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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.  
 

Access to good evidence is only one challenge in ensuring that decisions can support sustainable development of the sector. Once that data is available, it is critical to be able to understand the data and develop insights for non-technical decision makers driving policy or investment decisions.
 

Our Mission

Livestock Data for Decisions (LD4D) aims to support the transition towards more sustainable and inclusive livestock systems. LD4D leverages evidence, global expertise, and solution-oriented frameworks to provide organizations with evidence synthesis, data-driven insights, and roadmaps to turn questions into actionable answers. 

Additionally, with a focus on gender equality, LD4D also recognizes women's essential role in livestock production and the unique challenges they face and ensures that gender considerations are integrated across all LD4D frameworks and convenings.

Our Approach

LD4D is a worldwide community of over 2000 members and partners across 80 countries working to improve livestock data and evidence in low- and middle-income countries. We drive collaborative, demand-driven data solutions and insights 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 unique approach is to collaboratively identify data, synthesize insights, and answer questions that decision makers may have. Whether it is through LD4D Solutions Groups, or South-South knowledge exchange, our team and expert network enable decision makers in using tools and insights that  will guide policy and investment decisions, aiming for transformative impacts across livestock systems.
 

What makes our approach unique?

• Our tested process focuses on bringing together the right experts, creating space and structures to encourage problem-solving, and action-oriented facilitation techniques to deliver timely and relevant insights for decision makers
• We focus on complex livestock data and evidence challenges that require multi-stakeholder viewpoints and partnerships
• We promote innovative solutions that can be replicated, scaled up, and tailored to fit the ecosystem and objectives of a decision maker
• The LD4D network, with over 2000 experts and practitioners worldwide, fosters continuous knowledge exchange and encourages timely conversations to address rapidly evolving challenges that the livestock sector is facing. 
   

Partnership Opportunities

Work with LD4D

Leverage LD4D’s unique approach to uncover the solutions that the livestock sector needs.

Is there a question or evidence gap that you have been grappling with? Let LD4D help you find answers to those questions using our Solutions Group model. 

Become an institutional partner of LD4D

LD4D is actively seeking institutional donors and partners who can support the sustainability of our network & offerings. Join us as an institutional partner and help us:

• Continue to drive collaborative approaches to livestock decision making challenges in livestock systems
• Lead the global conversation through a dynamic program of knowledge exchange conversations and convening
• Invest in our ongoing efforts to identify breakthrough technologies and bridge data divides across the livestock sector
   

LD4D has a track record of delivering successful activities.

Solutions for Climate Finance in the Livestock Sector

Climate finance is needed to help put the livestock sector on a sustainable pathway. However, accessing the right information to catalyse climate finance remains a barrier to enhancing sustainability in the livestock sector. 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. 

Whether you are a climate finance institution trying to understand what opportunities there might be in the livestock sector or an applicant developing the climate finance proposal or a national government wishing to use policy to unlock climate finance, outputs of this Solutions Group can help guide you. 

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.
 

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.