Presents papers discussing the potential for impacts within ILCA's organisational framework and mandate. The introductory paper raises general issues and poses questions that are pursued in the other papers. These papers address the environmental, economic and social components of impact within the organisation. Case studies on ILCA's research on tenure policy and alley farming, forage legumes, animal traction, milk processing, hay making and studies on pricing policies, technology generation and ILCA's research networks are presented in the papers.

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works through partnerships which are critical for two reasons: for collaborative research on key components and constraints and for the development, testing and transfer of technologies, based on farmer's needs. The ILRI programme designed to strengthen partnerships with NARS has a set of integrated activities, viz, training and training materials development, information products and services and networking.

Reviews the appropriateness of three major assumptions underlying pastoral development in East Africa, viz, economic irrationality of pastoralists, the unchanged nature of pastoral production systems, and the applicability of western models to pastoral development.

Examines basic constraints to pastoral development. Looks into project financing, design and implementation. Discusses manpower development and training procedures. Includes notes on monitoring concepts and ILCA's monitoring activities.

The systems of livestock production, marketing and research have been profoundly transformed by recent policies in Central Asia since the break up of the Soviet Union. Decollectivisation of state farms has transferred livestock ownership to new private farming units. These receive little or no state support for inputs, or for processing and selling livestock products. Most livestock-keeping families have much-reduced incomes compared to the Soviet period.

Presents a collection of conference papers defining pastoral systems research; the survey and diagnostic phase of pastoral systems research; ILCA's experience in remote sensing techniques and aerial surveys; survey of vegetation resources; livestock productivity and animal nutrition; pastoral production strategies, wealth effects, household studies, and labour data collection as well as livestock marketing studies.

In pastoral societies women face many challenges. Some describe these as a ‘double burden’ – that is, as pastoralists and as women. However, pastoral women may obtain a significant degree of protection from customary law even if customary institutions are male-dominated. In periods of change (economic, social, political), this protection may be lost, and without protection from statutory laws, women are in danger of “falling between two stools” (Adoko and Levine 2009).

This paper examines post-drought rehabilitation policies to aid recovery in pastoral livestock production in Africa. It starts by describing the main impact of drought on livestock production and the sequences of this for the national economy. It considers the range of policy options open to governments and development agencies in this area and the problems associated with each one. It then examines the provision of credit to herders to aid in the reconstitution of livestock holdings, and associates the particular issues with the implementation of such projects.

Selection of presentations made at the workshop on "Pastoral systems research in sub-Saharan Africa", describing the framework used by ILCA for pastoral systems research (PSR), examining methods used in the descriptive and diagnostic stage of PSR, and showing how the design and testing procedures are followed in practice; with particular reference to low-altitude aerial surveys, livestock surveys & household studies.

Presents a general description of pastoralist milk production from cattle in Africa, analyzing data on milk yield & offtake, lactation and milk composition under pastoralist conditions; briefly examines the use of milk from camels and smallstock by pastoralsits to complement their milk supply from cattle.