Grantee: Heifer International
This grant faced some challenges in getting off the ground and is behind on some of its initial milestones. But a strong team is now implementing a good strategy, and we believe the project will meet its overall goal.
Assembling a team takes time: Initial plans for this grant were overly ambitious about how quickly quality staff could be hired; key team members were not in place until around September 2008, instead of in early 2008 as planned. In addition, the grant brings together several different partners working across several different countries, and not enough time was allotted for building good working relationships. As a result, grant implementation began about six months later than initially planned. We’re considering extending the length of the grant by a few months to ensure Heifer can meet the goals.
Violence in Kenya: The turmoil following contested elections in Kenya has caused significant challenges. The project’s regional office is based in Kenya, as are more than half of the target farmers and a majority of the chilling plants. Violence and unrest delayed recruiting and setting up offices. It also has affected the dairy industry and dairy farmers, making it hard for farmers to access supplies and services and get their milk to market
Work underway has gone well: Despite the late start, Heifer has helped nearly 30,000 dairy farmers organize into farmer groups in 2008 so they can form business associations and establish chilling plants that will help them get their milk to market. In addition, farmers, businesses, and communities have embraced Heifer’s model of developing not just chilling plants but service “hubs,” where all the things a dairy farmer needs to succeed—animal health products and services, feed sales, artificial insemination services, training, and credit—can be found in the same place.
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