Background

RPLRP project funded by the World Bank is being implemented in Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda has the objective of enhancing livelihood resilience of pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in cross-border drought prone areas so as to improve their capacity to respond promptly and effectively to any eligible crisis or emergency (drought, floods etc). The project seeks to address a set of regional public goods that would address challenges and build on opportunities created by the changing pastoral environment. It further coordinates investments in shared natural resources and in sub-regional infrastructure networks, exchange knowledge and information, coordinate monitoring and responses to shocks, manage cross-border conflicts over limited resources, and ultimately harmonize policies under IGAD coordination to promote cross-border and intra-regional livestock trade.

The two days workshop reviewed two consultancy reports; 1) cross-border livestock trade policy which mapped cross-border livestock market infrastructure; and assessed existing livestock market information systems of Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia; and, 2) An assessment report on demand and supply of financial service/products in pastoral areas. Other discussion points included Minimum Integration Programme (MIP) in the IGAD region, an overview of cross-border livestock markets and livestock market information system in the IGAD region. The workshop sought to broaden the existing cross-border livestock markets and prevailing gaps in the marketing system and infrastructure facilities in the three countries to inform decision making and further investment that can enhance cross-border trade targeting possible major livestock trade catchments across the borders of the three countries.

Recommendations

1. IGAD to facilitate the harmonization of the cross-border regulatory frameworks and policies to enhance production, trade and information sharing.
2. MS and IGAD to facilitate integration of pastoralism with intensive livestock production methods such as feedlots, ranches, fodder production, as well as devising strategies that will attract private sector investment.
3. MS/Regional or sub-county governments should support infrastructure development or rehabilitation (markets, road, water, etc.) to regularize informal and improve efficiency respectively of cross-border trade.
4. MS with support of IGAD should explore modalities of harmonizing and cascading the weather-based livestock insurance system initiated in Kenya and Ethiopia to other MS in order to cushion pastoralists against consequences of frequent drought in the region.
5. IGAD and MS should promote cross-border information sharing on resource management and trade.
6. IGAD and MS should actualize and promote trans-boundary animal disease management (surveillance, diagnostics, vaccination, treatment) and animal genetic resource conservation/utilization.
7. MS should provide designs and standards of livestock transport trucks & other infrastructure. IGAD to support harmonization across MS.