How Europe could support pastoral dairying in Eastern Africa

Most pastoral development interventions focus on meat production. Greater emphasis on dairying could improve human nutrition in the drylands and strengthen pastoralist women’s role as traditional managers of milk and innovators in dairy marketing. The CELEP brief “Pastoral dairying in Eastern Africa: how could Europe support it?” (2018, 6pp) reviews documents about dairy development in the region. It looks into the differences between formal and informal milk markets, including evidence concerning food safety. It draws attention to the specificities of pastoral dairying, which call for a different development approach in the drylands than in the highlands. The review investigates the potential contribution of pro-poor dairy development to women’s empowerment and wider food security. After considering the potentials and constraints in pastoral dairy development, CELEP offers recommendations regarding European policies and development interventions in this sector in Eastern Africa.

Posted on 28 May 2018 in CELEP Documents, News, Pastoralism & Marketing, Pastoralism, Gender & Youth, Pastoralist Livelihoods & Nutrition