Collaboration Across Disciplines: Integrating Gender into Livestock Modelling
A. Habtamu (ILRI)
The collaboration between gender researchers and livestock modellers represents new ground in livestock development.
When gender researchers and livestock modellers come together, new possibilities emerge. In 2025, the LD4D Gender & Livestock Modelling Solutions Group brought together diverse experts to tackle a critical gap: how livestock models can better account for gender dynamics and avoid reinforcing inequalities along value chains. With expert facilitation by Jessica Ball and Pier Andrea Pirani (DGroups Foundation), the Solutions Group team has been exploring what it takes to integrate gender considerations into livestock modelling. The process is revealing the importance of unpacking assumptions, building trust across disciplines, and establishing shared values that guide collaborative work.
Through four carefully designed workshops, participants have developed shared values of openness, creativity, adaptability, and trust. As gender researcher Alessandra Galiè (ILRI) noted during the process, successful gender integration happens when decision makers are engaged early, when efforts align with national priorities, and when the benefits are framed in ways that resonate—whether through productivity gains, sustainability outcomes, or measurable social impact. The work continues into 2026 as the group finalises its outputs.
Key insight from the article:
"Gender equity needs to be planned for deliberately. This allows models to tell a fuller, more accurate story – one that helps decision makers not only to pursue economic gains, but also to navigate trade-offs, meet international standards, and avoid unintended harm."
