Livestock production remains a critical pillar that supports the livelihoods and meets the nutritional needs of pastoralist communities occupying the arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya. These regions, however, have high levels of poverty (over 60%), exacerbated by poor accessibility and frequent droughts. Strategic and sustained reforms are required to reverse the increasing poverty levels and reduce food insecurity and malnutrition in these areas.

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Accelerated Value Chain Development – Livestock Component project, and national partners implemented interventions to improve sheep and goat productivity in Garissa, Isiolo, Marsabit, Turkana, and Wajir counties in Kenya, through better herd breeding and management. The project supported the establishment of community-based herd improvement platforms to introduce, implement and scale out improved herd management technologies and practices to produce better quality livestock, particularly sheep and goats. The innovations included the introduction…