INTEGRATED REGIONAL LIVESTOCK VALUE CHAIN PROGRAMME

Turning Africa's livestock & fisheries potential into regional growth, trade and jobs

The Integrated Regional Livestock Value Chain (IRLVC) Programme is AU-IBAR's continental flagship for investment in livestock value chains. It brings together Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Member States, development partners and the private sector to deliver funded, regionally coordinated programmes in dairy, red meat, poultry and fisheries.

2026

Why livestock & fisheries, why now

Livestock underpins nutrition, incomes and resilience for millions of rural and pastoral households. Demand for meat, milk and eggs, and fish is rising fast, yet productivity is low and intra-African trade remains limited. Without coordinated investment, growing demand will be met increasingly through imports.

2026

What holds value chains back

2026

How the programme works

IRLVC combines REC-led value-chain flagships with four continental enablers hosted by AU-IBAR. Regions lead delivery on the ground; AU-IBAR provides the shared services that make cross-border trade and investment work.

 

2026

IRLVC programme architecture – value chains (vertical) supported by continental enablers (horizontal).
What IRLVC delivers

  • Funded regional programmes – REC-led flagships with clear charters, participating countries and corridors, backed by multi-year partner commitment.

  • An investable pipeline – anchor-led and SME projects structured to blend public and private finance and crowd in investment at scale.

  • Deeper intra-African trade – harmonised SPS measures and policies that let animals and products move across borders under AfCFTA.

  • Evidence-based decisions – a Data for Decisions Hub to guide investment, track results and manage the programme.

  • Skills and talent – capacity for producers, processors and institutions to compete in modern livestock markets.

  • Jobs, nutrition and resilience – more productive value chains that create jobs, improve food security and strengthen household resilience.

Built on solid foundations

IRLVC moves the continent from strategy to delivery, building on AU policy and analytical work.

2026

Timeline.

  • LiDeSA (2015–2035) – the Livestock Development Strategy for Africa sets the continental vision for stronger value chains.

  • Live2Africa (2017–2022) – AU-IBAR and EU programme that prioritised regional value chains with the RECs.

  • Evidence and alignment (2024–2025) – REC value-chain fact packs and design of the IRLVC operating model.

  • IRLVC Programme (now) – a delivery- and investment-oriented flagship for Africa's livestock economy.

Working together

  • AU-IBAR – leads the programme and hosts the continental enablers.

  • Regional Economic Communities – co-lead and deliver the regional value-chain flagships.

  • Member States – commit policy, people and resources through ministries and investment promotion agencies.

  • AU bodies – the AfCFTA Secretariat and AUDA-NEPAD align trade, corridors and infrastructure.

  • Development partners and DFIs – champion value chains or enablers with long-term financing.

  • Private sector and financiers – anchor companies, SMEs and banks investing along the value chains.

Partner with us to build Africa's livestock economy

We welcome partners ready to invest in regional livestock value chains that deliver growth, trade and resilience across the continent.