DRIC Project
About the Project
DRIC is a European Union-funded project that seeks to build a Drought Resilient Isiolo by enabling improved drought-resilient and nutrition-sensitive agriculture/livestock production; integrated with conflict resolution and peace-building strategies along with economic empowerment of women. Among the many interventions, one has been to strengthen cooperatives to operate sustainable businesses. Cooperatives have been undergoing training, mentorship, coaching, and exposure to the markets and partners.
This has yielded results in that, due to improved cooperative management, some cooperatives have attracted more members, there has been improved and easier access to funds and markets, and there has been an increased level of financial systems and accountability leading to more partners approaching the cooperatives for collaboration and synergy. This has seen individual and farmer groups transition from subsistence to entrepreneurial farming. To increase product visibility for farmers, E4Impact developed brands for key products and this has progressively increased their sales.