Foresight and policy analysis

Subtheme (ST) 1: Foresight and policy analysis to support policymaking and investment prioritization

Specific objective 

To inform and support policy processes and grow investments for sustainable and equitable livestock systems through modelling, foresight and engagement.

Rationale 

This deliverable encompasses three areas: generating evidence and data, knowledge synthesis, and engagement. It will provide evidence of priority policy and technology bundles for transforming livestock-based systems through modelling and foresight. The transformation of the livestock sector requires more and better-targeted investments, along with supportive policies, for these investments to be effective. By modelling the livestock sector in agrifood systems, this sub-theme will demonstrate the trade-offs among different dimensions of sustainability, including economic, social, environmental, health, and equity. Based on demand, these analyses will be done at various levels: subnational, national, regional and global.

This sub-theme will collaborate closely with the ILRI Policy, Advocacy, and Investment Hub and other research themes to deliver credible, synthesized science-based evidence related to the opportunities and challenges of livestock in relation to major development topics. The inclusion of data and perspectives that accurately reflect the sustainable livestock development trajectories of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), along with foresight studies and scenario analyses, will ensure that global and local narratives and investments are informed and prioritised based on sound scientific evidence. The sub-theme will also collaborate with the policy hub to engage in dialogues at the global level (partly through its convening role) as well as in priority countries and regions where livestock master plans (LMPs) will be key entry points to support livestock policy and investment decisions.

Regarding scaling, this sub-theme builds on lessons learned in recent years about engaging with investors and understanding the investment landscape in the livestock business. 

What we do

  • Provide evidence of priority policy and technology bundles for the transformation of livestock-based systems through modeling and foresight
  • Demonstrate the trade-offs among different dimensions of sustainability: economic, social, environmental, health and equity. This will be done on demand at the national, regional, and global levels.
  • Deliver credible, synthesized science-based evidence related to the opportunities and challenges of livestock in relation to major development topics.
  • Having made the case for ‘investment in livestock’, it will be essential to provide opportunities for the ‘what’ to invest in, focusing on priority locations and researching solutions for specific commodities as described elsewhere in this strategy.
  • Through the hub, ILRI will act as a conduit between practitioners in the field, governments, funders and the private sector.