By Moses Ebosele, ebosele@hotmail.com
More than 30 civil society organisations have urged the World Bank Group to halt financing for industrial livestock production and redirect investments toward sustainable, small-scale food systems that safeguard people, animals, and the environment.
The call forms part of a coordinated global mobilisation across 25 countries during the Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and its private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation.
In a statement, World Animal Protection said the actions aim to draw attention to the continued use of public funds to support large-scale industrial livestock production, which has been widely linked to climate change, biodiversity loss, public health risks, and increasing food insecurity.
According to the group, the World Bank Group invested about $1.4 billion in industrial livestock production between 2023 and 2024. It added that the International Finance Corporation approved 38 such investments worth nearly $2 billion between 2020 and 2025.
Sub-Saharan Africa remains a major recipient of these funds. A 2023 white paper by the Stop Financing Factory Farming Campaign revealed that the region accounted for 22 out of 62 animal agriculture projects across developing regions, valued at approximately $1.395 billion—representing 41.9 per cent of the $3.3 billion total direct support from development finance institutions, including the World Bank Group.
The report noted that these figures highlight Africa’s significant share of global financing for industrial animal agriculture, raising concerns about long-term impacts on rural livelihoods, ecosystems, and climate resilience.
Despite mounting criticism, the World Bank Group has announced plans to expand its agribusiness portfolio to $9 billion annually by 2030. At the same time, the International Finance Corporation is undertaking a comprehensive review of its environmental and social performance standards, seen by stakeholders as an opportunity to align funding with climate and sustainability goals.
World Animal Protection warned that continued investment in factory farming could undermine traditional African food systems, largely driven by smallholder farmers who produce most of the continent’s food. It argued that industrial livestock systems often concentrate wealth, accelerate environmental degradation, and expose communities to pollution and disease risks.
Sally Kahiu, External Affairs Lead at World Animal Protection, stressed the urgency of shifting priorities, noting that Africa’s food future depends on investments that strengthen smallholder farmers, protect ecosystems, and enhance long-term food security.
Similarly, the Stop Financing Factory Farming Campaign called on international financial institutions to adopt transparent policies to phase out funding for industrial livestock operations.
Opeyemi Elujulo, Executive Director of Youth in Agroecology and Restoration Network (YARN) and campaign lead, said public finance should promote equitable development rather than environmental harm and social exclusion.
He added that agroecological and community-led food systems—despite their potential to boost biodiversity, local economies, and climate resilience—remain underfunded and require urgent financial support.
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