BeadWORKS

Over the past 15 years, BeadWORKS, a World Fair Trade Organisation-certified enterprise, has established an organised network of 1,200 women beaders from nine NRT member community conservancies in northern Kenya.

These artisans produce high-quality, handcrafted products that are sold locally and internationally, across Africa, North America, Australia, and Europe.

Women hold the keys to building a sustainable future for their communities. They are best positioned to make decisions that improve their families’ health and welfare, and use cooperative structures to drive positive social change.

By providing access to domestic and global markets, BeadWORKS is fostering the social and economic empowerment of women in the remotest parts of northern Kenya’s ASALs, who are confronted with profound difficulties, including gender-based violence, poverty, malnutrition, and insecurity.

IMPACT

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

Star beaders’ rewards amounted to Ksh. 501,248 in 2024.

Ksh 827,148 generated in sales from the BeadWORKS B2C e-commerce website.

Ksh 10.6 million (2024) in income from the production of 75,626 items. Since 2016, the artisans have earned a total of Ksh 80 million.

Ksh 1.8 million in contributions to conservation fees for community conservancies, with Ksh 13.37 million contributed since 2016.

Ksh 36.2 million (2024) in product sales, raising its total revenue since 2016 to Ksh 267.45 million.

I was a stay-at-home mother relying on livestock, which wasn’t sustainable. Through Beadworks, I feel empowered and self-reliant. With BeadWORKS, I have gained knowledge in beading, business startups, and savings. I run a shop acquired with 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.

~ Aragae Lebonyo from Sera Conservancy, Samburu County.

Ufugaji Bora Mashinani

Ufugaji Bora Mashinani (UBM) is a practical farmer field school that equips herders and women in villages with skills that enhance livestock productivity and market value.

UBM, 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.

UBM collaborates with county government technical subject matter specialists in its operations and delivers impact through:

Programme design: the UBM curriculum consists of six modules whose content and
schedule are designed to reinforce lessons through practical experience, foster collaboration and partnership, and positively change behaviours.
Livestock value chain improvement: UBM establishes livestock improvement and
marketing groups (livestock marketing agents) in each participating community conservancy. The groups receive breeding, animal feeds, and supplementary feeding, livestock marketing, climate adaptation and rangeland governance training and technology, enabling them to access market information in real time and work toward selling as a cooperative, increasing their competitive edge.
Improved animal health and value: UBM trains participants in modern animal husbandry and links them to better agricultural supplies that are relatively more affordable.
The Programme also supports trained individuals and registered groups in mobilising
local herders and pooling resources for livestock vaccination. These groups actively advocate for vaccination and other animal health services. UBM also trains herders in supplemental feeding.
Improved rangelands: UBM training leverages the best of modern and traditional grazing practices, strengthens local rangeland governance, and links livestock value chain improvement to rangeland restoration.

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.