Ideas in Action

Heifer’s mission cannot be accomplished alone.

Our proven, renowned model of sustainable development is built upon the support, collaboration and alliance of like-minded, well-respected institutions, government agencies and corporations to support Heifer projects.

These critical collaborations – sharing values, resources and expertise – strengthen Heifer’s capacity to positively impact the lives of millions suffering from hunger and poverty.


Agriculture Sector Council Daybreak Seminar





East Africa Dairy: A Shared Smallholder, Business and Government Partnership
In 2008, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded a 5-year, $42.8 million grant to Heifer International.

• With a goal of doubling the dairy-derived income of 179,000 farming families.
• Involving 3 countries in East Africa in 10 years.
• Forming a five-member consortium (including Heifer, TechnoServe, the International Livestock Research Institute, the World Agro-Forestry Research Centre and African Breeders Services – Total Cattle Management) to implement market-driven, knowledge-based interventions.
• Creating interventions that would change a subsistence-based approach to dairy farming marked by declining food intake, limited access to education and health services, degraded grassland, under-developed commercial market systems, weak infrastructure and governance, and significant gender disparities to one where enhanced dairy production techniques, improved social relations, and strengthened market access transforms the lives of smallholder families.

Now in its fourth year, East Africa Dairy Development (EADD), recently underwent a mid-course evaluation conducted by Technical Assistance to NGOs (TANGO) at the end of 2010. Heifer is currently analyzing those results and discussing its approach to Phase II of the project (2012-17). Initial results include a dramatic increase in milk production, improvements in quality, and increased access to dairy markets through a ‘business hub’ approach.

On June 22, 2011, Moses Nyabila shared a remarkable story of transformation that’s taking place in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda through Heifer’s East Africa Dairy Development (EADD) project. Moses has been the regional director for EADD since 2008, and he spoke to a diverse group of representatives of numerous non-governmental organizations and agencies at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) offices in Washington, DC.

Learn about Moses' presentation on Heifer's EADD project to USAID on the blog.

Watch the video to see the impact the EADD project is having on small farmers in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.

• East Africa Dairy Development
• USAID
• Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Also, learn more about Heifer's part in a corsortium of four organizations that have won a 
$40 million grant from USAID to implement a project in Senegal.