Over-dependency on fishing is one of the factors contributing to over-fishing and poverty in the village communities of the Kenyan coast. It also leaves people economically vulnerable to climate change and further depletion in fish stocks. The lack of economic diversification is a particular problem during the April to September monsoon, when the sea is rough and effective fishing is nearly impossible. While there are other livelihood options for the communities, cultural factors as well as limited economic incentives have inhibited their development. Eco Ethics has established a revolving fund whereby communities can take out soft loans to start up alternative livelihood schemes. We incorporate capacity-building and business training to effect long-term, sustainable development.
Projects/Alternative Livelihoods
Munje Greenhouse
Greenhouses constructed with fine netting and plastic are used throughout Kenya for both commercial and small-scale horticulture. After a workshop led by Will Ruddick as a Peace Corps volunteer, Eco Ethics concluded that the idea would work well in the village of Munje, where the community members were looking for a new source of income alongside fishing and traditional agriculture. An Eco Ethics intern, Dan Abrahams, was instrumental in getting the project off the ground - literally - and in working with Munje villagers to set up a management structure and adopt the new technology. In its first harvest, the greenhouse produced nearly 100 kg of tomatoes a week, which were sold to local beach hotels and other markets. We are continuing our follow-up work with the community.
Mwakamba Greenhouse
Mwakamba Development Group is an energetic and ambitious youth group based in the village of Mwakamba near the tourist resort of Diani, whose aims are to lift the community out of poverty and find work for the many unemployed members. Having heard about the Munje greenhouse project on the radio, the group applied to Eco Ethics for support to start up a similar enterprise of their own. We received $2,500 in funding from the Foundation for Sustainable Development to help construct the greenhouse and provide initial training, while Eco Ethics will continue to work with the community to secure a market for their produce and to monitor progress. Group members are already reporting benefits in terms of lessons learned and network building.
Makuti business
Makuti is a versatile roofing material made of dry palm leaves. Women in the coast are known to be particularly good makuti weavers, and often use it as an informal income source in addition to their regular work of processing and selling fish. Through micro-credit, Eco Ethics supported women from two fishing communities in enhancing their makuti businesses by building structures to store the makuti and establishing stable markets, especially among the local tourist hotels and villas. The project involved Mpaji ni Mungu Women's Group and Bidii Women's Group in Gazi and Munje, respectively, who both received training in business development and marketing.
Poultry farming
Poultry farming is one of the most popular and fast-growing businesses in the coast. In the town of Likoni just south of Mombasa's main island, Eco Ethics supported a youth group (Active Youth Community Initiative) to develop an enterprise raising broiler chickens for profit. The group decided to follow a zero-waste concept by using the droppings of the poultry to produce compost manure and then use the manure to produce tree seedlings and raise vegetables through balcony farming. The project drew widespread interest and serves as a demonstration project for other groups and individuals interested in poultry keeping.
Small scale-businesses
We are also supporting a number of small businesses, mainly run by women in Munje community, through the revolving loan scheme. Their enterprises have included selling fish, consumer products and clothes. The women are able to contribute to generating household income and consequently to reducing poverty among their remote community. One family in Munje told us that before the wife set up her business, they rarely ate three meals a day, but now the family can afford three meals with less difficulty.