Blogs

The AU-IBAR blog offers perspective and commentary on the issues shaping Africa's animal resources sector. Written by AU-IBAR technical staff, partners and stakeholders, the posts look beyond the headlines of our news and press releases — unpacking policy debates, sharing field insights from projects across Member States, and reflecting on what the evidence means for livestock, fisheries, aquaculture and the blue economy.

Salih, Huyam and O. Khalifa. Oct. 2026. Africa cannot build a stronger agrifood economy while the livestock sector loses $4 billion a year. African Arguments. https://africanarguments.org/2026/10/africa-cannot-build-a-stronger-agrifood-economy-while-the-livestock-sector-loses-4-billion-a-year/ 

Africa’s livestock sector supports more than 350 million people, yet an estimated $4 billion in potential value is lost every year. Unlocking that opportunity means investing in Animal Health, Market infrastructure and cross-border trade. Better access to services and reliable buyers can help producers grow their businesses and earn more.Read more on how Africa’s livestock should have a fair chance to benefit from its value: https://africanarguments.org/2026/10/africa-cannot-build-a-stronger-agrifood-economy-while-the-livestock-sector-loses-4-billion-a-year/ 

Djiken, Appolinaire & Huyam Salih. 2026. Africa’s livestock sector can show the way to greater self-reliance - 31 August 2026
Africa holds around a fifth of the world's livestock, and produces just five per cent of its milk. In B&FT, Prof. Appolinaire Djikeng (ILRI) and Dr Huyam Ahmed Mohammed Elamin Salih (AU-IBAR) argue that livestock is where the continent's food import bill of US$70–100 billion a year can start to fall. Not for want of solutions: Ethiopia doubled milk production in three years, and West Africa's Meliteji WASU project has reached over 600,000 families. What's missing is scale — financing, harmonised policy and value chains that work across borders, not just within them. Their message to ministers meeting in Kigali: leave with named commitments, not a shared statement of intent. 
Worth a read: https://thebftonline.com/article/africa-s-livestock-sector-can-show-the-way-to-greater-self-reliance #AFSForum2026