Airtea Innovation Platform Meeting Deepens Technical Discussions And Multi-stakeholder Engagement

By Admin

Nyeri, 6th–7th October 2022

The AIRTEA Project Innovation Platform (IP) Meeting continued on 6th and 7th October 2022 at the White Rhino Hotel, Nyeri, with participants engaging in in-depth technical discussions and collaborative sessions aimed at strengthening dairy value chains and improving outcomes for women and youth dairy farmers.

Building on the foundations laid on the opening day, the second and third days focused on practical solutions, experience sharing, and coordinated action among actors across the dairy ecosystem. The meeting brought together representatives from dairy cooperatives, government institutions, private sector partners, financial service providers, regulators, and development organisations.

Interactive Learning and Working Sessions

The sessions on Days Two and Three were structured around interactive discussions and working group engagements, allowing participants to actively contribute ideas and perspectives. The meeting adopted a rectangular sitting arrangement, with additional tables positioned at the centre of the room to encourage open dialogue, peer learning, and cross-sector interaction among participants.

This layout enabled effective engagement, allowing stakeholders to exchange experiences, reflect on challenges, and propose context-specific solutions for the dairy sector.

Focus on Technology, Markets and Capacity Building

Key discussions during the two days centred on the uptake of technologies, knowledge, and innovations along the dairy value chain. Participants explored strategies to improve milk productivity, quality, aggregation, and market access, particularly for smallholder farmers organised through cooperatives.

Emphasis was placed on strengthening the role of cooperatives as service delivery hubs, capable of supporting women and youth with extension services, access to inputs, financial products, and reliable markets. Presentations also highlighted the importance of linking farmers to structured markets and enhancing cooperative governance and business management.

Strengthening Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships

The meeting further underscored the importance of coordinated action among strategic partners, including research institutions, private sector actors, financial service providers, regulators, and government agencies at both national and county levels.

Participants discussed ways to improve collaboration within the Multi-Stakeholder Platform (MSP) to ensure efficient service delivery, reduce duplication of efforts, and maximise impact. The role of an enabling policy and regulatory environment was also highlighted as critical to sustaining gains within the dairy sector.

Advancing Women and Youth Inclusion

Across both days, discussions consistently reinforced the need for deliberate inclusion of women and youth in innovation processes, leadership structures, and income-generating opportunities within the dairy value chain. Stakeholders shared experiences on capacity building initiatives, youth-led service provision models, and approaches for improving participation in cooperative governance.

Way Forward

The meeting concluded on 7th October 2022 with a shared commitment by stakeholders to strengthen coordination, scale effective innovations, and sustain engagement through the Innovation Platform. Participants agreed on the importance of continued learning, information sharing, and partnership building to support a resilient and inclusive dairy sector.

The outcomes from the second and third days are expected to contribute significantly to improved cooperative performance, increased milk productivity, and enhanced livelihoods for women and youth dairy farmers in the project’s target counties.