Presentation from the Livestock Inter-Agency Donor Group (IADG) Meeting 2010. 4-5 May 2010 Italy, Rome IFAD Headquarters. The event involved approximately 45 representatives from the international partner agencies to discuss critical needs for livestock development and research issues for the coming decade. [ Originally posted on http://www.cop-ppld.net/cop_knowledge_base ]

1. Cop-PPLD and NGOs:
Get together to focus on livestock
development issues
Dr Philippe Ankers
FAO, AGA, Rome
Sustainable Animal Production Systems Branch
May 2010

2. Who are the International NGOs ?
• An estimated 40 000 INGOs are operating worldwide
• Divided in two main categories: operational and advocacy NGOs
• Play a vital role in the shaping and implementation of participatory democracy
• Possess well established and diverse experience, expertise and capacity in fields of
particular importance to the implementation and review of environmentally sound and
socially responsible sustainable development
• Are a global network that should be tapped, enabled and strengthened.
From Chapter 27 of Agenda 21

3. • Strengths generally associated with the NGO sector:
– strong grassroots links
– field-based development expertise
– the ability to innovate and adapt
– process-oriented approach to development
– participatory methodologies and tools
– long-term commitment and emphasis on sustainability
– cost-effectiveness
• Most commonly identified weaknesses of the NGO sector:
– limited financial and management expertise
– limited institutional capacity
– low levels of self-sustainability
– isolation/lack of inter-organizational communication and/or coordination
– small scale interventions
– lack of understanding of the broader social or economic context

4. Livestock and the MDGs
1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
– 700 million poor rely on livestock for their livelihood
– Livestock generates employment and thus income
– Livestock products contribute high quality nutrients to the diet of millions in
developing countries
– Often only option for subsistence / income in arid, semi arid areas
– Competition for grain
– GHG Emission and risk of land degradation which affect livelihoods
2. Achieve universal primary education
– Critical cash to pay school fees
– Children herd livestock or collect water which prevents them from regularly
attending school

5. 3. Promote gender equality and empower women
– Sole source of income and/or inheritance for women
– Extra work burden with often partial access to the income
4./5./6. Reduce child mortality, Improve maternal health, Combat HIV/AIDS,
malaria, and other diseases
– Critical cash to pay for medical costs
– Provides important micronutrients (minerals, vitamins)
– Supplement breast feeding
– Veterinary services can be a gateway for public health services
– Livestock can be a threat to public health
– Taking care of livestock can affect the physical condition of (pregnant) women

6. 7. Ensure environmental sustainability
– Provision of fertilizer
– Animal traction for 1/3 of arable land
– Income to buy inputs for crop
– Risk of soil erosion / desertification when overstocking
– Risk of water pollution
8. Develop a global partnership for development
– Research partnerships
– Global action on mitigation of environmental impact
– Global action on emerging zoonotic diseases (One health approach). Opens
avenues to overcome current health and hygiene related trade distortions
– Harmonizing application of standards is challenging

7. Other challenges
• Opportunity cost of livestock related interventions
• Subsidised interventions vs long term development
activities.
• Community Based Animal Health Services:
– Issue of access vs. quality

8. Informal consultation FAO-NGOs, Dec 2009
• Attendance
– 13 International NGOs
– 7 Divisions and Services of FAO
• Purpose
– Get to know each other
– Identify synergies
– Explore possible collaborative
activities

9. Informal consultation FAO-NGOs, Dec 2009
Recommendations
– Increase the role of FAO as a “brokering agency”
• Facilitate dialogue between Civil Society and Governments
• Coordination role at national or regional level
• Organisation of technical meetings
– Increase collaboration in preparation and
implementation of emergency interventions
• LEGS
• Share experience (positive or negative)

10. Informal consultation FAO-NGOs, Dec 2009
Recommendations
– Collaborate on the development of legal documents
– Increased sharing of information
• Examples: DAD-Net, Farm Animal Welfare Network, Animal
Feeding Network, Veterinary Public Health Network
• Development of information exchange platforms

11. Cop-PPLD
• The Cop-PPLD portal was identified as a very
appropriate tool to exchange information
– Two ways communication
– Free
– Accessible anywhere in the world
– Neutral

12. FAO Survey on Standards, Codes and Guidelines in the Livestock Sector
• Standards relating to food safety fall under the WTO SPS.
Most information available is on standards for fruits and
vegetables
• Questionnaire developed to gather information on
standards, codes of conducts or guidelines for food
safety, food quality, animal welfare, environment, worker
safety and social aspects of livestock production.
• Takes about 15 minutes to fill
• Link is http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HDDRV27

13. Thank you for your attention