Final performance evaluation of the Kenya dairy sector competitiveness program : USAID support to Kenya"s dairy industry for a five-year period from May 2008 until April 2013

The program"s primary goal was to increase smallholder household incomes through the sale of quality milk. Its secondary goal was to help transform the Kenyan dairy industry into a globally competitive and regional market leader by eliminating inefficiencies and lowering production and processing costs throughout the dairy value chain, while working to ensure that Kenyan milk met domestic and international quality standards. Thus, the program aimed to improve the competitiveness of Kenya"s dairy industry and increase economic benefits to stakeholders throughout the entire dairy value chain, with an emphasis on smallholder farmers. It also integrated the crosscutting themes of gender and youth and sustainable resource management and utilization. The project implements three activities that focus on primary value chain constraints and opportunities: (1) KDSCP works to improve the business operating environment by building the capacity of institutions that serve the dairy industry and facilitating a review of national policies, regulations, acts, and standards to ensure consumer safety and market expansion, especially for the export market; (2) KDSCP works to increase the operational efficiency of small business organizations in the industry, particularly those serving farmers working directly with the program; and (3) KDSCP supports increased access to business development services by dairy enterprises, including smallholder farmers. The evaluation team was required to respond specifically to five questions posed by USAID in the evaluation statement of work (SOW): (1) to what extent did KDSCP meet the intended goals [and] if the goal was not achieved, why not; (2) what were the internal and external enabling factors that contributed to meeting or not meeting the intended goals; (3) what is the evidence concerning the sustainability of the end results produced by the program; (4) to what extent did the program employ new approaches; and (5) to what extent were environmental compliance mitigation measures identified at the beginning of the project effectively implemented, including Pesticides Evaluation Reports and Safe Use Action Plans? The following are lessons learned from the implementation of KDSCP and the project evaluation: (1) artificial insemination is an excellent means for small dairy farmers to progressively improve the genetic foundation of their dairy herd to increase milk production and create greater market value for their dairy cattle; (2) providing adequate quantities of nutritious feed and water to dairy cattle throughout the dry season will mitigate the effects of seasonal declines in milk production; (3) on-farm silage making is a low-cost means for preparing and storing animal feed by small farmers; and (4) to better collect information, USAID evaluations should be conducted before the project is completed. Specific evaluation findings, conclusions and recommendations are provided with detailed analysis for each evaluation question. (Excerpt, modified)