As global coronavirus cases continue to rise and tense economic debates fill the news and social media echo-chambers I would like to thank you for taking a moment to consider the impacts COVID-19 and a global recession will have on another continent (or maybe it hits closer to home). As my colleague and friend, Tom …
The 2015 exit of Nuru International staff from Migori County, Kenya, was recently featured as a case study in the USAID-funded collaborative research project, “Stopping As Success: Transitioning to Locally Led Development” (SAS), a project aimed at promoting “locally led development by bringing greater awareness to the international community of the multiple dynamics at play …
The Desert Locust The most expansive outbreak of desert locusts in decades is currently migrating across the Horn of Africa and reaching north into South Sudan and south into Tanzania. Massive desert locust swarms have occurred in 1926-34, 1940-48, 1949-63, 1967-69 and 1986-89 and in some cases have been transcontinental in nature. However, this outbreak …
Nuru Kenya has significantly improved the rural livelihoods of communities in Migori County by supporting the establishment of 14 farmer-led, farmer-managed, and farmer-owned cooperatives (co-ops). Support includes capacity building through training on: modern agricultural practices, governance, business skills, food security, and nutrition, as well as market linkages that support the community in sustainably diversifying their …
On October 10-12, 2019, Nuru Kenya and Nuru Social Entreprises (NSE) partnered together to participate as exhibitors at The Agricultural Society of Kenya South Western Kenya Branch Show. The theme of this year’s show was “Promoting Innovation and Technology in Agriculture and Trade” in order to ensure food security in line with SDG #2: Zero …
In mid-September, Pauline Wambeti, Nuru Kenya’s Country Director, shared her perspectives on locally-led development, as part of a panel discussion at the 2019 AidEx Nairobi conference. This conference attracted over 1,000 aid and development practitioners and as a result, Nuru Kenya is emerging as a thought leader in development in East Africa. Conference attendees included …
Nuru Kenya works toward improving maternal and child healthcare in line with Sustainable Development Goal #3: Good Health and Well-Being. Each year, Nuru Kenya participates in local events in conjunction with World Breastfeeding Week (observed annually from August 1-7) established through World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA). This year, an event was held the first …
One of the key components of the Nuru model to eradicate extreme poverty in fragile, rural areas is through investment in local farmer organizations that are self-sustaining. Our goal is to ensure that the farmers Nuru serves can compete in a dynamic agribusiness sector and contribute to their local economy, security, and resilience. This goal …
At Nuru, a self-sustaining farmer organization is a locally-owned and maintained agribusiness, non-profit, or cooperative that is financially sustainable, managed efficiently by its leadership, and provides socio-economic benefits to its community. At its core, this component of the Nuru model focuses on engaging and collaborating with community members to build transformative institutions that can provide …
Nuru Kenya Healthcare Program promotes exclusive breastfeeding in rural parts of Kenya. Exclusive breastfeeding is a norm that every new mother should adhere to. Mother’s breast milk is the healthiest and safest food for the baby during the first six months because it provides all the nutrients needed for growth and development. Also, babies who …
Dairy Diversification from Feed to Market for Farmers The Nuru Kenya (NK) rural livelihoods team is leading a “feed to market” effort that will transform the dairy livelihoods of thousands of farmers in Kuria East and Kuria West. Nuru farmers in Kenya have traditionally kept a few head of cattle at their household for draft …
One of the goals of Nuru Kenya is to help rural farmers to improve food security and income opportunities. This year it looks forward to impacting the lives of nearly 2,000 farmers and their families this year through 14 local farmer organizations (cooperatives) this year. Ikerege Farmers’ Cooperative Society is one of those 14 cooperatives. …
Returning to Nuru Kenya & Pauline Wambeti In March, I had an opportunity to head back to Nuru Kenya to work with Pauline a bit. As always, the goat paths, visits with courageous families working with us, a hilarious back and forth with Mama Mogosi over the price of a cup of chai, and a …
Isebania, Kenya—Pauline Wambeti, Nuru Kenya’s Country Director, has been eagerly awaiting the announcement of some big news on the leadership development front. She is one of less than a dozen East African women leaders to be selected to be Acumen East Africa Fellows for 2018-2019. She was selected from a shortlisted group of approximately 200 …
The hilly village of Nyamagenga in Kuria East sub-county is a breath-taking sight. From a distance you would mistake it for bare land where no farming takes place. The scenery is fascinating despite the erratic rainfall patterns and recurrent crop diseases that attack maize, the community’s staple food. If you traveled there, moving from one …