- NEFSALF
- October 6, 2023
In September, Mazingira Institute hosted the periodic Nairobi and Environs Food Security, Agriculture and Landscape Forum (NEFSALF) meeting. This forum was convened in 2003 by the Mazingira Institute and is a place for deliberation on the food system of Nairobi City County. It included several presentations on past, present, and future activities within the NEFSALF network and was a great time to celebrate the work that has been accomplished and pave the way forward.
The presentation on the NEFSALF Women’s Hub was led by Judy Wanjiru, Mazingira Institute Project Assistant (left) and Esther Maina, NEFSALF Women’s Hub Coordinator (center). It is a network of women farmers in NEFSALF which applies a gender lens in urban agriculture and its activities. It engages in table banking for its members projects under the National Co-operative Housing Union for land and housing which provides the women with spaces for urban agriculture. Esther along with the hub’s Chairperson, Elizabeth Kamari (right), shared about the hub’s current activities and the hopes to grow the hub further.
Laureen Odero, Mazingira Institute Project Officer, presented on the gender-sensitive extension service workshop that was held on 9th May 2023, an activity of the Women’s Spaces project. The workshop aimed to sensitize extension officers on gender equality in the delivery of extension services. It covered topics such as gender mainstreaming, a gender perspective of the various NCC plans and policies, and more. After the workshop, NCC extension officers have been taking action and are creating awareness on gender issues with farmers through the Mazingira Institute Gender, Urban Agriculture and Food System (GUAFS) trainings and continuing to provide opportunities to women, men, and youth farmers.
Joseph Kinyanjui, Deputy Director of Crops Development and Management, NCC had the pleasure of presenting next on the 2023-27 County Integrated Development Plan. The plan prioritizes economic growth, poverty reduction, income generation, employment creation, improved service delivery and business development. The Nairobi City County’s vision is to make Nairobi a food-secure county.
Next was a presentation on the GUAFS training that was conducted in August 2023, led by Samuel Ikua, Mazingira Institute Project Coordinator. The training is an activity of the Women’s Spaces Project, and its objective is to develop basic knowledge and skills for the practice of urban agriculture. The topics covered during the training were organic crop production and management, livestock production and management, organic waste management, domestic value-adding food processing, urban agriculture products marketing, and urban agriculture resource mobilization. The training concluded with a presentation by each trainee on their action plan on what they hope to implement from the training.
Sarah Syptak, Communications Officer for Mazingira Institute continued the meeting by sharing about the project’s impact following the GUAFS training held in February 2023. After visiting three farmers, Nancy Wambui, Patrick Mwangi, and Susan Mugure who undertook the GUAFS training, several impactful changes were noted. The changes resulted in an increase in the farmers’ yields and income as well as the adoption of favourable farming practices.
The next session involved farmers who participated in the GUAFS training held in August 2023. Each trainee shared about the changes they have made in their farming practice and how this has impacted their yield and income. Judy Wanjiku (left) shared about how she has started making her own organic compost using red worms, something she learned at the training. Velima Kirambe (center) was particularly interested in the lessons in value addition and has since started processing and selling yogurt. And finally, Moses Ooko (right) shared about the several urban agriculture technologies he has implemented.
The meeting continued with a presentation of the certificates of completion to the August 2023 GUAFS trainees. The certificates were bestowed by Janine Cocker, Head of Cooperation for the High Commission of Canada in Nairobi. As a token of appreciation for their partnership, Janine and Titus Nyakundi, Deputy Director, Livestock Department, Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources sub-Sector, NCC, were then presented with a basket of organic vegetables. These vegetables were sourced from Ngungi Ndungi, a farmer who trained with Mazingira Institute in 2013.
To conclude the meeting Janine Cocker shared some parting words to inspire and encourage the attendees. She shared about the importance of three aspects which she had learned from the meeting: partnership, innovation, and impact. Partnerships are critical to the Women’s Spaces Project as it is what allows the project to have the greatest impact. Innovation is what motivates individuals to push through crisis and come out victorious on the other side. And finally, the Women’s Spaces Project is making a great impact on the livelihoods and lives of participants.
The NEFSALF meeting was a great celebration of the activities of the Women’s Spaces Project and the Nairobi City County. The topics discussed provide context for the successes we observe in the food system and within the NEFSALF network. With these strides, a better and stronger food system is on the way for Nairobi!
Written by Sarah Syptak on October 6, 2023.
This is an activity of the Women’s Spaces Project, an initiative of the Mazingira Institute and Rooftops Canada Abri-International, executed with the financial support of the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada.