Action Against Hunger (ACF), in partnership with national and regional stakeholders, has committed €10 million to a four-year initiative aimed at revitalising pastoral livelihoods and strengthening livestock value chains in the Lake Chad Basin.
The project, titled Pastoralism and Livestock Marketing in Cameroon, Nigeria, Chad Cross-Border Territories (PASCO), will target pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in the three countries. It seeks to expand livestock production, create stronger market linkages, and improve territorial value chain activities across borders.
Speaking at the project’s unveiling in Yola during a two-day national workshop, ACF Nigeria’s Country Director said PASCO will prioritise women, youth, and vulnerable groups, opening new markets and ensuring reliable off-takers for livestock products. He noted that in addition to climate-related pressures, market inaccessibility remains a major challenge for livestock producers, a gap the project aims to close.
The Chief of Party for PASCO described the programme as a strategic intervention to strengthen the economic resilience and security of border communities affected by instability and economic exclusion. It will also promote inclusive governance, sustainable natural resource management, and enhanced cross-border trade.
Nigeria’s Minister of Livestock Development commended the initiative, highlighting its alignment with the government’s National Livestock Accelerated Programme. He emphasised the potential of coordinated cross-border value chains to boost both pastoralist livelihoods and national revenue, despite ongoing challenges such as insecurity and climate change.
Borno State’s Technical Director of Livestock Development welcomed the intervention, noting that the state government has invested heavily in the sector, including the establishment of international cattle markets to revive post-conflict economies.
Funded by the French Development Agency through its Minka Peace and Resilience Fund, PASCO is being implemented by the Institute for Research and Applications of Development Methods (IRAM) in partnership with ACF and other collaborators. The launch drew government officials, pastoral community representatives, and development partners committed to transforming the livestock economy of the Lake Chad Basin.
