Heifer International

Heifer International has been active in Kenya since 1981, initially supporting a women’s dairy group in the western region. Over the years, the organization has expanded its efforts to bolster the dairy, poultry, beef, and horticulture sectors. The primary goal is to assist smallholder farmers in achieving a sustainable living income by enhancing agricultural productivity, market access, and resilience.

Key Programs and Initiatives

1. Practice for Change (P4C) Signature Program

This flagship initiative aims to help 625,000 Kenyan households attain a sustainable living income by 2030. It focuses on transforming agricultural value chains—specifically beef, dairy, poultry, and horticulture—through:

• Training in modern farming techniques

• Access to financial services

• Digital agriculture solutions

• Youth engagement and empowerment

2. Kenya Livestock Marketing and Resilience Project (KLMP)

Running from 2023 to 2027, KLMP targets 38,000 smallholder households involved in poultry and beef production across nine counties, including Kajiado, Isiolo, and Bungoma. The project aims to:

• Strengthen production and marketing systems

• Enhance resilience and livelihoods

• Establish resilient production systems

• Empower pastoralists and agro-pastoralists

3. Hatching Hope Kenya

In partnership with Cargill, this program focuses on improving nutrition and livelihoods through sustainable poultry production. Operating in counties like Kisumu, Siaya, and Nakuru, it aims to:

• Support 46,000 poultry farming households

• Develop sustainable poultry market systems

• Enhance access to quality feed and technical support

4. AYuTe Africa Challenge Kenya

This annual competition supports young agritech innovators with ideas to transform farming and food production. Since its inception in 2022, the challenge has:

• Trained over 230 young entrepreneurs

• Awarded $40,000 in grants to support agribusiness innovation

Impact and Reach

• Heifer Kenya has reached over 3 million households since its inception.

• In 2024 alone, 102,534 households participated in various programs.

• The organization emphasizes women’s empowerment, youth involvement, and climate-smart agriculture.