The proposed project intends to improve the livelihoods of local farming communities in Kenya and Uganda by further promoting the transition towards agroecological food systems. The project will focus on:

• Investing in partnerships within agroecology networks by developing linkages and synergies with other projects and organizations (exploratory project phase).
• Strengthening the Slow Food on-going projects (food gardens, Presidia, Earth Markets) for their use as successful show cases for agroecological approaches.
• Sensitizing consumers on the benefits of agroecological products.
• Strengthening presence in local policy platforms that affect agroecology.

The project will be focusing on improving agroecology by building alliances and sharing grassroots evidence base in Kenya and Uganda targeting the local, national and global agroecological partners.

Donor: Biovision
Partners: Slow Food International

The pandemic linked to Covid19 has highlighted even more the need to ensure local communities food security and sovereignty. The project starts from the assumption that improving the techniques of care and conservation of the input needed for food production, namely seeds, will help solve the challenge of “Crop Biodiversity” in Kenya. Ensuring seed sovereignty means strengthening the resilience of local communities as well as promoting biodiversity conservation and traditional knowledge. By promoting sustainable agriculture that relies on local varieties and crops resilient to climate change, the project also aims to raise awareness about the positive impact on the health of individuals and the community, trying to counteract the current dynamics of market supply and demand that continue to give very little attention to agroecological products.

Donor: CARIPLO Foundation, Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation
Partners: University of Pavia, Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity

The project targets 6 Indigenous communities (Maasai, Endorois, Sengwer, Gabbra, Rendile and Borana) with tailored actions that specifically address the needs assessed during the project planning as a result of the Covid-19 Emergency. The targeted communities belong to the Indigenous Terra Madre (ITM) network: a network of indigenous communities, partners and organizations that brings indigenous peoples’ voices to the forefront of the debate on food and culture, to institutionalize indigenous peoples’ participation in the Slow Food movement and its projects as well as to develop both regional and global network.

• Provision of dignity basket (relief food) to the most vulnerable.
• Provision of personal protective equipment (PPEs).
• Training on indigenous food & breeds, indigenous Knowledge systems and indigenous Terra Madre network for enhanced resilience targeting.
• Training on peacebuilding and peaceful coexistence.
• Training on Kitchen gardening and agroecology for improved food and nutrition security.
• Establishment of kitchen gardens, restocking of sheep and goats.
• Promotion of bee-keeping for increased income, improved food and nutrition security and ecosystem conservation.

Donor: PAWANKA Fund

The project aims at improving the livelihoods of local farming communities in target areas in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo by promoting the transition of small-scale farmers towards agroecological food systems.
In addition, some other specific changes are expected, starting from the project implementation, such as:

• Participating farmers implementing agroecological practices become less dependent on external inputs.
• Income generated through local sales outlets increases.
• The proportion of women and indigenous peoples holding leadership positions in the initiatives increases.
• Knowledge and evidence of the benefits of the solutions implemented is documented and communicated and used to advocate in favor of agroecology at the local and global level.

Donor: Agroecology Fund