Ethiopia, leading Africa in livestock numbers with 70.3 million cattle, 95.4 million sheep and goats, and 8.1 million camels, combines mixed farming in the highlands with extensive livestock farming in the lowlands. However, both systems face climate risks such as droughts and floods and struggle with low productivity due to diseases and poor practices.
Sixty percent of Ethiopia's territory is lowland, home to 18 million pastoralists who rely on extensive rangeland livestock systems. Forty-four percent of the livestock are in these systems, while the rest are in the highlands. Livestock contributes 19% of the country's GDP and up to 45% of the agricultural GDP. Despite this, the economic impact of the livestock sector has not yet reached its potential.
To improve productivity and living conditions, the World Bank financed several projects aimed at small farmers and pastoralists. One such project is the ongoing Lowlands Livelihood Resilience Project (LLRP). LLRP has been under implementation since 2019 in most districts of the lowlands and will end in October 2025. Given its success, the Ethiopian government requested a second phase focusing on pasture management, climate-resilient livelihoods, and livestock health. The new project introduces two innovations: the "One Health" approach and the Livestock Identification and Traceability System.
Uruguay plays a significant role here as one of the world's most competitive livestock producers with a cattle traceability system that began in response to a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in 2001. Today, this system allows Uruguayan meat to access premium global markets. Supported by the World Bank, it also includes pasture monitoring for sustainability.
From June 17 to 20, an Ethiopian delegation including key policymakers from the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands, project coordinators, agriculture and livestock experts, and World Bank staff traveled to Uruguay for knowledge exchange with their Uruguayan counterparts. Their main objectives were to enhance Ethiopian policymakers' understanding of strategies for sustainable livestock management and equip technical staff with skills based on Uruguay's success.
“The future cannot be uncertain if you shape it yourself,” said Uruguay's National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA) during their presentation covering crop rotation, pasture management, methane emissions, genetics, production improvement, and agricultural technology.
The visit featured presentations on Uruguay's traceability system (SNIG), economic activities and exports history of its livestock sector. Field visits included INIA La Estanzuela Experimental Station for insights into livestock finishing systems, greenhouse gas emission trials, pasture management research; a dairy farm; and a livestock farm demonstrating Uruguay's traceability system.
The study tour was facilitated by INIA (National Institute of Agricultural Research), MGAP (Ministry of Livestock Agriculture Fisheries), INAC (National Meat Institute), Uruguay XXI (Investment Export Country Brand Promotion Agency), Hereford Uruguay; CONAPROLE (National Cooperative Milk Producers). Authorities welcoming them included Fernando Mattos Minister MGAP; José Bonica President INIA.
“We are very grateful,” said Endrias Geta Beldeda PhD Ethiopian state minister concluding visit hoping Ethiopia improves its sector making productive sustainable resilient climate change learning from Uruguay experience.
Dipti Thapa World Bank stated: "It is a very powerful example...addressing prevention response health threats through interaction humans animals environment...impressive much learn."
Solomon Ali Yiman Ethiopian Delegation remarked: "What I have seen exceeds expectations...we will apply what we learned."
Carolina Rendon World Bank Uruguay noted: “For World Bank country office important act bridge showcase public reforms like traceability allowing building capitalizing investment decades ago.”
The World Bank Group facilitated more than thirty South-South knowledge exchanges over twelve years across five regions covering various topics including Botswana Namibia Kazakhstan Kyrgyz Republic Nicaragua Paraguay Chile Argentina Türkiye Chile El Salvador Morocco Armenia Mexico Zimbabwe Botswana Costa Rica Uganda private sector sponsored IFC visiting Uruguay.