They might report that there are a lot of lambs dying, so that becomes an early signal for us,” she says. So-called ‘abortion storms’ are another signal—“not just one female sheep aborting, but quite a number.” It’s well-known that extreme climate events trigger Rift Valley fever outbreaks. Historically, epidemics have occurred after heavy rainfall in strong El Niño years, roughly once a decade. “El Niño can be predicted even six months down the line, and that was easy to know—if El Niño comes, you get Rift Valley fever,” says Bett.&nbsp; But climate change is messing with that pattern, and other environmental or livestock-management changes&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(25)00177-9/fulltext">could also shift where and when outbreaks occur</a>.&nbsp; <blockquote>“Because of this climate variability, you may find an event occurring without prior alerts.” </blockquote> However, if the climate and community clues do indicate an outbreak might be imminent, the government can implement active surveillance: sampling animals and mosquitos from at-risk areas for the presence of the virus. Counties can then use the advance notice to stock up on protective gear for vets and healthcare workers, and ramp up vaccination campaigns.&nbsp; There is an effective lifetime animal vaccine for Rift Valley fever, which is made in Kenya at the country’s Veterinary Vaccine Production Institute.&nbsp;There are however several challenges in ensuring sufficient numbers of livestock receive it, Chepkorir says. Cost is a key factor—counties may not have the funds to buy and distribute enough doses through large and remote regions. (Because of gender dynamics, women-headed households are&nbsp;<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/vaccines7030086">more likely to miss out.)&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;Delivering Rift Valley fever vaccines alongside other animal vaccines such as those for peste des petits ruminants (PPR) or lumpy skin disease (LSD) could bring costs down, says Bett.&nbsp; Unlike most Western countries, Kenya has not mandated livestock tagging and identification, he says. “It’s not part of the culture here yet.” That makes it impossible to identify which animals have already received a vaccine, causing inefficiencies.&nbsp; Every year new animals are born, and must get their own vaccines to maintain herd immunity. And some farmers resist vaccinating their animals, fearing the jab will cause their animals to abort—a real but rare side effect which occurs much less frequently than abortions caused by the disease itself.&nbsp; Following an outbreak, during the recovery phase, attention will shift to supporting farmers that have lost animals, quantifying the socioeconomic and health impacts of the disease—and assessing the nation’s performance against the contingency plan.&nbsp; <img alt="Rift Valley fever is a viral zoonotic disease transmitted by mosquitoes that affects livestock and humans, causing fever, severe illness, or death." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f78e205a-ce73-4a49-aae2-4e6e2df1d85c" height="1754" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/53013563552_ac35b33835_o.png" width="2481"> Rift Valley fever is a viral zoonotic disease transmitted by mosquitoes that affects livestock and humans, causing fever, severe illness, or death. Infographic ILRI/Annabel Slater&nbsp; The fact that the document has been signed off and come into force sends a signal that the government takes Rift Valley fever very seriously, Mutiiria says. “But it's not enough for us to have the contingency plan in place. Now we have to put in the effort to ensure we actually do the activities that have been highlighted.”&nbsp; &nbsp;That means running simulation exercises and trainings, carrying out surveillance, ramping up vaccination, and building capacity in regional laboratories that will test for the virus. “Above all, we need to have budgets set aside to mitigate the Rift Valley fever if it happens, especially in the areas where the risk map shows those high risks,” Mutiiria says.&nbsp; Thanks to evidence-based research, collaboration and careful planning, when Rift Valley fever next strikes, Kenya will know what to do.&nbsp; <img alt="RVF Contigency plan launch" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fe626b97-65df-4437-8e27-6dc9a9fa36bd" height="1436" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/Brucellosis%20RVF%20launch.jpg" width="2160"> Kenya's official launch of Rift Valley fever Contingency Plan and Human Brucellosis Testing Guidelines in Nairobi, November 2025 (photo credit: National Public Health Institute (NPHI)). <h3>REACH OUT TO</h3> <ul class="list-unstyled"><li> <a href="https://www.ilri.org/people/bernard-bett" class="card-link"></a> <img src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/bernard-bett_0.png?itok=gKyMZQe7" class="img-fluid rounded" alt="Bernard Bett"> <h3 class="card-title mb-1">Bernard Bett</h3> Senior scientist, Animal and human health </li></ul> Geoffrey Luis Njenga d9dfa1e8-71a2-45fd-99e8-6a873658c383 Fri, 13 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000 RSS Feed Making One Health practical: ILRI’s field-based model expands in Laos https://www.ilri.org/news/making-one-health-practical-ilris-field-based-model-expands-laos Making One Health Practical: ILRI’s Field-Based Model Expands in Laos Transboundary pests and diseases do not respect borders. Across Southeast Asia, outbreaks affecting crops, livestock and people continue to threaten food security, rural livelihoods and public health. The same applies for other emerging health treats such as food safety and antimicrobial resistance.&nbsp;Under the <a href="https://asean-cgiar.irri.org/">ASEAN-CGIAR Innovate for Food and Nutrition Security Regional Program</a> and the CGIAR Science Program on Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods (<a href="https://www.cgiar.org/cgiar-research-portfolio-2025-2030/sustainable-animal-and-aquatic-foods">SAAF</a>), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) has been working with national and regional partners to turn the One Health concept into practical action on the ground in Lao PDR. From concept to capacity: One Health training in Vientiane In late 2024, the National University of Laos (NUOL), in collaboration with ILRI, convened a two-day One Health training workshop in Vientiane Capital. The event brought together 42 participants from Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, representing academia, government agencies, regional One Health networks, CGIAR centers and the private sector. The objectives were clear: deepen understanding of the One Health approach, strengthen collaboration between human, animal, plant and environmental sectors, and provide hands-on learning through exposure to a functioning field site. A “Learning by Doing” Hub: Establishing the One Health Field Site The highlight of the workshop was a field visit to Hatviengkham village in Xaythany district, Vientiane Capital—home to Laos’ first operational One Health field site. Established on 30 October 2024 under NUOL’s leadership, with technical support from ILRI, the site was designed as a “learning by doing” platform. Rather than presenting One Health as a policy framework alone, the field site embeds the approach directly into community life. <img alt="A group of people sitting at tables&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Description automatically generated" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c14c6b83-5a9a-4b5e-94cd-76568bd47c2c" height="397" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/image_107.jpeg" width="529"> Consultation meeting with villagers at Hatviengkham village in Xaythany district, Vientiane Capital in late 2024 (photo credit: ILRI). &nbsp; Inauguration activities began months earlier, including understanding community issues, a village-wide cleaning campaign organized jointly by students, villagers and local authorities. Students from human health, veterinary and environmental disciplines piloted practical initiatives focused on animal health services, sanitation improvement and environmental conservation. During the October visit, trainees engaged in open discussions with the village chief and community members about livestock production, environmental challenges and public health concerns. A walking tour allowed participants to interview households directly, bridging the gap between academic learning and lived rural realities. With support from villagers, NUOL established a small on-site training room equipped with essential furniture and a large-screen television to facilitate ongoing consultations and community learning. The long-term vision is to transform Hatviengkham into a model “One Health Village” that can host visitors and inspire replication elsewhere in the country. Strengthening One Health at community level By late 2025, the collaboration had evolved further. NUOL’s Faculty of Agriculture, working alongside ILRI and sectoral partners, conducted additional field visits and organized animal health promotion activities in Hat Viengkham Village. These efforts reinforced the village’s transition toward a fully integrated One Health model—linking safer livestock practices, improved sanitation, prevention of zoonoses (e.g. Rabies) and environmental stewardship. In early 2026, the research team expanded its partnership to include the Souphanouvong University (SU), Luang Prabang and member of LAOHUN. Together, ILRI, NUOL and SU began extending the One Health field site model to Har Khor Village in Luang Prabang Province. This expansion marks an important step in institutionalizing the model beyond Vientiane Capital—strengthening provincial academic engagement and embedding One Health practice in new communities. <img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="510961ca-1efc-4520-8f79-981d54fc2106" height="599" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/1_2.png" width="833"> One Health field site model is established in Har Khor Village in Luang Prabang Province in late 2025 (photo credit: ILRI). &nbsp; For Vannaphone Phuthana, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at NUOL, the shift from theory to practice is the most significant achievement of the collaboration. <blockquote>“For many years, we discussed One Health in research projects, conferences and workshops. But how to transfer the concept into real practice at village level—that is the most important question. Learning by doing is essential. With ILRI’s support, we are working directly with local people to see how they understand One Health and how they apply it in their daily lives. </blockquote> <blockquote>Researchers may understand the theory clearly, but the real actors are the villagers. If they understand and adopt the approach, then we can say our work is successful. We are now involving a new generation of graduates, expanding our network, and working closely not only in Vientiane Capital but also in Luang Prabang. By collaborating with Souphanouvong University and establishing a field site in Har Khor Village, we are making One Health concrete and expanding it to new areas.” </blockquote> <img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="30a50513-b396-42c9-bfc5-fe27732df425" height="1512" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/IMG_1494.JPG" width="2016"> Consultation meeting with villagers at Har Khor Village in Luang Prabang Province in 2026 (photo credit: ILRI). His reflection underscores a central lesson of the initiative: success is measured not only by workshops held or policies drafted, but by whether communities absorb and sustain the practices introduced. Tackling antimicrobial resistance through the One Health Village model Building on earlier successes, the One Health Village model is now being scaled out to address one of the region’s most pressing threats—antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Field research on antimicrobial use in poultry farming is underway in Har Vieng Kham Village (Vientiane Capital) and Har Khor Village in Luang Prabang Province. By promoting responsible farming practices, strengthening systematic poultry production and improving animal health management including biosecurity, the initiative directly contributes to reducing unnecessary antibiotic use &nbsp;and on a wider arena to regenerative AG systems.&nbsp; By embedding responsible livestock management within an integrated human–animal–environment framework, the expanding network of One Health field sites in Lao PDR demonstrates how regional collaboration—supported by the ASEAN-CGIAR Innovate for Food Regional Program and SAAF—can translate science into sustainable, community-level impact. <img data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="85e23978-4a78-4964-8ee4-e32e69a62d96" height="571" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/2_2.png" width="788"> Field research on antimicrobial use in poultry farming is underway in Har Vieng Kham Village (Vientiane Capital) and Har Khor Village in Luang Prabang Province (photo credit: ILRI). Read more about the One Health Field Site in Vietnam: <a href="https://www.ilri.org/news/vietnam-one-health-research-partnership-opens-fourth-provincial-field-site">Vietnam One Health research partnership opens fourth provincial field site</a> <a href="https://www.ilri.org/news/decade-academic-and-research-partnership-advances-one-health-vietnam">A decade of academic and research partnership advances One Health in Vietnam</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; Chi Nguyen 10f0bfc2-611c-496e-9f59-263bb44c5739 Sat, 28 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000 RSS Feed How we are building a poultry time capsule https://www.ilri.org/knowledge/video/how-we-are-building-poultry-time-capsule Daniel Hailemichael 54193a01-141b-44d2-8f65-8b025db54858 Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000 RSS Feed IYRP 2026: Young pastoralists lead the charge toward a prosperous future for rangelands https://www.ilri.org/news/iyrp-2026-young-pastoralists-lead-charge-toward-prosperous-future-rangelands Ahead of IRYP 2026, young pastoralists from five countries adopted the Kobebe Declaration, urging for implementation of IGAD’s Transhumance Protocol to protect pastoralists cross-border mobility, communal land rights, and climate-resilient rangelands in the Karamoja Cluster. More than 150 young pastoralists from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and South Sudan recently pledged to lead rangelands and pastoralism into a peaceful and prosperous future. Meeting in November 2025, the young pastoralists passed the “Kobebe Declaration”, calling for full implementation of the&nbsp;<a href="https://icpald.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/IGAD-PROTOCOL-ON-TRANSHUMANCE-Final-Endorsed-Version.pdf">IGAD Transhumance Protocol</a>, a regional policy framework that provides for pastoralists’ free and orderly movement across borders. The Transhumance Protocol and other cross-border mobility agreements critically underpin the livelihoods of pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities across the Karamoja Cluster, a 150,000km2 semi-arid, cross-border region spanning the boundaries of Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda. While reading the declaration, Neema Seki, the Pastoralists Women Council member from Tanzania, emphasized that pastoralism is already contributing to the climate-resilient future of Africa, noting that African rangelands hold some of the world's largest carbon stocks. She called for full recognition of communal land tenure systems and urged stronger protection against land grabbing, unsustainable agricultural expansion, industrial plantations, and mining concessions in rangelands. <img alt="Cultural dance at the Kobebe Dam youth gathering (photo credit:&nbsp;African Youth Pastoralist Initiative/Jacob Lekaitogo)." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3bd34d5f-e235-452e-8eee-d97cd8b75cca" height="364" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/image_93.png" width="603"> Cultural dance at the Kobebe Dam youth gathering (photo credit:&nbsp;African Youth Pastoralist Initiative/Jacob Lekaitogo). Kobebe Dam, in the scenic plains of Moroto, Uganda, was the symbolic backdrop for the drafting of the declaration, celebrating a history of shared resources and peaceful co-existence between pastoralist communities from Uganda and Kenya. The gathering was organized by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aypi.org/">African Youth Pastoralist Initiative (AYPI)</a>, a youth-led network that empowers young pastoralists, advocates for their interests in policy dialogues, and promotes climate-smart agriculture and sustainable livelihoods across Africa. Over two days, the youth held sessions and discussions on how resource-sharing systems underpin mobility, peace, and resilience among pastoralist groups. Land tenure rights, peace and cross-border integration, rangeland restoration, and meaningful youth inclusion in policy processes dominated deliberations as well as the resultant declaration. This youth-led declaration will contribute to regional and global advocacy agenda for&nbsp;<a href="https://iyrp.info/">International Year of Pastoralists and Rangelands (IYRP) 2026</a>&nbsp;and beyond. <img alt="Discussions at the Kobebe dam youth gathering (photo credit: African Youth Pastoralist Initiative/Jacob Lekaitogo)." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="05681723-dd6d-4233-98cc-be0c6f98b879" height="547" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/image_94.png" width="601"> Discussions at the Kobebe dam youth gathering (photo credit: African Youth Pastoralist Initiative/Jacob Lekaitogo). “Our Kobebe Dam declaration carried the message that pastoralist futures must be built and shaped by people closest to the land and that as pastoralist youth, our voices must influence decisions that define the rangelands we depend on,” said Jacob Lekaitogo, president of the Kenya chapter of AYPI. The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) is supporting establishment and strengthening of the AYPI reflecting its prioritization of youth in pastoralism. According to Fiona Flintan, a senior scientist at ILRI, rangelands play an essential role in addressing challenges related to food security, land degradation, drought, biodiversity loss and climate change, and the youth are critical in this transformative journey. “Pastoralist youth typically implement rotational grazing and manage herd mobility to support biodiversity on behalf of the community. Beyond traditional herding, young pastoralists are involved in agribusiness, fodder production, value-added dairy production, and eco-tourism, creating new income streams that reduce pressure on the rangelands,” Flintan says. As the gathering concluded, one message stood out: East Africa’s pastoralist youth are ready to take their place at the forefront of regional and global dialogues. The Moroto gathering was a declaration of presence, identity, and leadership. As the 2026 IYRP unfolds, the outcomes of this gathering will continue to influence planning, advocacy, and action. “Pastoralist communities, especially youth, must have compulsory stake holding in rangeland-based investments, beyond royalties and surface rights,” said Brians Agaba, coordinator of the Coalition of Pastoralist Civil Society Organizations (COPACSO), Uganda.&nbsp; <img alt="Cultural dance at the Kobebe Dam youth gathering (photo credit: African Youth Pastoralist Initiative/Jacob Lekaitogo)." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c4b2fd1a-5c24-47e2-8b2b-b748ff938741" height="810" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/IYRP%20pastoralists%20Meeting%20at%20Kobebe%20Karamoja%2003_0.png" width="1080"> Cultural dance at the Kobebe Dam youth gathering (photo credit:&nbsp;African Youth Pastoralist Initiative/Jacob Lekaitogo). Learning through field visits and dialogue Beyond the policy conversations, the gathering was also a cultural homecoming. Performances, ceremonies, and storytelling sessions displayed the depth and diversity of pastoralist heritage across East Africa. The beats of the Karamojong drums mingled with the chants of the Maasai, while songs from the Samburu, Turkana, Toposa, and Nyangatom reminded participants that pastoralism is not just a livelihood; it is an identity and a source of collective cultural pride. Field excursions to kraals, communal grazing areas, and rangeland restoration sites deepened the learning experience. These visits offered youth the opportunity to observe traditional livestock management, and community-led innovations in action. They also encouraged intergenerational dialogue, bridging the wisdom of elders with the creativity and ambition of young people eager to reimagine pastoral systems for a changing world. Through these immersive experiences, participants gained fresh insights into sustaining rangelands, strengthening livestock mobility, and employing indigenous knowledge as a tool for climate resilience. The gathering was made possible by the IYRP Youth Working Group,&nbsp;<a href="https://kayese256.org/our-work/">Karamoja Youth Efforts to Save Environment (KAYESE)</a>&nbsp;the local host in Moroto,&nbsp;<a href="https://ilri.org/">ILRI</a>&nbsp;through the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cgiar.org/cgiar-research-porfolio-2025-2030/multifunctional-landscapes/">CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes science program</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://copacso.org/">COPACSO</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.peaceinsight.org/en/organisations/aypi/?location=uganda&amp;theme">AYPI</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reconcile-ea.org/">Resource Conflict Institute (RECONCILE)</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://accafrica.org/">African Conservation Centre (ACC)</a>&nbsp;and several other regional actors. Their partnership ensured that the event was youth-centered and aligned with the needs, aspirations, and cultural foundations of pastoralist communities. Contributor: Jacob Lekaitogo / African Youth Pastoralist Initiative Related content&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/10568/173208">Raising rangelands and pastoralists to the fore: CGIAR Research Initiative on Livestock and Climate Engagements at the 2024 UNCCD COP16, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia</a> <h3>For more information</h3> <ul class="list-unstyled"><li> <a href="https://www.ilri.org/people/polycarp-onyango" class="card-link"></a> <img src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/images/users/2025-02/Polycarp%20Passport%20Photo.jpeg?itok=BfHYFF3c" class="img-fluid rounded" alt="Polycarp Onyango"> <h3 class="card-title mb-1">Polycarp Onyango</h3> Communications Manager, Livestock Climate and Environment (LCE) / AICCRA Kenya </li></ul> Saleef Nyambok 5a16da15-3341-46e0-9924-a9d6a7eaf98a Tue, 24 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000 RSS Feed From partnership to action: ILRI and WOAH deepen global One Health collaboration https://www.ilri.org/news/partnership-action-ilri-and-woah-deepen-global-one-health-collaboration Designation of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) as the first <a href="https://www.ilri.org/news/ilri-declared-first-collaborating-centre-one-health-woah">One Health collaborating center of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)</a> signaled clear recognition that global animal health challenges require deeper integration between research, policy and implementation. That mandate began taking shape on 16 February when ILRI’s leadership met WOAH director general, Emmanuelle Soubeyran, at the institute's Nairobi campus. Their discussions focused on aligning scientific research, global standards and policy advocacy under a shared vision: strengthening animal health systems as a cornerstone of food security, economic resilience and environmental sustainability. <img alt="ILRI director general Apollinaire Djikeng and WOAH director general Emmanuelle Soubeyran (photo credit: ILRI/Saleef Nyambok)." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2bc623c6-5436-41a6-a84d-94695e9700f0" height="416" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/image_105.jpeg" width="624"> ILRI director general Apollinaire Djikeng and WOAH director general Emmanuelle Soubeyran (photo credit: ILRI/Saleef Nyambok). &nbsp; <h2>Moving from designation to delivery</h2> Speaking on the partnership’s role as a strategic platform for shaping the global evolution of animal health, climate action and One Health governance, ILRI director general, Appolinaire Djikeng, said: "We have been generating evidence on animal health and climate change that needs to be on the main stage. Our role in strengthening veterinary service capacities positions us to deliver meaningful impact alongside WOAH." For both organizations, the One Health Collaborating Center provides a structured platform to connect research evidence with international animal health standards, risk assessment processes and policy guidance used by member states worldwide. Soubeyran welcomed the collaboration’s expansion into emerging areas such as climate change and its growing impact on animal health systems.&nbsp; “Translating evidence into policy and action is key in our collaboration,” she said. “Data-driven approaches are essential to help decision-makers understand the value of investing in animal health.” <h2>A shared agenda built around five pillars</h2> The joint strategic collaboration framework is structured around five core pillars: disease surveillance, modeling and risk assessment; biosecurity and animal health interventions across value chains; animal health and climate-smart One Health strategies; workforce development and community engagement; and governance, policy and legal frameworks. Together, these pillars will bridge scientific innovations with operational implementation, ensuring research findings inform real-world decision-making.&nbsp; “This is not just a research agenda; it is our institutional commitment to aligning science with the realities on the ground, where animal, human and environmental health intersect. By grounding our work in evidence, we aim to support countries to anticipate risks, shape policy and make informed decisions,” noted Ekta Patel, ILRI scientist and lead point of contact for the WOAH One Health Collaborating Center. And Simon Brooker, who leads ILRI's health program, emphasized that collaboration with organizations like WOAH enables research to move beyond academic outputs: "Our goal is improving the health of livestock, farming communities and the shared environment, with research that directly informs policy.” <img alt="WOAH delegation meeting the ILRI leadership team (photo credit: ILRI/Saleef Nyambok)." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f4588dac-274b-4921-82fb-7c85e537e069" height="1080" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29.jpg" width="1920"> WOAH delegation meeting the ILRI leadership team (photo credit: ILRI/Saleef Nyambok). <h2>Climate change emerges as a defining frontier.</h2> Climate change became a central theme of the discussions, reflecting increasing global concern about how shifting ecosystems alter disease dynamics, livestock productivity and environmental impacts. Soubeyran highlighted emerging challenges at the intersection of genetics, productivity and climate adaptation. "We have members asking us to develop standards for new breeding techniques and their impact on animal health," she said. "Issues like cross-breeding dynamics and disease tolerance connect productivity, climate resilience and health outcomes. We need integrated thinking." WOAH emphasized the need for stronger data to understand how animal health interventions influence climate outcomes, including greenhouse gas emissions, resilience pathways and the environmental implications of disease control strategies such as large-scale culling campaigns. Pointing out that ILRI has already generated significant evidence linking livestock health, climate resilience and sustainable production systems, Djikeng said the partnership could bring these insights onto global policy platforms through initiatives such as the <a href="https://www.ilri.org/research/projects/livestock-and-climate-solutions-hub">Livestock and Climate Solutions Hub</a>. <h2>Data, economics, and the case for investment</h2> Another recurring theme was the role of data in strengthening advocacy and decision-making. Quantifying the economic burden of animal diseases and demonstrating return on investment are important to policymakers. WOAH’s <a href="https://gbads.woah.org/">Global Burden of Animal Diseases</a> initiative was highlighted as a key tool for advancing this agenda, providing data-driven insights that connect animal health outcomes to economic productivity and development priorities. The model will be integrated into the framework's first pillar on socioeconomic impact assessment. For both organizations, stronger economic evidence is essential to elevate animal health within broader discussions on climate adaptation, trade and global health security. <img alt="Group photo of the team (photo credit: ILRI/Saleef Nyambok)." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="caddc490-1f29-4cfa-a47a-2bac509143ae" height="4912" src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/inline-images/DSC_8895%201_0.jpg" width="7360"> Group photo of the team (photo credit: ILRI/Saleef Nyambok). <h2>Toward proactive research and prevention</h2> Participants agreed that the collaboration should prioritize anticipatory research rather than reactive responses to outbreaks. Targeted areas identified for alignment with global strategies include rabies elimination, zoonotic tuberculosis, Rift Valley fever, and avian influenza. "The collaboration between WOAH and ILRI is important in shaping the One Health research agenda," said Lillian Wambua, WOAH regional One Health officer. "We need to craft research that addresses prevention, so we're not constantly reacting. As a global collaborating center, our agenda should be proactive." <h2>Strengthening governance and capacity in Africa</h2> The meeting also highlighted the strategic value of locating the collaborating center in Africa, where One Health governance frameworks remain uneven across many low- and middle-income countries. "We only institutionalize One Health when we have the data to support it," said Lillian Wambua, WOAH regional One Health officer. "Countries need evidence to justify legal frameworks, budget allocations and institutional reforms. ILRI's research strength can address that evidence gap, particularly in Africa and other low- and middle-income countries where governance remains a constraint." ILRI expressed willingness to support capacity strengthening for national veterinary services, aligning with WOAH's Performance of Veterinary Services program that evaluates and strengthens veterinary system performance globally. <h2>Looking ahead</h2> The significance of the meeting lies in how it advances a new model of collaboration between research institutions and intergovernmental organizations to shape the future of One Health. By aligning WOAH’s global authority in animal health standards with ILRI’s scientific expertise and regional reach, the partnership seeks to translate evidence into policy and accelerate progress toward healthier livestock systems, resilient communities and more sustainable food systems in a climate-constrained world. <h3>For more information</h3> <ul class="list-unstyled"><li> <a href="https://www.ilri.org/people/ekta-patel" class="card-link"></a> <img src="https://www.ilri.org/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/Ekta%20Patel.jpg?itok=6fe7inXy" class="img-fluid rounded" alt="Ekta Patel"> <h3 class="card-title mb-1">Ekta Patel</h3> Scientist </li></ul> Saleef Nyambok 40ad25f4-4c12-4f57-83b0-981d1e1f95a8 Thu, 19 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000 RSS Feed