Promoting conflict sensitive reform in the livestock sector

Across Nigeria’s North-Central and North-West regions, livestock production is more than an economic activity—it is central to livelihoods, cultural identity, food security, and resilience against climate shocks. However, weak governance frameworks, climate pressures, and recurring competition over land and water have increasingly turned the livestock sector into a flashpoint for conflict between farmers and pastoralists.

Through the SPRiNG Programme, targeted technical assistance is helping the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) strengthen livestock governance and address some of the structural drivers of conflict. By supporting policy reforms, institutional capacity building, and stakeholder engagement, the initiative aims to transform the livestock sector into one that promotes sustainable growth, peace, and resilience.

Intervention Highlights

The establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development in July 2024 created a significant opportunity to modernise Nigeria’s livestock governance systems. SPRiNG is supporting this process through embedded technical assistance that integrates livestock sector expertise with conflict-sensitive peacebuilding approaches.

This support includes facilitating policy development, strengthening institutional frameworks, and ensuring that new strategies reflect the realities of communities affected by farmer–herder tensions.

SPRiNG also supported stakeholder engagement between the Ministry and pastoralist associations, providing a platform to share reform priorities, build trust, and encourage stakeholder ownership of the policy process.

In addition, capacity-building initiatives have strengthened the Ministry’s ability to communicate its policies clearly and sensitively to diverse audiences.

Key Achievements

• Technical assistance embedded within the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to support institutional reform

• Conflict-sensitive policy frameworks supported, including contributions to the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS)

• Design of a National Livestock Digital Public Infrastructure (NLDPI) to enable livestock identification, tagging, and traceability

• 62 Ministry management staff trained in conflict-sensitive communications

• 42 media partners trained to support responsible and inclusive public messaging

• Conflict-Sensitive Communication Strategy developed to strengthen policy communication and stakeholder engagement

• Stakeholder engagement platforms established to build trust between government and pastoralist groups

Impact

SPRiNG’s support is helping to lay the foundation for more effective and inclusive livestock governance in Nigeria. By strengthening institutional capacity, improving policy coordination, and integrating conflict-sensitive approaches into sector reforms, the programme is helping the Ministry address long-standing governance gaps.

The development of initiatives such as the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS) and the National Livestock Digital Public Infrastructure (NLDPI) also creates new pathways for data-driven policymaking, improved resource management, and greater transparency within the livestock sector.

Ultimately, these reforms aim to reduce resource-based conflicts, strengthen trust between communities and government institutions, and support a more resilient and productive livestock economy.

Read the full case study to learn how SPRiNG is supporting conflict-sensitive reforms that strengthen Nigeria’s livestock sector and promote peaceful coexistence.