On 8 May 2014 the Livestock and Fish CGIAR Research Program supported the Global Knowledge Initiative’s (GKI) dairy value chain collaboration colloquium in Kampala.
The Collaboration Colloquium brought together participants representing research, business, development organizations, and government to share knowledge, build skills, and explore opportunities for partnership. These activities were aimed at addressing challenges offered by seven individuals or “Challengers” working in the dairy value chain: Clayton Arinanye of the Uganda Crane Creameries Cooperative Union; Fred Kabi of Makerere University; James Lwerimba of World Wide Sires; Billy Butamanya of the Uganda Cooperative Alliance; Henry Njakoi of Heifer International; Tom Sillayo of Faida Market Link (Faida MaLi); and Mayasa Simba of the Tanzania Dairy Board.
The event featured four facilitated steps designed to reveal possible pathways to partnership: (1) identifying shared goals; (2) mapping key aspects of the challenge; (3) identifying resources for strategic action; and (4) testing and strengthening ideas.
The Livestock and Fish Program sponsored three Tanzania dairy value chain partners who participated as challengers in the event:
- Mayasa Simba, acting registrar, Tanzania Dairy Board
- Henry Njakoi, country director, Heifer International, Tanzania
- Tom Sillayo, general manager, Faida Market Link (Faida MaLi)
Challenges like poor access to veterinary care, inadequate knowledge of breeding practices, and insufficient market access make it difficult for farmers, processors, and other stakeholders to capture the full benefits of dairy production in East Africa.
Overcoming these multi-faceted challenges requires integrated solutions that maximize the expertise and engagement of stakeholders all along the dairy value chain. The Global Knowledge Initiative (GKI) designed the Dairy Value Chain Collaboration Colloquium to spur the creation of such solutions.
The Tanzania dairy value chain partners were able to refine the challenges they are addressing in Tanzania dairy, increase the networks for solving common problems and access to seed money USD 20,000, a challenge prize organized by GKI, that would be available to crystallize action for concepts around the challenges that win.
More details are in the colloquium report:
CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish 