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A wide range of different animals provide nutrient-rich food, income, and a financial safety net for millions of rural families.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EChickens lay eggs, cows give milk, camels transport goods, sheep and goats are eaten and skinned, oxen plough fields for crops. But they also face disease, drought, and disconnection from markets, and their productivity is frequently low. Value chains vary widely and typically involve many actors\u2014from smallholders and pastoralists to extension agents, market actors and private companies.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ECountries often want to invest more in livestock. But in which animals? At what points in the value chain? How can governments secure external funding from donors and private investors, and where can that money make the most difference? Most importantly: if you don\u2019t know where you\u2019re going, how will you know when you\u2019ve arrived?\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEnter Livestock Master Plans. For the past decade, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) has been asked by low and middle income countries to help them to dream big\u2014and then make a concrete plan to get there. Consulting the latest scientific evidence and using sophisticated modelling tools, ILRI scientists and their partners from the FAO, CIRAD and AU-IBAR work alongside governments to co-create a roadmap for the future of their livestock sectors.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Importantly, we scientists don\u0027t make a Livestock Master Plan,\u2019 says ILRI development economist \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gender.cgiar.org\/experts\/isabelle-baltenweck\u0022\u003EIsabelle Baltenweck\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt\u0027s the country which develops it, and ILRI and our partners support that process with our tools and our technical expertise. We\u2019re seen as an honest broker\u2014someone who can help national partners to look at the pros and cons of different courses of action, so they can decide how best to make the sector more efficient, more useful, more productive.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\n\n      \u003C\/div\u003E\n    \u003C\/div\u003E\n    \u003Caside class=\u0022col-md-3 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\n                   \u003Cdiv class=\u0022paragraph paragraph--type--contacts paragraph--view-mode--default\u0022\u003E\n            \u003Cdiv class=\u0022paragraph paragraph--type--author\u0022\u003E\n      \n  \u003Cfigure\u003E\n      \u003Cimg loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/picture\/public\/2025-05\/Isabelle%20Baltenweck.jpeg.webp?itok=agnlEFwU\u0022 width=\u0022200\u0022 height=\u0022200\u0022 alt=\u0022Isabelle Baltenweck photo\u0022 class=\u0022image-style-picture\u0022 \/\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\u003C\/figure\u003E\n\n\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022wrapper\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Ch4\u003E\n  Isabelle Baltenweck\n\n      \u003Csmall\u003E  Program Leader, People, Policies and Institutions\n\u003C\/small\u003E\n      \u003C\/h4\u003E\n    \u003C\/div\u003E\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\n  \u003Cdiv class=\u0022paragraph paragraph--type--author\u0022\u003E\n      \n  \u003Cfigure\u003E\n      \u003Cimg loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/picture\/public\/2025-05\/Sirak%20Bahta.jpg.webp?itok=wYzTKzBn\u0022 width=\u0022200\u0022 height=\u0022200\u0022 alt=\u0022Senior Agricultural Economist\u0022 class=\u0022image-style-picture\u0022 \/\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\u003C\/figure\u003E\n\n\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022wrapper\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Ch4\u003E\n  Sirak Bahta\n\n      \u003Csmall\u003E  Senior Agricultural Economist\n\u003C\/small\u003E\n      \u003C\/h4\u003E\n    \u003C\/div\u003E\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\n  \u003Cdiv class=\u0022paragraph paragraph--type--author\u0022\u003E\n      \n  \u003Cfigure\u003E\n      \u003Cimg loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/picture\/public\/2025-05\/Dr%20Gebre%20headshot.jpg.webp?itok=AFT1AZUe\u0022 width=\u0022200\u0022 height=\u0022200\u0022 alt=\u0022Dr Gebre\u0022 class=\u0022image-style-picture\u0022 \/\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\u003C\/figure\u003E\n\n\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022wrapper\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Ch4\u003E\n  Gebregziabher Gebreyohannes\n\n      \u003Csmall\u003E  Senior Scientist, Quantitative Genetics and Animal Breeding\n\u003C\/small\u003E\n      \u003C\/h4\u003E\n    \u003C\/div\u003E\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\n\n      \u003C\/div\u003E\n\n          \u003C\/aside\u003E\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/section\u003E\n\n\u003Csection class=\u0022container single-column-sidebar paragraph\u0022\u003E\n  \u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-md-7 offset-md-1 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\n            \u003Cdiv class=\u0022text-container\u0022\u003E\n        \n  \u003Ch3\u003ELET\u2019S DREAM\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe process always starts with a formal request from the country to ILRI. From that moment, a Livestock Master Plan typically takes around a year or 18 months to develop, and costs about a million dollars. ILRI will often work with the country to raise funds from donors to cover the cost.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIdeally, people from the private sector as well as government ministries will be involved in developing the plan, says Baltenweck, since they each have unique perspectives. \u2018The private sector is very important. If they\u2019re not aware, if we don\u0027t understand their constraints, then the plan will just remain a plan.\u2019 Once everyone\u2019s in the room, the first step is a visioning exercise.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe visioning is a time for us to say, let\u0027s just dream! It is big picture thinking\u2014in the long term, where does the livestock sector need to go? What do you want to do for your country and livestock over the next 15 years? In a work environment, it\u0027s not often that we\u2019re allowed to dream. It\u2019s very inspiring.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EA Livestock Master Plan is an evidence-based quantitative analysis of the livestock sector, says ILRI agricultural economist \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ilri.org\/people\/sirak-bahta\u0022\u003ESirak Bahta\u003C\/a\u003E, which includes a baseline livestock sector analysis, a 15-year livestock sector strategy, and a five-year sector investment plan with specific, actionable steps.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETo develop the baseline, the ILRI team use a modelling tool developed by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cirad.fr\/en\u0022\u003ECIRAD\u003C\/a\u003E, the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development. \u2018Over the years, we\u2019ve adjusted the tool to make it more flexible,\u2019 says Baltenweck.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\n      \u003C\/div\u003E\n    \u003C\/div\u003E\n    \u003Caside class=\u0022col-md-3 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\n                 \u003Cdiv class=\u0022paragraph paragraph--type--image\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cfigure\u003E\n      \u003Cimg loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/2025-05\/CEO%20Elizabath%20Swai%20of%20AKM%20Glitters%20in%20Tanzania%20-%20LMPs%20help%20guide%20investments%20in%20livestock%20enterprises%20to%20stimulate%20inclusive%20and%20sustainable%20growth%20-%20Photo%20ILRI%20Stafano%20Bianco.jpg.webp?itok=g8S6dFib\u0022 width=\u00221200\u0022 height=\u0022675\u0022 alt=\u0022CEO Elizabeth Swai of AKM Glitters\u0022 class=\u0022image-style-large\u0022 \/\u003E\n\n\n\n\n    \u003Cfigcaption\u003E\n        AKM Glitters CEO Elizabeth Swai in one of her brooder facilities. Livestock Master Plans have a gender component to ensure women livestock keepers and businesses are supported.\n\n          \u003Cspan\u003ECredits:   ILRI\/Stefano Bianco\n\u003C\/span\u003E\n      \u003C\/figcaption\u003E\n\u003C\/figure\u003E\n\n\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n          \u003C\/aside\u003E\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/section\u003E\n\n\u003Csection class=\u0022container single-column-sidebar paragraph\u0022\u003E\n  \u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-md-7 offset-md-1 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\n            \u003Cdiv class=\u0022text-container\u0022\u003E\n        \n  \u003Cp\u003EAs a first step, country officials are trained to use the tool. When the best available data is plugged into it, the tool can help to reveal trends, trade-offs, and unintended consequences\u2014which are then openly discussed among the participants. Often people surprise each other with their different perspectives, Baltenweck says. \u2018It makes people have much more interesting and deep conversations than they usually have time for.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EILRI facilitators also encourage those present to consider the implications of certain directions on women and men, and on the environment, Bahta says. \u2018We\u2019re now working on a climate tool, and it\u2019s almost ready. We will be able to show policy makers the impact on the climate from whichever intervention they\u2019re considering.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\n      \u003C\/div\u003E\n    \u003C\/div\u003E\n    \u003Caside class=\u0022col-md-3 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\n                 \u003Cdiv class=\u0022paragraph paragraph--type--testimonial\u0022\u003E\n  \u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Ci class=\u0022fa-solid fa-quote-left\u0022\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\n  \u003Cp\u003EThe master plans provide detailed evidence to help governments and donors make informed decisions about investments and strategies. They are really in demand, for the way they\u2019re informing development partners and government\u2014that\u2019s something I\u2019m really proud of.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Ci class=\u0022fa-solid fa-quote-right\u0022\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n  \u003Cdiv class=\u0022paragraph--type--author\u0022\u003E\n    \n  \u003Cfigure\u003E\n      \u003Cimg loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/picture\/public\/2025-05\/Sirak%20Bahta.jpg.webp?itok=wYzTKzBn\u0022 width=\u0022200\u0022 height=\u0022200\u0022 alt=\u0022Senior Agricultural Economist\u0022 class=\u0022image-style-picture\u0022 \/\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\u003C\/figure\u003E\n\n\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022wrapper\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Ch4\u003E\n  Sirak Bahta\n\n        \u003Csmall\u003E  Senior Agricultural Economist\n\u003C\/small\u003E\n      \u003C\/h4\u003E\n    \u003C\/div\u003E\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n          \u003C\/aside\u003E\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/section\u003E\n\n\u003Csection class=\u0022container single-column-sidebar paragraph\u0022\u003E\n  \u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-md-7 offset-md-1 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\n            \u003Cdiv class=\u0022text-container\u0022\u003E\n        \n  \u003Ch3\u003EINVESTING IN ETHIOPIA\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe first Livestock Master Plan was drawn up by Ethiopia, beginning in 2013. Gebregziabher Gebreyohanes had just joined the Ethiopian Agriculture Ministry, as the State Minister responsible for the livestock sector. The Gates Foundation came on board to fund the process, and Gebreyohanes spent the next few years working with ILRI and his team on a livestock sector analysis\u2014a baseline report on the current state of agricultural development in Ethiopia.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThen, they \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/hdl.handle.net\/10568\/67259\u0022\u003Edrew up a five-year Livestock Master Plan\u003C\/a\u003E with a clear roadmap for investments from 2015-2020.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018We wanted the Livestock Master Plan as a document to guide our policies and investments and to help us convince decision makers and the private sector,\u2019 Gebreyohanes says. The plan identified and costed priority interventions in better genetics, feed and health services, that collectively aimed to improve productivity and production in the poultry, red-meat and dairy value chains, and ultimately reduce poverty, contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation, and increase economic growth.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHaving such a clear path forward gave the ministry confidence and helped to attract investment\u2014from the Ethiopian Government, the World Bank, Africa Development Bank, and private international companies, says Gebreyohanes. \u0026nbsp;The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation also supported two flagship projects\u2014the Africa Dairy Genetic Gains project \u0026nbsp;and the Tropical Poultry Genetic Solutions project.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll this was meant to support the implementation of the master plan. The traditional way of planning the livestock sector, with one-off strategies\u2014I don\u2019t think that will attract the same kind of investment.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFor instance, the LMP gave a strong signal for private investors that the country needed many more multiplication centres for chickens. \u2018The government was looking for millions of day-old chicks, and that capacity was not yet in the country.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGebreyohanes met with the US company \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ethiochicken.com\/about\u0022\u003EEthiochicken\u003C\/a\u003E and regional leaders from different parts of Ethiopia, and showed them the plan. The company increased production 300-fold at its existing multiplication centre in Tigray, in the country\u2019s north, and went on to establish four more around Ethiopia. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/acumen.org\/case-studies\/https-acumen-org-case-studies-ethiochicken\/\u0022\u003ETogether, they now produce 35 million day-old-chicks every year\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEthiopia\u2019s plan also prioritised improved genetics for the national dairy herd, and increased availability of livestock vaccines\u2014and so the Ethiopian Government invested in four new Artificial Insemination centres, upgraded the National Artificial Insemination Centre to a Livestock Development Institute which trains AI technicians, and boosted the capacity of the National Veterinary Institute to produce more vaccines.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\n      \u003C\/div\u003E\n    \u003C\/div\u003E\n    \u003Caside class=\u0022col-md-3 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\n          \u003C\/aside\u003E\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/section\u003E\n\n\u003Csection class=\u0022container single-column-sidebar paragraph\u0022\u003E\n  \u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022col-md-7 offset-md-1 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\n            \u003Cdiv class=\u0022text-container\u0022\u003E\n        \n  \u003Ch3\u003EWE NEED A PLAN\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EILRI has now drawn up Livestock Master Plans with Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda, the Gambia, Uzbekistan, Nigeria and the Indian states of Bihar and Odisha. Another is currently underway \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.ilri.org\/news\/madagascar-officially-launches-their-master-plan-livestock-sector#:~:text=The%20government%20of%20the%20Republic,Madagascar%20(PDSEM)%20in%20Antananarivo.\u0022\u003Ein Madagascar\u003C\/a\u003E, where the plan will prioritise addressing malnutrition in the country\u2019s children, Baltenweck says\u2014each plan is specifically tailored to the nation\u2019s needs, context and priorities.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFollowing the development of an LMP in India\u2019s state of Odisha in 2022, the state government boosted the budget of the Fisheries \u0026amp; Animal Resources Development Department from INR 4000 million to 7000 in 2024.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EImprovements to the milk value chain\u2014both cows and buffalos\u2014and to \u0026nbsp;the goat value chain were identified as priorities during the LMP process. The government is now bringing in a variety of schemes and subsidies to support farmers and small entrepreneurs, and enhance milk and meat production in a region hampered by low livestock reproductive rates, high mortality, and high disease prevalence, says ILRI agricultural economist Braja Swain, who is based in Odisha.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018Many of the countries with an LMP are investing more in livestock, and there\u2019s more private sector investment as well,\u2019 says Baltenweck. \u2018But we can\u2019t yet put a number on it.\u2019 ILRI is working on quantifying the impacts of LMPs, she says.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s not always smooth sailing, though. In one Indian state, ILRI scientists had worked for months with officials and the World Bank to get an LMP started. \u2018We had done everything. It was all approved. There was just a signature missing, and then there was a change of government\u2014and the whole project was cancelled.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGebreyohanes left the Ethiopian public service and took up a job at ILRI in 2020. The ministry there did not draw up a second five-year road-map to guide livestock activities from 2020-2024\u2014a missed opportunity, he says.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018It has to be revised\u2014there will be success stories. There could be also lessons that we can learn. We might have better data now that could help us to customise and update the plan. Without checking where you are and where you want to go, then simply having a strategy will not take you far,\u2019 he says.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018I have a good understanding of the livestock sector in Ethiopia\u2014I\u2019ve worked as an extension agent, as development staff, as a policy-maker, and now a researcher at an international research institute. All that experience has convinced me that we really do need to have a livestock master plan\u2014it has already played an important role in public and private investment in Ethiopia and the progress we\u2019ve seen in red meat, poultry and dairy.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EEverywhere, the plans have made a difference, says Baltenweck.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018If we are able to adjust the evolution of the livestock sector in the right direction, and right not by my standards, but by what the country wants, and you see that interventions and investments are based on what the country collectively, based on evidence, feels that they should be doing\u2014it\u0027s rewarding,\u2019 she says. \u2018You can see that you have a direct impact on that sector, and on people\u2019s livelihoods. It\u2019s worthwhile.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E--\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EStory written by Kate Evans, science writer\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\n      \u003C\/div\u003E\n    \u003C\/div\u003E\n    \u003Caside class=\u0022col-md-3 col-sm-12\u0022\u003E\n                 \u003Cdiv class=\u0022paragraph paragraph--type--testimonial\u0022\u003E\n  \u003Cblockquote\u003E\u003Ci class=\u0022fa-solid fa-quote-left\u0022\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\n  \u003Cp\u003EIn Madagascar, we started talking about the export market, and officials said no\u2014first we have to feed our kids.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Ci class=\u0022fa-solid fa-quote-right\u0022\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n  \u003Cdiv class=\u0022paragraph--type--author\u0022\u003E\n    \n  \u003Cfigure\u003E\n      \u003Cimg loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/picture\/public\/2025-05\/Isabelle%20Baltenweck.jpeg.webp?itok=agnlEFwU\u0022 width=\u0022200\u0022 height=\u0022200\u0022 alt=\u0022Isabelle Baltenweck photo\u0022 class=\u0022image-style-picture\u0022 \/\u003E\n\n\n\n\n\u003C\/figure\u003E\n\n\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022wrapper\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Ch4\u003E\n  Isabelle Baltenweck\n\n        \u003Csmall\u003E\u003C\/small\u003E\n      \u003C\/h4\u003E\n    \u003C\/div\u003E\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022paragraph paragraph--type--image\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cfigure\u003E\n      \u003Cimg loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large\/public\/2025-05\/Stakeholders%20who%20participated%20in%20developing%20the%20Livestock%20Master%20Plan%20in%20Tanzania%20are%20recognized%20Photo%20Eveline%20Massam%20IITA.jpg.webp?itok=fVTKWwT4\u0022 width=\u00221200\u0022 height=\u0022675\u0022 alt=\u0022Tanzania Master Plan launch\u0022 class=\u0022image-style-large\u0022 \/\u003E\n\n\n\n\n    \u003Cfigcaption\u003E\n        Contributors to the Tanzania Livestock Master Plan are recognized during the official launch event.\n\n          \u003Cspan\u003ECredits:   IITA\/Eveline Massam\n\u003C\/span\u003E\n      \u003C\/figcaption\u003E\n\u003C\/figure\u003E\n\n\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n          \u003C\/aside\u003E\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/section\u003E\n\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/article\u003E\n","settings":null}]