Ethiopia
Agricultural Growth Program – Livestock Market Development
Overview:
The Agricultural Growth Program-Livestock Market Development (AGP-LMD) (2012-2018) was a livestock market development project funded by USAID. As part of the U.S. Government’s Feed the Future (FTF) Initiative. AGP-LMD fostered growth, created jobs for rural households, and reduced hunger and malnutrition through increased competitiveness of selected livestock value chains in meat and dairy.
The project was part of USAID’s broader contribution to the Government of Ethiopia’s Agricultural Growth Program, aimed at increasing agricultural productivity and market access for crop and livestock products in targeted areas while bolstering the participation of women and youth. Additionally, CNFA supported local partner organizations in leading interventions through existing cooperatives, associations, government agencies, and private firms, spurring sustainable economic growth in Ethiopia.
Program Approach:
- Increased Productivity and Competitiveness of Selected Livestock Value Chains: AGP-LMD provided training to livestock producers, enabling them to increase their livestock production, expand private farm supply businesses to better provide commercial farm inputs and services, and increase their competitiveness in domestic and international markets.
- Improved Enabling Environment for Livestock Value Chains: The AGP-LMD team facilitated policy discussions to reform bottlenecks and involved stakeholders through workshops and platforms. The program leveraged capacity-building for public and private sector actors, coordinated linkages with other USAID programs, and applied research to yield successful interventions. Over the life of the project, AGP-LMD developed and supported 11 livestock-related policies, regulations, and administrative procedures.
- Improved Quality and Diversity of Household Diets: AGP-LMD integrated communications and community mobilization efforts related to nutritional practices in program activities, targeting improvements in quality and diversity of diet for children under two and people living with HIV/AIDS. Through development agents and health extension workers, AGP-LMD reached more than 160,000 people with nutrition messaging.
Direct collaboration between the project and the Government of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries resulted in the launch of the Ethiopian Livestock Identification and Traceability System (ETLITS) in 2017. Implemented by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries and financially supported by USAID, ETLITS enables organizations and businesses to track the lifespan of livestock and their production, processing, distribution, and transport into the broader retail market, as well as to help ensure animal health and food safety.
- Women’s Empowerment: AGP-LMD trained more than 400 women entrepreneurs in business and leadership, equipping them with skills like time management, strategic planning, business relationship management, and ICT to help them participate more formally in the marketplace, increase their savings, improve the quality of their products, and strengthen their decision-making power within the household.
Partners:
- Netherlands Development Organization
- International Medical Corps
- Self-Help Africa- Ethiopia
- Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara
- Relief Society of Tigray
- Institute for International Education
- The Oromo Grassroots Development Initiative
