Demand for dairy products in sub-Saharan Africa, is expected to triple by 2050, while limited increase in supply is predicted. This poses significant food security risk to low income households. Understanding how the dairy food system operates is essential to identify mitigation measures to food insecurity impact. This study aims to determine the structure and functionality of Nairobi's dairy system using a value chain mapping approach. Primary data were gathered through focus group discussions and key informant interviews with dairy value chain stakeholders in Nairobi to obtain qualitative information on people and products in the chains while describing their interactions and flows. Qualitative thematic analysis combined with flowcharts created by participants enabled identification of key food system segments and the development of chain profiles (or flow-diagrams) which together form Nairobi's dairy system. Seven chain profiles forming Nairobi's dairy value chain were identified. These were found to be dominated by small-scale individuals who operate largely independently. Our profiles for the urban and peri-urban farming systems were structurally similar in their downstream networks, obtaining inputs from similar sources. Upstream, the urban systems were shorter, supplying mostly to immediate neighbours or based on own consumption, while the peri urban systems supplied to a wider network and showed some affiliations to producers' associations. Two distinct profiles characterize the milk flow from traders belonging either to a Dairy Traders Association (DTA) or those not belonging to this association (non-DTA). DTA traders sell mainly to fixed retailers and non-DTA traders to mobile retailers (hawkers or roadside vendors). Profiles associated with medium and large cooperatives were driven by networks of collection centres, but with medium-sized cooperatives selling half of their production to large processing companies, and large cooperatives only to fixed retailers. Large processing companies' profiles indicated distribution of high volumes and value addition processing. They reported strategic milk collection arrangements with suppliers on long, medium - or short - term contracts and with well-established product distribution channels. We have identified numerous inter-linkages across dairy chain profiles in Nairobi's complex system, demonstrating significant interdependency among the stakeholders. Therefore, enhancing the system's efficiency requires a holistic, system-wide approach and any policy interventions should consider every segment of the value chain. This study provides a methodological approach for organizations and policy makers to understand and address structural and functional vulnerabilities within food systems more broadly. The insights from this study are relevant to other rapidly growing cities in the region.

中文翻译：

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绘制内罗毕乳制品系统：对政策、行业和研究的基本分析

到 2050 年，撒哈拉以南非洲对乳制品的需求预计将增加两倍，但预计供应量增长有限。这给低收入家庭带来了重大的粮食安全风险。了解乳制品食品系统的运作方式对于确定减轻粮食不安全影响的措施至关重要。本研究旨在使用价值链映射方法确定内罗毕乳制品系统的结构和功能。通过焦点小组讨论和与内罗毕乳品价值链利益相关者的主要知情人访谈收集主要数据，以获取有关链中人员和产品的定性信息，同时描述他们的互动和流动。定性主题分析与参与者创建的流程图相结合，能够确定关键的食品系统部分，并开发出共同构成内罗毕乳品系统的链概况（或流程图）。确定了形成内罗毕乳制品价值链的七个链配置文件。这些被发现主要由在很大程度上独立运作的小规模个体主导。我们对城市和城郊农业系统的描述在其下游网络结构上相似，从相似的来源获得投入。在上游，城市系统较短，主要供应给近邻或基于自己的消费，而城市周边系统供应给更广泛的网络，并显示出与生产者协会的一些从属关系。两个不同的特征描述了属于乳制品贸易商协会 (DTA) 或不属于该协会 (非 DTA) 的贸易商的牛奶流量。DTA 贸易商主要向固定零售商销售，非 DTA 贸易商主要向移动零售商（小贩或路边小贩）销售。与大中型合作社相关的概况是由收集中心网络驱动的，但中型合作社将其一半的产品出售给大型加工公司，而大型合作社仅出售给固定零售商。大型加工公司的概况表明高产量和增值加工的分布。他们报告了与供应商签订的长期、中期或短期合同以及完善的产品分销渠道的战略性牛奶收集安排。我们在内罗毕复杂的系统中确定了跨乳品链概况的众多相互联系，表明利益相关者之间存在显着的相互依存关系。因此，提高系统效率需要一种整体的、全系统的方法，任何政策干预都应考虑到价值链的每个环节。这项研究为组织和政策制定者提供了一种方法论方法，可以更广泛地了解和解决粮食系统内的结构性和功能性脆弱性。这项研究的见解与该地区其他快速发展的城市有关。全系统方法和任何政策干预都应考虑到价值链的每个环节。这项研究为组织和政策制定者提供了一种方法论方法，可以更广泛地了解和解决粮食系统内的结构性和功能性脆弱性。这项研究的见解与该地区其他快速发展的城市有关。全系统方法和任何政策干预都应考虑到价值链的每个环节。这项研究为组织和政策制定者提供了一种方法论方法，可以更广泛地了解和解决粮食系统内的结构性和功能性脆弱性。这项研究的见解与该地区其他快速发展的城市有关。