About 70 percent of the rural poor in sub-Saharan Africa are highly dependent on livestock to sustain their lives and communities. Livestock are the most important source of revenue (often traded for other needs) and provide a means for capital accumulation. Inclusion of dietary animal protein is especially important in improving community health, including neonatal brain development. The benefits of livestock to total production are great, since livestock use crop stubble or areas totally unsuitable for cropping, contributing to sustainability at little or no extra cost to the farmer. However, both new and familiar challenges remain. Unfortunately, most production measures show that yields are well below levels in other developing regions and have even declined over the past 30 years. Although the global community of science is contributing to positive impacts, improving animal nutrition, management, genetics, animal disease control, forage production, technology adoption, and effective technology transfer are among the most vexing problems. Through a greater understanding of the vital roles of women in these developing communities, science is finding new ways to more effectively communicate technological benefits. This symposium emphasizes that bringing positive change will depend on educating the populace and building the education and research engines of the knowledge society of sub-Saharan Africa.