“ACCELERATING RURAL WOMEN’S ACCESS TO AGRICULTURAL MARKETS AND TRADE” Public Disclosure Authorized 95026 Project Progress Report October, November & December 2014

Public Disclosure Authorized

Woman farmers explains use of biocides during the opening ceremony of the UN Women regional Sharefair in Women farmers receive cement bags in Public Disclosure Authorized

Women farmers in Kitui receive iron sheets GK staff during the learning visit at one of CIDI’s sites in Kampala, Uganda

Public Disclosure Authorized Prepared by: GROOTS January 2015

[GROOTS Kenya December 2014 Report]

“Accelerating Rural Women’s Access to Agricultural Markets and Trade”

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 County in the Rift Valley and 700 women in Kitui County, Eastern Kenya.

3) is located in the former 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 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

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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

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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

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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 18th November) and Nakuru (24th and 25th 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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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 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

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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 Dairy and horticulture Nakuru, , major cities/towns produce , Happy Cow Limited Dairy processors Milk Nakuru Gilanis Supermarkets Whole sale and Horticultural produce Nakuru retail supermarket Jomo Kenyatta High Based in Nakuru Horticultural produce Nakuru School Zucchini Grocery shops in Cabbages, carrots and Nairobi Nairobi potatoes Boma Hotel Horticulture and Potatoes, peas, Nairobi dairy produce indigenous chicken, cabbages Deepa Industries Tropical heat Potatoes Nairobi Keitt Exporters Export Mangoes Nairobi Fresh and Juici Juice processor Mangoes Nairobi City park hawkers All kinds of Potatoes, carrots, Nairobi market horticultural and cabbages dairy produce

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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 Kanyangi Grace Musyoka and equipment) Kakeani Margaret Vonza Processing and value addition 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

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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

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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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ANNEX 1 Table 1: Summary of Project Progress Matrix (April, May, June 2014) NO OUTPUT PER MEANS OF STATUS COMMENT COMPONENT VERIFICATION COMPONENT 1: Organize women farmers to work collectively to economically empower and improve their livelihoods 1. Contents of Value ToRs for TOR submitted, VC studies reports finalized Chains identified in consultants, VC VC studies completed and used to guide the each locality and reports & validated community training. validated using community consultations 2. Participatory ToRs, Mapping TOR submitted, study The mapping report was community resources report completed & validated finalized in January 2014 and mapping processes shared with partners. designed and Remapping of additional implemented in the project beneficiaries planned two project areas for the next quarter (Jan- March 2015). 3. A total of 3,400 target Mapping report, By end of December The updated numbers are based beneficiaries Project 2014, the project on the application for the identified in the two beneficiaries’ works with 1,846 project’s Basic Need Fund (see project locations database women in the two component 4). (2,700 in Nakuru and regions (1,252 in The fallout of project 700 in Kitui County) Nakuru and 594 in beneficiaries can be explained Kitui). 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 Workshop Five validation Accomplished. workshops held to reports, List of workshops organized validate value chains participants (3 in Molo and 2 and community Kitui) in Dec 2013 & mapping in the two Jan 2014 involving project areas with a 220 stakeholders. total of 200 stakeholders 5. 5 community Training 28 instructors These are 2 county, 6 sub- instructors trained to workshop reports, identified and trained county and 20 location group

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NO OUTPUT PER MEANS OF STATUS COMMENT COMPONENT VERIFICATION assist in group List of names for both regions coordinators. Training done formation and using the curriculum (module strengthening 1) alongside mentorship on using GK tested methodologies. 6. 250 community Training 141 coaches trained Capacity enhancement will members trained as workshop reports, comprising chair ladies, continue. coaches and drivers of List of treasurers and The number includes 58 community community secretaries of the women coaches on group organization members/ groups. strengthening. coaches New coaches will be drawn from the newly mapped members. 7. Outreach training Sample training 656 men champions Local dialogues to continue in package developed package (76 in Kitui & 80 in the next quarter to mobilise and implemented Molo) trained to carry more men for women support. targeting 1,200 men out village dialogues. Thematic training sheets, on and community 500 more men were aspects such as control of members reached during the assets, inheritance rights, etc. local to local dialogues developed will be used in the held at the location process. level in each County, 178 in Kitui and 322 in Nakuru. 8. 120 beneficiaries from Reports from 77 benefit from peer Another cross region visit peer mentoring & peer mentoring mentorship & best from women from Kitui to exchange visits activities and practice visits. 40 Nakuru is planned for the next exchange visits, women from Nakuru quarter (Jan-Mar 2015). The Lists of participated in the objective of these visits is to participants exchange visit to Kitui. enhance peer learning. 9. A total of 5,000 Event reports 2,048 community Field days planned at sub- beneficiaries/ and List of members previously county level to disseminate community members participants attended lesson sharing technologies for greater attending best platforms. uptake of best practices. practice community In May – June, 2014, events sharing lessons 400 community learned members attended the trainings organized by coaches alongside the mapped women.

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10 25 different flyers and Sample of flyers Nine flyers on the 2 fact sheets for advocacy (see simple documents three value chains have component 2) and one produced in local been adopted from the newsletter on the project have languages, printed and partnership with been printed and disseminated disseminated CCAFS (‘Shamba to the community. Shape Up’) 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 List of groups 89 groups formed (60 in All 89 groups are duly groups formed and with names & Molo and 29 in Kitui), registered. These Common registered with the registration comprising of btw. 15 Interest Groups are organized Department of Social (database) & 25 members. according to the three value Services 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 Project At least 80% of the Group account numbers and individual and 100 beneficiaries’ women have bank signatories documented. group bank accounts and group accounts. All the databases registered groups have bank accounts and deposit their group savings in their bank accounts. COMPONENT 2: Enhance Women Farmers’ Lobbying and Advocacy Capacities for Essential Services to Improve Production 1. Advocacy capacity Reports Advocacy needs and Women started actively and training needs issues are identified. advocating for essential identified services. 2. 100 women farmers Training reports, 60 advocacy champions Advocacy champions trained groups trained to List of identified and trained their groups on how to lobby lobby and advocate participants (30 per region, among and advocate for change. for change them 21 women & 9 men). 3. 2 viable plans of Plans 2 advocacy strategies Leaders at county level actions for advocacy developed (one per attended the stakeholders’ initiatives developed region) dialogue and fledged their (one in each project Participation of women support to the project. area) leaders in decision Continuous advocacy making as recognized by processes ongoing facilitated duty bearers. by courtesy calls to duty bearers and stakeholders. 4. 3 sets of information Sample of info Tools to be used Two advocacy fact sheets packs on advocacy packages include county developed. The community issues developed and advocacy fact sheets (1 advocacy guide was disseminated to project per region) and a developed. It will be printed beneficiaries community advocacy and disseminated in the next step-by-step guide. quarter 5. 3,400 beneficiaries Reports of Dialogues ongoing at Local dialogue meetings participate in 12 local dialogue group level; to be ongoing as follow up to the to local dialogue meetings, Lists coordinated at sub- advocacy. meetings of participants county level. 6. Regular dissemination Sample The two stakeholders’ Newsprint used to guide of information to newspapers, dialogues that were discussions on agricultural communities through radio footages, held in Nakuru (10/06) innovations. Radio listening radio, newspapers, website and Kitui (10/07) were sessions planned. community centres, covered by the local websites, and mobile media. options

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7. 6 informal project Minutes of the Officials in the two 2 Seed fund Committees advisory board meetings counties have been formed and meetings held on meetings conducted approached for 2nd and 7th October 2014. potential nominees to the board. COMPONENT 3: Enhance Women Farmers’ Business Capacities and Facilitate Market Linkages 1. 40 local community- Sample training 59 coaches trained (31 Coaches trained their group based curriculum/ from Molo & 28 from members coaches/instructors manual, Training Kitui). trained and equipped report and List to train others on of participants business skills 2. 3,400 beneficiaries Sample training All mapped women Coaches continue training trained on business curriculum/ (2,150) attended their groups at meetings. and entrepreneurial manual, Training training sessions at skills, using a group- reports and Lists group level by either based approach of participants sector experts or group coaches. 3. 3 specialized packages Sample packages Financial literacy and Specialized packages to be for financial literacy (Kiswahili, business skills are key developed based on identified and business skills Kikuyu and areas of module 2. gaps and to prepare women developed in local Kamba and farmers for the project’ seed languages, printed and Kalenjin ) funds (component 4). disseminated 4. 40 local community- Sample training 41 coaches trained in Further equipping of coaches based curriculum/ Nakuru on dairy planned through best practice coaches/instructors manual, Training development. visits. trained and equipped report and List to train others on dairy of participants development 5. 2,500 beneficiaries in Sample training Members of all 37 Training by the trained 70 groups trained on curriculum/ dairy CIGs trained coaches ongoing at group dairy development manual, Training (approx. 644 women level. reports and Lists farmers) of participants 6. 1 specialized package Sample packages Package developed Management practices for dairy development (Kiswahili, (module 3) summarized as handouts for developed in local Kikuyu Kalenjin dissemination. languages, printed and and Kamba) disseminated 7. 20 local community- Sample training 49 coaches trained on Coaches trained on the based curriculum/ horticulture developed training content by coaches/instructors manual, Training development (25 in sector experts.

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trained and equipped report and List Nakuru and 24 in to train others on of participants Kitui). horticulture development 8. 400 beneficiaries in Sample training Members of all CIGs Training by coaches 15 groups trained on curriculum/ engaged in horticulture continues. horticulture manual, Training (23 Molo and 8 Kitui) development reports and Lists trained on horticultural of participants development (approx. 744). 9. 1 specialized Sample Package developed Management practices package for packages (Module 5). summarized in handouts for horticulture (Kiswahili, dissemination. development Kikuyu, developed in local Kalenjin and languages, printed Kamba) and disseminated 10. 20 local community- Sample training 24 coaches trained on Coaches continually based curriculum/ poultry development backstopping their groups on coaches/instructors manual, Training technical issues. trained and equipped report and List to train others on of participants poultry development 11. 500 beneficiaries in Sample training 456 women farmers Trainings on-going by the 15 groups trained on curriculum/ trained. coaches. poultry development manual, Training reports and Lists of participants 12. 1 specialized package Sample Package developed Key management practices for poultry packages (Module 4). summarized as handouts for development (Kiswahili, dissemination. developed in local Kikuyu , languages, printed and Kalenjin and disseminated Kamba) 13. National training Workshop Training of Trainers The main objective of the workshop for 20 agri- report, List of (ToT) for 40 lead agri- ToT was to train the based experts from participants preneurs (20 from Kitui entrepreneurs to develop each of the two and 20 from Nakuru) enterprise development plans project areas organized on 22 & 23 (EDPs). September 2014. 14. Enterprise Roadmaps Strengthen enterprise Individual coaching is for 20 development plans for lead lead entrepreneurs to roadmaps developed entrepreneurs with strengthen their enterprise identified gaps for held on the 29th & 30th

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individual capacity October 2014 in Nakuru and strengthening. 18th & 19th November in Kitui. 15. 7 sets of publications Sample of Not yet done. To be developed based on the prepared, printed and publications, enterprises supported by the disseminated for Dissemination project. promotion of women lists farmers entrepreneurs 16. 10 market champions List of A group of 60 market Market visits held on the 27th and 10 lead beneficiaries, champions’ identified, to 29th October 2014 and 5th entrepreneurs Training reports initial training done. to 7th November 2014 in identified and their A total of 86 market Nakuru and Nairobi capacities champions trained on respectively. A total of strengthened 15th & 16th September 19women participated, 12 2014 in Nakuru and from Nakuru and 7 from 18th & 19th September Kitui. 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. 17. 3,400 beneficiaries Workshop The trained market Feedback meetings from the specifically trained in reports, List of champions (approx. one training as well as market division-level participants per group) have been visits held at group level workshops on market equipped to enhance the during group meetings linkages and market collective marketing information sources capacities of their group members. 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 Sample MFI Seed Fund/Grant packages on lending packages, Operations Manual guidelines developed, dissemination (SGOM) approved by printed and list World Bank on 18th disseminated June 2004. 2. Administrative grant ToR, MoU Official negotiations Negotiations with Equity provided to a selected with two financial Bank are still ongoing and MFI/Bank to service providers IFC/World Bank have administer the seed (Equity Bank for recommended GROOTS to funding mechanisms Nakuru and Cooperative bring on board a professional Bank for Kitui) began banker/micro-finance expert

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this quarter. Field to support the finalization of assessment visits were the MoU. 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. 3. 2 Seed Funding ToR, List of SGOM explains 6 project seed fund Advisory Committees members, institutional framework committees have been established (one in Minutes of the for the administration of created (one per sub-county). each project area) meetings the seed funds, incl. sub- Member of the SFC include county Seed Fund technical agricultural experts, Committees. 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 Training report, SGOM provides Inductions on the two other instructors trained to List of operational guidelines for project funds (Group support communities participants the administration of the Revolving Fund and Lead utilize and backstop three project funds. Entrepreneur Fund) shall be lending guidelines 178 group leaders (2 per carried out in the next CIGs) have been quarter (Jan-Mar 2015). 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. 5. 3,400 beneficiaries Training 1,616 farmers from Molo FSPs & financial literacy trained in financial reports, Lists of received initial Financial consultant to provide further literacy using a group- participants Literacy Training. financial capacity building.

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based approach 6. 3,400 beneficiaries Training As mentioned 180 group Individual and group trained on lending reports, Lists of leaders have been trained applications for the BNF guidelines and loans participants on the BNF and they have been developed, application and have inducted their group distributed and filled by utilization using a members on the same. mapped women farmers. A group-based approach total of 1,846 applications received in initial phase of BNF; 594 from Kitui and 1252 from Nakuru. 7. 100 Group Loans List of group Not yet started. Disbursement of the project amounting to 2,500 beneficiaries, However, groups formed Group Revolving Fund USD each disbursed MFI/Bank within the project do planned for the next quarter through the records table banking; in Nakuru (Jan-Mar 2015). Community average group savings Agribusiness Venture amount to KES 100,000 Fund 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. 8. 1,360 Individual Lead List of Not yet started. Disbursement planned for Entrepreneur Funds of beneficiaries, As above (component 3), the next quarter (Jan-Mar 400 USD each MFI/Bank lead entrepreneurs are 2015). disbursed records finalizing their enterprise development plans that will form the basis for their loan application. 9. 3,400 Individual Basic List of 1,846 BNF applications Procurement and Needs Funds of 100 beneficiaries, have been received by disbursement ongoing. USD each disbursed MFI/Bank the end of September Farms inputs, water tanks, records (1,252 from Nakuru and and construction materials 594 from Kitui). 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

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and implementing contracts the FSP to administer the unit effectively in seed funds to completed in place comprising the next quarter (Jan-Mar project manager, two 2015). local project field- based assistants, local contractual FM and procurement staff and project accountant 2. Baseline survey ToR, Baseline DONE (July 2013 final carried out report report) 3. Annual work plans Work plans DONE. developed 4. Participatory M&E system/ M&E strategy in place Project Management Monitoring and framework Community coaches Information System (MIS) Evaluation system in familiarized. developed. place 5. Community-led Mapping tools, Community members take MIS to systematize data visual mapping database, photos and use records to collection and analysis. systems in place and monitoring track progress. utilized for self- reports monitoring 6. Documented progress Database, Initial photographs of As per point 4, project MIS in economic status as mapping mapped farmers stored. developed a result of the reports (www.grootskenyamis.org). community led visual tracking 7. Timely Semester Reports Done Progress Reports (physical and financial progress, and progress in achievement of Development Outcome indicators) 8. A system for reports Database Reports are well stored. and information Web-based MIS to management and professionalize storage storage established developed in this quarter (access through www.grootskenyamis.org) 9. Timely project Reports World Bank Next WB mission foreseen supervision, implementation support for February 2015 comprising visits by mission took place in Oct

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GROOTS Kenya per 2013, year Internal monitoring mission in March 2014. Monthly project status meetings organized with the World Bank in July, August and October 2014. 10. Website developed Website link Website developed: and properly www.womenandagriculture.org maintained 11. 30 case-studies Copies of 30 4 case studies recorded. Case studies recorded in developed, printed case-studies project newsletter. and disseminated 12. 3 community videos Copies of Women farmers’ success produced and videos stories from the two disseminated regions recorded. DVD with video documentaries disseminated. 13. 500 stakeholders Workshop Nakuru stakeholders Both stakeholder meetings attending a national report/s, list of meeting held on 10th June were a big success in terms workshops where participants 2014 with 254 of participation (numbers results and case participants. and level). In Nakuru, the studies are presented Kitui stakeholder County governor and his meeting held on 10th July team attended the forum 2014 with 130 while in Kitui the County participants. 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 Report Planned for 2016. completion report by GROOTS Kenya 16. Final impact ToRs, Report Planned for 2016. evaluation

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