Hostname: page-component-699b5d5946-k5dhg Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-03-08T10:35:15.999Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
Accepted manuscript

The Role of Livestock in the Nutrition of Refugees and Internally Displaced People: A Scoping Review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 March 2026

Rosie Herrington*
Affiliation:
Division of Global Agriculture and Food Systems, University of Edinburgh, Charnock Bradley Building, Easterbush Campus, EH25 9RG
Afnan El-Gayar
Affiliation:
The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Charnock Bradley Building, Easterbush Campus, EH25 9RG
Judith Okoth
Affiliation:
Division of Global Agriculture and Food Systems, University of Edinburgh, Charnock Bradley Building, Easterbush Campus, EH25 9RG
Lisa Boden
Affiliation:
Division of Global Agriculture and Food Systems, University of Edinburgh, Charnock Bradley Building, Easterbush Campus, EH25 9RG
Lian F Thomas
Affiliation:
Division of Global Agriculture and Food Systems, University of Edinburgh, Charnock Bradley Building, Easterbush Campus, EH25 9RG International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya
*
Corresponding author: Rosie Herrington; rosie.herrington@ed.ac.uk
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the 'Save PDF' action button.

As human displacement rises, the humanitarian funding environment fluxes, and undernutrition continues to affect refugees and internally displaced communities; there is a need for evidence to better understand pathways to healthy, self-reliant livelihoods. In non-displaced contexts, livestock-keeping has been shown to increase resilience to malnutrition during crises and improve food security but much less evidence is available in displacement camp contexts. This review investigates what empirical evidence exists on the role of livestock ownership in refugee/IDP nutrition. A systematic search of MEDLINE, CAB Abstracts, Web of Science, African Journal Online, Dissertations and Theses Global and grey literature was undertaken according to PRISMA-ScR and JBI guidelines. From 903 records found, 21 studies were included for review, of which 12 reported positive effects of livestock keeping on nutritional outcomes in the refugee/IDP camp setting, 3 reported mixed effects and 6 determined no effect. No study found a solely negative effect. The human nutritional outcomes studied included anaemia, stunting, wasting, dietary diversity and food security proxies. One study explored the general impact of livestock ownership whilst the remainder explored the association between animal source food consumption and nutritional outcomes. The current relative scarcity of data in the refugee/IDP context, along with the lack of standardised study design and outcome measures, limits the ability to undertake formal meta-analysis and give evidence-based recommendations. We call for more research with adherence to existing standardised reporting guidelines such that appropriate analysis can be undertaken in such a highly complex system to enhance evidence for these vulnerable communities.

Information

Type
Review Article
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society