IOPA (Institute for Orkonerei Pastoralists Advancement) is a not for profit organization in the Northern Tanzania that helps Maasai communities achieve social and economic development. The Maasai Women Dairy Project aims at helping the Maasai women gain financial inclusion through a market based approach.

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The only possession and life sustenance of Maasai are cows. Culturally, Maasai women have the responsibility to feed and sustain their families. While cows belong to men, women possess the milk.

 

Due to a lack of preserving techniques, 500,000 litres of unused cow milk per year per village of 4,000 people is poured out. This translates to an opportunity cost of USD 880 a day.

 

IOPA saw the need to start a milk processing business whereby Maasai women deliver and sell the cow milk to processing facilities. Thanks to this, 1,000 women now earn a income allowing sending children to school, feeding families, and building or re-building houses.   

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The Massai cow milk which is 100% organic is processed into Yogurt, Cheese, Butter and Ghee and sold to food outlets, supermarkets and hotels in Arusha, Moshi, Zanzibar, Dar es Salaam and even exported to Nairobi and Kenya. IOPA’s profit is reinvested into the business to achieve sustainability and scale.