ILRI and South Asia partners hold consultations to guide new ILRI strategy

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and partners in South Asia held virtual regional stakeholder consultations on 24 August 2023 to provide inputs into developing the new ILRI Corporate strategy (2024–2030). 

The purpose of these consultations is to understand partners’ perspectives on how ILRI can better contribute to food systems transformation and address the climate crisis. The main objectives of this stakeholder consultation are to reflect on lessons learned from the region since the implementation of the previous strategy; identify key challenges and opportunities relating to livestock, climate, and food systems within the regional and national context; propose priorities and interventions that ILRI and its partners should consider in their future endeavours; and explore ways to enhance engagement with end users to ensure the practical application and relevance of ILRI's research.

Representatives from different national and international institutions, different ministries, International and national donors, partners, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) of different South Asia countries, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, and ILRI representatives joined the meeting. 

Habibar Rahman, ILRI regional representative for South Asia, convened the consultation. The scene setting of the consultation was done by Shirley Tarawali, assistant director general of ILRI. She highlighted the ILRI activities in different regions and the importance of stakeholder engagement. Rahman gave a short overview of the ILRI activities in the South Asia including completed and ongoing projects, partnership details, agreements between ILRI and different organizations, challenges, and opportunities in the region. Using experiences from previous and ongoing research activities in South Asian countries, the discussion was held primarily under two different sessions: 1. Challenges and issues in food system transformation, and 2. Partnership engagement.

There was an in-depth discussion of different aspects, opportunities, and challenges that are prevalent in the region. Participants highlighted a need to address concerns such as One Health issues; antimicrobial resistance; animal disease economics; indigenous germplasm conservation; feed and fodder improvement; preservation of genetic resources; climate change; food safety concerns; inefficient and inequitable marketing practices, etc. They also called for a review of policies on livestock sector development and related aspects in the different countries. 

Feedback from this consultation will be included in the ILRI strategy. Copy of ILRI stakeholder Consultation: South Asia - Google Slides
Learn more at https://www.ilri.org/2023_ILRIstrategy  or contact Michael Victor (m.victor (@) cgiar.org).

(The post was edited by Terry Mwenda, communications officer, publishing and editing, ILRI, and Paul Karaimu, communications officer, ILRI)