Well-designed dairy development programmes can improve the income and nutrition of poor households, as well as providing decent employment in milk processing and marketing. A review of evidence on the importance of livestock for women argued that despite two-thirds of the world's poor livestock keepers being women, little research has been conducted in recent years on rural women's role in livestock keeping and the opportunities livestock-related interventions could offer them. The report reviews gender and socio-economic aspects of dairy value chain supplied by small-holder producers, including employment issues. The objective of the present study was to assess the extent to which gender inclusiveness can be built into the development of dairy value chains in Kenya and to formulate recommendations accordingly. The assessment was conducted by a national consultant under the overall supervision of an international senior consultant, the FAO ESP gender team in Rome, and with the collaboration of the FAO Representation in Kenya.