Shaping Africa’s Dairy Future: Launch of the Africa Dairy Alliance at the IDF Regional Dairy Conference 2026

Africa’s Dairy Sector is entering a defining moment, and the IDF Regional Dairy Conference Africa 2026 will be at the centre of this transformation. From 31 March to 02 April 2026, leaders from across the continent and beyond will gather in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, under the theme “Driving Dairy Competitiveness and Sustainability in Africa and Beyond.” The conference comes at a time when African countries are accelerating implementation of the Kampala CAADP Declaration on Building Resilient and Sustainable Agrifood Systems, with dairy recognized as one of the most immediate and scalable levers to advance food security, better nutrition, inclusive growth, industrialization and climate resilience.

The conference will build on the success of the inaugural edition held in Kigali, Rwanda, in May 2025. Zimbabwe, which is implementing a dairy revitalization programme that includes herd restocking, processing upgrades, smallholder integration and efforts to boost competitiveness, offers an ideal backdrop to showcase progress, attract investment and stimulate regional trade and learning. Over 400 participants are expected, including government representatives, dairy farmers and cooperatives, processors, exporters, input suppliers, regional and international dairy associations, development partners, regional economic communities, researchers, investors and global dairy platforms.

Across two intensive days of conferencing, delegates will explore Africa’s most strategic dairy priorities. Key discussions will focus on reducing the cost of production, raising productivity and strengthening competitiveness models within African dairy systems. Sessions will examine how to advance climate-smart dairy production, particularly through stronger feed and fodder value chains aligned with the Policy Framework for Economic African Feed and Fodder Sectors and Industries and innovations in animal nutrition that can help farmers withstand recurrent droughts. The programme will also delve into tailored livestock financing and structured investment models to unlock both public and private capital, as well as how to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for deeper dairy trade integration, harmonized standards and more efficient cold chain logistics. Throughout, there will be a strong emphasis on youth and women’s inclusion, skills development and sustainable sector transformation.

At the heart of this year’s conference will be a historic milestone for the continent: the initiation of the Africa Dairy Alliance. Endorsed by the African Union in early 2026, this Alliance is envisioned as a continental, private-sector-driven, multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral platform to organize and coordinate Africa’s diverse dairy actors. It emerges from the work of the Resilient African Feed and Fodder Systems (RAFFS) Project and the associated policy framework, which highlighted the need to overcome fragmented value chains, weak coordination, limited product development and underdeveloped financing mechanisms. The Africa Dairy Alliance will provide a continental mechanism to galvanize partnerships, unlock intra‑ and inter‑African dairy trade under AfCFTA, attract coordinated investments into production, feed systems, processing and logistics, promote stronger value capture through processing and branding, advocate for harmonized policies and standards, drive technology adoption and climate-smart innovation, and improve access to market and data intelligence. Over time, it is expected to contribute to more affordable and available dairy products, increased per capita consumption, expanded employment, especially for youth and women, and stronger agro‑industrial development across the continent.

Beyond the formal sessions, the conference will feature an exhibition running in parallel, offering companies, cooperatives and service providers a platform to showcase technologies, inputs and innovations to a concentrated audience of decision-makers and investors. A range of sponsorship and exhibition packages will provide visibility through branding, exhibition space, programme recognition and digital promotion, while dedicated networking spaces and B2B engagements will help forge new partnerships and deals. Registration is open to a wide spectrum of stakeholders, with early-bird rates and tailored options for African participants, international delegates, students and accompanying persons to encourage inclusive participation.

Africa’s dairy future will be shaped by deliberate engagement and coordinated action, not by chance. Strategic positioning, policy influence, trade leverage and investment partnerships all depend on active participation in regional and continental platforms like the IDF Regional Dairy Conference Africa 2026 and the emerging Africa Dairy Alliance. Participation in Victoria Falls from 31 March to 02 April 2026 will be critical in shaping how Africa organizes its dairy sector, harnesses AfCFTA, scales climate‑smart production and secures better nutrition and livelihoods for millions across the continent.