Project Summary
Duration of the project: 2013 – 2016
The LVC-PPD Project was implemented to contribute to increased incomes of livestock-dependent households in Ethiopia to alleviate poverty in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). More specifically, the LVC-PPD project added value to livestock commodity production chains by integrating strengthened animal health, advisory and regulatory services, supported by effective dialogue between and mutually agreed actions by stakeholders in the public and private sectors.
Background
In Ethiopia, livestock plays a major role in the livelihoods of the rural poor: it provides productive capital, food, draught power, and cash income. The livestock sector accounts for more than 40% of the Agricultural Gross Domestic Product. Thus, it is not only crucial for the country’s food security, but it is also an important contributor to overall national economic growth and poverty reduction. However, the livestock sector currently faces severe constraints: live animal exports are periodically restricted by the application of international sanitary standards and import bans imposed by Gulf countries. In addition, the performance of the livestock sub-sector is constrained by poor animal nutrition and diseases, among other factors
Objectives of the project
Overall objective
To contribute to increased incomes of livestock-dependent households in Ethiopia to alleviate poverty in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
Specific objective
To add value to livestock commodity production chains by integrating strengthened animal health, advisory and regulatory services, supported by effective dialogue between and mutually agreed actions by stakeholders in the public and private sectors.
Partners
- Animal and Plant Health Regulatory Directorate of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
- Ethiopian Veterinary Association consortium
- NGOs
Target Groups
Stakeholders: A wide range of stakeholders targeted. These include, livestock breeders and keepers (producers in the lowland areas of the country); livestock traders and transporters; local authority official and workers at livestock markets; abattoir owners, employees and business associations; exporters of animal produce; veterinary and para-veterinary staff at federal, regional and local levels; other service providers; and consumers in general. A number of national and regional institutions, which include: National Veterinary Institute; Quality Standards Authority of Ethiopia; the Quality Assurance Laboratory and government livestock department.
Final Beneficiaries
- The main target groups that directly benefit from the project are the service providers (government and non-government [i.e., private sector]); the main stakeholders in the value chain in project intervention areas; and, stakeholder, business and professional associations.
- The final beneficiaries are livestock owners and keepers, those employed in the livestock commodity value chain and their families who benefit from increased incomes, as well as the consumers of livestock products who have improved access to safer, wholesome food of animal origin.
Expected Results
Result 1. Capacities of public and private stakeholders are developed to plan, manage and evaluate services and inputs needed by livestock commodity chains.
Result 2. Animal health, advisory and regulatory services for livestock commodity value chains are developed and strengthened.
Result 3.A knowledge base that meets the needs of public-private dialogue in the context of livestock commodity production and marketing chains is developed and established.
Main Activities
- Establish and maintain effective project management with joint planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation.
- Promote public private dialogue through focus groups, field visits, needs assessment, baseline studies and other forums. Support the development of business associations.
- Develop and implement a capacity building programme including training on hygiene and processing.
- Support development of commodity standards and certification procedures.
- Support the establishment of accredited public and private laboratories.
- Support development and adoption of appropriate traceability systems.
- Support the rationalization of veterinary services.
- Support the launch of sanitary mandate contracts.
- Establish an operational, unified national disease reporting system with effective communications and strengthen animal disease surveillance and information management.
- Support the delivery and monitoring of animal health services, regulatory services, clinical and extension advice.
- Provide inspection and certification services.
- Strategically strengthen vaccine distribution network and develop public and private laboratories
- Support development of analytical laboratory facilities for residues of veterinary medicines in products of animal origin.
- Implement a communications policy and design and establish a knowledge management system including a website and a needs-driven market information system.
- Commission participatory studies of production systems and develop evidence-based guidelines to channel investment to the animal health sector.
- Support and monitor networks of Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) and other service providers
- Compile inventories of indigenous knowledge of practices within the livestock commodity chain.
- Develop and implement pilot models of service delivery to value chains.