A Path to Prosperity New Directions for African Livestock

As of August 2010, 22 countries had signed CAADP
Compacts. The compacts, signed by all key partners,
agree how the country will do the following:
> align state policies with regional priorities
and CAADPs four Pillars;
> exploit synergies, discuss economic bottlenecks
between neighbouring countries and decide
appropriate action on those matters;
> identify gaps in donor funding needed to achieve
agreed priorities;
> initiate work to monitor and evaluate CAADP's
progress at the national, regional and
continental levels;
> make long-term commitments to finance
agricultural investment programmes that are
aligned with CAADP principles and targets.
The country roundtable process is flexible and is
being constantly adapted. Success will be measured
by the extent to which policies and investment
programmes change, but there is, to date, little
evidence of impact. A recent review of the CAADP
roundtable process suggests the need for
significant improvements in the procedures in order
to ensure national governments really own the
Compact commitments. There appears to be a
concern that the roundtable process can become
mere window dressing for increased donor support 135 .
The review suggests more detailed follow up of each
compact is required in terms of expenditure reviews,
institutional capacity building and strengthening
capacity for evidence-based policy making.
The RECs have an important role in terms of
guiding countries on how best to implement CAADP,
providing funds to support the roll-out of CAADP in
regions and countries and monitoring progress
towards CAADP targets in their region. The RECs
are also designing and implementing CAADP
Compacts at regional level, sometimes with the
support of a specialist networking organisation.
For example, the Food, Agriculture and Natural
Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN)
supports a range of organisations and governments,
including COMESA, to build linkages and
partnerships between government and civil society,
improve policy analysis and policy dialogue and
support demand-driven policy research.
Inter-African Bureau of Animal
Resources [AU/IBAR]
The AU’s IBAR is the key technical advisory and
coordinating body for the livestock sector in Africa.
IBAR pre-dates the OAU; formed in 1951, it has
played a significant role in the eradication of
rinderpest through the Pan-Africa Rinderpest
Campaign. IBAR’s 2010–2014 strategic plan commits
it to aligning its programming with the principles and
strategic focus of CAADP. It also affirms that IBAR is
planning to cover all aspects of animal resources
(i.e. the livestock, fisheries and wildlife, including the
management of the natural resource base on which
they depend). This marks an important shift from
AU-IBAR’s previous bias toward animal health
initiatives. IBAR has strong partnership agreements.
It is actively involved in agenda setting with global
organisations such as WTO, OIE, WHO and FAO.
It supports the RECs who, under AU strategy, are
its principal partners, whilst retaining close links
with AU member states, particularly veterinary
departments. IBAR also manages the “ALive
Partnership,” a networking and policy initiative that
brings most stakeholders, including civil society
and donors, together to discuss a range of issues
affecting the sector 12 .
Over the next four years IBAR is focusing on the
following strategic areas:
1 Reducing the impact of trans-boundary animal
diseases (TADs) and zoonoses on human
livelihoods and public health in Africa.
2 Enhancing Africa’s capacity to characterize,
conserve and sustainably use its animal
resources and their resource base.
3 Improving investment opportunities in, and
competitiveness of, animal resources in Africa.
4 Promoting development of standards and
regulations and facilitation of compliance.
5 Improving knowledge management in animal
resources for informed and timely decision making.
6 Facilitating development of policies and institutional
capacities for improved utilization of animal
resources in Africa.
IBAR has €50 million to spend on existing projects to
support the above areas and new programme funding
in the pipeline. In 2011 AU/IBAR will guide the
implementation of a programme for “reinforcing
veterinary governance in Africa,” funded by the EC.
12 ALive has produced a number of policy documents. A survey conducted by ALive in 2007, showed few countries included livestock as a specific
issue in their Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers. Out of 34 Sub-Saharan countries, only four had a specific PRSP on livestock while ten had no
mention at all of the sector and the remaining countries only dedicated a few paragraphs to the sector in their PRSP.
The Impetus Strategy Paper I Page 54