This year’s International Women’s Day theme is ”Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.” It is aimed at celebrating the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. At ILRI, we sought to mark the day by reflecting on the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on women and the leadership strategies they are implementing to manage the situation. Continue reading
Category Archives: East Africa
Social and behaviour change improves milk consumption for Rwanda’s children
Using revised counselling cards with culturally appropriate messages and images targeting the pregnant and lactating women with children under five years of age, fathers and caregivers, has led to positive behaviour changes at home. Continue reading
Addressing Uganda’s pig value chain constraints, the PigSmart way
The ILRI-led MorePORK II project focuses on developing the capacity of value chain actors in best-bet interventions through an information and communications and technology (ICT) platform known as PigSmart. Continue reading
Nurturing young scientists to inform agricultural development, food security and nutrition policies in Kenya
This initiative builds on a renewed interest in promoting agricultural production and food security through the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), which seeks to fight poverty, end hunger and spur economic growth around the agriculture sector. Being able to understand and effect the policy changes required in the agriculture sector especially through evidence-based policy research interventions, is crucial. The CAADP therefore recognizes and emphasizes the need to strengthen capabilities, as well as the policy and institutional environments required to trigger agricultural transformation. Continue reading
Unravelling value chains through participatory modelling
Recently, ILRI and partners have implemented participatory processes in the construction of SD models. Such techniques (termed “group model building” or “mediated modelling”) involve the careful organization of several focus group sessions with 10-15 value chain stakeholders. The participants articulate value chain problems, structure, and data that are then used to parametrize working models from which scenarios can be jointly developed and discussed. Continue reading
Nurturing a network of policy analysts in Kenyan agriculture
A new initiative in Kenya is seeking to empower scientists to be better translators of their research, with the aim of making agricultural policies and practices more science-based. It is implemented by ILRI in collaboration with Africa’s Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System (ReSAKSS) and the Swedish-funded program Agriculture for Food Security 2030 (AgriFoSe2030). Continue reading
Strengthening gender capacities for organizational effectiveness
This video highlights some of the results of a three-year initiative (2015-17) by ILRI and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) to strengthen the gender capacities of local partners in Ethiopia. Continue reading
Assessing Somaliland’s bone and tallow value chains role towards economic growth
Both the bone and tallow value chains are short, use low-value inputs, produce relatively low-valued products and are complementary. To better harness their potential contribution to improved economic growth, the study recommends that value addition should be adopted. This can be achieved by slaughtering, processing and exporting chilled carcasses/packaged meat and by investing in the transformation and processing of livestock by-products like hides and skins, and bones, tallow and horns. Continue reading
Business-to-business forums spur economic growth in northern Kenya
The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) has been partnering and collaborating with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) East Africa Trade and Investment Hub (EATIH) under the Partnership for Resilience and Economic Growth (PREG) to hold livestock trade facilitation (business-to-business) forums in five Kenyan counties. This initiative has been implemented in Nairobi, Marsabit, Wajir and Isiolo counties to promote more efficient trade between livestock buyers, sellers and producers. Continue reading
Achieving gender-equitable outcomes in low emissions development initiatives in the Kenyan dairy sector
Achieving global goals of lowering livestock’s greenhouse gas emissions is hinged on changing the practices (feeding, herd management and manure management) of smallholder households. Animal husbandry is characterized by gendered division of labour, resource control and decision-making power, with men mainly claiming ownership of animals while women provide labour. Farmers worldwide are known to be motivated to adopt practices that enhance productivity and profitability. Continue reading