Introducing the Dairy Food Systems Partnership…

During this interactive session, ms Sanne Steemers and ms Ingrid Korving presented a new sector agenda for sustainable dairy transformation targeting Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. (See presentation here) A diverse audience of public and private sector partners engaged in a lively discussion to share constructive insights and feedback. The presentation positioned DairyFSP as both a learning community of practice and a coalition for tangible impact. By linking sustainable development directly to lucrative business opportunities, the initiative aims to drive measurable, long-lasting transformation across the supply chain.

A Shared Mission to Scale Innovation

As highlighted during the event, DairyFSP does not intend to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it is built to cultivate deep collaboration between the public sector, private businesses, civil society, and knowledge institutes. By tapping into existing programs, investments, and integrated financial instruments, the coalition aims to optimize efficiency and accelerate scale-up growth across borders.The foundational roadmap presented at the event outlines a practical philosophy: keep it simple and get the basics right as an immediate first step. By mobilizing shared insights, country partners, and international coalitions, DairyFSP intends to dismantle traditional silos and build unified, action-oriented agendas.

Governance Built for Active Impact

Transforming ambitious goals into measurable results demands clear, accountable leadership. To drive action across borders, the presentation outlined a collaborative framework structured across three tiers:

Core Partners : A leadership team uniting private, public, academic, and civil society partners to guide strategy, steer working and join quarterly sounding boards.
Country Working Groups: Action-oriented teams aligning global expertise with regional stakeholders to drive local execution and address market needs.
Wider Dairy Community: An open global network sharing insights, research,

Paving the Path Ahead: Next Steps and Call to Action

The presentation of the Dairy Food Systems Partnership roadmap marks the beginning of an ambitious journey to revitalize and transform the dairy sector across East Africa. Moving forward, the coalition will prioritize formalizing core partnerships, establishing country-level working groups in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda, and activating cross-border knowledge networks. Realizing this vision requires the active commitment of forward-thinking leaders across the entire value chain. Public institutions, private enterprises, researchers, and civil society partners are warmly invited to engage with DairyFSP, contribute their expertise, and join us in shaping a resilient, sustainable, and prosperous future for dairy food systems.