The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) works at the crossroads of livestock and poverty, bringing high-quality science and capacity-building to bear on poverty reduction and sustainable development. ILRI works in Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and China.

ILRI is a non-profit-making and non-governmental organization with headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, and a second principal campus in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. ILRI employ over 700 staff from about 40 countries. About 80 staff are recruited through international competitions and represent some 30 disciplines. Around 600 staff are nationally recruited, largely from Kenya and Ethiopia. Most ILRI staff are based at headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya (about 170 people) and at the principal campus in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

ILRI works in partnerships and alliances with other organizations, national and international, in livestock research, training and information. ILRI works in all tropical developing regions of Africa and Asia.

ILRI is a member of the Consortium of CGIAR Centers that conducts food and environmental research to help alleviate poverty and increase food security while protecting the natural resource base.