KOICA has been promoting a project to strengthen the economic capacity of rural women in Kenya since 2020 when the drought began. This project focuses on supporting women who are vulnerable to climate change. In partnership with the Government of Kenya, UN Women, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and World Vision, KOICA has been working to build the capacity of women farmers in four provinces, including West Pokot, Laikipia, Kitui and Isiolo. KOICA helped women to secure food and generate income by providing agricultural and livestock techniques adapted to the changing climate. In addition, KOICA conducted leadership development training and self-help organization support programs to empower women to become the main agents of change. This project, which involved an investment of approximately 9 billion won, transformed the lives of 2,964 African women.

"The granary is full for the first time in a long time... I've been a happy farmer this year"

Avia Munyao・46

Abia Munyao, a resident of Kitui County, is a mother of three. She used to support her family by growing maize and using the proceeds to pay her children's school fees, but her income was often unstable. The challenges worsened in 2020 when the pandemic and drought coincided, making it even harder to sustain a livelihood. However, her circumstances took a positive turn when she enrolled in the KOICA program in 2021. Through the program, she attended classes that provided her with knowledge on farming techniques and goat husbandry adapted to the changing climatic conditions.

She planted a new crop, sorghum, known for its drought resistance. Sorghum thrived even under conditions of limited water availability. Last year, a total of 20 kilograms of sorghum was harvested. Of this, 1.3 kilograms was sold to other farmers as seed, while the rest is being stored for sale to a brewery. She also harvested 90 kilograms of mung beans, making a profit of $5,850 (about 7.75 million won). Abia also reintroduced corn farming. This time, she used the "Zaipit" farming technology she learned from the KOICA program. This innovative method maximizes water use efficiency in arid areas by digging holes deeper than traditional farming methods. 

"I have been a very happy farmer this season. I've never seen so much maize growing. I will harvest 4 bags and sell them when the price goes up accordingly".

She recently used her profits to buy more land and 10 more goats. Until three years ago she only had four, but now she has a total of 35. As she learned from the KOICA program, she checks the goats daily to see if they are sick and vaccinates them. The goats give milk every day. She milks 8 liters of milk every morning, drinks 2 liters with her family, and sells the remaining 6 liters. Last summer, she earned about 867,000 won by selling eight well-grown goats at the market. 

"Goats are like a gift from God. They don't require much initial capital and the returns are high. 

They are a great economic support for women in rural areas."

With the money she earns, she manages the household and pays school fees for her three children. As she gained confidence in herself, her opportunities expanded. She now holds several positions, including head of a village self-help organization and head of the local church council. "The drought in Kitui County was severe, but after overcoming it, my life has improved immeasurably. It's all thanks to learning something new."

"I want to train more young leaders."

Julia Nyambura Wachira・30

Julia Nyambura Wachira, a resident of Laikipia County, took over the leadership of a self-help organization for Kapron residents at the age of 29. She had previously received general training from KOICA on leadership, finance, marketing, and farm and land management. The residents decided to appoint a young leader in the hope of fostering a village environment where new opportunities and technologies could be effectively embraced and utilized. As a result, she was ultimately selected as the leader because of her unparalleled passion and active participation in KOICA training. The self-help organization has a total of 17 members who meet regularly to discuss and share information on poultry farming, potato seed production, medicinal herb cultivation, and credit services.

After assuming the leadership of the self-help organization, she took the initiative to communicate directly with the local government, sharing the stories and concerns of the residents. Last year, she was elected as the youth representative to the Laikipia North Constituency Development Fund Committee and as the youth leader for Mukogodo East District in the Kenya Youth Union. She now voices the concerns of local residents and youth on a variety of issues, including water shortages caused by drought, community conflict issues, and funding challenges.

Wachira plans to establish more seed potato shops in the village and implement a system to increase seed potato production. She also wants to develop more active young leaders like herself.

"I am very grateful to have participated in a training that gave me insights into new areas such as leadership, agriculture, and finance. In the future, as a young leader, I will strive to encourage more young people to participate in the policy-making process. I hope that more colleagues will take responsibility and actively participate in regional development."

"I will give my children a college education and build a new house."

Selina Roron・50

Selina Loron raises four sons and six daughters in West Pokot. Loron is busy all day. She takes care of 15 chickens, 2 cows and 2 calves, while also farming 20,000 square meters of land. She provides five liters of milk to a nearby school every day. In addition, she serves on the management committee of a local church and school, and is the treasurer of a secondary school.

She was an ordinary farmer and housewife when she and 29 colleagues began training with KOICA in 2022. During this time, she learned accounting and now manages her household finances in a well-planned manner. She pays her children's school fees with the profits she earns from farming and selling milk, and saves the rest. Last year, with the money she saved, she increased the area of land under cultivation to about 40,000 square meters and expanded the scale of farming by buying fertilizer and seeds.

"I will continue to expand my business in the future. My goal is to give my children a college education and build a new home for my family."

Her husband is a strong supporter. Women who participate in the KOICA program often face conflict with their husbands at first. This is because Kenya's patriarchal culture leads husbands to oppose their wives' involvement in activities outside the home. She joined the program with her husband and received training to raise awareness of gender equality. As a result, her husband now takes care of the children and helps with household chores when she has outside commitments.

"There is still a stereotype that housework is only a woman's role, but it is something that men can also contribute to. I firmly believe that by nurturing the next generation with positive changes in gender roles, we can foster long-term cultural shifts that will significantly improve women's lives."

Kenyan couple showing produce harvested using climate-smart farming methods

The project will conclude this year. During the remainder of the project, KOICA will work with the county government to establish a system to ensure that the impact continues after the project ends. Mr. Lim Jang-hee, Country Director of the KOICA Office in Kenya, said, "KOICA plans to increase the number of beneficiaries from the current 3,000 to 10,000 by identifying follow-up projects and securing government funding. He added, "KOICA will strive to promote sustainable change in the final phase of the project".