Ethiopia’s National Livestock Data Standard

In early 2024, the a Livestock Information Vision Ethiopia (aLIVE) governing committee endorsed a comprehensive set of standards to guide the collection, storage, and maintenance of livestock data in Ethiopia (i.e., a data standard). The data standard specifically focuses on standardizing data on cattle, sheep, goats, and camels in the country. The National Livestock Data Standard document contains standardized data sets for national animal data recording, animal disease, diagnosis, treatment, vaccination recording, animal events recording, location, and other additional attributes.  

Data standardization will facilitate the integration and interoperability of different information systems that collect and manage livestock data at different levels and sectors in Ethiopia. Moreover, standardization will boost the Ministry of Agriculture’s capacity to analyze and use livestock data in its planning, policymaking, programming, and resource allocation discussions. It will further support the creation of a revamped livestock information system and strengthen data governance and capacity-building activities.

This milestone was reached thanks to the efforts of team members and leadership at Development Gateway: An IREX Venture and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture; with our partners, including the Livestock Improvement Corporation and International Center for Tropical Agriculture as well as at least 19 other partner organizations; and with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.