Location
Djibouti
Stakeholders involved
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, Water, and Maritime Resources (MAEPE-RH) of Djibouti, Djibouti Agro-pastoralists Association (DAPA), smallholder farmers, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), African Development Bank (AfDB), Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Arid Land Agribusiness Group (ALABGRO), Dairy Goats Association of Kenya (DGAK)
Lead organization
Scale
To improve food and nutrition security, household income and resilience through the genetic improvement of local dairy goats via crossbreeding with Kenya Alpine and Saanen goats
Co-investment model
A combination of public funding (via MAEPE-RH), technical assistance from FAO and investments from development banks (AfDB and IDB) provided the co-financing. The initial investment was USD $75,000, growing in value to over USD $500,000. IGAD’s Drought Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods Programme (DRSLP) and IDB’s Dryland Development Project provided the catalytic capital. Enterprises like ALABGRO established model farms and goat milk processing infrastructure. The offtake was mostly informal and localized, with expanding interest in cooperative marketing and value-added product lines.
Impact
direct beneficiaries
indirect beneficiaries
litres/day for local markets
The program reached 165 direct beneficiaries (76 first-level, 95 second-level, 23 third-level) and 58 indirect beneficiaries. Productivity made gains, going from 0.3 liters to 3.2 liters per goat per day by the fourth generation and the lactation length extended to 180 days. The program had 5,896 crossbred goats and added 1.3 million liters of milk to the market. Goat milk income doubled for some farmers and there were increases in youth employment in breeding centers. Private farms now produce and distribute dairy products. Enterprises like ALABGRO established model farms and goat milk processing infrastructure, producing up to 25 litres/day for local markets.
Measurable returns emerged within 2–4 lactation seasons, with one farmer doubling milk income between 2018 and 2022. Goat milk sold at USD $4.5/liter, with growing demand. The program established some 20 dairies and opportunities for value addition remain, such as yoghurt and cheese.
Levers and enablers
This government-led national program aligned with Djibouti’s livestock strategy. There was no national action plan or dedicated institutional structure for genetic improvement in place, so the program filled a gap. Frameworks for animal registration, milk safety standards and breeding certification remain underdeveloped, leaving space for the program to step in.
Technology and innovation allowed for the introduction of improved breeds (Kenya Alpine, Saanen) adapted for resilience and high yield and the program saw genetic improvement through structured breeding plans (F1–F4). The availability of dairy goat semen offered rapid scale-up potential. Innovations in goat housing and feeding practices have enhanced productivity.
The program’s community-based breeding model with selected lead farmers ensured stakeholder engagement and provided strong local buy-in from breeders and agro-pastoralists. The program also benefitted from technical support through FAO and EAFF and private sector scaling via ALABGRO.
Barriers
Inadequate veterinary and lab services hindered health management and testing. Limitations in funding, high fodder costs (USD $1/kg) and weak local feed production were significant barriers. There is no national action plan or dedicated institutional structure for genetic improvement and there is no national breeder association to coordinate and scale efforts. The frameworks for animal registration, milk safety standards and breeding certification are inadequate and structured monitoring, evaluation and data tracking for genetic improvement are absent. Some regions saw limited program uptake due to low awareness and training. The program saw marketing challenges due to insufficient transport, cold storage and cooperative systems.
Lessons for scaling
- Create a National Centre for Genetic Improvement to consolidate gains and provide structured support;
- Provide breeders with capacity building on animal selection, record keeping and genetic tracking;
- Ensure local breed data informs future breeding and selection to sustain gains;
- Partner with the private sector for commercialization and innovation needs;
- Build economic viability to drive adoption – milk sales and goat trading demonstrated strong economic potential, attracting wider interest from youth and entrepreneurs.
