Project phases
This FAO project supports low- and middle-income countries in reducing methane emissions from livestock, while enhancing food security and productivity. It aims to strengthen institutional capacities for creating and implementing low-carbon livestock strategies that align with national climate goals under the Paris Agreement commitments. The project provides guidance and recommendations to governments and decision-makers on integrating livestock mitigation measures into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs), as well as developing plans to access funding through national financing and international or bilateral mechanisms. Establishing comprehensive greenhouse gas inventories and Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems is crucial for monitoring progress and informing policy development. Additionally, the project provides targeted training to help stakeholders across the livestock value chain adopt sustainable practices and contribute to climate-resilient development.
Period: 2015-2017
Target countries: Argentina, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sri
Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, and Uruguay
The first phase of the project identifies emission mitigation opportunities and their associated costs and benefits in 13 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America. In its first phase, the project aims at developing innovative and evidence based interventions to improve ruminant system productivity and food security, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the livestock sector.
Period: 2018 - 2020
Target countries: Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uruguay
The second phase of the project supports the integration of methane mitigation opportunities into national planning and interventions in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uruguay. It also encourages a widespread practice change in ruminant livestock production systems to reduce enteric methane emissions in livestock systems and improve food security and livelihoods at the national and regional level.
Period: 2021-2023
Target countries: Costa Rica, Kenya, and Indonesia
The third phase of the project addresses the barriers faced by low and middle income countries in setting ambitious national methane reduction targets as part of their commitment to the Paris Agreement. FAO supports countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to integrate methane assessment and mitigation action into national strategies, investments and policies. The implementation of this third phase aims to enhance countries’ capacity to secure climate finance in support of a transformative action of the livestock sector.Target countries: Central African Republic, Morocco, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe
The fourth phase of the project aims to strengthen the technical capacities of institutions and experts across several countries, focusing on reducing methane emissions from the livestock sector. This phase supports the Central African Republic, Morocco, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe.
In the Central African Republic, the focus is on developing a Tier 2 GHG inventory for the livestock sector and providing recommendations to guide a low-carbon livestock strategy, assisting the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, the Ministry of Agriculture, and other stakeholders in preparing their next NDC.
In Morocco and Rwanda, the project advances efforts to reduce methane emissions. Morocco will develop a comprehensive Action Plan targeting the meat and dairy sectors to inform its 2025 NDC update, while Rwanda will establish a methane strategy focusing on cattle and small ruminants, complemented by the creation of a Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system for effective tracking and mitigation of emissions.
Furthermore, the project supports Zimbabwe in integrating methane mitigation strategies into its extensive beef sector through improved feed management, strengthening MRV systems, policy alignment with climate goals, and stakeholder capacity building. This phase will deliver studies on feed variation and mitigation options, develop standardized data systems, and offer evidence-based policy recommendations. Additionally, 450 stakeholders across four provinces will be trained to adopt better practices that aim to increase productivity, reduce methane emissions, and equip institutions and farmers with sustainable livestock development tools.