Understanding challenges, opportunities, and pathways to a more compassionate world for animals across Africa, Asia, and Latin America
Animal welfare advocates have historically focused on wealthy Western nations, where infrastructure, legal systems, and consumer awareness make change achievable. But this focus may miss the areas where the most animals suffer and where interventions can have the greatest impact per dollar spent.
As economies grow across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, meat consumption is rising rapidly. Without proactive welfare interventions, billions more animals could be caught in intensive factory farming systems each year. The decisions being made in these regions over the next decade will shape the trajectory of animal suffering for generations.
Animal charity evaluators estimate that corporate campaigns and welfare reforms in the Global South can be 5–10× more cost-effective than equivalent work in Europe or North America. Smaller interventions in rapidly industrializing countries can prevent the "lock-in" of intensive practices that later become much harder to reform.
Home to rapidly growing livestock sectors in Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Kenya. Traditional extensive systems are giving way to intensive poultry and pig farms. Urban demand for cheap protein is driving rapid industrialization with minimal welfare oversight.
Key issues: Slaughter practices, transport conditions, emerging factory farming, working animals (donkeys, oxen).
India has ancient traditions of ahimsa (non-harm) yet is the world's largest dairy producer and a major exporter of beef. Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka face rapid intensification of poultry production with limited regulatory enforcement.
Key issues: Dairy cow welfare, poultry factory farming, stray dog populations, religious sacrifice.
China is the world's largest pork and poultry producer. Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia are rapidly expanding aquaculture. Cultural practices around dog meat, exotic animals, and traditional medicine create additional challenges.
Key issues: Pig welfare, aquaculture conditions, wildlife trade, traditional medicine demand.
Brazil is the world's largest beef exporter and a major chicken producer. Deforestation for livestock continues in the Amazon. Mexico and Colombia have growing animal welfare movements but limited legislative progress.
Key issues: Deforestation, beef production welfare, bullfighting, stray animal populations.
Live animal trade and transport across long distances is common. Religious slaughter practices, camel racing, and emerging intensive poultry production are key welfare issues. Rising affluence is increasing demand for companion animals.
Key issues: Live export, slaughter welfare, working animals, companion animal welfare.
The Global South produces over 70% of the world's farmed fish and shrimp. Conditions in shrimp farms in Vietnam, Ecuador, and Bangladesh often involve high stocking densities, disease, and crude slaughter methods.
Key issues: Stocking density, water quality, disease, slaughter methods, worker welfare intersections.
Runs corporate campaigns targeting major poultry producers in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Their Open Wing Alliance coordinates global cage-free commitments.
Works directly in South Asia and Southeast Asia to improve conditions for farmed fish, including training farmers on low-cost welfare improvements.
Latin America's leading farmed animal advocacy organization, running campaigns in Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina targeting the egg and poultry industries.
Works across Africa, Asia, and Latin America on issues including dog population management, wildlife trade, and farmed animal welfare.
Focuses specifically on improving conditions for farmed shrimp in South and Southeast Asia — one of the most neglected and cost-effective areas in animal welfare.
Engages with governments and businesses across Asia and Latin America to promote higher welfare standards in intensive farming.
The most impactful strategies for improving animal welfare in the Global South combine multiple approaches:
Targeting large domestic producers and multinational corporations operating in these regions. A single commitment from a major producer can affect millions of animals. The Open Wing Alliance's work securing cage-free commitments from food service companies across Asia and Latin America exemplifies this approach.
Many welfare improvements — better stunning, reduced stocking density, enrichment provision — can be implemented at low cost. Organizations like Fish Welfare Initiative work directly with farmers to demonstrate that welfare improvements often align with productivity improvements.
Working with governments to develop and enforce welfare standards. This requires building relationships with agricultural ministries, veterinary associations, and legislators. CIWF and HSI have had notable successes using this approach in Brazil and the Philippines.
Building a local base of welfare-conscious consumers who create market demand for higher-welfare products. This works best where middle-class populations are growing and disposable income allows for some price premium.
Funding and supporting locally-led animal welfare organizations is crucial for long-term change. International organizations that invest in local partners are more effective than those that operate as outside interventors.
Animal Charity Evaluators' research suggests that corporate campaigns in the Global South can improve welfare for animals at a cost of $0.05–$0.15 per animal affected — compared to $0.50–$2.00 for equivalent interventions in high-income countries. For donors concerned with maximizing their impact, this differential is compelling.
The Western-centric animal welfare movement has begun to recognize the importance of global south engagement, but significant gaps remain. Key priorities include:
Your support can fund programs where animal welfare dollars go furthest — helping more animals for less.
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