Livestock play a central role in environmental protection, food security, and human health and welfare in the African highlands and, indeed, in most developing countries. They are critical for asset building, soil-nutrient cycling and climatic risk buffering, and they constitute a sustained and irreplaceable source of macro- and micronutrients, especially for women and children. Both individually and collectively, women are key repositories of knowledge about the nutritional value of livestock products. This role should be recognised and enhanced by encouraging women to actively participate in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of educational and other programmes aimed at income generation and better family nutrition and health.
