Sowing Change Kenya Program

Access to safe food, clean water, and adequate nutrition as the foundation of human security and sustainable development. CARE Kenya ensures households have reliable access to nutritious food through climate-smart agriculture, resilient livelihoods, agribusiness development, and integrated nutrition programs.

Programme Goal

Restore ecological integrity, enhance sustainable livelihoods, and empower marginalized groups — particularly women and youth — in natural resource governance in the Amboseli-Chyulu landscape

23k

Target people with improved climate resilience.

3,500

Target HH with 20% income increase.

 

1,060

Hectares of degraded land targeted for restoration.

Context & Rationale

The Amboseli-Chyulu sublandscape faces increasing climate variability, rangeland degradation, and resource-based conflicts that disproportionately affect women and youth. Dependent on rain-fed agriculture and pastoralism, communities experience crop failure, water scarcity, and reduced biodiversity.

Women face barriers to accessing productive resources and participating in natural resource governance. Sowing Change addresses these interconnected challenges through women- and youth-led Nature-Based Solutions.

Strategic Objectives

Objective 1

Increase income by 20% for 3,500 households through sustainable livelihood enterprises.

Objective 2

By 2027, restore 1,060 hectares of degraded rangeland and farmland.

Objective 3

Strengthen leadership for 5,500 women and youth in formal and informal natural resource governance and climate adaptation decision-making bodies

Theory of Change

Empowered women and youth — equipped with skills, enterprises, and governance roles — become drivers of inclusive, community-led restoration and economic transformation. Nature-Based Solutions address both ecological and livelihood needs, while strengthened leadership ensures women and youth shape the climate adaptation decisions that affect their communities.

Key Interventions & Achievements

Livelihoods & Nature-Based Enterprises

578 households (~4,046 people) in 25 women and youth groups benefited from strengthened nature-based enterprises. 30 high-yielding German Alpine dairy goats distributed to 10 groups benefiting 268 women and youth. Training on improved goat management delivered; dairy goat management handbook developed and translated into Kiswahili. 5 FFBS demonstration sites established for drought-resilient fodder species; 87 women trained. New dairy goat CBO (NARETOIEDUATA) formed and registered for milk marketing and value addition. Beekeeping strengthened through refresher training, value addition (beeswax products), improved branding, and market linkage planning.

Rangeland & Ecosystem Restoration

80 hectares of degraded rangeland restored through construction and seeding of 8,000 earth bunds and Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR). 100 community members engaged in restoration activities within the Amboseli Landowners Conservancy Association (ALOCA). 3 sand dams were constructed to enhance water retention, recharge groundwater, and reduce human-wildlife conflict.

Women & Youth Climate Leadership

Climate change, NBS, and proposal-writing training delivered to 60 participants (all women; 18 youth). 3 fundable proposals on water harvesting, sustainable farming, reforestation, and apiculture developed for county government funding. Participatory Scenario Planning (PSP) workshop conducted integrating scientific and indigenous knowledge — producing action plans for agriculture, livestock, health, and natural resources. Community dissemination forums reached 284 participants on climate advisories. Climate leadership training delivered to 44 local women and youth. Radio talk show on Mayian FM disseminated climate advisories to the Maa community, featuring a woman project champion and the Director of the Meteorology Department.

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For more information and to learn more about partnership opportunities, contact CARE Kenya by completing our interest form.

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