What are Evidence-based Strategies to Prevent Further Intensive Animal Farming in African Countries?

Focus Area: “PLIMs”-  Identifying paths to reducing growth in animal product consumption in populous low and middle-income countries

PI: Lynn Tan, Animal Advocacy Africa

Date Awarded: October 2023 (FSRF 2023-06-12)

Executive Summary (from report):

1The rise of intensive animal agriculture across Sub-Saharan Africa demands attention from animal advocates. This report provides a roadmap for effective animal advocacy in Africa by offering a detailed analysis of the current landscape and trajectory of animal agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa, and outlining strategic advocacy recommendations.

Guided by a country prioritization framework, we focus on three specific countries: Nigeria, Ghana, and Ethiopia. We conducted extensive desk research on the issues affecting animal agriculture in these countries, as well as nine in-depth interviews with African stakeholders and experts in veterinary science, epidemiology, sociology, economics, and alternative proteins. We then synthesized our findings in five key frameworks: PESTLE, SWOT, stakeholder maps, scenario planning, and our analysis of the key arguments.

We present 12 strategic recommendations for animal advocacy in Africa:

  1. Lobby for African food production standards

  2. Lobby to restrict foreign ownership of African agribusinesses

  3. Unionize smallholder farmers to lobby against intensification

  4. Encourage adoption of new farm technologies and cluster farming

  5. Support allied NGOs and educate non-aligned NGOs

  6. Call for divestment from industrial livestock production

  7. Call for investment in alternative proteins for African consumers

  8. Work with religious leaders to normalize positive practices

  9. Use radio as an affordable, scalable, and inclusive medium

  10. Engage restaurants and retailers to shape animal-friendly supply chains

  11. Offer animal advocacy media training and pledges to journalists

  12. Provide scalable education interventions on farmed animal welfare

As well as the analysis and recommendations presented here, we share several resources developed for the project, including our country prioritization model, a catalogue of the data sources we consulted in our desk research, and a database of relevant stakeholders to action the strategy (see Appendices).

Further Information: Completed report can be found here.