CASE-OVC

Market Systems and Enterprise Development

CASE-OVC:

Supporting caregivers of orphans and Vulnerable Children to understand and embrace market-based solutions

Between May and October 2019, we played a crucial role in the Comprehensive Assistance, Support, and Empowerment for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (CASE-OVC) project, implemented by Christian Aid. This initiative aimed to address the socio-economic challenges faced by OVC households across 18 counties by strengthening household economic capacity, delivering direct services to children and caregivers, and enhancing the formal and informal systems supporting OVC welfare.

Our focus was on empowering caregivers, predominantly women, to adopt market-based solutions within value chains such as poultry, livestock, green grams, onions, and indigenous vegetables. Through capacity building in production techniques, entrepreneurial skill development, and fostering market linkages, we enabled caregivers to generate sustainable incomes, ultimately improving the livelihoods of vulnerable households and contributing to the long-term welfare of OVCs.

Technoserves, Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness (CASA)

Market Systems and Enterprise Development

Technoserve’s Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness (CASA)

Under the one-year CASA initiative, we partnered with TechnoServe to organize, engage, and maintain farmer groups within the coconut value chain in collaboration with a commercial partner. Our goal focused on building sustainable structures to support farmer group development and enhancing the internal capacity of the commercial partner’s team, to establish and manage farmer groups effectively.

Capacity development of youth in fodder value chain services

Market Systems and Enterprise Development

Capacity development of youth in fodder value chain services

Through the Kenya Crops and Dairy Market Systems Activity (KCDMS) implemented by RTI, PMO supported over 110 youths in Western, Nyanza, and Eastern regions to establish fodder service provision enterprises. This initiative aimed to enhance productivity within the target areas by equipping young entrepreneurs with technical skills in commercial fodder production and business development. The program focused on building the capacity of youth to deliver high-quality fodder value chain services, enabling them to create sustainable businesses.

K-SALES Project

Market Systems and Enterprise Development

Kenya Semi-Arid Livestock Enhancement Support (K-SALES) Project

The K-SALES project was a three-year initiative focused on strengthening the livestock sector in arid and semi-arid areas. Our role involved mobilizing and organizing livestock producers while providing targeted capacity-building support. We worked closely with livestock cooperatives to improve productivity and enhance access to markets, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in challenging environments.

Kenya Market-Led Dairy Program (KMDP): Dairy Value Chain Development and Business Development Advisory Services

Market Systems and Enterprise Development

Kenya Market-Led Dairy Program (KMDP): Dairy Value Chain Development
and Business Development Advisory Services

From January 2014 to December 2019, we partnered with SNV Kenya in implementing the Kenya Market-Led Dairy Program (KMDP) across five counties. This initiative aimed to strengthen dairy cooperatives, enhance operational efficiencies, provide valuable services to their members, and promote sustainable practices throughout the dairy sector. Our key interventions included the establishment of learning farms, support in the adoption of fodder preservation technologies, such as silage making, and delivery of training and coaching programs to improve governance and financial management capacities.

2SCALE, Incubating Inclusive Agribusiness: Business Support Service Provider to support the dairy partnership between KDPL and 2SCALE in Nyeri

Market Systems and Enterprise Development

2SCALE, Incubating Inclusive Agribusiness:

Business Support Service Provider to support the dairy partnership between KDPL and 2SCALE in Nyeri

Over a five-year period, PMO served as the Business Support Service Provider for the 2SCALE dairy partnership between KDPL and 2SCALE in Nyeri. The project aimed to build the capacity of smallholder dairy farmers to increase productivity, enhance milk quality, promote climate-smart practices, and establish sustainable agribusiness systems, with a strong focus on gender and youth inclusion.

To support smallholder farmers, PMO focused on enhancing production and integrating climate-smart practices. Through strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, including the county government, development partners, financial institutions, private sector service providers, and input suppliers, sustainable interventions were delivered using the Agri-Business Cluster (ABC) model. These efforts resulted in the establishment of over 100 lead and training farms to demonstrate and disseminate best practices to farmers.

A member-led feeds alliance was formed, comprising more than 1,000 fodder producers, to address perennial fodder shortages and ensure a stable feed supply for dairy farming. Additionally, sustainable and farmer-friendly financing models were developed through partnerships with financial institutions, improving access to credit and enabling smallholders to invest in their enterprises. The governance and financial management capacities of KDPL and its seven affiliate cooperatives were also enhanced through tailored training and coaching programs.