“ACCELERATING RURAL WOMEN’S ACCESS TO …documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/...[GROOTS Kenya December 2014 Report] “Accelerating Rural Women’s Access to Agricultural Markets

[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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“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

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Province_(Kenya)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya



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



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



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.



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



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



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


Elimittah Gitau Milk Bulking and Milk Bar Arimi

Hannah Wachira Nyota

Rhoda Cheruiyot Milk Processing (Mursik) Amalo

Rosevita Cheboi Feed production/ Input supply Cheptuech



Indigenous Poultry Value Chain


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



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



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



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.

http://www.womenandagriculture.org/





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



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.



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.



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.



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


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


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).


based

coaches/instructors


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


disseminated

Sample packages

(Kiswahili,

Kikuyu Kalenjin

and Kamba)

Package developed

(module 3)

Management practices

summarized as handouts for

dissemination.


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.




to train others on

horticulture

development

report and List

of participants

Nakuru and 24 in

Kitui).

8. 400 beneficiaries in


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.


based

coaches/instructors


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


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


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



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.


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



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).


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.



based approach


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



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

http://www.grootskenyamis.org/

http://www.grootskenyamis.org/



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.

http://www.womenandagriculture.org/

Documents

“ACCELERATING RURAL WOMEN’S ACCESS TO …documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/...[GROOTS Kenya December 2014 Report] “Accelerating Rural Women’s Access to Agricultural Markets