USADF Signs Three Grants to Support Grassroots Groups in Nigeria:

WASHINGTON - July 22, 2009 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 22, 2009 – In an effort to support marginalized populations in Africa, the United States African Development Foundation has signed three grants to benefit community groups in Nigeria. The grants will benefit Kagarko Dairy Producers Cooperative Society (KDPCS), Kushe Milk Producers Cooperative Association (KMPCA), and Savanna Conservation Nigeria (SCN).

After signing the grants, USADF President Lloyd Pierson stated, “These grants are designed to address community concerns by creating a community solutions that will generate high incomes, creating a higher quality of life for the grantees.”

KDPCS is a community based organization that promotes economic development among low income dairy farmers in Kaduna State that is comprised of 121members, 84 of whom are women.  The organization helps member’s pool together resources by selling the milk to Kaduna Federation of Milk Producers Associations Limited.  Currently, KDPCS cannot meet the Federation’s demand for milk.  The two year grant will fund the construction a milk storage facility, training, and food and medicines for cattle.

Also located in Kaduna State, KMPCA is a community based organization composed of Fulani cattle owners.  Of the 154 members, 100 of them are women; the project is focused on gender equality and empowerment.  While KMPCA members have strong traditional dairy skills, the lack of financial planning, high-yielding cows, and high levels of milk spoilage have severely limited the organization to increasing their outputs.  The two year grant will finance food for the herd and medicine, financial training, milk storage facilities, and veterinary services.

With offices in Kaduna and Bauchi State, SCN builds support and strengthens capacity for effective and sustainable development of environmental resources at the grassroots level.  SCN is working with farmers residing near Kamuku National Park to utilize communal farming land to grow food.  The area is experiencing a 3% annum population growth, which is causing community members to be impoverished due to the lack of land available to support their livelihood.  The two year grant is designed to address this problem by funding a demonstration farm, purchasing seeds, fertilizers and equipment such irrigation pumps, and training.

USADF started programming in Nigeria in 2001. Nigeria’s current portfolio stands at twenty-six investment projects totaling more than $4 million.  For more information about the portfolio, please visit the country’s quick source page at http://www.adf.gov/USADF-QuickSourceCountryPortfolioPage-Nigeria.htm .

The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) is a United States Government agency dedicated to expanding access to economic opportunity in Africa. Currently USADF operates in 20 African nations.  Over the past 25 years, USADF has funded nearly 1,500 projects representing in excess of $150 million in support of African enterprises and local African communities.  For more information on USADF, its programs and application guidelines, visit www.usadf.gov.
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