By Suleiman Mbatiah
There is an urgent need for a robust data ecosystem to support sustainable pastoral livestock sector policymaking and development in Africa, according to a baseline assessment conducted in Kenya and Nigeria.
The livestock industry in Africa plays a critical role in the continent’s economic growth, contributing approximately 35 per cent of the agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) in sub-Saharan Africa, underscoring its significance. However, challenges related to data accessibility and infrastructure continue to hinder its full potential.
The assessment, spearheaded by the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), aims to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of livestock markets in the Horn of Africa (HoA) and the Sahel region through its African Pastoral Market Development (APMD) Platform.
During the Stakeholders Inception and Official Launch Workshop of the APMD Platform held in Nairobi last week, Dr. Ahmed Abu Sin, Executive Director of Partners in Development Services (PDS), Sudan, highlighted the challenges posed by the lack of reliable data.
“The absence of a comprehensive database has hindered governments from accurately assessing livestock numbers, production values, and trade metrics,” he emphasized.
While Kenya and Nigeria have comparatively developed frameworks, the assessment revealed persistent challenges in implementation, data accessibility, and disease monitoring. In the Sahel Cluster, which includes Nigeria as the primary focus alongside Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger, the study noted that the livestock sector employs 80 per cent of the population. However, the accuracy and timeliness of disease-related data remain problematic.
Dr. Abu Sin pointed out that agricultural and livestock censuses across the continent often fail to provide a full picture of pastoral production systems. Irregular and infrequent data collection by national governments further compounds the issue. Inadequate infrastructure, low digital literacy, and limited mobile network coverage exacerbate the lack of access to real-time data.
The study identified significant gaps in areas such as mobility patterns of pastoralists, disease surveillance, livestock population data, cross-border trade metrics, and the environmental impact on rangeland management.
Entities such as AU-IBAR, AAGRIS, LD4D, and aLIVE are working to support national platforms in improving the exchange of animal resource data. These efforts aim to enhance policymaking, manage genetic livestock data, and foster sustainable development in the sector.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Huyam Salih, Director of AU-IBAR, underscored the pivotal role of the pastoral sector. She stated, “Across the continent, millions of livelihoods depend on pastoralism, a sector that contributes significantly to national economies, regional trade, and food security. Yet, this sector faces persistent challenges, including limited access to formal markets, inadequate value addition, and insufficient integration of pastoral communities into broader economic frameworks. Climate change further exacerbates these vulnerabilities, necessitating a more coordinated, resilient, and innovative response.”
Dr. Salih highlighted the transformative potential of the APMD Platform, founded on three strategic pillars: strengthening the enabling policy environment, integrating the pastoral private sector into livestock marketing, and developing functional data ecosystems. She noted that these pillars are supported by cross-cutting themes such as gender inclusivity, food and nutrition security, and climate resilience.
Dr. Salih emphasized the role of Kenya and Nigeria as “Lighthouse Countries,” demonstrating the significant potential of the pastoral sector to drive economic growth and foster regional integration.
These countries, identified as centers of excellence, will spearhead innovative solutions and share valuable insights with neighboring countries in the Horn of Africa and Sahel regions, referred to as “Strategic Outreach Countries.” This approach aims to enhance the regional implementation and impact of the APMD Platform.
John Kamau