ISTVS: Driving Climate Resilience Across Drylands of the IGAD Region
IGAD Sheikh Technical Veterinary School (ISTVS) stands as a beacon of climate leadership and innovation. As a regional center of excellence, ISTVS is not only training the next generation of experts but also shaping resilient responses to climate shocks in some of the most vulnerable environments of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region.
Established with the mission to promote sustainable resource use in arid and semi-arid lands, ISTVS partners with regional institutions to enhance food security and animal husbandry techniques. Its growing impact is now recognized as pivotal in making Somali ecosystem the world leader in live animal exports, surpassing traditional exporters like Sudan, Australia, and Syria.
Investing in Climate Knowledge: Scaling Training Across the Region
- Climate-Smart Community Animal Health Workers
In partnership with GIZ and World Vision, ISTVS trained 100 Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs)in January 2023. These workers were equipped with vital knowledge in climate-smart grazing practices, livestock species management, and the importance of tree planting. The trainings emphasized:
- Balancing animal populations with land capacity
- Avoiding overgrazing and uprooting of plants
- Promoting tree planting for ecosystem restoration
Impact: 100 trained | January 2023 | Climate Resilience Through Livestock and Land Stewardship
- Holistic Rangeland Management and Conflict Resolution
In March 2021, ISTVS delivered specialized training in Odweyne District, targeting 180 pastoralists on the management of rangelands and resolving climate-induced resource conflicts, especially along the Somalia-Ethiopia border. This initiative tackled:
- Declining forage/fodder resources
- Increased conflict due to resource scarcity
- Community-based conflict resolution
Impact: 180 trained | March 2021 | Enhancing Rangeland Governance and Peacebuilding
- Agroforestry Value Chains and FMNR Integration
The devastating cycle of deforestation and droughts in Somaliland has pushed vulnerable groups toward unsustainable coping mechanisms. In response, ISTVS introduced training for 5 farmer business groups in April 2021, focusing on:
- Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR)
- Agroforestry value chains
- Pasture and fodder development
- Livelihood improvement and climate resilience
Impact: 5 groups trained | April 2021 | Greening Drylands Through Community-Led Restoration
- Conservation Agriculture and Post-Harvest Handling
Recognizing the climate-driven decline in crop yields, ISTVS trained 50 farmers in September 2018 on dryland farming, conservation techniques, and post-harvest management. The training emphasized:
- Drought-resilient agriculture
- Minimizing crop loss
- Enhancing food security in dry zones
Impact: 50 trained | September 2018 | Climate-Resilient Agriculture for Dryland Farmers
Mainstreaming Climate Education
Beyond short-term training, ISTVS embeds climate action into its academic curriculum, ensuring long-term institutional knowledge across the region. To date:
- 100 students have taken the course “Climate Change Adaptation in Dryland Regions” (2013–2025)
- 65 students have completed the course “The Role of Climate Change on Animal Health and Productivity” (2018–2025)
These courses ensure that climate adaptation strategies are not only taught but practiced in the field by the next generation of climate and veterinary professionals.
Leading Research for Localized Climate Solutions
ISTVS is contributing to regional climate adaptation strategies through groundbreaking, locally relevant research. Recent studies include:
- 2024 – Exploring smallholder farm resilience to climate change: intended and actual adaptation
- 2024 – Understanding Climate Change: Perceptions, Impacts, Adaptations and Influencing Factors Among Smallholder Farmers in the Sahil Region, Somaliland
- 2024 – From Crisis to Opportunity: Climate Change Benefits Livestock Production in Somalia
- 2018 – Understanding Climate Change Adaptation Dynamics in Central Somaliland
These studies generate vital evidence for climate policy, livestock productivity enhancement, and community-based adaptation.
Conclusion: A Regional Model of Action
ISTVS exemplifies how education and research can anchor climate resilience in fragile ecosystems. By training hundreds of local actors, integrating climate into curriculum, and pioneering research, ISTVS has become a pillar of the IGAD region’s climate response infrastructure.
As climate variability continues to test the Horn of Africa, ISTVS offers not just solutions – but sustainable hope, rooted in science, education, and the power of local communities to adapt and thrive.
