Getting involved
Africa Economic Foundation is unique in their deliberate focus on grass-root community initiatives. AEF projects offer great opportunities for any one interested in making a difference in resource poor settings. The inititiatives offer learning opportunities for those who may wish to replicate the innovations elsewhere.
You can get involved in sharing your ideas in our blog, linking us with appropriate partners, giving in-kind contributions by volunteering your services in our schools and health facilities, promoting entrepreneurship and financial support to any of the AEF initiatives that attract you interest.
No donation is too small.
AEF is committed to develop Village Based Models for helping communities in breaking the cycle of poverty. AEF uses Kilisa Village a the MODEL village. AEF is committed to work closely with Kilisa Development Community (KVDC), a registered Community Based Organization to develop and refine workable models for expansion elsewhere. The following is a summary of AEF-KVDC models that are at different stages of Development.
KILISA VILLAGE
A CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN COMMNUNITY BASED INNOVATIONS&
AGENT OF CHANGE AT VILLAGE LEVELKVDC-AEF Collaborative Center
We identify village based challengesWe generate ideas on feasible solutions to those challengesWe then translate ideas into practice and refine models for expansionWe guide or join others to expand on these models as appropriateWe help develop other villages into Agents Of Change***********************************************************
Simply bring your ideas and we will jointly develop and perfect a workable solution/innovation
We are looking for partners interested in building Kilisa into an Agent of Change.
Revised 08/27/2012
KVDC INNOVATION
KILISA VILLAGE WATER RESOURCE MODEL
AEF – KVDC collaborative effort:  Summary by Philip Mwalali, Patron KVDC & Co-Founder AEF 
Kilisa Village is in Semi-Arid area. It experiences chronic food insecurity as a result of repeated droughts. Each successful rain season is followed by several failed seasons. Each failed season leaves the community poorer due to lack of return of the scarce resources they invest in seeds, fertilizers, labor, their time and energy. And when the good season comes the communities are so indebted that they sell their produce at give-away prices to service their debts. This does not allow economic recovery in this community like many others. Inadequate rainfall and the effects of subsequent drought are major factors in this situation. In response KVDC, with support of its development partners, started a water harvesting initiative that has spread to other adjacent communities in a wave. KVDC initiative involves – de-silting dams, sinking shallow wells and construction of sub-surface dams. The water is then pumped and distributed for kiosk or metered sales. This provides continuous availability of safer drinking water as well as an opportunity for water based income generating initiatives at household level and village level.This initiative has had significant impact on the environment and peoples liveli-hood and hence the wave of expansion to other villages, making Kilisa village an agent of change in Mbooni District. The initiative is attracting increasing Government interest and inputs.
IF YOU WISH TO HELP KVDC EXPAND ON THIS INITIATIVE, MAKE YOUR DONATIONSYOUR NAME WILL BE INCLUDED IN KVDC LIST OF PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENTNO DONATION IS TOO SMALL
Contact AEF or KVDC for guidance on how to donate
Revised 08/27/2012 
ANOTHER KVDC INNOVATION
KILISA VILLAGE GREENHOUSE BUSINESS MODEL
AEF – KVDC collaborative effort: Summary by Philip Mwalali, Patron KVDC & Co-Founder AEF 
Kilisa Village is in Semi-Arid area. It experiences chronic food insecurity as a result of repeated droughts. Each successful rain season is followed by several failed seasons. Each failed season leaves the community poorer due to lack of return of the scarce resources they invest in seeds, fertilizers, labor, their time and energy. And when the good season comes the communities are so indebted that they sell their produce at give-away prices to service their debts. This does not allow economic recovery in this community like many others. In response KVDC with support from AEF and its development partners is committed to use all resources at its disposal to foster sustainable development. KVDC has now installed the first green house in the village to use its harvested water for income generation. For sustainability KVDC is applying AEF BOT business model to ensure sustainability and gradual expansion.In the BOT model, AEF assists acquire seed funds then KVDC identifies a Greenhouse Awardee who will manage the project jointly with AEF until return of investment, which is assured with Amiran technical support. After return of investment full ownership is transferred to the Awardee and the returns re-invested into another Greenhouse under the BOT terms of agreement.This initiative removes the drought factor thus ensuring progressive sustainable economic development at household and village level, rain or no rain. Another wave of expansion of KVDC family oriented business initiative is expected, keeping Kilisa village in the lead as an agent of change.
IF YOU WISH TO HELP KVDC EXPAND ON THIS INITIATIVE, MAKE YOUR DONATIONSYOUR NAME WILL BE INCLUDED IN KVDC LIST OF PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENTNO DONATION IS TOO SMALL
Contact AEF or KVDC for guidance on how to donate
Revised 08/27/2012
ANOTHER KVDC INNOVATION
KILISA VILLAGE FOOD SECURITY MODEL
AEF – KVDC collaborative effort: Summary by Philip Mwalali, Patron KVDC & Co-Founder AEF 
Kilisa Village is in Semi-Arid area. It experiences chronic food insecurity as a result of repeated droughts. Each successful rain season is followed by several failed seasons. Each failed season leaves the community poorer due to lack of return of the scarce resources they invest in seeds, fertilizers, labor, their time and energy. And when the good season comes the communities are so indebted that they sell their produce at a give-away price to service their debts. This does not allow economic recovery in this community like many others. In response to this challenge, AEF and its partners are collaborating with KVDC in setting and maintaining a Village based FOOD BANK, a model that can be replicated elsewhere. Under this model KVDC, with contribution of individuals and development partners, buys food from Village farmers at high yield seasons for sell at better prices during the dry seasons. The sales are used for re-stoking and sales at a profit. The FOOD BANK ensures availability of food and seeds in the village at all times. Another wave from the KVDC, agent of change, is expected.
IF YOU WISH TO HELP KVDC EXPAND ON THIS INITIATIVE, MAKE YOUR DONATIONSYOUR NAME WILL BE INCLUDED IN KVDC LIST OF PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENTNO DONATION IS TOO SMALL
Contact AEF or KVDC for guidance on how to donate
Revised 08/27/2012
ANOTHER KVDC INNOVATION
KILISA YOUTH FOR DEVELOPMENT (KY4D) MODEL
AEF – KVDC collaborative effort: Summary by Philip Mwalali, Patron KVDC & Co-Founder AEF 
There is a Kamba saying that “Kithiia Kyumanasya nthi na miwa”. Involvement of the Youth in development is the cornerstone for sustainable development. Although a lot is being achieved in developing workable model in KVDC, the Youth has not been actively involved. At the last AEF technical support in July 2012, a meeting and a motivational effort to the youth in Kilisa resulted in a strong youth group, determined to lead in enhancing engagement of youth in Development. This has provided an opportunity for another KVDC wave of innovation.AEF is the committed to assisting KVDC develop a model for Youth involvement in Development. AEF will achieve this by assisting KVDC develop comprehensive program which will be marketed to attract appropriate partnership for the desired youth training and support.Kilisa youth will be trained as Agents of change, institutional memories and leaders of tomorrow in all aspects of development. They will be prepared to be motivators of other youths and Trainers of Trainers in the expanded network thus creating a wave of Development.The youth will be support on ongoing efforts and encourage to venture in new concepts. Priorities include: income generation activities eg Tree planting, Fish farming, Green house farming and Dairy farming. In addition they will be involved in education for leadership, enhanced development and good health. The KF4D will lead community based IT education.
IF YOU WISH TO HELP KVDC EXPAND ON THEIR INITIATIVES, MAKE YOUR DONATIONSYOUR NAME WILL BE INCLUDED IN KVDC LIST OF PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENTNO DONATION IS TOO SMALL
Contact AEF or KVDC for guidance on how to donate

ANOTHER KVDC INNOVATION
KILISA VILLAGE FOOD SECURITY MODEL
AEF – KVDC collaborative effort: Summary by Philip Mwalali, Patron KVDC & Co-Founder AEF 
Kilisa Village is in Semi-Arid area. It experiences chronic food insecurity as a result of repeated droughts. Each successful rain season is followed by several failed seasons. Each failed season leaves the community poorer due to lack of return of the scarce resources they invest in seeds, fertilizers, labor, their time and energy. And when the good season comes the communities are so indebted that they sell their produce at a give-away price to service their debts. This does not allow economic recovery in this community like many others. In response to this challenge, AEF and its partners are collaborating with KVDC in setting and maintaining a Village based FOOD BANK, a model that can be replicated elsewhere. Under this model KVDC, with contribution of individuals and development partners, buys food from Village farmers at high yield seasons for sell at better prices during the dry seasons. The sales are used for re-stoking and sales at a profit. The FOOD BANK ensures availability of food and seeds in the village at all times. Another wave from the KVDC, agent of change, is expected.The Bank is managed by the Youth, with the support of KVDC. AEF provides back stopping.
IF YOU WISH TO HELP KVDC EXPAND ON THIS INITIATIVE, MAKE YOUR DONATIONSYOUR NAME WILL BE INCLUDED IN KVDC LIST OF PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENTNO DONATION IS TOO SMALL
Contact AEF or KVDC for guidance on how to donate  
  Revised 08/07/2012
ANOTHER KVDC INNOVATION KILISA VILLAGE BUSINESS INCUBATION MODEL
AEF – KVDC collaborative effort: Summary by Philip Mwalali, Patron KVDC & Co-Founder
AEFThe majority of communities in rural settings in Kenya, Africa and the world at large experience a vicious cycle of poverty. The poor status exposes these populations to a repeated spells of crisis including food shortage crisis, disease and name it. As a result children in these communities do not have the opportunities to excel in education which facilitates inevitable in-heritage of the vicious cycle of poverty.  AEF believes that these populations can be helped out the vicious cycle by promoting entrepreneurship, enhancing capacity building, providing start-up funds where required and assisting in developing ideas into workable, sustainable and replicable business models.AEF-in collaboration with KVDC (and any interested partner) is committed to developing Kilisa Village Development Site into a business incubation center where those wishing to go into business will be given the financial and technical support they need to succeed thus breaking the cycle of poverty at household level.AEF will solicit resources to finance the Business Incubation Initiative. Once resources are available, AEF will apply its unique “Build Operate and Transfer (BOT)”model of micro-financing. AEF in collaboration with KVDC will call the community for business idea/concepts, review the strength/potential of the proposed businesses, select viable ones, enter into an agreement with the innovators on the BOT approach then AEF will jointly with the innovator develop a business plan, finance the initiative, manage the project jointly with the innovator until return of investment and then transfer the ownership of the entire project to the innovator/entrepreneur. For sustainability the MOU will provide for periodic monitoring by AEF thereafter. As appropriate, AEF in collaboration with KVDC will set up demonstration projects at the KVDC site for training purposes. KVDC site and Kilisa Village at large will serve as the Business Incubator for entrepreneurs in Kilisa Village and beyond.
IF YOU WISH TO HELP KVDC EXPAND ON THEIR INITIATIVES, MAKE YOUR DONATIONSYOUR NAME WILL BE INCLUDED IN KVDC LIST OF PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENTNO DONATION IS TOO SMALL
Contact AEF or KVDC for guidance on how to donate                                                                                                                                               
 

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