Nairobi, Kenya | 9–12 February 2026 - The Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS), in partnership with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), successfully concluded the Regional Workshop of the Africa Livestock Resilience Program (ALRP) in Nairobi, Kenya. The event convened 14 national delegations from African OIC Member States, alongside development partners, research institutions, and private-sector stakeholders, to advance coordinated action toward resilient, productive, and inclusive livestock systems.
The workshop opened with remarks from the four organizing institutions. On behalf of IOFS, Dr. Ismail Abdelhamid conveyed the greetings of H.E. Ambassador Berik Aryn, Director General of IOFS, reaffirming the Organisation’s commitment to collective action and sustainable livestock development across Member States.
Over four days, participants engaged in strategic dialogue, technical exchange, and field-based learning to accelerate the transition toward climate-resilient livestock value chains that strengthen food security and rural livelihoods.
IOFS contributed to the technical discussions through a presentation on “Livestock in the OIC,” outlining sectoral priorities and challenges, as well as a joint livestock value chain assessment conducted in Guinea and Togo with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI).
A central component of the workshop was the country listening session, where 14 delegations — Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, The Gambia, Gabon, Guinea, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Chad, and Togo — shared national priorities and best practices. Discussions underscored the importance of regional coordination, tailored program design, and strengthened research-to-farmer linkages.
Technical deliberations focused on six transformation pillars: risk-responsive finance and insurance; value chain development; climate-resilient production systems; digital livestock services; forage and feed systems; and animal health and disease management. Participants emphasized that integrated solutions — combining finance, advisory services, and institutional trust — are essential to building sustainable livestock systems.
Field visits to ILRI’s Kapiti Research Station, Githunguri Dairy Farmers’ Cooperative, and Neema Halal Slaughterhouse demonstrated practical models linking research, production, processing, and market integration, including halal-compliant value addition.
The final day concentrated on partnership mobilization and implementation readiness. A Private Sector and Halal Industry Forum explored investment opportunities, while the Women and Youth Innovation session highlighted IOFS’s Women in Agrifood Development Initiative (WADI). Dr. Ismail Abdelhamid outlined the broader contributions of the OIC system to women’s empowerment in agriculture, emphasizing coordinated efforts among IOFS, ICESCO, and the Women Development Organisation (WDO).
The workshop concluded with a forward-looking roadmap toward country-level ALRP implementation. At the closing session, Dr. Ismail Abdelhamid delivered the official closing remarks on behalf of IOFS, alongside representatives of the partner institutions, expressing appreciation to all co-organizers and extending special thanks to ILRI for hosting the workshop.
The convening of the ALRP Regional Workshop marks a significant milestone in advancing coordinated, multi-country action to strengthen livestock resilience, promote inclusive value chains, and enhance food security across Africa.
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