Germany and ILRI sign agreement in Nairobi to collaborate in research to assess the pastoral-livestock-wildlife benefits from Kenya’s eco-conservancies

German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited ILRI’s Nairobi campus on 12 Jul 2011: Here, the Chancellor is rising from signing ILRI’s visitors’ book, with German Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner, Kenya Agriculture Minister Sally Kosgei and ILRI Director General Carlos Seré looking on (photo credit: ILRI/MacMillan).

Nairobi’s Daily Nation newspaper reported yesterday (12 Jul 2011):

‘Kenya has opened its doors for more German investments following the setting up of an office expected to promote trade between the two countries.

‘This follows the signing of an agreement that establishes a delegation office for German Industry and Commerce in Nairobi at a ceremony witnessed by ‘Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Raila Odinga. . . .

Kenya and Germany also signed an agreement to support research at the International Livestock Research Institute in Nairobi. . . .’

The study to be conducted by scientists at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), based in Nairobi, in partnership with Kenyan institutions and groups, will assess the state of Kenya’s ‘eco-conservancies’, which strive to benefit both Kenya’s wildlife and the pastoral people who have been stewards of wildlife in this country for centuries. The study will examine the benefits accruing from the establishment of these eco-conservancies in terms of both wildlife conservation and poverty reduction among Kenya’s pastoral communities.

Following the agreement signing ceremony, attended by ILRI Director General Carlos Seré and ILRI’s Director of Partnerships and Communications Bruce Scott, Chancellor Merkel attended a State luncheon given by President Mwai Kibaki, to which ILRI’s director general was also invited.

Read the whole article in the Daily Nation: Our doors are open, German investors assured, 12 Jul 2011.