NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 20 – A six-year regional programme aimed at building a low-emission and climate-resilient dairy sector has been launched across East Africa, targeting millions of smallholder farmers.
The Dairy Interventions for Mitigation and Adaptation (DaIMA) programme, led by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has secured $150 million in co-financing from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), bringing total investment to $358 million.
Presented at the 9th International Greenhouse Gas and Animal Agriculture (GGAA) Conference in Nairobi, the initiative will directly benefit 2.5 million people in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, and indirectly reach an additional 15.4 million along the dairy value chain.
The programme seeks to strengthen the resilience and productivity of East Africa’s dairy systems by improving breeding, veterinary services, feed management, and access to climate information.
It will also promote innovative technologies that enhance milk yields while cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
“DaIMA is about transforming the backbone of East Africa’s dairy sector,” said Sara Mbago, IFAD Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.
“By combining innovation, investment, and policy reform, we are helping farmers adapt to a changing climate while creating opportunities for growth.”
The initiative aims to increase milk production by 34 percent and cut emissions by 2.1 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent over 20 years. It also plans to restore 180,000 hectares of rangeland and support more than two million dairy cattle.
A Green Dairy Financing Facility will be established to expand access to climate finance for farmers, cooperatives, and small and medium-sized enterprises to promote low-emission value chains.
The DaIMA programme is being implemented through four existing IFAD projects aligned with national priorities. It involves partners including the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), FAO Investment Centre, Global Methane Hub, Global Dairy Platform, and USAID Food and Agriculture.
ILRI will provide technical assistance to the participating countries, focusing on monitoring and verification of greenhouse gas emissions through its Mazingira Centre.
“DaIMA represents a major milestone for the dairy sector,” said Appolinaire Djikeng, ILRI Director General. “By scaling up low-emission, climate-resilient solutions, it directly supports the Paris Agreement and accelerates sustainable transformation in the region.”
