By Murimi Gitari, October 16, 2025, A major climate investment initiative is poised to transform East Africa’s dairy industry, following the launch this week of the Dairy Interventions for Mitigation and Adaptation (DaIMA) programme. Backed by $358 million in funding, DaIMA will support the development of a low-emission, climate-resilient dairy sector across Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Led by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and co-financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), DaIMA was unveiled at the 9th International Greenhouse Gas and Animal Agriculture (GGAA) conference in Nairobi. The six-year programme is expected to directly benefit 2.5 million rural residents and indirectly reach over 15 million people along the dairy value chain.
East Africa’s dairy sector plays a critical role in food security and rural livelihoods, but faces mounting challenges from climate change, including heat stress, drought, and land degradation. DaIMA aims to address these threats by equipping smallholder farmers with climate information, improved breeding and veterinary services, and innovative feed and reproduction technologies.
The programme will restore nearly 180,000 hectares of rangeland and support more than two million dairy cattle. It also introduces a Green Dairy Financing Facility to unlock climate finance for farmers, cooperatives, and small and medium-sized enterprises.
DaIMA is projected to increase milk production by 34% and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2.1 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent over the next 20 years. Its holistic approach includes improved feed and fodder systems, manure management, pasture restoration, and expanded access to climate-responsive practices.
“DaIMA is about transforming the backbone of East Africa’s dairy sector,” said Sara Mbago, IFAD’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. “By combining innovation, investment and policy reform, we are helping farmers adapt to a changing climate while reducing emissions and creating opportunities for growth.”
The programme brings together a coalition of global partners including IFAD, GCF, 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 on greenhouse gas monitoring and reporting through its Mazingira Centre.
“DaIMA represents a major milestone for the dairy sector,” said Appolinaire Djikeng, Director General of ILRI. “By scaling up low-emission, climate-resilient solutions, DaIMA directly supports the implementation of the Paris Agreement, accelerating the sustainable transformation of the dairy sector in the region.”
With climate pressures intensifying, DaIMA offers a replicable model for agricultural resilience—linking policy, finance, and innovation to build a climate-smart dairy economy across East Africa.
