Funding Approved for Pathways to Dairy Net Zero East Africa Project

A potentially transformative dairy project for East Africa has cleared a major milestone, as the Green Climate Fund (GCF) this month approved a funding proposal by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for the Dairy Interventions for Mitigation and Adaptation (DaIMA) programme.

The USD 358 million initiative, which was initiated by Global Dairy Platform as part of Pathways to Dairy Net Zero (P2DNZ), is aimed at strengthening climate resilience and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the dairy sector across Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

IFAD and the FAO Investment Centre led the planning, along with support from GDP, Bain & Company, Global Methane Hub and USAID. DaIMA could reach as many as 2.5 million smallholder farmers directly and another 15 million indirectly through engagement with the dairy value chain.

The project, which is built upon the success of the Dairy Nourishes Africa, was originally titled, “Pathways to Dairy Net Zero in East Africa: Promoting Low Carbon and Climate Resilient Livestock in East Africa.” It aims to reduce emissions from the livestock sector while improving productivity and increasing the resilience of livestock-dependent communities. By integrating the dairy sector into national climate actions, the project is designed to deliver multiple benefits for climate/environment, food security/nutrition, livelihoods, and social inclusion.