Partnerships for Impact

The Problem

For millions of farmers in low- and middle-income countries, the livestock sector provides a key source of income, employment, food security, and nutrition. However, challenges such as poor animal health, low productivity, and climate change jeopardize the potential of the sector to strengthen livelihoods and promote sustainable and inclusive growth. Good evidence is needed in order to optimise the strategies and investments that can support the livestock sector’s sustainable development. Yet data continues to be disparate and scarce, and no single organisation is equipped to address these complex challenges. 

Our Mission

Livestock Data for Decisions (LD4D) aims to support the transition towards more sustainable and inclusive livestock systems by mobilizing trusted livestock data for better policies, investments, and strategies. With a focus on gender equality, LD4D also recognizes women's essential role in livestock production and the unique challenges they face.

Our Approach

LD4D is a worldwide community of over 1,000 members and partners working to improve livestock data and evidence in low- and middle-income countries. We drive collaborative, demand-driven data solutions for real-world impact in sustainable livestock systems.

As a dynamic knowledge exchange platform, LD4D connects researchers, policymakers, investors, and implementers, promoting the co-creation of data solutions. Our tools and insights will guide policy and investment decisions, aiming for transformative impacts across livestock systems.

What makes our approach unique?

• We focus on complex livestock data and evidence challenges that require multi-stakeholder partnerships.
• We promote innovative solutions that can be replicated and scaled up.

Partnership Opportunities

Cornerstone Partner

Are you interested in helping us build on a 1,000+ network working in the livestock sector? Join us as a Cornerstone Partner and help us:

• Address key decision-making challenges in livestock systems with tailored data solutions and knowledge products.
• Become the leading knowledge exchange network via our impactful program of activities, including global convenings.
• Foster innovations through our Livestock Data Challenges Fund and horizon scanning activities.
• Forge partnerships for action at global and national levels.

Livestock Data Challenge Fund Partner

Would you like to harness the power of our network to address a livestock challenge that urgently needs solutions? Contribute to the Livestock Data Challenge Fund and help us:

• Develop innovative, demand-driven solutions to key challenges in the livestock sector.
• Scale up innovations and accelerate the adoption of data-driven solutions.
• Become the leading Livestock Data Challenge Fund.

LD4D has a track record of delivering successful activities.

Solutions for Climate Finance in the Livestock Sector

Access to climate finance is crucial for the livestock sector to enhance its sustainability, but various barriers often hinder progress. To address these complex challenges, LD4D convened the Climate Finance & Livestock Development Solutions Group, bringing together decision-makers and experts from across the livestock and finance communities. With support from LD4D, the group collaboratively generated evidence-based insights that help livestock development projects access climate finance.

A set of evidence briefs launched in September 2024 provides stakeholders with the insights and methodologies needed to quantify emissions, build compelling investment cases, and secure vital funding for livestock mitigation and adaptation projects. By equipping public finance institutions, project applicants, and national decision-makers with these resources, the LD4D initiative aims to unlock much-needed climate finance for the livestock sector.

Promoting Digital Innovations for Livestock Development

The LD4D Community Conversation on Digital Innovations for Livestock Development brought together over 300 livestock stakeholders to discover and discuss opportunities to drive progress in the sector. By showcasing a diverse array of digital innovations and their applications, the event inspired participants to explore how digital solutions can address critical challenges, from improving animal health to empowering pastoral communities. Participants identified key focus areas for future LD4D efforts, including scaling innovations, ensuring digital inclusion, and leveraging emerging technologies like AI and satellites. This event has set the stage for LD4D to coordinate impactful, evidence-driven initiatives that harness the power of digital innovation to transform livestock development in low- and middle-income countries.

About LD4D

LD4D is facilitated and supported by the Centre for Supporting Evidence-Based Interventions in Livestock (SEBI-Livestock), awarded to The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at The University of Edinburgh.