Group photo of the training workshop participants

Onn 19-20 March 2012 a group of policymakers and program managers from the Ministry of Livestock Development (MOLD) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Kenya Livestock program, converged at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) for a gender and livestock training workshop. The workshop was officially opened by the director of livestock production at the Ministry of livestock in Kenya and ILRI’s director general Jimmy Smith. The objectives of the workshop were to:

• build a better understanding of the importance of addressing gender issues in livestock policies, programmes, projects and activities;
• strengthen the capacity of Livestock experts working on the ground to address gender related livestock issues in their policies, strategies, work plans and activities; and
• identify gaps within participating institutions and establish action plans to address the gaps.

In his opening speech that was read on his behalf, the permanent secretary of the ministry of livestock development Kenneth Lusaka said,”It is worth noting that the ministry of livestock development has embraced gender mainstreaming because livestock are a key source of livelihoods and have defined roles for women, men, girls and boys. However, the success of gender mainstreaming is hinged on addressing gender issues at organization, programs and community levels.”

The permanent secretary welcomed the collaborative efforts of ILRI, FAO, the ministry and other stakeholders towards the training. He mentioned that as ILRI carries out research in livestock issues they should continue to focus on ‘Gender based research areas priority settings’ and development

The training was concluded with an evaluation followed by closing remarks from Okore Cleopas, a participant from the ministry of livestock who said that the training had helped them to better understand the importance of addressing gender in livestock through research whereby statistical evidence is generated and used for interventions. He indicated that it will be impossible to fight poverty without addressing the diverse roles of women and men. In line with the training objectives, he was confident that the team was well equipped to spearhead gender mainstreaming in their organizations and to bring fellow officers to their same level.

The training was conducted by  Jemimah Njuki and  Elizabeth  Waithanji from the Poverty Gender and Impacts (PGI) team of the ILRI Markets, Gender and Livelihoods Theme and co-facilitated by Edna Mutua (PGI – ILRI); Petra Saghir (AWARD fellow, PGI-ILRI) Joyce Wanderi (PGI – ILRI);  Queen Katembu (FAO) and Rebecca Biegon (MOLD)

A related training was held last December in Addis Ethiopia, read more about is here

Click here to view the workshop presentations

Picture review of the workshop

 
Joseph Matere of the Food and Agriculture Organisation second from left at the workshop

Participants engage in round table discussion

Elizabeth Waithanji, ILRI scientist with the Poverty Gender and Impact team displays her training certificate after the workshop

Queen Katembu of the Food and Agriculture Organisation displays her training certificate after the workshop