1) A study conducted surveys and interviews with over 2,000 actors in Kenya's livestock value chain between May and June 2020 to assess the impact of COVID-19 on livelihoods and food systems. 2) The findings showed that COVID-19 control measures like market closures and curfews reduced incomes and livestock sales volumes and prices, disrupting livestock markets. Household purchasing power and food security declined as well. 3) Data has helped foster resilience by enabling responses from various actors like developing safety protocols, increasing investments, and expanding food distribution and messaging. It also provides opportunities to further support markets through data on resources, diseases, prices, and nutrition.

1. Impact of COVID-19 on Livestock Value Chain in
Kenya
Esther Omosa, Senior Nutrition Specialist
USAID-Accelerated Value Chain Development Program, Kenya
ICTforAg 2020 ‘Advancing Resilience, Nutrition, and Agriculture-led
Growth in a Digital World’ Global Online Conference, 18 November
2020

2. Using Data and Digital Technology to
Facilitate COVID Recovery in
Livestock Markets

3. Background
• 5-Year Feed the Future Program, in 21/47 counties in Kenya
• The livestock value chain, implemented by ILRI in 5 counties
• Arid and Semi arid lands of Northern Kenya
• Pastoralists (on the move- water and pasture)
• Poor communication and road network,
• Frequent shocks (drought, diseases, floods, locusts)
• Poor phone ownership, coverage and network/signal
USAID- Accelerated Value chain development (AVCD) program

4. The Study
A cross-sectional survey, May 29th and June16th 2020;
N=2,010 actors with 94% response rate
Quantitative data collection - phone-based survey
Qualitative Data collection
KII- emailing a structured questionnaire
To assess the effect of the pandemic on livelihoods and food systems of actors along
the livestock value chain
Approach
COVID-19 control measures:
 Closure of some livestock markets
 Less working time due to curfew
 Several check points /border closures

5. Findings
Effect on Food Access
Purchasing power of households reduced due to job loss, reduced income and increased
food prices

6. Findings
• Decline in Volumes of livestock sold
• Reduction in mean HH income,
• Reduction in prices of livestock
Disruption of Livestock markets
 Reduction in variety of food items consumed
 Reduction in quantity of foods consumed

7. How has the data helped us
recover?

8. How has resilience been fostered ?
Development of SOPs
County governments
increased investments
Enabled responses by various actors
Opening of livestock
markets SIL to protect assets
Nutrition sensitive
&Nutrition
Greater integration by
partners Food distribution
Radio messaging
Widened Coverage

9. Opportunities for data to further support livestock
markets
Data on pasture- where it has recharged and where it is
depleted
Livestock Disease outbreaks- for timely response
Livestock prices – more location disaggregation
E-livestock trading
Data on consumption and Nutritional status