I would like to reply to John's comment below. Having seen so many programmes fail, I believe sustainability should be the starting and end point of programmes. A failed programme does little long-term good to the children that receive the milk and serves as a barrier initiating new activities by those seeking to improve school nutrition. This is not to say that failure should be condemned - after all, unless we try, how can we succeed? Rather, where a realistic long-term foundation is not there, for example, a politically motivated programme identified with a single politician or a political party where the government/politician may change or a government funded programme in a country with limited national funds, it is much better to start in the way that Charles proposes. History will judge ... and so far the evidence is on Charles's side. Michael From: FAO-Dairy-Outlook Sent: 25 May 2012 10:08 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: 2 comments: Kenya launches pilot school milk programme targeting 18 rural schools Dear friends in milk I am not sure if it is right to over emphasis the issue of sustainability in every situation. My conviction is the past Kenyan intervention(Nyayo milk) in the 1980's gave an unforgettable boost to the industry and the population at large. This is despite the fact that it later stopped. I see same happening with the new initiative. I am impressed by the commitment of the project funder- I see a big impact to the industry and children(future generation) John Mlay =================== Dear Charles and Michael, This is only one source of funding for the PACOH school milk programme in Kenya, it is also privately funded by parents and the government has also paid at times when there has been a milk glut creating a problem in the industry. In total there are almost 90,000 children in the programme. But I agree with you that there has to always be more broad based funding support for the programmes to be sustainable. Many Warm Regards, Kelly Boucher Food for Development Tetra Pak Eastern Africa From: FAO-School-Milk [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: 24 May 2012 17:13 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: comment: Kenya launches pilot school milk programme targeting 18 rural schools Michael This Kenyan information is very interesting. But as regards funding I still insist that broadbased funding is the best option as I presented at the SMFconference in Kampala. The Tanzanian model of funding the programme by parents, milk processors and a donor started in 2005 has now reached over 65,000 school children. It is difficult to start, grows slowly, but lasts longer. Charles Mutagwaba www.tanzaniadairyboard.or.tz<http://www.tanzaniadairyboard.or.tz> From: FAO-Dairy-Outlook <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> To: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> Sent: Wednesday, 23 May 2012, 13:05 Subject: 2 messages: Kenya launches pilot school milk programme targeting 18 rural schools What an interesting article! Perhaps others on the list would like to comment on it? In the mid-1980's Kenya began a national government-funded programme. This reached a peak of 44 million litres distributed in 1989 only to fall to 3 million litres in 1997, and subsequently stopped altogether. In many countries, relying on government funding has not proved to be an aid to sustainability: government and politicians change and the new entrants rarely wish to finance projects associated with their predecessors. Also, having free milk from the start, makes it very difficult to introduce parent-funding ... even in rich countries. Some years ago, a private dairy in Nairobi, Brookside, introduced a programme to encourage privately-funded schools to served milk. This was fully-funded by the parents/schools. Does anyone know if this still exists? Checking the company's internet site, I don't see any mention of it: http://www.brookside.co.ke/index.htm Regards, Michael ============================= Dear DOL and All, Good to see Dennis Oounga's article (Sunday Sun 20may12) on the pilot school milk programme in rural Kenya. Recently, I was lucky to attend the 8th African Dairy Conference & Exhibition in Nairobi (25-27.Apr.12), and visit nearby Tassells Dairies. It's good to see dairy developing in East Africa. With best wishes, Bruce Scholten Durham University, UK From: FAO-Dairy-Outlook Sent: 22 May 2012 09:33 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Kenya launches pilot school milk programme targeting 18 rural schools Dear all Please find attached a news clipping (20 May 2012) about the launch of a pilot school milk programme targeting 18 rural schools in Kenya. The project is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development and implemented by the Smallholder Dairy Commercialization Progamme. Regards Tezira TEZIRA LORE International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) | www.ilri.org<http://www.ilri.org/> ######################################################################## To unsubscribe from the School-Milk-L list, click the following link: &*TICKET_URL(School-Milk-L,SIGNOFF);