FAO Launches Africa Sustainable Livestock 2050 Initiative in Ethiopia
2 June 2017, Addis Ababa - The National Launching Workshop for Africa Sustainable Livestock 2050 (ASL2050) took place on 1 June 2017 in Addis Ababa. The objective of the workshop was to agree upon a clear action plan for prioritized commodities for an effective implementation of the ASL2050. ASL2050 is a two-year multi-stakeholders project financed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
ASL2050 initiative aims to create understanding of the long-term dynamics of the livestock sector development and its potential impact on public health, the environment, and livelihoods; identify policy gaps; and recommend priority reforms and investments to ensure sustainable development of the livestock sector in the next three or four decades.
The national launch workshop follows the regional project launching workshop conducted by FAO Ethiopia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries (MoLF) and USAID, in February this year. A total of 30 participants attended the ASL2050 Ethiopia launching workshop drawn from relevant stakeholder organizations mainly from MoLF, Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) as well as from international organizations and partners.
In his opening speech, Thomas Cherenet, Senior Advisor to the Minister of Livestock and Fisheries, stressed the fact that ASL2050 allows to look beyond short-term issues by saying, “Anticipating, predicting and preparing for the future of livestock is very challenging, but it is something we must do. We owe it to ourselves and the health of people, livestock and the environment.” Hassen Ali, Assistant to the FAO Ethiopia Representative, on his part emphasized the workshop would be a good starting point for utilizing a One Health approach for achieving healthy and sustainable livestock systems in 2050.
Presentations and discussions were held in group and plenary sessions covering different topics such as project rationale and projection, Ethiopia’s Livestock Policies and Strategies, Public Health Concerns with Livestock Sector Development, Environment and Forest and Climate Change Concerns with Livestock Sector Development and Relevant Policies and Strategies.
The workshop participants also agreed to prioritize the two major commodities – beef and milk to be the project’s focus for the coming few months.
Contact:
Feleseta Woldtsadique,
ECTAD Project Communication Officer
E-mail: [email protected]