Race to Resilience in action: The unlikely link between goat milk, elephants, and women’s leadership in Africa

Partner: BFA Global

Implementer: The Sarara Foundation

Location & Region: Samburu County, Kenya

SAA Impact System: Food and Agriculture, Gender Equality

Impact: 1,245 women participating in the project, over USD $40,000 in revenue generated monthly, approximately USD $33 in monthly earnings for each participating woman

Despite significant global efforts towards gender equality, women continue to face deep-rooted challenges to accessing equal participation in the economy.

This disparity is especially stark in sub-Saharan Africa, where 63 per cent of women – compared to 59 per cent of men – are employed in the informal sector. While the informal economy offers a vital source of income for many, it presents persistent barriers including limited access to capital, inadequate training, restricted market access, and fragile financial infrastructure.

However, with targeted support and the right partnerships, women in the informal economy can thrive – contributing meaningfully to economic growth, social development, and climate resilience.

To explore this potential, BFA Global, a Kenyan based impact innovation firm, conducted a rapid assessment of grassroots organizations in Kenya under the Umbrella project. The assessment looked at initiatives that work to improve the incomes and opportunities of low-income women.

One such initiative is the Milk to Market Program, launched by The Sarara Foundation in Samburu County. This program tackles three interconnected issues on the ground: women’s economic empowerment, wildlife conservation, and sustainable enterprise.

In a region where 76 per cent of people live in poverty, traditional livelihoods have been severely disrupted by shifting weather patterns and market instability. For many Samburu women, income-generating opportunities have historically been limited and controlled by patriarchal norms. Yet in this setting, an unlikely solution has emerged: goat milk.

Established in 2021, the Milk to Market Program is a women-led initiative that connects local goat milk producers to a surprising market: orphaned baby elephants. When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted milk supply chains to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, The Sarara Foundation recognised a dual opportunity: to provide an alternative milk source to the sanctuary, while unlocking a unique and sustainable source of income for Samburu women.

The programme started by organizing and training Samburu women to supply goat milk to Reteti, and soon, a household staple turned into a viable economic asset. Today, 1,245 women participate in the programme, producing up to 800 litres of goat milk daily. The milk nourishes orphaned elephants at the sanctuary, while surplus milk is sold to Sarara’s ecolodges.

Through its partnership with The Sarara Foundation, BFA Global is supporting product diversification and market access to strengthen the model and ensure long-term resilience. A key innovation is the production of high-quality goat milk soaps, which creates an additional income stream and helps women to develop new entrepreneurial skills.

The results have been transformative. Women who had never earned a formal wage now make a monthly income of USD $33, adding more than USD $40,000 to the local economy each month.

The impact goes well beyond income though: women also report increased confidence, financial independence, and the ability to cover household needs, including school fees.

Some women have even launched small businesses selling dry goods, while others have formed Rotating Savings and Credit Associations groups (ROSCAs) to pool resources and build financial resilience. Household nutrition and stability have also improved significantly.

Yet, as the program scales, several challenges remain. Infrastructure limitations – such as weak road networks, limited electricity, and poor access to mobile financial services – continue to hinder growth. Women producing soap need improved equipment (including hand mixers), as well as marketing support to expand their business.

To scale impact further, BFA Global recommends:

• Targeted training in financial literacy and business skills;

• Improved access to credit;

• Stronger linkages to buyers and markets;

• The formalisation of savings groups;

• The expansion of mobile money agents in remote communities; and

• Investment in logistical and power infrastructure to unlock further entrepreneurial potential.

Read the original story here.

Race to Resilience

The Race to Resilience is a global campaign working to strengthen the resilience of four billion people to climate risk by 2030. It achieves this through a network of partners supporting locally led work across key areas, including health, food, water, and livelihoods.

Discover the Race to Resilience.