More than 30 civil society organisations have called on the World Bank Group to stop financing industrial livestock production and redirect funds to sustainable, small-scale food systems that protect people, animals, and the planet.

This call comes as part of a coordinated global mobilisation across 25 countries during the World Bank and International Finance Corporation Spring Meeting, according to a statement by World Animal Protection on Wednesday.

The worldwide planned actions aim to spotlight the continued use of public funds to support large-scale industrial livestock production, an approach widely linked to climate change, biodiversity loss, public health risks, and growing food insecurity.

Globally, the World Bank Group invested approximately $1.4 billion in industrial livestock production between 2023 and 2024 alone. Its private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation, approved 38 industrial livestock investments worth nearly $2 billion between 2020 and 2025.

“Sub-Saharan Africa is a significant recipient. A 2023 white paper by the Stop Financing Factory Farming Campaign (S3F) revealed that the region received 22 animal agriculture projects of 62 projects across developing regions, valued at approximately $1.395 billion, accounting for 41.9% of the $3.3 billion in total direct support from development finance institutions, including the World Bank Group.

“These figures highlight the region’s share of global financing flows into industrial animal agriculture and raise concerns about the long-term impacts on rural livelihoods, ecosystems, and climate resilience across Africa.

“Despite growing concerns over the environmental and social costs of factory farming, the World Bank Group announced plans to expand its agribusiness portfolio to $9 billion annually by 2030. At the same time, the IFC is undertaking a once-in-a-decade review of its environmental and social Performance Standards, creating a pivotal opportunity to align public finance with climate commitments, biodiversity protection, and sustainable development goals,” the organisation stated.

WAP warned that continued investment in factory farming could undermine traditional African food systems, which are largely based on smallholder farmers who produce the majority of the continent’s food. Instead of strengthening food security, large-scale industrial livestock systems often concentrate wealth in a few individuals, increase environmental degradation, and expose communities to pollution and disease risks.

Sally Kahiu, external affairs lead at WAP, said, “Africa’s food future depends on investments that strengthen smallholder farmers, protect ecosystems, and ensure long-term food security. Public funds should not be used to expand factory farming systems that threaten communities, animals, and the environment. We call on the World Bank Group to champion sustainable, locally driven food systems that truly support Africa’s development and resilience.”

Meanwhile, the Stop Financing Factory Farming Campaign continues to urge international financial institutions to adopt transparent policies that phase out funding for industrial livestock operations.

“Public finance should be a force for equitable development, not a driver of environmental harm and social exclusion,” said Opeyemi Elujulo, the executive director of Youth in Agroecology and Restoration Network and S3F Youth, Policy, and campaign lead.