In 2024, the World Poultry Foundation (WPF) joined the Sustainable Transformation of Enterprises in the Poultry Sector (STEPS) Program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Lesotho, implemented by Land O’Lakes Venture37. As part of this initiative, WPF led the development of poultry training curricula for broilers, layers, and dual-purpose birds, while also providing partner training, value chain advisory support, and cost modeling to strengthen long-term impact.
Working alongside the KwaZulu-Natal Poultry Training Institute (KZNPI), the Rural Self-Help Development Association (RSDA), and a national working group of local stakeholders, WPF developed and tailored the training content to Lesotho’s unique high-altitude conditions, including climate, pest, and resource challenges. The content was developed using a collaborative approach, involving the Working Group at each stage of development. The final versions of these curricula were shared with the working group in 2025, laying the foundation for broader poultry adoption.
In addition to curriculum design, WPF also contributed technical expertise to support RSDA in their development of a value chain for dual-purpose poultry. The WPF helped develop a site plan for their parent stock farm, placement plans for parent stock flock to reach the program targets, and cost models to ensure pricing and field mentorship was aligned with a profitable approach for farmers.
