The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched the second phase of its flagship Livestock Marketing Support Programme (PACBAO), with a strong focus on creating new opportunities for young people and women in the livestock value chain.
The initiative, unveiled at a knowledge-sharing workshop in Accra on Tuesday, seeks to modernise pastoral farming, professionalise value chain actors, and unlock investment opportunities in a sector that contributes significantly to food security and livelihoods in the region.
Ms. Janine Walz, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Cooperation at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, highlighted that livestock provides more than nutrition—it is a source of resilience and income for millions of families. She, however, noted challenges such as limited market access, weak sanitary standards, and the lack of opportunities for youth and women, stressing that PACBAO II must directly address these gaps.
“Professionalising the livestock sector, supporting innovation, and generating more avenues for women and young people to thrive are central to this programme,” she said, urging ECOWAS to accelerate delivery so that results reach those most in need.
Ghana’s Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Eric Opoku, acknowledged that despite livestock’s contribution of about 14 percent to agricultural GDP, Ghana still faces a deficit in meat and milk production. He expressed optimism that PACBAO’s new phase would modernise production systems, improve post-harvest management, and attract public-private partnerships.
“Phase one proved successful in strengthening the livestock value chain, but phase two must go further by transforming the sector to meet regional demand,” he stated.
Mr. Mohammed Lawan Gana, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Ghana, noted that the first phase (2018–2023) generated best practices and innovations, while also underscoring livestock’s role as a key employer, especially in Sahelian countries where it supports nearly half the population. He stressed that PACBAO II would build an organised and stable market to draw in private investment and sustain regional integration.
With livestock farming central to the lives of millions in West Africa, the second phase of PACBAO is expected not only to strengthen food security but also to open fresh opportunities for youth and women to become drivers of regional development.
