Job creation and income generation for women and youth in Western Kenya

Background

Due to erratic rainfall, overreliance on rainfed agriculture, conflicts, poverty, and rapid population growth,

Kenya struggles to produce enough food and strongly relies on imports. This situation is exacerbated by global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the Middle East crisis. Western Kenya has also failed to reach optimal productivity because of poor farming methods, inadequate extension services, decreasing land sizes, unsustainable land management practices, climate change, and poor market integration. In this environment, women, who often manage household farm animals, face challenges such as limited access to land and capital.

Goal

The goal is to enhance the well-being and economic independence of youth and women. The project seeks to enhance the economic viability of indigenous chicken enterprisesby building capacity in husbandry, marketing, entrepreneurship, and organizational skills. The goal is to ensure that indigenous chickens and their products are accessible, affordable, and safe for consumers.

Specific objectives are as follows:

1. Youth and women poultry producers improve their husbandry skills and practices for indigenous chickens.
2. Youth and women indigenous chicken producers and businesspeople enhance their entrepreneurship skills and have organized marketing for indigenous chickens.
3. New knowledge is generated along the poultry value chain, supporting policy development to enhance production and marketing of indigenous chickens.

Approach

The project aims to deliver impact through a participatory, inclusive, and market-oriented approach that builds on local capacity and resources.

JOIN ensures promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment, which is necessary for sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction. It also strengthens community empowerment and resilience in the wake of environmental disasters and other shocks occasioned by climate change.

Which of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals does this project work towards?

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