VSF-Germany worked to improve Somalia's dairy value chain by influencing policy, enhancing women's participation, and strengthening skills and networks. The project benefited over 100,000 milk consumers and families, as well as government staff and extension workers. Outcomes included reduced post-harvest losses, increased fresh milk availability, linkages between producers and vendors, a variety of dairy products, higher incomes, and better quality milk available to consumers through public institutions monitoring quality and hygiene. Core interventions included supporting dairy regulations and policies, capacity building, technology transfer for value addition, and quality assurance systems.

1. Improving Dairy Value Chain through Influencing Policy and Practice, Enhancing Women Participation and Strengthening Skills and Networks: VSF-Germany’s Experience in Somalia.
Presented at CTA-ILRI African Dairy Value Chain Seminar; 21st-24th September 2014 at Intercontinental Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya
Contacts: Maurice Kiboye mkiboye@vsfg.org Willi Duehnen Duehnen@vsfg.org
SS
Beneficiaries
.100,000 milk consumers
.15,000 families (80% women) milk traders
.100 government staff in ministries of livestock.
.50 extension workers and 50 CAHWs
Outcomes
.Reduced post harvest losses of milk
.Increased availability of fresh milk for consumers.
.Linkages between milk producers and urban dairy vendors
.Variety of stable dairy products
.Higher incomes to roducers/traders
(80% women)
.Public institutions monitoring milk quality and hygiene
.Better quality milk available to cosumers
Core inteventions
.Public sector dairy regulatoions and policies.
.Capacity building of stakeholders in the dairy chain.
.Technology transafer for value addition
.Dairy quality assurance system
Path ways
 Strengthen linkages between milk producers, vendors and consumers.
 Woman groups trading in dairy products.
 Parliament for legal framework in dairy trade
 Dairy laboratories for milk quality testing
 Fora for dissemination of regulations.
 Storage and cooling facilities for vendors
 Train on processing for new dairy products.
 Train on milk hygiene in production and marketing;
 Awareness importance of hygiene in trade
 Milk bulking and milk sellers’ groups.