On 17th June 2026, 3E Africa’s two-year Mizizi Yetu Maisha Yetu (Our Roots, Our Lives) project reached a landmark in Baringo County, coinciding with the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, a globally significant moment in the fight against climate-driven land degradation. Beneficiaries, community members, the County Government of Baringo, and the 3E Africa team gathered not only to celebrate 2 years of work, but to stand collectively against the growing threat of desertification.

The event was honoured by the presence of the CEC for Water, Irrigation, Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Arch. Reuben Rutto, whose remarks set a powerful tone for the day. Echoing the spirit of the project, the CEC called on communities to advance conservation efforts, plant more trees, and commit to restoring Baringo’s degraded lands. The message that resonated deeply with beneficiaries who have lived that reality and are now part of the solution.

Grounded in 3E Africa’s three core pillars of Environment, Entrepreneurship, and Energy, the project journeyed from the survey of semi-arid landscapes to the transformation of those same lands into productive kitchen gardens, fruit orchards, forest tree plots, and cereal farms. What began as possibility became proof.

The closing event was alive with culture, joy, and testimony. Farmer Mary shared how she moved from farming a dry, unproductive plot to cultivating a thriving sweet potato garden, saving enough along the way to purchase goats. Stories like hers remind us that food security and economic empowerment are inseparable, and that with the right support, even the driest ground can yield abundance.

To cement sustainability beyond the project’s close, each participating farmer received a water harvesting tank and a grain silo. This support ensures harvests are preserved and families remain nourished long after the programme ends.

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That began to change when Monicah joined 3E Africa’s Mizizi Yetu Maisha Yetu project, an initiative grounded in our three core pillars of Environment, Entrepreneurship, and Energy. Taking a hands-on approach rooted in community ownership, the project trained women in sustainable kitchen gardening, covering water-efficient irrigation, soil health using locally available materials, and nutrition-focused growing practices.

Today, the spaces around her home that were once barren have been transformed into vibrant patches of leafy greens, tomatoes, and other vegetables. Her family now has regular access to fresh, nutritious food, a steady, meaningful shift from where they started. Beyond her household, Monicah has become a resource for her neighbours, sharing what she has learned and stepping into the role of a local champion for sustainable agriculture.

Her story reflects the wider change 3E Africa is supporting across Baringo, where climate pressures continue to strain livelihoods and household food security. Through community-centred programmes that prioritise practical knowledge, peer support, and local ownership, we are equipping women with the tools to work with their environment rather than against it.

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As production increases, maintaining high milk quality from the farm to the final consumer remains essential. The milk must retain the same level of freshness and hygiene from the cow to the milk collector, and finally to the milk bar manager. Quality must be protected at every point in the value chain to ensure that the end consumer receives safe, nutritious, high‑quality milk.

To strengthen milk quality, we have been training farmers on dairy production and management, fodder diversification, and milk handling and hygiene practices. To reinforce these quality‑control measures, we also distributed Kenya Dairy Board recommended aluminium milking cans and buckets. This shift from recycled plastic containers which are difficult to clean to aluminium equipment has significantly improved milk hygiene at the farm level.

Quality, however, must also be safeguarded beyond the farm. It would be meaningless for farmers to maintain excellent standards if the same care is not applied during collection, transportation, and milk bar handling. For this reason, we recently conducted a training for Mau Juhudi Dairy in partnership with experts from the Dairy Training Institute. The training focused on milk handling and hygiene management, milk value addition, and business management for the milk bar.

The sessions also covered essential milk testing procedures required at collection points, legal and regulatory requirements in the dairy sector, business model development, and financial management for the dairy bar. With this training, our goal is to help Mau Juhudi Dairy strengthen its internal capacity, improve milk bar operations, and lay a strong foundation for long‑term growth.

We remain committed not only to increasing milk production but also to ensuring that the quality of milk delivered to consumers remains consistently high across the entire value chain.

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The Maisha Bora Project is reshaping this narrative by demonstrating that agriculture and health are not only connected but deeply interdependent. While agriculture contributes directly to nutrition and food availability, health provides the human capital needed for productive farming. Poor nutrition weakens farmers, reduces productivity, and increases health risks, while poor health limits households’ ability to engage effectively in agricultural activities. Yet, despite these clear linkages, they are often overlooked in traditional development models.

In Molo Sub‑County, the Maisha Bora Project has adopted a transformative multi-sectoral approach that aligns agricultural livelihood support with community health improvements. The project will work with 250 dairy farmers, equipping them with improved farming practices, better livestock management skills, and increased production.  However, unlike conventional agriculture-focused programs, Maisha Bora goes a step further by addressing the human health and nutrition.

The project partners with five dispensaries across Molo Sub‑County to strengthen nutrition services and improve maternal and child health outcomes. This includes training Community Health Promoters, who play a critical role in disseminating nutrition and hygiene information at the household level. Additionally, the project supports ECDE centres, ensuring that young children who form the foundation of the future generation, receive essential nutrition education that promotes healthy growth and learning.

By integrating these two sectors, Maisha Bora is demonstrating that sustainable development cannot be achieved in silos. Communities thrive when both their economic livelihoods and their health systems are strengthened simultaneously. This integrated model enhances resilience, supports long‑term food security, and empowers households to build healthier and more productive lives.

The Maisha Bora Project is a reminder that, to achieve real change, development efforts must reflect the interconnected reality of people’s lives. Agriculture and health are not competing priorities; they are two sides of the same coin. And when they come together, the result is a healthier, more food-secure, and more prosperous community.

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The day opened with welcoming remarks from the 3E Africa team, emphasizing the importance of partnerships in advancing sustainable livelihoods and environmental stewardship. This was followed by a symbolic tree planting session, a clear demonstration of 3E Africa’s commitment to ecosystem restoration and climate action. County officials, partners, and community representatives actively participated, reinforcing the shared responsibility for environmental conservation.

The heart of the event featured thematic presentations and farmer testimonies that showcased how 3E Africa’s integrated approach, anchored in Environment, Entrepreneurship, and Energy is delivering tangible results on the ground. In the dairy value chain, beneficiaries shared how fodder diversification had improved milk production, alongside cooperative development and access to clean energy solutions. Farmers spoke of increased productivity and reduced household energy costs, while Mau Juhudi cooperative leaders outlined next steps for market integration and growth.

The coffee value chain session highlighted ongoing farmer training and cooperative strengthening efforts in Subukia sub-county, with a strong focus on preparing smallholder farmers for EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) compliance, a critical step toward accessing premium and sustainable markets. Farmer testimonies reflected renewed confidence and improved farm management practices. In Baringo, the spotlight was on women farmers and local groups in ASAL contexts, showcasing achievements in regenerative agriculture, resilience-building, and enterprise development, with lessons on scaling climate-smart interventions in dryland areas.

A dedicated session demonstrated how the three pillars work together to create holistic community transformation. Under Environment, initiatives such as regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, and seed conservation are restoring soils, improving food security, and building climate resilience. Entrepreneurship efforts focus on supporting smallholder farmers, especially women and youth, through value chain development, cooperative strengthening, and enterprise diversification. Meanwhile, the Energy pillar promotes biogas and circular farming systems that convert waste into clean energy and organic fertilizer.

The event was enriched by remarks from County government representatives and institutional partners, who reaffirmed their commitment to supporting farmer-led development and climate-smart initiatives. A practical highlight was the official handover of biogas kits, improved cooking stoves, and milk cans to beneficiary farmers, demonstrating 3E Africa’s commitment to linking strategy with tangible support for sustainable livelihoods.

Looking ahead, 3E Africa envisions scaling integrated programs that address climate change, food security, clean energy access, and inclusive economic growth. We invite partners to explore opportunities for collaboration, funding, and joint initiatives that build on proven, community-driven models.

At 3E Africa, we believe that stakeholder involvement coupled with partnerships is the cornerstone of sustainable development. Together, we can create resilient communities, restore ecosystems, and empower farmers for a brighter future. https://youtu.be/GZTxLWHPuoY

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Our on-the-ground experience in Baringo, where many initiatives traditionally focus only on women, has revealed a critical insight, gender-inclusive approaches significantly enhance project success and sustainability. We have observed that women’s groups often benefit from the strategic involvement of a smaller percentage of men. These male participants offer vital support by filling crucial roles that align with traditional skill sets, such as honey harvesting and providing essential guidance in group leadership.

Crucially, our efforts to implement initiatives by involving both men and women at the household level have demonstrated good outcomes. We have consistently found that initiatives supported by both male and female members within the same household experience greater success and deeper sustainability. This reinforces the need to move beyond single gender targeting toward a model of shared responsibility and collective household empowerment.

The active involvement of men is not just beneficial, it’s absolutely crucial for the success and sustainability of our projects. Their participation amplifies our impact, ensures broad community buy-in, and creates a robust foundation for lasting change.

At 3E Africa, we recognize that sustainable development is a team sport. It requires the active, equitable, and meaningful participation of everyone, women, youth, and crucially, men. By intentionally involving men in our environment, entrepreneurship and energy initiatives, we are not just adding numbers, we are unlocking potential, fostering ownership, and building stronger, more resilient communities.

When men stand shoulder-to-shoulder with women and youth, advocating for conservation, embracing clean energy, and pioneering new enterprises, the entire community thrives. Their involvement is not just a complement to our work; it is a fundamental pillar upon which 3E Africa’s vision for a sustainable and prosperous communities is built.

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In our past work, we’ve always brought on board people living with a disability to participate and reap the benefits of our projects. Our current project, Mizizi yetu Maisha yetu, is no different. We met the Sigma Youth Group during mapping in Koriema. Their enthusiasm to support each other immediately led us to include them. We selected two of their participants who had access to water to take part in the project. Clare Bungei, a young woman living with a disability was one of the selected beneficiaries. She shared a painful reality, the greatest challenge PWDs face is exclusion. They are often ignored because communities or individuals perceive them as lacking the capacity to lead successful projects. For us, this was not a barrier, it was an opportunity to shatter a misconception.

Through Clare’s successful involvement, the entire community has learned that disability is not inability. With the right tools and simple solutions, people living with a disability can join community efforts, improve their own lives and their communities. Clare is now a beacon of hope, empowering herself, her family, and changing the deep-seated attitudes of the community on disability.

Our experience in the community has cemented a critical lesson, we must have representation of every member of the community, youth, women, men, and People Living with Disabilities to achieve successful initiatives. By involving PWDs, we not only deliver tangible project benefits but also actively change the attitudes of the wider community. This dual impact is the very definition of sustainable development.

Our commitment remains to work directly and indirectly with all community members to bring about lasting, sustainable change together.

https://youtu.be/6dll1vmLnQs

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3E Organization’s partnerships with government institutions isn’t just a nice-to-have; they’re a strategic necessity. These collaborations ensure our initiatives have a lasting impact in the communities we work with. The most significant benefit of these partnerships is the path to sustainability. When a project is co-owned and co-managed by a government entity, it’s more likely to be integrated into long-term policy and infrastructure. For instance, a program to introduce sustainable farming techniques, if backed by the County Department of Agriculture, won’t just end when our team leaves. The government will have the mandate and the system to continue supporting and scaling it up.

The collaboration between 3E Organization and government institutions is also crucial for building a good rapport with the community. When our projects are officially endorsed and supported by the county government, it sends a powerful message of legitimacy and trust to the community. People are more willing to participate in the initiatives knowing that they’re truly going to be of benefit. When entering Subukia sub-county, a new project area, our entry point as an organization was through the sub-county Agricultural officers. They guided us on how best to implement the project, and we’ve since seen great success with the coffee project through their guidance.

There are many benefits that 3E Africa has experienced from these partnerships, which have ensured all of our initiatives create a lasting impact. Working with the Baringo South Agricultural and livestock officers has given us the necessary technical guidance on how to carry out our project and ensure success in an area considered arid and semi-arid. By involving both the community and the government from the planning stages, these partnerships ensure that projects are not top-down impositions but genuine responses to local needs. This sense of ownership is fundamental to a project’s long-term success.

By building strong, collaborative bridges with government institutions, 3E organization ensures that its work doesn’t just address immediate needs but creates a sustainable future for the communities it serves. It’s about building a foundation of trust, shared responsibility, and lasting change.

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Most young people in Kenya migrate to urban centers for work, but the small number who remain in rural areas have shown extraordinary potential when given the right opportunities. They’ve become leaders in conservation initiatives, champions of social advocacy, and pioneers in sustainable agriculture.

Our “Mizizi yetu Maisha yetu” project, which targets SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands, has seen this power firsthand. Through this initiative, young people have embraced new technologies with ease, becoming crucial disseminators of information and using the internet to find solutions to farming challenges. They have embraced the sustainable Agriculture initiatives and proven beyond doubt that Arid and Semi-Arid lands are productive.

Bensily Lekijukwe, one of our youngest beneficiaries, embodies this potential. At just 21 years old, she has transformed her life and her community. Using water-efficient technologies introduced through our project, she now grows fruits and vegetables, feeding her family, creating her own income, and even helping to educate her siblings.

Bensily’s story doesn’t end there. She has become a local champion for sustainable agriculture, educating other young people and women on how to grow food sustainably in their own farms. Her journey is a true testament to what can be achieved when young people are given the necessary resources and a seat at the decision-making table.

At 3E Africa, we are committed to turning young people’s ideas into action by providing the support and resources they need to thrive.

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The Centre for Circular Economy in Coffee is a powerhouse of knowledge, singularly focused on making know-how related to circularity in coffee accessible to everyone involved. From coffee farmers and local communities to large companies, universities, and SMEs, the Centre provides a vital platform. This where circular economy principles are put into practice, innovations are piloted, research is deepened, and all the best practices, solutions, and case studies are collected and shared. It is a comprehensive platform for sustainable coffee, covering everything from the farm gate to your coffee cup and beyond to responsible disposal.

For 3E Africa, an organization that has passionately worked in the coffee value chain for two years, gaining access to this level of specialized, backed-up research and information is invaluable. It equips us with the tools we need to truly enhance circularity in coffee production.

This membership couldn’t have come at a better time. We’re currently tackling the significant challenge of coffee waste management at the cooperatives we partner with. The Centre’s wealth of knowledge, cutting-edge research, and practical solutions will be instrumental in helping us understand the best ways to manage this waste and more importantly, how to transform it into valuable resources like compost, biochar, briquettes among other products.

At 3E Africa, we firmly believe that platforms fostering knowledge exchange are crucial for sparking innovative solutions and expanding our reach within the communities we serve. This membership doesn’t just offer us information; it creates a two-way street. We’ll be able to contribute to the Centre’s already robust research by sharing our own data and insights, collaborating with other member organizations, and collectively pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in sustainable coffee.

This partnership with the Centre for Circular Economy in Coffee is more than just a membership; it’s a commitment to a greener, more sustainable future for coffee, empowering us to make a lasting difference in the lives of coffee stakeholders.

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