The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) have launched a landmark $358 million programme to combat climate change in East Africa’s dairy sector. The Dairy Interventions for Mitigation and Adaptation (DaIMA) programme will directly benefit 2.5 million rural people across Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. As part of the initiative, GCF has committed $150 million in funding.
Designed to strengthen climate resilience among smallholder dairy farmers, the programme will support improved veterinary care, breeding and extension services, and access to climate-smart information. An additional 15 million people are expected to benefit indirectly across dairy value chains in the region.
East Africa’s dairy industry faces severe climate vulnerabilities—from heat stress and prolonged droughts to increased flooding and erratic rainfall. These challenges not only threaten productivity but also contribute to high levels of methane emissions from livestock. DaIMA aims to tackle both issues by promoting practices that help farmers adapt to climate risks while cutting greenhouse gas emissions or enhancing carbon sequestration in pastures.
The programme was developed by IFAD in collaboration with the FAO Investment Centre, which contributed critical expertise in livestock and climate change. Design support also came from the Global Methane Hub, Global Dairy Platform, and funding from GCF’s project preparation facility.
Over the next 20 years, DaIMA is projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 2.1 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. By promoting climate-smart dairy practices, the programme is expected to boost milk production by 34%, significantly enhancing the dairy sector’s contribution to agricultural GDP in the four target countries.
Beyond environmental goals, DaIMA will also focus on economic empowerment—particularly for women and youth—through training, access to finance, and inclusive policies.
