IFAD Livestock Stocktake 2010-2024

Livestock play a key role in the livelihoods of over 800 million impoverished smallholder farmers globally. They contribute 20 to 40 per cent of agricultural GDP, representing a rapidly growing sector, and about 60 per cent of rural households keep livestock. IFAD’s investment in sustainable livestock development focuses on best practices, value chain development, inclusive governance, conducive regulatory environments and capacity building of relevant stakeholders.

This brochure presents the main results of the IFAD livestock stocktake that took place in 2024, covering the period 2010-2024. The exercise provided valuable insights into how IFAD livestock projects are enhancing food security, nutrition, and resilience among rural communities. More than 400 projects were analyzed and it was found that livestock are present in more than 60 per cent of them. Success stories were reported from a selection of 19 projects analysed in depth, regarding nutrition, social inclusion, climate change, circularity and biodiversity. Regarding climate change adaptation and mitigation, findings suggest that IFAD livestock investments often contribute to improve resilience and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially methane, compared to a situation without investments.

These findings can inform the design and implementation of future IFAD projects, maximizing impact by emphasizing the importance of integrating livestock activities into broader value chain and natural resource management projects.