Across  Africa, livestock mean far more than just animals. They are central to livelihoods, food security, and economic resilience for millions of people. Among many pastoral and agro-pastoral communities, cattle, sheep, goats, and camels provide meat, milk, income, and financial security, supporting millions of households.

The livestock sector in Africa drives employment across value chains; from production and trade to processing and retail, while meeting rising urban demand for animal-source foods.

Much of this production occurs in rangelands, where pastoralism and nomadic livestock systems sustain both livelihoods and ecosystems through adaptive grazing practices.

However, climate change, drought, land fragmentation, and reduced mobility are placing increasing pressure on these systems.

The African Livestock Observatory strengthens our understandings of African livestock systems. We aim to highlight research, synthesise data, and center African perspectives, in order to inform policy, investment, and resilience.