Between May and July 2020, Ahmed Sidahmed performed an assessment for the African Union Inter-African Bureau of Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), which focused on the impact of Covid-19 on the African animal resources sector.

Due to limitations posed by the pandemic, engagement with major stakeholders in the Animal Resource Sector was achieved entirely by virtual means. A four-hour consultation brought together the African Union Commission, AU-IBAR and Regional Economic Commission representatives, technical partners, and senior staff including ministers, under-secretaries, chief veterinary officers and directors of animal production, from each of the participating 50 countries.  Following the virtual meeting, a questionnaire and SWOT analysis were conducted by email with a wide range of stakeholders across 22 countries, including chief veterinary officers, directors of animal production, regional economic commissions, youth associations and representatives from the Islamic and African Development Banks. The task proved to be both interesting and successful, contributing significantly to the continent’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and supporting regional development banks to assist respective African member countries to cope with and mitigate the impact of Covid-19.