Gates Foundation Puts $8 Million Into Heifer African Project
by July 6, 2012 9:34 am 73 views
Little Rock-based nonprofit Heifer International received an additional $8.5 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation this week for one of its biggest projects in Africa.
The Gates Foundation grant is in addition to a $42.8 million grant announced in 2008.
The money is being used for the East Africa Dairy Development (EADD) project, which is helping about 179,000 dairy farmers expand their efforts and income.
From Heifer's blog:
So what, exactly does EADD do? The project helps small dairy farmers sustainably increase their milk productivity and efficiency. It also helps them sell more milk by connecting to markets and by creating and expanding infrastructure like collection hubs and chilling plants.
EADD is now in its final year of the pilot p
hase. It has grown to be one of the leading market-oriented agro-livestock development initiatives in East Africa, earning the farming families more than $35 million.
“We are excited for the opportunity to continue serving dairy farming families and grateful to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for their support,” says Elizabeth Bintliff, vice president of Heifer International’s Africa area program.
The grant will support existing projects in Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda and explore possibilities for expansion in Ethiopia and Tanzania.
Read more here.