Heifer International has announced an $18 million grant from the MasterCard Foundation to launch a five-year program aimed at providing opportunities for youth in the East African dairy sector.

Building on the success of Heifer's East Africa Dairy Development project, the East Africa Youth Inclusion Program will provide employment and enterprise development opportunities specifically for youth in the dairy sector in Tanzania and Uganda. Heifer's first program to specifically target youth in agriculture at scale aims to equip youth with the skills they need to create small businesses around dairy hubs or find employment in hub-related agribusinesses; provide access to financing for young entrepreneurs looking to start or expand a business; and dramatically increase youth participation in agribusiness.

The MasterCard Foundation's investment will be supplemented by additional funds from Heifer, including a million-dollar revolving loan fund for young women and men who successfully complete the full training and are ready to start or expand a business. "Young people in Africa often see careers in agriculture as outdated, unprofitable and arduous. We have to change not only the view, but the reality as well," said Heifer president Pierre Ferrari. "We have to demonstrate that farming can provide an exceptionally dignified and modern way of life."

"We're excited to see how Heifer's holistic approach to skills development, mentoring, and financial inclusion will open up new opportunities — in dairy value chains and beyond — for thousands of economically disadvantaged young Tanzanians and Ugandans," said Karen Moore, program manager, Youth Livelihoods at the foundation. "This new partnership will also build on Heifer's extensive experience with supporting associations of smallholder farmers to develop youth-led producer associations that will now have the opportunity to better engage in the dairy sector."