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[GROOTS Kenya December 2014 Report]
“Accelerating Rural Women’s Access to Agricultural Markets and Trade”
“ACCELERATING RURAL WOMEN’S ACCESS TO AGRICULTURAL MARKETS
AND TRADE”
Project Progress Report
October, November & December 2014
Prepared by: GROOTS Kenya
January 2015
Woman farmers explains use of biocides during the opening ceremony of the UN Women regional Sharefair in Nairobi
Women farmers receive cement bags in Kitui
Women farmers in Kitui receive iron sheets
GK staff during the learning visit at one of CIDI’s sites in Kampala, Uganda
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[GROOTS Kenya December 2014 Report]
“Accelerating Rural Women’s Access to Agricultural Markets and Trade” Page 1
PROJECT BRIEF
1) The “Accelerating Rural Women’s Access to Agricultural Markets and Trade” project is a
three year initiative, launched in July 2012 and funded from the Japan Social Development
Fund (JSDF) through the World Bank, Kenya Country office. The project is being
implemented by GROOTS Kenya Association.
2) The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to contribute to women’s economic
empowerment and improve livelihoods through enhanced agricultural production and access
to markets. The underlying rationale is to equip women with relevant knowledge and skills as
well as enhance their leadership and organizational capabilities to enable them become
drivers of their own social and economic transformation. The target beneficiaries are 3,400
rural women in two vulnerable areas in Kenya, namely 2,700 in Nakuru County in the Rift
Valley and 700 women in Kitui County, Eastern Kenya.
3) Nakuru County is located in the former Rift Valley Province and is an agriculturally-
oriented area, with a large number of subsistence farmers, who are mainly comprised of
Kalenjin, Kikuyu and Kisii ethnic communities. It is the fourth largest county in Kenya and
divided into nine (9) sub-counties. The project is being implemented in three sub-counties,
namely Molo, Kuresoi North and Kuresoi South (for ease of reference, the 3 areas shall be
called Molo). Historical settlement patterns, in which non-indigenous ethnic communities
settled and farmed in the area, made this region become a conflict hotspot. Over the years,
periodic outbreaks of inter-ethnic violence have caused deaths. Displacement of large numbers
of people has become a common occurrence in this region. The county is traditionally known
to be one of the high yield agricultural regions in Kenya. Nonetheless, farmers in the region
have claimed to now experience unpredictable rain patterns characterised by unusual long dry
spells, torrential falls and hailstorms as well as severe attack of crop diseases.
4) Kitui County is in the former Eastern Province of Kenya. Kitui County is now divided into
eight (8) administrative sub-counties but the project is implemented in three sub-counties, namely
Kitui Central, Kitui Rural1 and Kitui West sub-counties (for ease of reference, the areas shall be
called Kitui). The climate in Kitui is semi-arid. A large majority of the residents belong to the
Kamba ethnic group and are native to the area.
5) The “Accelerating Rural Women’s Access to Agricultural Markets and Trade” project is
being implemented by GROOTS Kenya using the value chain approach with a focus on
three enterprises, namely horticulture, dairy and indigenous poultry. Specifically, in Molo the
selected sectors are horticulture and dairy while in Kitui, they are horticulture and indigenous
poultry farming.
6) The project has five major components, namely:
1 The former Lower Yatta sub-county has been renamed Kitui Rural
[GROOTS Kenya December 2014 Report]
“Accelerating Rural Women’s Access to Agricultural Markets and Trade” Page 2
a) To organize women farmers to work collectively in order to economically empower and
improve their livelihood;
b) To enhance women farmers’ lobbying and advocacy capacities for essential services and
factors of production;
c) To enhance women farmers’ business capacities and facilitate market linkages;
d) To empower women to increase access to microfinance facilities to improve enterprise performance;
e) Project management, monitoring and evaluation.
7) GROOTS Kenya (GK), which stands for Grassroots Organizations Operating Together in
Sisterhood, is the implementing partner of this project. Founded in 1995, GROOTS Kenya is a
network of community-based organizations and self-help groups that are women led. It was formed
in response to the near absence of grassroots women in development processes and decision-
making forums, which affect them and their communities. GROOTS Kenya’s theory of change is
to shift the perception of the role played by grassroots women in rural and urban poor communities
from vulnerable victimized recipients of goods and services to empowered and effective leaders
mastering development mainly through movement building, leadership and advocacy.
A. PROJECT STATUS
8) This progress report is for the period October 2014 to December 2014. Annex 1 contains the
updated project results matrix. Annex 2 is a selection of photographs of activities carried out
during this period while Annex 3 and 4 contain activity reports and attendance lists
respectively (due to the size of documents, annexes 2 to 4 are sent on a CD-ROM).
9) Increased men for women support in both Kitui and Molo as evidenced by the willingness of
men to allow women to access and control production assets such as land. Women are
increasingly involved in decision making at the household level as men now appreciate the
increased yields and incomes resulting from their participation in project. In Kuresoi South
for example, women are active participants in determining how much land will be used to
grow animal fodder and the day to day management of the dairy animal. Additionally, upon
issuance of BNF items, men have increasingly supported women through constructing
improved poultry houses.
10) There is continued recognition of the different capacities of the women farmers by duty
bearers and stakeholders. As such, women farmers are involved in processes within the
Counties such as their participation in the World Food Day celebrations in Nakuru and Kitui
Counties on the 16th
October 2014. Their increased capacities has seen women leaders
participate in international dialogues (UN Regional Sharefair 2014, between the 15th
and 17th
October at the UN Gigiri complex) to speak as the voice of rural women on issues affecting
their agricultural production.
11) Women farmers, market champions and lead entrepreneurs have developed strategies to
strengthen their collective marketing to ensure that profits are enjoyed by the producer as
well as the marketer in appreciation of one another’s roles. They have also been actively
engaged in obtaining markets for their agricultural produce following the training received in
[GROOTS Kenya December 2014 Report]
“Accelerating Rural Women’s Access to Agricultural Markets and Trade” Page 3
the previous quarter. During this reporting period, market champions supported by the
project conducted a total of 10 market visits. Positive feedback from the visits indicates that
women farmers will have contracts for supply of agricultural produce in the next quarter.
12) Lead entrepreneurs have undergone individual coaching to strengthen their enterprise
development plans. Gaps identified will be strengthened with training in the next quarter. The
lead entrepreneurs will provide guidance for other women farmers interested in establishing
enterprises, even after the project period.
13) Women have continued with savings in their groups and provide small loans to their group
members to improve their agricultural production. Moreover, eleven (11) groups in Nakuru and
Kitui have qualified for UWEZO funds and have undergone training on its use. This will
further increase their access to finance and growth of their farm production.
14) The project team has rolled out the disbursement of the Basic Need Fund (BNF) in both
Nakuru and Kitui Counties. The process is almost complete in Kitui and 594 women have
received all items as requested in the individual BNF application form. The items were
distributed on various dates between the 27th
October and 2nd
December 2014. Some of the
items distributed in the poultry value chain include: construction materials for poultry houses
(Iron sheet, doors, nails, roofing nails, chicken wire, drinkers and feeders), chicks, pullets and
cocks. In the horticulture value chains, some of the items distributed include: Jembes (hoes),
water tanks, horse pipes, seeds, spraying cans, wheel barrows and agrochemicals. Most
women farmers have utilized the BNF items to harvest water and construct improved poultry
houses. The project will finalize on the procurement of the BNF items in Kitui in the next
quarter. In Nakuru County, the distribution of BNF items started on the 10th December 2014,
and is ongoing; the initial distribution was for farm inputs to support the dairy value chain;
construction materials for cow sheds (cement, iron sheets, posts, nails, troughs, wheelbarrows
and many more). The remaining items are largely for the horticulture value chain; seeds and
agrochemicals.
15) The women farmers have embraced the use of the project based Management Information
System to document their progress and track their successes. The participatory monitoring
has provided a suitable challenge for the individuals and groups as they can easily track their
successes. However, there is need for a refresher training to strengthen their documentation .
B. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS AND HIGHLIGHTS
16) This section highlights the main interventions and results achieved by the project per
component during the period October 2014 to December 2014. The project progress made
under each of the five components to date is recorded in the Project Results Matrix as Annex
1.
17) Under Component 1 - Organize women farmers to work collectively in order to
economically empower and improve their livelihood: Focus in this quarter was on
strengthening the gender relations in agricultural production and access and control of
[GROOTS Kenya December 2014 Report]
“Accelerating Rural Women’s Access to Agricultural Markets and Trade” Page 4
agricultural resources. Another key area of focus was on collective marketing of farmers’
produce which necessitated among other activities, group governance strengthening workshops
in Kitui (17th and 18
th November) and Nakuru (24
th and 25
th November 2014).
18) Men workshops were held on the 2nd
and 7th
October 2014, in Kitui and Nakuru Counties
respectively. The objective of the workshops was to assess the status of men for women
support since the project inception, as well as the role of men in decision making with regard
to access and control of project finances. These workshops provided a platform for women
farmers and spouses, male relatives and leaders to engage in discussions on decision making
and support in access to and use of finances obtained for project development. Testimonies
were shared by men who had experienced transformation in their homes and especially in
increased agricultural production urging other men to support women to not only access but
also control production resources. The workshops drew a total of 83 participants from across
the 6 sub-counties, 52 men and 31 women. Following the workshops, successful local to
local dialogues were held in all the 20 locations whereby the same message was reinforced to
larger audiences. The local dialogues were held on various days in the months of October and
November 2014 reaching 500 men, 178 in Kitui and 322 men in Nakuru. The local dialogues
were organized with the support of chiefs, village and church elders present at the men
workshop.
19) Women farmers from Nakuru and Kitui Counties participated in the annual regional
Sharefair organized by the UN Women Regional office for Eastern and Central Africa
supported by other partners working in the agricultural sector at the international level. The
Sharefair was held between the 15th
and 17th
of October 2014 at the UN Gigiri complex in
Nairobi. The fair attracted 100 exhibitors from 14African countries with the objective to
promote innovations and technologies adopted by rural women farmers. Eleven (11) women
farmers were present at the fair, 4 from Nakuru, 4 from Kitui and 3 from other GROOTS
Kenya regions. GROOTS Kenya exhibited climate smart and affordable technologies in use
of zai pits and biocides.
20) On the 16th of October 2014, 62 women farmers in Nakuru (25 women farmers) and Kitui
(37 women farmers) participated in the World Food Day celebrations in their respective
counties as organized by the Ministry of Agriculture. In line with the theme of family
farming, women farmers and their groups organized exhibits demonstrating the use of
sustainable technologies in food production.
21) Women farmers from Nakuru and Kitui Counties, who participated in the exchange visit in
the last quarter (10th
- 13th
September 2014), held feedback meetings at the group level to
disseminate knowledge gathered to other members. Group members appreciated the various
project achievements and challenged each other to apply knowledge gained to their farming
activities for greater success. One of the farming technologies adopted from Kitui is serial
and synchronised hatching to increase the number of bird flock.
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“Accelerating Rural Women’s Access to Agricultural Markets and Trade” Page 5
22) Under Component 2 - To enhance women farmers’ lobbying and advocacy capacities for
essential services and factors of production: Advocacy teams in the two Counties guided their
communities to lobby and advocate for the implementation of promises and declarations made by
duty bearers and stakeholders. They also paid courtesy calls to their leaders to discuss the status
of road rehabilitation in Nakuru and water projects in Kitui County. Advocacy teams also held
monthly feedback meetings at the group level to update members on progress of advocacy in
their Sub County.
23) There has been an increased recognition and involvement of women leaders in decision
making platforms in the County and the Ministry of Agriculture. This is evidenced by the
involvement of women leaders in planning and participation in agricultural events such as the
World Food Day celebrations and agricultural stakeholders meetings in their counties. In
Kitui County, women leaders represent their groups in poultry and horticultural value chain
platform meetings.
24) On 24th
November 2014, a member of the Nakuru advocacy team had an audience with the
Deputy Governor and the County Economics officer and discussed the provision of market
space at the Wakulima (Farmers) market in Nakuru town for women farmers to sell their
agricultural produce.
25) In recognition of the leadership capacity of the women farmers, the political leadership in
Nakuru County selected one woman leader who is also a member of the advocacy team to
facilitate at a conflict resolution workshop organized by the County government on the 24th
and 25th
November 2014 in Nakuru County. The workshop was held in Naivasha to discuss
mechanisms to address arising issues on sharing of benefits accrued from geothermal power
stations between the County government and the communities in Naivasha and Mahi Mahiu.
26) The advocacy team in Kitui West paid a courtesy call to their Member of Parliament to
remind him of his promise to rehabilitate the Matinga dam in Kitui West Sub County on the
4th
October 2014.
27) In Kitui County, the County Governor invited four women leaders to participate in a
stakeholders meeting on the 30th
October 2014 to assess the progress of projects within the
County. He lauded the work of the women leaders and GROOTS Kenya in transforming the
livelihoods of the Kitui people and emphasized on the need to involve grassroots women in
policy and decision making on issues affecting them. He assured those present that his
government would actively work towards creating space for women to undertake leadership
roles. The meeting was attended by the senator, 5 members of the County Assembly, women
groups’ representatives and the wider community. The political leadership reiterated his
remarks, promising to ensure grassroots women participation in leadership.
28) In November 2014, a new law on potato packaging in 50 Kg bags was enacted in Nakuru
County. This is a result of concerted efforts of potatoes stakeholders, including women
farmers involved in the project to reduce farmers’ exploitation by brokers. A similar law is to
[GROOTS Kenya December 2014 Report]
“Accelerating Rural Women’s Access to Agricultural Markets and Trade” Page 6
be adopted in other 11 potatoes producing counties to ensure its implementation, and that
none of the counties lose out to those not enforcing the rule.
29) Under component 3 - Enhance women farmers’ business capacities and facilitate
market linkages: Capacity strengthening was enhanced for lead entrepreneurs and market
champions were supported to access markets for their produce. Collective marketing of
produce was also emphasised to reduce transport costs incurred when produce is sold
individually and increase profits based on their collective bargaining power.
30) Markets consultants organized market visits for market champions and lead entrepreneurs in
the months of October and November 2014. The potential produce markets visited were in
Nakuru and Nairobi for poultry, dairy and horticultural produce. Women farmers received
positive feedback during the visits, after which the focus shifted to meeting produce
requirements of said markets.
Initial market visits were held on the 27th
, 28th
and 29th
of October in Nakuru town. The
markets visited were Jumuia Hotel, Happy Cow Limited, Gilanis Supermarkets and Jomo
Kenyatta High School. The second market visits were on the 5th
, 6th
and 7th
November at
Zucchini, Boma Hotels, Deepa Industries, Keitt Exporters, Fresh & Juici and City park
hawkers market.
Market Market profile Produce Location
Jumuia Hotels Hotel chain in the
major cities/towns
Dairy and horticulture
produce
Nakuru, Limuru,
Kisumu, Mombasa
Happy Cow Limited Dairy processors Milk Nakuru
Gilanis Supermarkets Whole sale and
retail supermarket
Horticultural produce Nakuru
Jomo Kenyatta High
School
Based in Nakuru Horticultural produce Nakuru
Zucchini Grocery shops in
Nairobi
Cabbages, carrots and
potatoes
Nairobi
Boma Hotel Horticulture and
dairy produce
Potatoes, peas,
indigenous chicken,
cabbages
Nairobi
Deepa Industries Tropical heat Potatoes Nairobi
Keitt Exporters Export Mangoes Nairobi
Fresh and Juici Juice processor Mangoes Nairobi
City park hawkers
market
All kinds of
horticultural and
dairy produce
Potatoes, carrots,
cabbages
Nairobi
[GROOTS Kenya December 2014 Report]
“Accelerating Rural Women’s Access to Agricultural Markets and Trade” Page 7
31) A meeting was held on 17th
October in Nairobi attended by 8 women leaders, 4 from Kitui
and 4 from Nakuru to discuss the status of Inter-county trade. It has been challenging to
provide opportunity to the women farmers to earn decent revenues from their products as
compared to the gate level prices by the brokers and yet deliver the same products to the
other county for sale at a profit . Main ongoing discussion are on how to operationalize the
trade and what produce to trade from each of the counties with a view of trade benefits to
women.
Enterprise development consultants carried out coaching for twenty (20) lead entrepreneurs
specific to their selected agribased enterprise (29th
and 30th
October in Nakuru and 18th
and 19th
November in Kitui). The coaching was aimed at offering insight to the entrepreneur to develop
and grow a successful enterprise that would achieve their goals and solve a problem in their
community.
The coaching approach adopted was the GROW model which looks at the Goal of the
entrepreneur, their Reality that may affect their business and in turn provide the Opportunities
for growth of their enterprise. This is then followed by a decision on what they want to do. Gaps
to the development and growth of a successful enterprise were identified and recommendations
made specific to the entrepreneur on how to address them. Coaching was done at the existing or
proposed business point of the entrepreneur. The twenty entrepreneurs coached will mentor other
women farmers interested in establishing enterprises along the three value chains. The lead
entrepreneurs have since then identified potential markets, customers and business premises in
readiness to start their business.
The identified enterprises are:
Horticulture Value Chain
Entrepreneur Enterprise Location
Wairimu Kanyiri Potato seeds multiplication Turi
Agnes Chebet Amalo
Margaret Wairimu Potatoes bulking and transportation Temoyotta
Christine Asami Potatoes Bulking Nyota
Veronicah Mwihaki Temoyotta
Elizabeth Mulandi Bulking (seeds, agrochemicals, farm tools
and equipment)
Kanyangi
Grace Musyoka Kakeani
Margaret Vonza Processing and value addition Kwa Vonza
Agnes Mutia Production of seedlings Mulango
Purity Muli Value addition of fruits Chyuluni
Dairy Value Chain
Entrepreneur Enterprise Location
Elimittah Gitau Milk Bulking and Milk Bar Arimi
Hannah Wachira Nyota
Rhoda Cheruiyot Milk Processing (Mursik) Amalo
Rosevita Cheboi Feed production/ Input supply Cheptuech
[GROOTS Kenya December 2014 Report]
“Accelerating Rural Women’s Access to Agricultural Markets and Trade” Page 8
Indigenous Poultry Value Chain
Entrepreneur Enterprise Location
Mary Muendo Bulking (birds and eggs) Nthongoni
Rhodester Mwende Formulation of Poultry Feeds Kakeani
Agnes Munyithya Kyangwithya East
Florence Mumbi Input supplies / Paravet Tungutu
Kavinya Kyalo Inputs Supply Kyangwithya East
32) On the 17th
and 18th
and 24th
and 25th
of November 2014, workshops were held in Kitui and
Nakuru Counties respectively targeting 72 women farmers, group leaders, market champions
and lead entrepreneurs to strengthen the leadership structure of the women farmers to
enhance their collective marketing of produce. The workshops were necessitated by the
challenges encountered in establishing a working leadership structure that would champion
the process as well as a conflict resolution mechanism within the groups.
33) At the end of the workshop, women farmers had come up with strategies for collection and
supply of farm produce and profit sharing to ensure all farmers gain from the business. The
women farmers came up with teams for marketing of horticulture and dairy produce
consisting of group leaders, market champions and lead entrepreneurs drawn from across the
three sub counties. Each team was mandated with sourcing for markets and giving feedback
to their groups before any market decisions are made. They also understood the roles of the
farmer, market champion and lead entrepreneur in market identification and linkage with the
groups for produce bulking and marketing.
Conflict resolution mechanisms were established to address any matters arising in their
business relations. The different teams were urged to be transparent in the dealings, any
issues raised should first be addressed at the group level and if unresolved, it should be
seconded to the sub county leadership. GK staff reminded them that they could approach the
sub county seed fund committees, local administrators as well as the GK office in resolving
these disputes.
34) Component 4 - Empower women to increase access to finance facilities to improve
enterprise performance: The project team worked with the seed fund committees to
disburse various basic need fund items as requested by the women farmers. Further, a field
assessment visit organized for Equity Bank representatives was held on the 13th
October
2014 in Kitui County. The delegation comprised of Credit manager, Kitui and Agribusiness
Officer, Nairobi. The visit was necessitated by the failed talks on the MOU with Cooperative
Bank. Equity Bank was impressed with the level of work and commitment of women farmers
in agricultural production and their savings and lending processes. They therefore agreed to
partner with GROOTS Kenya in providing loans to women farmers in Kitui. The draft MoU
was further discussed with experts from the International Finance Cooperation (IFC) at the
World Bank office in Kenya on 2nd
December 2014. The experts strongly recommended
hiring a short-term financial consultant to support GROOTS Kenya in the final negotiations
with Equity Bank. IFC supported GROOTS Kenya in preparing ToR for the potential
[GROOTS Kenya December 2014 Report]
“Accelerating Rural Women’s Access to Agricultural Markets and Trade” Page 9
consultant and recruitment began in earnest. Unfortunately, GROOTS Kenya had to put on
hold the ongoing discussions with Equity Bank.
35) Following receipt Basic Need Fund (BNF) request forms, the GK project team held meetings
with the respective Seed Fund Committees to review their applications. The meetings were
held on the 2nd
and 7th
October 2014 in Kitui and Nakuru, respectively where the committees
gave their input on items requested and clarified the suitability of selected items especially on
the seeds, agrochemicals and fertilizers.
This was followed by meeting with the women groups to rectify their requests with regard to
their impact on the environment and their suitability for their regions. These meetings were
held on the 8th
and 9th
of October 2014 in Nakuru and Kitui respectively.
36) Disbursement of BNF items started in Kitui with the distribution of water tanks for women
farmers. The disbursement was carried out in the period between the 27th
October and 2nd
December 2014. In Nakuru County disbursement started on the 10th
December 2014, with the
remaining items to be disbursed in the next quarter. The items distributed in this period include
cement, iron sheets, pipes, poultry equipment, nails, gutters, sprayers, bricks, troughs and
wheel barrows among others. These items were disbursed to 1,127 women farmers, 534 in
Nakuru and 593 in Kitui at the value of Ksh 8,309,940.60.
37) All groups (89) continue with the savings and lending by table banking. The average savings in
Nakuru is at Ksh 100,000 with the highest group savings amount at Ksh 297,000 while in Kitui
the average savings is at Ksh 40,000 and highest savings at Ksh 136,000. Women continue to
access these funds for small loans to meet their production needs. The highest loan amount in
table banking ranges from Ksh 9,000 to Ksh 25,000 to be repaid in 3 to 9 months based on an
individual’s financial capacity. The loans have been used to purchase farm inputs, build
poultry units and cow sheds, and increase poultry stock and to increase the land portion under
farming. So far, no major challenges have been reported in repayment of the loans with group
members adhering to group constitutions. Small loans of Ksh 3000 and below generally attract
shorter repayment periods.
38) A total of 11 groups in Kitui and Nakuru Counties have been awarded UWEZO funds in this
quarter. They have undergone training on the use and relevant accounting process of the funds.
The groups will utilize the funds to grow their production and agribased enterprises.
39) Component 5 - Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation: A project status
meeting was held between the GROOTS Kenya and The World Bank on the 6th
October
2014 where the project team gave their updates on project activities. A similar meeting was
held at the Embassy of Japan on the 27th
November 2014 at which point, the proposed field
visit with Japan Embassy representatives was discussed and postponed to the next quarter in
2015.
40) 45 tablets were issued to women farmers in Kitui and Nakuru (2nd
and 7th
October 2014) for
use in documenting project progress in their groups. The tablets were received by the 90
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women drawn from the groups’ monitoring committees and who were trained in the previous
quarter on the use of the project MIS. One tablet is shared by 2 to 3 groups in a location. Using
the tablets, the group will submit information on individual enterprise performance, visual
photo tracking and their monthly savings and lending to a web-based common database. The
information will be analysed by GROOTS Kenya’s M&E officer to provide further evidence
on the progress of the project and for the project management to make corrective measures
where necessary.
41) Two (2) project staff and one grassroots woman travelled to Kampala, Uganda between the
10th
and 12th
November 2014 for a 2 day interactive workshop on project monitoring and
evaluation. This was a learning visit organized for the purpose of sharing experiences and
best practices in project monitoring, documentation and reporting as well as capacity
strengthening for GROOTS Kenya (GK) staff. The visit was organized in collaboration with
Community Integrated Development Initiatives (CIDI) with the support of HORIZONT3000
(Austrian Development Cooperation).
C. LESSONS LEARNED
42) Women have embrace ICT and are now able to document progress in their activities. The
ability to track their progress and monitor the change has inspired them to work harder to
improve their livelihoods.
43) Women farmers, market champions and lead entrepreneurs have demonstrated huge capacity
in obtaining markets for their produce and getting good prices for them by collective
marketing. Collective marketing still poses a challenge as a result of broker interference but
in cases where it works like in Kitui women farmers and community members have received
better prices for their poultry compared to those offered by brokers. It has also translated to
the development of enterprises and more income at the household level as farmers now sell
their birds at Ksh 450 from previous price of Ksh 250. It has however emerged that there is
need for continuous consultations with women farmers to guide them towards collective
marketing.
44) Increased men support in agricultural processes such as building cow sheds, poultry houses
and participation in decision making at the household level has resulted from increased
production levels of milk and crops from uptake of best farming technologies by women
farmers.
45) The disbursement of BNF items has given a fresh energy to the groups and communities at large
and community members are now more willing to walk with the women farmers to learn new
farming practices to increase their produce and income.
D. NEXT STEPS
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46) Component 1: Organize women farmers to work collectively to economically empower
and improve their livelihoods a) Finalize the remapping of women farmers in the two counties. This involves the formal
registration of about 1,550 women farmers as project beneficiaries by filling the revised
vulnerability assessment tool (VAT);
Induction meetings will be held for the newly registered members and trainings organized on
group dynamics, financial literacy and account opening. Other trainings to be organized will
revolve around good farming practices in dairy, poultry and horticulture and they will be
facilitated by the trained community coaches and GROOTS Kenya staff;
b) An exposure visit of Kitui beneficiaries to Nakuru.
47) Component 2: Enhance women farmers’ lobbying and advocacy capacities for essential
services and factors of productions a) The step-by-step community-led advocacy guidebook will be printed and distributed;
b) Community trainings on lobbying and advocacy for the newly registered members and groups;
c) Continuous feedback meeting at the group level on advocacy progress.
48) Component 3: Enhance women farmers’ business capacities and facilitate market
linkages a) Finalize contracts with potential markets for the produce;
b) Continuous sourcing for new markets linkages for their agricultural produce;
c) Capacity strengthening for newly registered women farmers in agribusiness and
sustainable farming with support of GROOTS Kenya staff and community coaches;
d) Printing of trainer and user guides and disseminating to community coaches;
e) Continuous capacity strengthening of groups on best farming practices video viewing of
“Shamba Shape-up” episodes at group level.
49) Component 4: Empower women to increase access to microfinance facilities to improve
enterprise performance a) Complete the distribution of BNF items in Nakuru County;
b) Hold meetings with seed fund committees to update on project progress and funds
distribution;
c) Prepare groups to receive the Group Revolving Fund;
d) Finalize and sign the MOU on disbursement of project seed funds with the financial
service provider.
50) Component 5: Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation a) Hold refresher training for women farmers on use of the MIS;
b) Success stories and activity updates shall be recorded and documented on the project
website (www.womenandagriculture.org);
c) A joint field mission of the World Bank and the Embassy of Japan is foreseen during this
quarter;
d) Preparation and publication of Terms of Reference for the project’s mid-term evaluation;
e) Finalize the development of the market application system.
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“Accelerating Rural Women’s Access to Agricultural Markets and Trade” Page 12
[GROOTS Kenya December 2014 Report]
“Accelerating Rural Women’s Access to Agricultural Markets and Trade” Page 13
ANNEX 1
Table 1: Summary of Project Progress Matrix (April, May, June 2014)
NO OUTPUT PER
COMPONENT
MEANS OF
VERIFICATION
STATUS COMMENT
COMPONENT 1: Organize women farmers to work collectively to economically empower and
improve their livelihoods
1. Contents of Value
Chains identified in
each locality and
validated using
community
consultations
ToRs for
consultants, VC
reports
TOR submitted,
VC studies completed
& validated
VC studies reports finalized
and used to guide the
community training.
2. Participatory
community resources
mapping processes
designed and
implemented in the
two project areas
ToRs, Mapping
report
TOR submitted, study
completed & validated
The mapping report was
finalized in January 2014 and
shared with partners.
Remapping of additional
project beneficiaries planned
for the next quarter (Jan-
March 2015).
3. A total of 3,400 target
beneficiaries
identified in the two
project locations
(2,700 in Nakuru and
700 in Kitui County)
Mapping report,
Project
beneficiaries’
database
By end of December
2014, the project
works with 1,846
women in the two
regions (1,252 in
Nakuru and 594 in
Kitui).
The updated numbers are based
on the application for the
project’s Basic Need Fund (see
component 4).
The fallout of project
beneficiaries can be explained
by the fact that some mapped
women farmers got discouraged
because the project did not
provide for quick hand-outs.
As mentioned above,
complementary mapping of
project beneficiaries, especially
in Nakuru County is foreseen.
4. Community
workshops held to
validate value chains
and community
mapping in the two
project areas with a
total of 200
stakeholders
Workshop
reports, List of
participants
Five validation
workshops organized
(3 in Molo and 2
Kitui) in Dec 2013 &
Jan 2014 involving
220 stakeholders.
Accomplished.
5. 5 community
instructors trained to
Training
workshop reports,
28 instructors
identified and trained
These are 2 county, 6 sub-
county and 20 location group
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NO OUTPUT PER
COMPONENT
MEANS OF
VERIFICATION
STATUS COMMENT
assist in group
formation and
strengthening
List of names for both regions coordinators. Training done
using the curriculum (module
1) alongside mentorship on
using GK tested
methodologies.
6. 250 community
members trained as
coaches and drivers of
community
organization
Training
workshop reports,
List of
community
members/
coaches
141 coaches trained
comprising chair ladies,
treasurers and
secretaries of the
groups.
Capacity enhancement will
continue.
The number includes 58
women coaches on group
strengthening.
New coaches will be drawn
from the newly mapped
members.
7. Outreach training
package developed
and implemented
targeting 1,200 men
and community
members
Sample training
package
656 men champions
(76 in Kitui & 80 in
Molo) trained to carry
out village dialogues.
500 more men were
reached during the
local to local dialogues
held at the location
level in each County,
178 in Kitui and 322 in
Nakuru.
Local dialogues to continue in
the next quarter to mobilise
more men for women support.
Thematic training sheets, on
aspects such as control of
assets, inheritance rights, etc.
developed will be used in the
process.
8. 120 beneficiaries from
peer mentoring &
exchange visits
Reports from
peer mentoring
activities and
exchange visits,
Lists of
participants
77 benefit from peer
mentorship & best
practice visits. 40
women from Nakuru
participated in the
exchange visit to Kitui.
Another cross region visit
from women from Kitui to
Nakuru is planned for the next
quarter (Jan-Mar 2015). The
objective of these visits is to
enhance peer learning.
9. A total of 5,000
beneficiaries/
community members
attending best
practice community
events sharing lessons
learned
Event reports
and List of
participants
2,048 community
members previously
attended lesson sharing
platforms.
In May – June, 2014,
400 community
members attended the
trainings organized by
coaches alongside the
mapped women.
Field days planned at sub-
county level to disseminate
technologies for greater
uptake of best practices.
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10 25 different flyers and
simple documents
produced in local
languages, printed and
disseminated
Sample of flyers Nine flyers on the
three value chains have
been adopted from the
partnership with
CCAFS (‘Shamba
Shape Up’)
2 fact sheets for advocacy (see
component 2) and one
newsletter on the project have
been printed and disseminated
to the community.
One brochure was developed
on indigenous poultry
production and the zai-pit
technologies utilized and
exhibited by women farmers
in Kitui County during the
Kitui County Agricultural
trade fair in July, 2014.
One brochure was developed
to present two technologies
(zai pit and production of
biocides) that are applied by
women farmers in Nakuru and
Kitui. These technologies
were presented at the
Sharefair on Rural Women's
Technologies in Nairobi in
October 2014 exhibit (See
Annex 5).
11 100 women farmer
groups formed and
registered with the
Department of Social
Services
List of groups
with names &
registration
(database)
89 groups formed (60 in
Molo and 29 in Kitui),
comprising of btw. 15
& 25 members.
All 89 groups are duly
registered. These Common
Interest Groups are organized
according to the three value
chains (37 dairy groups, 30
horticulture, 21 poultry and
one mixed group).
Number of groups to increase
in the next quarter with
registration of the newly
mapped members.
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12 At least 2,040
individual and 100
group bank accounts
Project
beneficiaries’
and group
databases
At least 80% of the
women have bank
accounts. All the
registered groups have
bank accounts and
deposit their group
savings in their bank
accounts.
Group account numbers and
signatories documented.
COMPONENT 2: Enhance Women Farmers’ Lobbying and Advocacy Capacities for Essential
Services to Improve Production
1. Advocacy capacity
and training needs
identified
Reports Advocacy needs and
issues are identified.
Women started actively
advocating for essential
services.
2. 100 women farmers
groups trained to
lobby and advocate
for change
Training reports,
List of
participants
60 advocacy champions
identified and trained
(30 per region, among
them 21 women & 9
men).
Advocacy champions trained
their groups on how to lobby
and advocate for change.
3. 2 viable plans of
actions for advocacy
initiatives developed
(one in each project
area)
Plans 2 advocacy strategies
developed (one per
region)
Participation of women
leaders in decision
making as recognized by
duty bearers.
Leaders at county level
attended the stakeholders’
dialogue and fledged their
support to the project.
Continuous advocacy
processes ongoing facilitated
by courtesy calls to duty
bearers and stakeholders.
4. 3 sets of information
packs on advocacy
issues developed and
disseminated to project
beneficiaries
Sample of info
packages
Tools to be used
include county
advocacy fact sheets (1
per region) and a
community advocacy
step-by-step guide.
Two advocacy fact sheets
developed. The community
advocacy guide was
developed. It will be printed
and disseminated in the next
quarter
5. 3,400 beneficiaries
participate in 12 local
to local dialogue
meetings
Reports of
dialogue
meetings, Lists
of participants
Dialogues ongoing at
group level; to be
coordinated at sub-
county level.
Local dialogue meetings
ongoing as follow up to the
advocacy.
6. Regular dissemination
of information to
communities through
radio, newspapers,
community centres,
websites, and mobile
options
Sample
newspapers,
radio footages,
website
The two stakeholders’
dialogues that were
held in Nakuru (10/06)
and Kitui (10/07) were
covered by the local
media.
Newsprint used to guide
discussions on agricultural
innovations. Radio listening
sessions planned.
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7. 6 informal project
advisory board
meetings conducted
Minutes of the
meetings
Officials in the two
counties have been
approached for
potential nominees to
the board.
2 Seed fund Committees
formed and meetings held on
2nd
and 7th
October 2014.
COMPONENT 3: Enhance Women Farmers’ Business Capacities and Facilitate Market Linkages
1. 40 local community-
based
coaches/instructors
trained and equipped
to train others on
business skills
Sample training
curriculum/
manual, Training
report and List
of participants
59 coaches trained (31
from Molo & 28 from
Kitui).
Coaches trained their group
members
2. 3,400 beneficiaries
trained on business
and entrepreneurial
skills, using a group-
based approach
Sample training
curriculum/
manual, Training
reports and Lists
of participants
All mapped women
(2,150) attended
training sessions at
group level by either
sector experts or group
coaches.
Coaches continue training
their groups at meetings.
3. 3 specialized packages
for financial literacy
and business skills
developed in local
languages, printed and
disseminated
Sample packages
(Kiswahili,
Kikuyu and
Kamba and
Kalenjin )
Financial literacy and
business skills are key
areas of module 2.
Specialized packages to be
developed based on identified
gaps and to prepare women
farmers for the project’ seed
funds (component 4).
4. 40 local community-
based
coaches/instructors
trained and equipped
to train others on dairy
development
Sample training
curriculum/
manual, Training
report and List
of participants
41 coaches trained in
Nakuru on dairy
development.
Further equipping of coaches
planned through best practice
visits.
5. 2,500 beneficiaries in
70 groups trained on
dairy development
Sample training
curriculum/
manual, Training
reports and Lists
of participants
Members of all 37
dairy CIGs trained
(approx. 644 women
farmers)
Training by the trained
coaches ongoing at group
level.
6. 1 specialized package
for dairy development
developed in local
languages, printed and
disseminated
Sample packages
(Kiswahili,
Kikuyu Kalenjin
and Kamba)
Package developed
(module 3)
Management practices
summarized as handouts for
dissemination.
7. 20 local community-
based
coaches/instructors
Sample training
curriculum/
manual, Training
49 coaches trained on
horticulture
development (25 in
Coaches trained on the
developed training content by
sector experts.
[GROOTS Kenya December 2014 Report]
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trained and equipped
to train others on
horticulture
development
report and List
of participants
Nakuru and 24 in
Kitui).
8. 400 beneficiaries in
15 groups trained on
horticulture
development
Sample training
curriculum/
manual, Training
reports and Lists
of participants
Members of all CIGs
engaged in horticulture
(23 Molo and 8 Kitui)
trained on horticultural
development (approx.
744).
Training by coaches
continues.
9. 1 specialized
package for
horticulture
development
developed in local
languages, printed
and disseminated
Sample
packages
(Kiswahili,
Kikuyu,
Kalenjin and
Kamba)
Package developed
(Module 5).
Management practices
summarized in handouts for
dissemination.
10. 20 local community-
based
coaches/instructors
trained and equipped
to train others on
poultry development
Sample training
curriculum/
manual, Training
report and List
of participants
24 coaches trained on
poultry development
Coaches continually
backstopping their groups on
technical issues.
11. 500 beneficiaries in
15 groups trained on
poultry development
Sample training
curriculum/
manual, Training
reports and Lists
of participants
456 women farmers
trained.
Trainings on-going by the
coaches.
12. 1 specialized package
for poultry
development
developed in local
languages, printed and
disseminated
Sample
packages
(Kiswahili,
Kikuyu ,
Kalenjin and
Kamba)
Package developed
(Module 4).
Key management practices
summarized as handouts for
dissemination.
13. National training
workshop for 20 agri-
based experts from
each of the two
project areas
Workshop
report, List of
participants
Training of Trainers
(ToT) for 40 lead agri-
preneurs (20 from Kitui
and 20 from Nakuru)
organized on 22 & 23
September 2014.
The main objective of the
ToT was to train the
entrepreneurs to develop
enterprise development plans
(EDPs).
14. Enterprise
development
roadmaps developed
Roadmaps Strengthen enterprise
plans for lead
entrepreneurs with
identified gaps for
Individual coaching is for 20
lead entrepreneurs to
strengthen their enterprise
held on the 29th
& 30th
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individual capacity
strengthening.
October 2014 in Nakuru and
18th
& 19th
November in
Kitui.
15. 7 sets of publications
prepared, printed and
disseminated for
promotion of women
farmers entrepreneurs
Sample of
publications,
Dissemination
lists
Not yet done. To be developed based on the
enterprises supported by the
project.
16. 10 market champions
and 10 lead
entrepreneurs
identified and their
capacities
strengthened
List of
beneficiaries,
Training reports
A group of 60 market
champions’ identified,
initial training done.
A total of 86 market
champions trained on
15th
& 16th
September
2014 in Nakuru and
18th
& 19th
September
2014 in Kitui. Market
visits conducted for
market champions and
lead entrepreneurs in
Nairobi, Nakuru and
Kitui to source for
potential markets for
their agricultural
produce.
Market visits held on the 27th
to 29th
October 2014 and 5th
to 7th
November 2014 in
Nakuru and Nairobi
respectively. A total of
19women participated, 12
from Nakuru and 7 from
Kitui.
17. 3,400 beneficiaries
specifically trained in
division-level
workshops on market
linkages and market
information sources
Workshop
reports, List of
participants
The trained market
champions (approx. one
per group) have been
equipped to enhance the
collective marketing
capacities of their group
members.
Feedback meetings from the
training as well as market
visits held at group level
during group meetings
COMPONENT 4: Empower Women to Improve their Production Capabilities on Specific
Commodities and Enhance their Access to Microfinance to Strengthen Enterprises
1. 4 specialized MFI
packages on lending
guidelines developed,
printed and
disseminated
Sample MFI
packages,
dissemination
list
Seed Fund/Grant
Operations Manual
(SGOM) approved by
World Bank on 18th
June 2004.
2. Administrative grant
provided to a selected
MFI/Bank to
administer the seed
funding mechanisms
ToR, MoU Official negotiations
with two financial
service providers
(Equity Bank for
Nakuru and Cooperative
Bank for Kitui) began
Negotiations with Equity
Bank are still ongoing and
IFC/World Bank have
recommended GROOTS to
bring on board a professional
banker/micro-finance expert
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this quarter. Field
assessment visits were
organized on 15 August
to Nakuru and on 10
September to Kitui.
The draft MoU is with
the legal department of
Equity Bank.
Field assessment visit to
Kitui with Equity Bank
representatives on 13th
October 2014 folowing
failed talks with
Cooperative Bank.
to support the finalization of
the MoU.
3. 2 Seed Funding
Advisory Committees
established (one in
each project area)
ToR, List of
members,
Minutes of the
meetings
SGOM explains
institutional framework
for the administration of
the seed funds, incl. sub-
county Seed Fund
Committees.
6 project seed fund
committees have been
created (one per sub-county).
Member of the SFC include
technical agricultural experts,
women representatives, FSP
and GROOTS Kenya.
Meetings held on 2nd
and 7th
October 2014 in Kitui and
Nakuru Counties
respectively. The Committee
members reviewed and
approved BNF items to be
procured for women farmers.
4. 40 community
instructors trained to
support communities
utilize and backstop
lending guidelines
Training report,
List of
participants
SGOM provides
operational guidelines for
the administration of the
three project funds.
178 group leaders (2 per
CIGs) have been
inducted on the
principles and
application process of the
Basic Need Fund (BNF).
The training in Nakuru
took place between 25 &
28/08 and in Kitui on 01
& 02/09.2014.
Inductions on the two other
project funds (Group
Revolving Fund and Lead
Entrepreneur Fund) shall be
carried out in the next
quarter (Jan-Mar 2015).
5. 3,400 beneficiaries
trained in financial
literacy using a group-
Training
reports, Lists of
participants
1,616 farmers from Molo
received initial Financial
Literacy Training.
FSPs & financial literacy
consultant to provide further
financial capacity building.
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based approach
6. 3,400 beneficiaries
trained on lending
guidelines and loans
application and
utilization using a
group-based approach
Training
reports, Lists of
participants
As mentioned 180 group
leaders have been trained
on the BNF and they
have inducted their group
members on the same.
Individual and group
applications for the BNF
have been developed,
distributed and filled by
mapped women farmers. A
total of 1,846 applications
received in initial phase of
BNF; 594 from Kitui and
1252 from Nakuru.
7. 100 Group Loans
amounting to 2,500
USD each disbursed
through the
Community
Agribusiness Venture
Fund
List of group
beneficiaries,
MFI/Bank
records
Not yet started.
However, groups formed
within the project do
table banking; in Nakuru
average group savings
amount to KES 100,000
and the highest saving
amount is KES 297,000.
In Kitui, the average
group saving is KES
40,000 while the highest
group saving is KES
136,000.
Disbursement of the project
Group Revolving Fund
planned for the next quarter
(Jan-Mar 2015).
8. 1,360 Individual Lead
Entrepreneur Funds of
400 USD each
disbursed
List of
beneficiaries,
MFI/Bank
records
Not yet started.
As above (component 3),
lead entrepreneurs are
finalizing their enterprise
development plans that
will form the basis for
their loan application.
Disbursement planned for
the next quarter (Jan-Mar
2015).
9. 3,400 Individual Basic
Needs Funds of 100
USD each disbursed
List of
beneficiaries,
MFI/Bank
records
1,846 BNF applications
have been received by
the end of September
(1,252 from Nakuru and
594 from Kitui).
Procurement and
disbursement ongoing.
Farms inputs, water tanks,
and construction materials
for dairy shed and poultry
units disbursed to 1,127
women farmers, 593 in Kitui
and 534 in Molo. The items
disbursed are valued at Ksh
8,309,940.60
COMPONENT 5: Monitoring & Evaluation and Project Management
1. Project coordinating Staff ToRs & Project unit in place. Finalization of the MoU with
[GROOTS Kenya December 2014 Report]
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and implementing
unit effectively in
place comprising
project manager, two
local project field-
based assistants, local
contractual FM and
procurement staff and
project accountant
contracts the FSP to administer the
seed funds to completed in
the next quarter (Jan-Mar
2015).
2. Baseline survey
carried out
ToR, Baseline
report
DONE (July 2013 final
report)
3. Annual work plans
developed
Work plans DONE.
4. Participatory
Monitoring and
Evaluation system in
place
M&E system/
framework
M&E strategy in place
Community coaches
familiarized.
Project Management
Information System (MIS)
developed.
5. Community-led
visual mapping
systems in place and
utilized for self-
monitoring
Mapping tools,
database,
monitoring
reports
Community members take
photos and use records to
track progress.
MIS to systematize data
collection and analysis.
6. Documented progress
in economic status as
a result of the
community led visual
tracking
Database,
mapping
reports
Initial photographs of
mapped farmers stored.
As per point 4, project MIS
developed
(www.grootskenyamis.org).
7. Timely Semester
Progress Reports
(physical and
financial progress,
and progress in
achievement of
Development
Outcome indicators)
Reports Done
8. A system for reports
and information
management and
storage established
Database Reports are well stored.
Web-based MIS to
professionalize storage
developed in this quarter
(access through
www.grootskenyamis.org)
9. Timely project
supervision,
comprising visits by
Reports World Bank
implementation support
mission took place in Oct
Next WB mission foreseen
for February 2015
[GROOTS Kenya December 2014 Report]
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GROOTS Kenya per
year
2013,
Internal monitoring
mission in March 2014.
Monthly project status
meetings organized with
the World Bank in July,
August and October 2014.
10. Website developed
and properly
maintained
Website link Website developed:
www.womenandagriculture.org
11. 30 case-studies
developed, printed
and disseminated
Copies of 30
case-studies
4 case studies recorded. Case studies recorded in
project newsletter.
12. 3 community videos
produced and
disseminated
Copies of
videos
Women farmers’ success
stories from the two
regions recorded.
DVD with video
documentaries
disseminated.
13. 500 stakeholders
attending a national
workshops where
results and case
studies are presented
Workshop
report/s, list of
participants
Nakuru stakeholders
meeting held on 10th
June
2014 with 254
participants.
Kitui stakeholder
meeting held on 10th
July
2014 with 130
participants.
Both stakeholder meetings
were a big success in terms
of participation (numbers
and level). In Nakuru, the
County governor and his
team attended the forum
while in Kitui the County
Minister for Agriculture and
a number of partner NGO
participated in the meeting.
14. Mid-term evaluation ToRs, Report Postponed ToRs and recruitment of
consultant planned for next
quarter (Jan-March 2015)
15. Final implementation
completion report by
GROOTS Kenya
Report Planned for 2016.
16. Final impact
evaluation
ToRs, Report Planned for 2016.