Practical Action Africa

📍Kajuki, Kenya. Meet Paninah Kanono. A dedicated farmer and mother. Despite the health toll from cooking with firewood and the challenge of rising medical costs, she remains unwavering in her commitment to her family and community. With access to clean cooking solutions, Paninah envisions a healthier, brighter future—one where her strength can focus on growth, not recovery. #EnergyThatTransforms #CleanEnergy #BigChangeStartsSmall #PracticalAction

💧 Rebuilding Resilience in North Darfur In North Darfur, where communities are confronting the combined challenges of conflict and climate stress, the Wadi El Ku project stands as a vital pillar of stability. Supported by the European Union and implemented by the UN Environment Programme and our team in Sudan, this 6 year initiative has restored essential water access through rehabilitated weirs, directly benefiting over 700,000 people “A dam working properly is a life-changing milestone,” shares Suhida, a member of the women’s committee, underscoring the transformative impact of these efforts on local livelihoods. Through collaboration with local leaders, farmers, and pastoralists, the Wadi El Ku project is fostering water security, community cohesion, and a resilient future. 👉🏽 Watch the video to see the project in action, and explore the article for a closer look at this project: https://lnkd.in/eYEpwesH #WadiElKu #ResilienceInAction #Sudan #NorthDarfur #PracticalAction #PracticalActionInSudan #BigChangeStartsSmall #ResilienceThatProtects Muna Eltahir Hamdan Eisa

A waste-transformational project is taking place with Riviera Travel. It will work with over 2,000 households and 100 waste workers in Kisumu, Kenya’s third-largest city. It aims to improve waste collection and management processes and foster a cleaner environment. Starting in Dec 2023, Riviera Travel have donated £1 to Practical Action for every passenger that books a holiday with them. Here’s the exciting part! Starting 1st December, for every booking, they’ll donate £2 to our work, transforming more lives. Find out more about the project: https://lnkd.in/dX6BDdPr #WorldCitiesDay #GlobalGoals Will Sarson

This #WorldCitiesDay, we’re spotlighting the push for cleaner, healthier urban spaces. With urban areas expanding rapidly, communities face mounting challenges in managing waste and reducing air pollution. In Senegal, new air pollution sensors in waste sites are empowering local residents with real-time data, helping them respond to pollution threats and create safer environments. Learn more about this initiative and its impact https://lnkd.in/eAv7MyRp As cities grow, so does the potential for positive change. Together, we’re working toward resilient urban spaces where every community can breathe clean air and thrive. #WorldCitiesDay #CitiesDay #UrbanResilience #CleanAir #CommunityDriven #WasteManagement #GlobalGoals #PracticalAction #BigChangeStartsSmall Practical Action in West Africa Alioune NDIAYE, PhD Kadija KIBA SIMBORO Amadou BARRY

#FarmingThatWorks: Meet Paul Andafu, a 30-year-old agripreneur who has transformed his one-acre plot into a model of sustainable farming and empowerment. Specializing in broiler chickens and African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs), he practices circular farming where nothing goes to waste in his farm. Paul recently expanded into poultry value-addition, opening an eatery in Luanda town that now employs three young people. An initiative by the Mastercard Foundation and Practical Action in Kenya is empowering young entrepreneurs like Paul to succeed in agripreneurship. As a proud mentor of upcoming agripreneurs, he supports other young people with disabilities, providing guidance on agribusiness. Paul was featured in yesterday’s Daily Nation newspaper. Read his inspiring story 👇🏾

On Friday, we were honoured to join an inspiring gathering at the Farm Africa GROW Roundtable in Nairobi, bringing together influential voices to discuss resilience and sustainable growth for women in agriculture across East Africa. Our Africa Director, Roselyn Akinyi Walender, joined a distinguished panel, including Baroness Minette Batters DL, a farmer, House of Lords member, and Farm Africa Ambassador; Anastasia Mbatia, Deputy Director of Operations at the Farm to Market Alliance; Madeleine Mung'ei, Aquaculture Technical Lead for Farm Africa; and Carol Gakii, Village-Based Advisor for the Regenerative Agriculture Project. The panel covered critical areas including: ▪️ Scaling regenerative agriculture to enhance climate resilience and soil health ▪️ Expanding financial access to support sustainable farming led by women ▪️ Leveraging digital tools to connect women farmers to essential markets and resources Reflecting on the challenges women farmers face, Roselyn Akinyi Walender noted, "Women farmers need access to essential resources, technology, and climate-smart approaches, but gender dynamics remain a challenge. I envision greater convergence on gender issues within agriculture. We need collaboration and partnerships that are truly inclusive." The discussions reinforced the powerful role of women in transforming agriculture and promoting resilient, climate-smart practices. Our Practical Action in Kenya team, represented by Austin Odhiambo and Evans Akumu, was also present, reflecting our ongoing commitment to driving impactful agricultural solutions throughout the region. Our thanks go out to Farm Africa and CEO Dan Collison for creating this platform for such meaningful discussions. We look forward to turning these ideas into collaborative action! #GROWforGood #WomenInAgriculture #ClimateResilience #SustainableAgriculture #PracticalAction #BigChangeStartsSmall

I recently had the opportunity to visit Burkina Faso, which is one of the world's most neglected displacement crises and faces ongoing security concerns that continue to exacerbate the situation. During my visit, I interacted with farmers in rural communities working with Practical Action and saw first-hand the impactful solutions that our staff led by Edwin Obiero and Kadija KIBA SIMBORO are delivering to thousands of people in the areas we work in. Burkina Faso has a dry season lasting up to 8 or 9 months and a dependency on neighbouring countries for energy, I was eager to understand the challenges people face and explore how improved farming practices combined with renewable energy could help address these issues. I was greatly impressed by the work we are doing in such challenging conditions. Among the various solutions we provide, I found the biodigester to be my favourite. With just cow dung, it can produce biogas for cooking, supply electricity for children to read at night, and serve as an excellent organic fertilizer that enhances soil fertility and boosts crop yields. Take a look at this interesting photo piece I put together about how clean energy is fueling the future of farming in Burkina Faso. It’s a long read but worth your time!

🌱 Tomorrow, our Africa Director, Roselyn Akinyi Walender, will join inspiring women leaders at the GROW for Good Roundtable in Nairobi. Hosted by Farm Africa, this event is part of the #GrowforGood Challenge, an initiative that not only raises vital funds but also highlights the power of regenerative agriculture in building stronger, climate-resilient communities. Over the past ten years, the challenge has supported sustainable farming practices that help restore soil health, improve harvests, and create economic opportunities for women farmers in East Africa. We’re proud to bring our insights and experience to this important conversation on regenerative agriculture, climate resilience, and empowering women to lead the way. #EmpoweringWomen #RegenerativeAgriculture #ClimateResilience #PracticalAction

As global temperatures rise, the consequences are devastating, especially for those least equipped to cope. Are we doing enough to build resilience for those on the front lines? At Practical Action, we are developing solutions to address not only the heat but also the deep inequalities it exposes. 👉 Find out more about how we’re tackling this critical issue: https://lnkd.in/etSNVfFj #WorldClimateAction #ClimateResilience #ActNow #SustainableSolutions #HopeNeedsAction #PracticalAction