Continental Stocktaking Assessment of Existing Policies and Capacities Promoting Sustainable Livestock Production Systems in Africa

The study was designed to (i) assess the policy and institutional capacity landscape governing sustainable livestock production in Africa; and (ii) examine the degree of integration of four core thematic areas (climate change, livestock development, biodiversity protection, and gender) across national and regional policy frameworks. The analysis combined a structured desk review of 196 unique policy frameworks identified and retrieved online with a survey component covering African Union Member States. A total of 55 Member States were targeted through an online questionnaire, resulting in 23 validated responses from 17 countries across different Regional Economic Communities (RECs). The dataset includes both national and regional policy instruments, reflecting varying degrees of policy development and institutional engagement across countries and RECs. The findings were further enriched through a validation process involving Member States (MS) and RECs, strengthening ownership and contextual relevance. This validation process confirmed both the relevance of the analytical framework and the practical utility of the findings for ongoing policy harmonization and implementation support.