Achieving the SDGs by 2030 - how do working animals fit in?
Donkeys resting together in Kenya. Credit: Stephen Kiprop
Today marks the halfway point of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by UN Member States, to help achieve everything from ending poverty and hunger to providing clean water for all, by 2030. Brooke plays a vital part in helping to achieve these goals, thanks to our work supporting many of the 100 million working donkeys and horses who contribute to the livelihoods of 600 million people in some of the world’s poorest countries.
These 17 goals, which also include good health and wellbeing for all, gender equality, climate action and quality education, are part of the Sustainable Development Agenda which aims to deliver progress for people, animals and our planet.
These case studies show how Brooke continues to support working horses, donkeys and mules who contribute to achieving the goals, living alongside communities and other animals around the world.
Horses and donkeys provide critical economic support through work in agriculture, construction, extractive industries like brick kilns and coal mines , tourism and transport.
Ali, a brick kiln worker in India brought his horse Bahadur to help him transport bricks by cart back and forth from the kiln. Bahadur is the source of Ali’s livelihood: “...if he could not work, I would not be able to buy food for my family and we would starve.”
Ali and his horse Bahadur, who provides crucial economic support for him in an Indian brick kiln. Credit: Atul Loke
SDG2: No Hunger
Horses, donkeys and mules work in agriculture and food production, helping owners to afford food for their families. This includes soil tillage, producing manure fertiliser, and transport of livestock, feed, water or produce to the market.
In the Kenyan Highlands, donkeys are essential to the dairy industry and farmers in transporting milk over challenging terrain, to the milk processing plants or points of sale. One Kenyan donkey owner transports up to 300 litres of milk daily to the dairy, but without his donkey this “would have been a major challenge.”
Donkeys in the Kenyan Highlands, who are essential to the dairy industry by transporting milk through challenging conditions. Credit: Stephen Kiprop
Horses and donkeys can help support children in education, by bringing in income to pay their school fees - promoting lifelong learning opportunities.
Tabitha, a pupil at Tulimani Primary School in Kenya rescued her donkey, Danny, from a remote area and restored him to full health. The income that Danny provides her family with has helped Tabitha pay for school books and stationary, giving her a bright future.
Kenyan pupil Tabitha, who relies on her donkey Danny to pay for her to go to school. Credit: Stephen Kiprop.
Women around the world depend on working horses and donkeys to support them with time consuming tasks, such as fetching water. Income from working animals helps women pay for household essentials, empowers them and supports gender equality.
Anuradha, a woman working in an Indian brick kiln, relies on her donkeys to increase her income, so she can educate her daughters and “realise her strength” as an agent of change for her household and wider community.
Women and girls around the world depend on working animals to "realise their strength" as agents of change. Credit: Bill Bradshaw
Working animals help provide access to water for communities and livestock. Without their help, people - especially women and girls - often face long and dangerous journeys to fetch water from remote sources.
Dennis is a student at Makuthu Donkey Care Club in Kenya, whose four donkeys have helped him to collect water during the drought in East Africa. With the help of his donkeys, Dennis and his cousins fetch water everyday after school to support their family.
Dennis, a student in Kenya fetches water with his donkeys everyday after school for his family. Credit: Bill Bradshaw
Horses, donkeys and mules boost community resilience in the face of disasters and climate shocks. They help families to relocate when needed and even rebuild infrastructure.
During the aftermath of the Pakistan floods in 2022, working horses and donkeys played a pivotal role in providing emergency relief, by delivering supplies such as food, water and medicine to those in need.
Donkey provide emergency relief during the Pakistan floods in 2022