Scaling up successful practices for pro-poor development projects involving goats: First outputs of a comparative study

Abstract

Goat livestock is generally considered as an efficient activity for smallholders to eradicate poverty in many situations. More and more projects are submitted for donors who have still few references and data to evaluate if these proposals could be successful or not. A study has been initiated to scale up successful practices. It has been based on Knowledge Harvesting and comparative analysis of several projects around the world. Discussions and focus groups were organized as parts of a seminar during the 11th International Conference on Goats. The general characteristics of goat activities and for each commodity and key success factors have been identified and described. Proposals were elaborated and debated to go forward and propose operational tools to support project donors and designers. A project and investment typology will be built and a goat value chain tool kit will be developed during a write shop. The discussions have enhanced the importance of a cost-benefits analysis and planning return on investments within the project.