Djibouti, Dec 19, 2009 - Member states of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have adopted a regional policy framework on animal health in the context of trade and vulnerability, which will lead to regional economic cooperation and integration in the livestock sector.

IGAD’s ministers responsible for livestock, who met on the 10th December in Djibouti, opened up a new era of cooperation in support of the region’s livestock sector and the 40 million poor who depend on it by signing on the regional policy framework. Their signatures also put the livestock sector at the vanguard of IGAD’s progression towards a Free Trade Area.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Executive Secretary of IGAD, H.E. Mahboub Maalim, indicated that IGAD has laid the foundations for economic cooperation and integration in the livestock sector, and member states must now use this to work together and tap the Region’s unrivalled livestock potential, thereby pulling millions out of abject poverty. The ministers also reiterated that the many challenges and opportunities in the livestock sector are more regional than national in nature and that the regional policy framework therefore offers a unique opportunity to manage common challenges, speak with one voice and build robust partnerships at the regional level.

IGAD has been facilitating agreement on the policy framework over the last two years, through its Livestock Policy Initiative, the IGAD LPI, on regional and international standards, capacity building, and intra-regional trade in the livestock sector, with the ultimate goal of reducing poverty and food insecurity across the IGAD region. The policy framework is therefore the result of the country position papers, which came out through an extensive and participatory debates and negotiations of diverse groups drawn from government representatives, civil societies, grassroots and NGOs in respective member states.

IGAD, with member states of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, the Sudan and Uganda is assisting and complementing the efforts of member states to achieve food security and environmental protection, promotion and maintenance of peace and security and humanitarian affairs, and economic integration, through increased cooperation.

Read more on IGAD at: www.igad.org; on LPI at: www.igad-lpi.org

Press Release on Dec 11, 2009 

FAO/IGAD Livestock Policy Initiative

IGAD LPI 

Communication Office

C/O SFE FAO Representation

E-mail: a.demissie@cgiar.org 
P.O. Box: 5536, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel +251- 11 617 2571

www.igad-lpi.org; www.igad-data.org Cell +251 - (0)911 661257

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