IFAD and GCF partner in US$ 358mln climate programme for East Africa’s dairy sector
According to the recent press release seen by this reporter, the programme will help smallholder dairy farmers become more resilient to climate change through improved veterinary services, enhanced extension and breeding services, and better access to climate information
KAMPALA, July 28, 2025 — The International Fund for Agricultural Development [IFAD] and the Green Climate Fund [GCF] signed an agreement for a US$150 million contribution from GCF to the US$ 358 million Dairy Interventions for Mitigation and Adaptation [DaIMA] programme in East Africa, reaching 2.5 million rural people in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.
According to the recent press release seen by this reporter, the programme will help smallholder dairy farmers become more resilient to climate change through improved veterinary services, enhanced extension and breeding services, and better access to climate information. Additionally, over 15 million people will indirectly benefit from the programme throughout the dairy sector’s value chains.
“Receiving this substantial additional financing from the Green Climate Fund for the DaIMA programme is a significant step towards a sustainable, climate-resilient dairy sector in East Africa. With the collaboration of governments of Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, and financial and technical partners, and with IFAD’s innovative financing solutions, we aim to improve the livelihoods of millions of dairy farmers,” said Sara Mbago-Bhunu, IFAD Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.
The dairy sector in East Africa is highly vulnerable to climate change and is also characterized by high greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions, especially methane. The impacts of climate change include heat stress on dairy animals, prolonged and more recurrent droughts, intensifying heavy rainfall, flooding, and other extreme weather events that reduce dairy cow productivity. Solutions that help farmers adapt to these impacts often leads to reducing GHG emissions or sequester carbon in pastures.
“The DaIMA programme is the GCF’s first dedicated livestock investment, and it responds to the immediate adaptation and mitigation needs of the four participating East African countries. The GCF is proud to partner with IFAD in delivering a systemic transformation of the dairy sector, building climate resilience from farm to table,” said Catherine Kofmann, GCF Director of Africa Region.
The DaIMA programme was designed by IFAD in collaboration with the FAO Investment Centre that contributed key technical expertise on livestock and climate change, and with the support of a preparation fund from the GCF. Other organisations also supported the design, including the Global Methane Hub and the Global Dairy Platform.
The programme aims to reduce GHG emissions from the dairy industry by 2,169,485 tCO2 eq. over a 20-year period, contributing to global efforts to combat climate change. By implementing climate-smart practices, the programme is expected to increase milk production by 34 per cent, significantly boosting the dairy sector’s contribution to the agricultural GDP of the four target countries.
Through capacity building and access to finance, the programme will enhance the livelihoods of dairy farmers, with a focus on women and youth, promoting gender equality and social inclusion.
“The approval of the DaIMA programme represents a major milestone for the dairy sector across four East African countries facing climate challenges. By scaling up low-emission, climate-resilient solutions focused on dairy production efficiencies, circularity, and sequestration, enhancing monitoring, reporting, reporting and verification systems and policies, and mobilising the local financial sector for channeling climate finance to the private sector,” said Giovanni Munoz, Service Chief for Eastern and Southern Africa of the FAO Investment Centre.
He added: DaIMA directly supports the implementation of Paris Agreement’s Nationally-Determined Contributions of each country, accelerating the sustainable transformation of the dairy sector in the region.”
https://thecooperator.news/farmers-urged-to-embrace-dairy-farming-to-enhance-food-security/
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