The policy and technical capacity vacuum existent in animal resources development in Africa has been a major impediment to their full potential utilisation. AU member states (MS) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) have expressed the need for relevant policies to guide animal resource development and their capacity gaps in the design, analysis, coordination and implementation of their strategies. There is also the need for guidance on the different elements of policy work and capacity enhancing.

AU-IBAR empowers and influences the RECs and MS through guidance and training in policy development process, policy cycle and implementation. The policy and capacity development areas targeted by AU-IBAR are markets, trade including regulations and standards, investments, Transboundary Animal Diseases and natural and animal resources management.

The evidence on which to found the policy formulation process is based on information in-house and from partners, therefore building further on existing partnerships and networks among African MS and international organisations with a focus on policy harmonization reformulation. New relationships are being forged with universities as sources of experts and research information to inform policy makers, civil society organisations, training institutions and institutes of policy research. Policy work is supported by targeted strategic communication and intense advocacy.