Trading Businesses

These are stand-alone, sustainable businesses in key value chains and economic sectors developed, piloted, and run by MashinaniWORKS.

BeadWORKS

is a handicraft business that harnesses the rich beading tradition of the women of northern Kenya.

BeadWORKS, in collaboration with its women beaders, continues to prioritize the development of high-quality products that meet market demands. The Program is committed to conserving natural resources and wildlife through self-governed, community-owned conservancies and sustainable, social, and ethical enterprise.

IMPACT

Over 1,200 women participate in BeadWORKS, with 110 being star beaders

Star beaders’ rewards amounted to Ksh 611,669 (USD 4,530).

BeadWORKS B2C e-commerce website generated Ksh 805,545 (USD 5,967) in sales.

Beaders earned Ksh 12.8 million (USD 94,814) in income from the production of 89,013 items.

Ksh 1.7 million (USD 12,592) contribution in conservation fees to community conservancies.

Ksh 35.5 million (USD 262,962) generated in product sales.

Before joining BeadWORKS, Aragae Lebonyo from Sera Community Conservancy was a stay-at-home mother relying on livestock, which wasn’t sustainable. Through BeadWORKS, Aragae feels empowered and self-reliant, transforming from the person she was to the empowered woman she is today.
 
With BeadWORKS, Aragae has gained knowledge in beading, business startups, and savings. She runs a shop acquired with her BeadWORKS income, providing stability during lean periods. The beads have become an alternative income source, reducing reliance on unsustainable practices like tree cutting for charcoal.

Ufugaji Bora Mashinani

Ufugaji Bora Mashinani (UBM) is a farmer’s field school training for better animal husbandry.  It is also leading the way in transforming mindsets and improving livestock practices.

Ufugaji Bora Mashinani (UBM), a Program implemented by the Livestock Department and funded by the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Local Works Program, provides practical skill training to select pastoralist groups in 10 NRT member community conservancies, increasing herders’ livestock production capacity.

Ufugaji Bora Mashinani was recommended and informed by the findings of a baseline survey conducted in August 2021, which revealed that herders’ lack of practical skills was inhibiting profitable livestock production.

IMPACT

293  herders involved in Ufugaji Bora Mashinani trainings and graduated

Training in 10 NRT Community Conservancies

4 modular training curriculum developed and delivered successfully

30 Livestock Marketing Agents (LMAs) recruited, with 50% being women.

KES 32.1 million income generated through 7 livestock value chains

“As a Maasai, I never understood the value of chickens in our homesteads. Now, if anyone tries to dissuade me, I’d consider them my adversary. These birds have revolutionized my family’s nutrition. They’ve lightened the load of school fees for my husband and me.” 

Mary Leleruk, Ufugaji Bora Mashinani beneficiary from Naibunga Lower Conservancy.