Ambassador’s Special Self-Help Project (ASSH)

The Ruga livelihood support (ASSH Project) was initiated to empower the vulnerable and marginalised Fulani group by improving their existing means of livelihood (dairy milk production).

The Fulani people are known for their expertise in livestock farming and the production of dairy milk, which is their age long traditional means of livelihood and sustenance. The potential of this practice is far reaching, because of the multiple opportunities that exist in livestock farming and dairy production. However, due to a lack of modern processing techniques and inadequate storage facilities, a large portion of sourced milk gets wasted. There are many Fulani communities grappling with these challenges but the Katampe, Ruga Community was chosen as a pilot community to test the overarching impact and replicability of the ASSH Project.

The pilot project was funded by The U.S. Mission in Nigeria in collaboration with ICF.

It was invested in giving emphasis to the provision of skills, knowledge and experience required for healthy cattle rearing and production of dairy milk. This extended to the techniques for packaging and storage taking into cognisance the following key areas:

• Dairy Milk production techniques
• Processing, packaging and storage of dairy produce
• Production of organic Livestock Feed
• Animal Health and
• Financial Literacy

The project trained the beneficiaries on modern dairy milk production techniques by empowering them with improved methods and contemporary business models.