case studies undp: kwetu training centre for sustainable development
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Equator Initiative Case StudiesLocal sustainable development solutions or people, nature, and resilient communities
Kenya
KWETU TRAINING CENTREFOR SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT
Empowered live
Resilient nation
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UNDP EQUATOR INITIATIVE CASE STUDY SERIES
Local and indigenous communities across the world are advancing innovative sustainable development solutions that wo
or people and or nature. Few publications or case studies tell the ull story o how such initiatives evolve, the breadth
their impacts, or how they change over time. Fewer still have undertaken to tell these stories with community practition
themselves guiding the narrative.
To mark its 10-year anniversary, the Equator Initiative aims to ll this gap. The ollowing case study is one in a growing ser
that details the work o Equator Prize winners vetted and peer-reviewed best practices in community-based environmenconservation and sustainable livelihoods. These cases are intended to inspire the policy dialogue needed to take local succ
to scale, to improve the global knowledge base on local environment and development solutions, and to serve as models
replication. Case studies are best viewed and understood with reerence to The Power of Local Action: Lessons from 10 Years
the Equator Prize, a compendium o lessons learned and policy guidance that draws rom the case material.
Click on the map to visit the Equator Initiatives searchable case study database.
EditorsEditor-in-Chief: Joseph Corcoran
Managing Editor: Oliver HughesContributing Editors: Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Erin Lewis, Whitney Wilding
Contributing WritersEdayatu Abieodun Lamptey, Erin Atwell, Toni Blackman, Jonathan Clay, Joseph Corcoran, Larissa Currado, Sarah Gordon, Oliver Hughe
Wen-Juan Jiang, Sonal Kanabar, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Rachael Lader, Patrick Lee, Erin Lewis, Jona Liebl, Mengning Ma,
Mary McGraw, Gabriele Orlandi, Juliana Quaresma, Peter Schecter, Martin Sommerschuh, Whitney Wilding, Luna Wu
DesignOliver Hughes, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Amy Korngiebel, Kimberly Koserowski, Erin Lewis, John Mulqueen, Lorena de la Pa
Brandon Payne, Mariajos Satizbal G.
AcknowledgementsThe Equator Initiative acknowledges with gratitude the Kwetu Training Centre or Sustainable Development, and in particular
guidance and inputs o Mercy Mbogho Songok (Executive Ocer.) All photo credits courtesy o Kwetu Training Centre or Sustaina
Development. Maps courtesy o CIA World Factbook and Wikipedia.
Suggested CitationUnited Nations Development Programme. 2012. Kwetu Training Centre for Sustainable Development, Kenya. Equator Initiative Case Stu
Series. New York, NY.
http://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdfhttp://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/index.php?option=com_winners&view=casestudysearch&Itemid=858http://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdfhttp://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdf -
7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: KWETU TRAINING CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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PROJECT SUMMARYKwetu Training Centre is based in Kenyas coastal district
o Kili where it uses a model demonstration site and
extensive youth group engagement to promote sustainable
environmental management o the coasts mangrove
orests. This has involved voluntary reorestation eforts and
development o silviculture based around the mangrove
ecosystems, such as crab arming, bee keeping and
ecotourism. To this end, the centre has recently constructed
a boardwalk through the local mangrove orests.
As local illiteracy rates are high, Kwetu uses methods such asdance, drama, and music to convey conservation messages
to local communities, and especially youth, while the group
also runs a campaign to raise HIV/AIDS awareness. Its role as
a critical support system or local initiatives has resulted in
widespread impact along the coast, including the planting
o more than 190,000 mangrove seedlings since 2007.
KEY FACTS
EQUATOR PRIZE WINNER: 2008
FOUNDED: 1997
LOCATION: Kilif District, Coastal Province
BENEFICIARIES: youth and womens groups
BIODIVERSITY: mangrove conservation
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KWETU TRAINING CENTRE FORSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTKenya
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Background and Context 4
Key Activities and Innovations 5
Biodiversity Impacts 6
Socioeconomic Impacts 6
Policy Impacts 8
Sustainability 9
Replication 9
Partners 9
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Kwetu Training Centre or Sustainable Development promotes
ommunity participation in the sustainable use and conservation
mangrove orests through silviculture innovations on Kenyas
wahili coast. The organisation supports local groups o young
eople, women and artisanal shermen engaged in sh-arming,
ee-keeping and ecotourism activities in coastal communities.
Kwetu was ounded in 1996 and has been registered as a non-prot
rganisation since 1997. The centre owns a 2.5 acre plot on Mtwapa
Creek in Kili District, Coastal Province, rom which all its programs
re run. Although the surrounding area has no connection to public
water or the electrical grid, Kwetu is sel-sucient, generating
nergy through solar panels and taking its water rom a well. A small
taf oversees training and unding or their partner groups, much owhich is conducted at Kwetus own demo sites, used or sh-arming
nd bee-keeping, while the headquarters also houses a solar drier. A
33-metre boardwalk through its mangrove orest has recently been
onstructed, serving as a pilot ecotourism attraction.
A focus on disenfranchised youth
he organization was ounded by a German national living in Kenya
who saw the vast underutilized natural resources along the coast,
where people were nonetheless living in adverse poverty due to high
nemployment. Along with ve other individuals, she established
Kwetu (Kiswahili or home) in the mid-1990s, engaging ten youth
members rom the local community in the building o the centre.he vision o Kwetu has stayed true to this initial catalyst or action,
rimarily working with youth through outreach and awareness-
aising activities. Kili District has a population o approximately
al a million people, o whom more than 60% are below the age
o 25. The district is one o the poorest in Kenya, with low econ
productivity, inadequate availability o water, lack o adeq
educational acilities and environmental degradation (Kili Di
Development Programme, 2001) among other challenges.
The main sources o income in the district are agriculture and s
together engaging 80% o its labour orce. Cassava and maize
the main ood crops, with diets supplemented by sh. Kwetus
area o activity is a ormer settlement scheme or the Giriama pe
in which most amilies were given 12-acre plots. Many ow
have subdivided and sold the majority o their land, using o
small portion or cultivation, and have depleted the soil thro
monoculture and slash-and-burn practices. Agricultural producis thereore very limited, compounded by a lack o ertilizers
pest control, and natural resources such as the mangrove orest
exploited unsustainably.
Within the last decade, the town o Mtwapa has grown into a thr
destination or tourists on the Swahili coast. This has not be
rich source o direct employment, however. Kwetu has there
identied great potential or accessing this industry through s
eco-enterprises, producing goods such as honey, sh and she
processed ruit chutneys, and medicinal products, or establis
ecotourism attractions centred on the mangrove orests. With t
challenges in mind, Kwetus specic objectives are: to promote
establish silviculture technologies in Kili and Kwale Districtdiversiy the livelihood options o local communities depen
on mangrove wetlands or their subsistence; and to advocat
the conservation and sustainable use o mangroves in co
communities.
Background and Context
Local communities must be empowered and involved in decision making, as they are the dire
users of the mangrove forests. Unless they are involved our mangroves will be depleted.
Mercy Mbogho, Executive Officer, Kwetu Training Centre for Sustainable Development
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Key Activities and Innovations
he main ocus areas o Kwetus work are raising awareness on
onservation and health through outreach activities, and identiying
nd developing alternative livelihood activities in partnership with
ocal groups.
Combining reforestation and education
ince 2007, Kwetu has enabled the planting o over 190,000
mangrove seedlings along the Kenyan coast in conjunction with local
ommunity-based organisations (CBOs). Much o this replanting has
been undertaken in conjunction with outreach activities aimed at
aising awareness o environmental issues. Kwetu has used local,
ational and international occasions rom school celebrations toWorld Environment Days (June 5th) to either hold events at their
own headquarters, or conduct trainings and workshops on site with
other groups. Many o these activities have involved environmental
ducation with local primary and secondary schools, or reaching
out to remote communities along the coastline. Due to high levels
o illiteracy, Kwetu has used innovative methods o conveying their
entral messages, such as dance, theatre or music, oten in Swahili,
or other indigenous languages typical o the Giriama people. They
ave also used their relationship with government agencies, such
s the Kenya Marine Fisheries and Research Institute (KMFRI) or the
Kenya Forest Research Institute (KEFRI), to take schoolchildren on
ducational eld trips.
Kwetu has used its partnerships with youth and womens groups
o raise awareness o vital health issues, in addition to messages
on conservation. HIV/AIDS, among other diseases, has a high
prevalence rate (one in seven o Kilis population is HIV positive.)
o date, Kwetu has established mobile Voluntary Counseling and
esting services in surrounding communities, and has also used
Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health campaigns to educate
oung people on diseases such as HIV/AIDS. Peer education has
been an important means o conveying these messages, oten
hrough drama and dance. In 2010, KWETU received support rom
UNDP Kenyas Civil Society Democratic Governance Facility, thro
its Amkeni Wakenya program, to promote youth participatio
local governance. A Kikambala Youth Divisional Council has b
ormed, representing eleven sub-locations.
Alleviating local pressures on mangrove forests
The second component o Kwetus work has been develo
viable alternative livelihood activities that reduce pressuremangrove orests. This is done in partnership with local commu
based youth and womens groups. Kwetus contributions inv
identiying market opportunities, such as the demand or she
rom local hotels and restaurants serving tourists to the area,
developing innovative techniques or meeting this demand thro
research conducted at their demo site. They then help the indiv
CBOs to nd initial unding, and provide training and equipmen
their livelihood ventures. In this way, Kwetu plays an important
in linking diferent stakeholders to acilitate the sustainable u
natural resources.
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Impacts
BIODIVERSITY IMPACTS
ince 2007, Kwetu has coordinated the planting o over 190,000
mangrove seedlings, helping to repopulate areas o coastline
orests that have been over-exploited by local communities. This
has included species such as Rhizophora mucronata, Ceriops tagal,
Avicennia Marina, Sonneratia alba, and Bruguiera gymnoriza, and
has involved six diferent groups rom local communities. Thesehave included youth groups at Matzangoni, Mtepeni, Majaoni, and
Dabaso, where approximately 16,000 seedlings have been planted,
nd womens groups at Nkonazini and Makongeni, who have planted
0,000 seedlings. Kwetus own demo site has an extensive mangrove
nursery, and has also been substantially reorested. In addition to
mangrove seedlings, casuarina nurseries have been established
t 14 primary schools. Over 4,200 casuarina seedlings have been
planted by primary schools, while 1,200 were planted on Kadaina
sland to mark World Environment Day 2010.
Monitoring has been undertaken by Kwetu along with paorganisations such as Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KE
Kenya Forest Service, the Coastal Development Authority (CDA)
Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), who
also given management training or Kwetu staf. Research has
undertaken at Kwetus demo site by academics rom Moi Unive
with the nal results being shared with Kwetu. Individuals
KMFRI have also trained community groups on mangrove plan
with support rom the Regional Coastal Management Programm
the Indian Ocean Countries (ReCoMaP), while other research bo
have conducted research at Kwetus demo site.
SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTSKwetu works with the community-based youth and womens gr
mentioned above to develop eco-enterprises that directly be
local livelihoods and incomes. Other socioeconomic ben
are elt through Kwetus youth work, and indirectly through
improvements in local inrastructure.
Majaoni: Majaoni Youth Group began working with Kwet
2003, initially ocused on mangrove conservation. The group
ormed o eighty young men who had come together to ad
the devastation caused by the presence o a Somalian re
camp on two kilometres o Mtwapa Creek rom 1991 to 1
Mangroves had been harvested unsustainably to make tents oas timber and or rewood. Since 2004 the group has engage
income-generating activities based on the mangrove ecosys
ater two representatives visited Kwetu or training in apicu
and mariculture. They were given bee hives and equipmen
constructing two sh ponds. In 2005, they harvested 5kgs o mi
rom the two ponds; by 2008/9 their harvest had increased to
30kgs rom a total o eight ponds, having constructed six u
ponds with external donor unding. They also arm prawns
crabs, all o which are sold in local markets. Currently they cons
two kilometres o mangrove orests in Mtwapa Creek.
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The group itsel now consists o just 13 members, but has been
able to nd signicant sources o unding and is looking to increase
ts income through higher sh yields and a proposed ecotourism
project. With initial unding rom the Toyota Foundation and
ReCoMaP, and support rom the Anglican Church o Kenya/Pwani
Christian Community Services (ACK/PCCS), Majaoni Youth Group has
been able to construct a 100m boardwalk through their mangrove
orest leading to the creek; they plan to increase this to 500m . This
has been used or crab and mangrove monitoring, and will also
erve as the basis or a planned ecotourism attraction. Members o
he group are now being paid to construct a similar boardwalk atKwetu demo site.
Dabaso: Dabaso Youth Group, located north o Kwetu in the town o
Gede, has been in existence since 2000, and is currently engaged in
mangrove conservation, crab arming in cages, and ecotourism. The
ecotourism project eatures a 500m boardwalk through its mangrove
orest to a banda platorm where tourists can view Mida Creek. The
nitiative has so ar generated KSh200,000 (approximately USD
2,500) or the group members. The youth group was the inspiration
or Dabaso Mangrove Conservation Group, which is composed o
30 shermen rom Dabaso and works within the 32km2 o the
Creek region, part o the Watamu Marine National Park and Res
It is also a member o the Mida Creek Conservation Committ
CBO that represents and oversees all 11 creek community gr
with an interest in nature conservation. An associated wom
group is engaged in bee-keeping.
A support centre for local initiative
Kwetus role in both Dabaso and Majaoni has been to write pr
proposals on their behal or unding, as well as supplying the iequipment, training, and extension services necessary to begin
work. Training can be both on-site and on-station, at Kwetus d
site. The initiative has also been involved in monitoring the suc
o the sheries up until harvesting, and holds regular plan
meetings with the community stakeholders to discuss their bud
and identiy key challenges. In this way, Kwetu lls the roles o
an extension service or rural communities and an incubator or
innovation, supporting community-based action to maturatio
acilitating linkages with external unding and assistance.
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Developing sustainable income generation
Mariculture is not well established in the coastal area, and no site has
enerated signicant income so ar. Kwetu have explored techniques
o boost production so that the demand or locally-armed sh can be
met. To this end, they have obtained long-term unding rom ReCoMaP
o develop community-based silvosheries. This efort has ocused
n the sh arms at Dabaso and Majaoni, as well as at Makongeni
nd Kwetus own demo site. In January 2011, Kwetu harvested 91kgs milk sh, increased rom 67kgs in November 2010. ReCoMaPs
upport has included bringing consultants rom Tanzania to advise
hose involved in sh-arming, while they also sponsored a peer-to-
eer learning exchange or several community representatives at
anga, on the northern Tanzanian coast. One o the problems aced
y sh armers is the seasonality o wild sh hatchlings, so research
as ocused on the potential or creating hatcheries, to replenish
ond stocks throughout the year. Even ater this project phased
ut in November 2010, ReCoMaP continued to support Kwetu in
onstructing backyard nurseries or ngerling collection during
he high season to mitigate scarcity, with investments targeted at
mproving pond management or monitoring water quality and
maintaining the necessary requirements to reduce high mortalityates in ngerlings.
Value-added secondary processing o natural resources is another
rea in which Kwetu has been able to provide technical advice and
raining to local groups. Solar-drying technology has been used to
roduce medicinal goods rom Neem plants, as well as dried ruit
roducts. Kwetu currently produces candles, soaps, creams, and
etergents rom Neem oil, as well as a medicinal tea made rom
rushed dried Neem leaves. The plants pungent aroma repels
mosquitoes, making it an important local anti-malarial remedy. Over
hree hundred local people have been trained in Neem production.
wo production centres have been established in Chumani (Kili
District) and Msabaha (urther up the coast, in Malindi District) to
rocess the plant, with support rom OXFAM. These are currently
managed by local armers.
rior to 2008, Kwetu had used unds rom the European Unions
Micro-Enterprise Support Programme to process ruit. Kwetu used a
olar drier to dry mangoes, pickles and tomatoes or use in organic
hutneys, jams and preserves. These were marketed and sold on a
mall scale. However, production was halted due to a lack o trained
ersonnel and locally-available equipment.
Mainstreaming health messages in youth outreach
Much o Kwetus work has been with youth groups. With Global Fund
nancial support, Kwetu has established ten Youth Resource Centres
n the area, with one based at Kwetu Training Centre and others
t local health centres and schools. These house computers with
nternet capability and promote mobile counselling and testing or
HIV/AIDS, increasing the accessibility o VCT services. Kwetu marked
World AIDS day 2010 with an awareness-raising event in Kikambala
Division. In partnership with Care International Kenya, at least 18,447
male and emale clients rom Kili and Kaloleni districts have been
ested and received their results through the Hamasa Ya Aya Kwa
amii testing campaign.
Outreach to local schools has taken the orm o training
educators and organising competitions on conservation. Kwet
encouraged the ormation o schools Environmental Clubs and
nurseries, and have awarded water tanks to schools as compet
prizes.
POLICY IMPACTS
Kwetu has been given support by Kenyas Community DevelopmTrust Fund (CDTF) to implement an advocacy project or comm
participation in conservation o mangrove orests. In order to re
existing legislation on this issue, Kwetu convened a group to s
the relevant policies governing marine ecosystems and mang
orests. The outcome was shared with representatives rom dife
community groups. A proposed action plan was developed, and
gaps in existing policies were brought to the attention o po
makers at a workshop, held in Kili during April 2010. Prior to
capacity building exercises were conducted with local village el
chies, and community group leaders working within mang
ecosystems to help them mobilise to advocate or policy chan
Kenya Forest Service (KFS) has also granted licenses to some gr
to encourage the orming o a Community Forestry Associa(CFA) composed o the Mtwapa Creek communities. This pro
is ongoing, and would give the communities a mandate o
management o the creeks mangroves.
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Sustainability and Replication
SUSTAINABILITYCurrently, Kwetu is not nancially sel-sustaining it relies on donor
unding, while pursuing various strategies or achieving a higher
evel o sustainability. The urther development o ecotourism based
n its boardwalk and mangrove orest represents a prime potential
ource o revenue. The Coastal Development Authority (CDA) has
onducted an assessment or the easibility o this project. The
ttraction would serve as a stop or tourist boat-trips along Mtwapa
Creek.
Ofering paid training workshops to larger NGOs is another income-
enerating activity or the organisation. Similarly, developingrocessing methods or natural products using Neem and dried
ruit would represent a viable source o revenue, based on previous
xperiences. These products would need to be marketed and
roduced on a larger scale to meet demand or them. Funding and
rained personnel are crucial or this scaling up; another important
tep is to attain the Kenyan Bureau o Standards (KEBS) Diamond
Mark o Quality or Kwetus products.
inally, the ongoing attempt to establish sh-arming as a livelihood
ctivity would also provide Kwetu with a means or generating
unds rom their demo site. With ReCoMaPs support, Kwetu and
ts communities hope to increase harvests o sh rom sh arms
o meet the demand rom hotels and restaurants involved in theoastal tourist industry.
REPLICATION
Kwetu has been able to replicate its model on a smaller scale with
many o the groups it works with, while also scaling up its own work.
hree community groups Kidongo, Maya, and Kili have recently
mplemented successul mangrove conservation and sh arming
rojects along the lines o the Kwetu model. Replication eforts
ave been acilitated through community outreach events which
have raised awareness o the success o Kwetus own work, w
their demo site has allowed other groups to attend training sess
or a variety o activities. This work has been assisted by NGOs
as Coastal and Marine Resources Development (COMRED)
PACT Kenya, while government institutes have also played a ro
disseminating Kwetus model.
PARTNERS
Government authorities have played a key role in Kwetus w
The initiative maintains a close relationship with Kenya F
Service (KFS), the Fisheries Department, Kenya Marine Fish
and Research Institute (KMFRI), Agricultural Training InstCoast Development Authority (CDA), Ministry o Public He
and Sanitation, Kenya Forest Research Institute (KEFRI), Nat
Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), Ecotourism So
o Kenya, Community Development Trust Fund (CDTF), and K
AIDS NGOs Consortium (KANCO).
External donors have also been critical to Kwetus suc
ReCoMaPs long-term commitment to developing commercia
mariculture initiatives is undamental to the organisations l
term sustainability. A GEF-Small Grants Programme (SGP) g
was also received or 2008-10. Other donors include Kindernot
the German Foundation For World Population (DSW), Oxam, S
National Aids Control Council, Toyota Environmental Activthe Global Fund through CARE Kenya, UNDPs Amkeni Wake
programme, the European Unions Micro Enterprise Sup
Programme, GIZ, and Alma Tetra Pak.
Finally, universities including Kenyas Moi University have
research teams to Kwetu and its partner CBOs mariculture proj
American University, Pwani University, and Kenyatta University
also sent students to complete study tours at Kwetu on maricu
contributing to the initiatives knowledge base on best practic
small-scale mariculture.
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Equator Initiative
Environment and Energy GroupUnited Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
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New York, NY 10017
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www.equatorinitiative.org
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UNs global development network, advocating or change
onnecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better lie.
The Equator Initiative brings together the United Nations, governments, civil society, businesses and grassroots organizati
o recognize and advance local sustainable development solutions or people, nature and resilient communities.
2012 by Equator Initiative
All rights reserved
FURTHER REFERENCE
Kwetu website: kwetukenya.org/
Kwetu PhotoStory (Vimeo) vimeo.com/15780594 (English) vimeo.com/15780685 (Swahili)
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