A second career that started with chicks

Solar incubation helps more eggs reach urban consumers Eggs can make a valuable contribution to healthy city diets. Solar incubators help urban businesses meet the demand. A woman-led Farmers’ Hub in Kenya shows the way forward. During her business career, Salome Naliaka lived in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. After retirement, she moved back to Bungoma …

A taste for tilapia

Fish farming is a thriving source of income and nourishment In the NICE project, fish plays an important role. Shifting activities from field to lake can be challenging for farmers. However, with due care, “swimmers are winners”.    Early on market day, the Hainja Farmers’ Hub in Port Victoria, Busia County, is already abuzz. Women like …

Empowering women and youth as food prices skyrocket

The NICE partners in Kenya(*) recently updated key government officials on project progress. The Chief Guest was the Rt. Hon. Kenneth Lusaka, Governor of Bungoma County. Moderated by our project consultant Wilson Songa, the meeting addressed urban nutrition and food safety, and ways to scale up the work. Lusaka emphasized that “there is a need to …

Growing traditional crops: growing reputation

A long-established Women’s Group profits from producing African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs) Assisted by Small Grants Initiative funding from the Nutrition in City Ecosystems (NICE) project, a number of enterprising food producers in the region of Busia County, Kenya, are finding deserved success A visit from an agricultural extension officer to their community was the starting …

Breeding chicks, broadening projects

An urban community group looks at ways to contribute to local needs Assisted by Small Grants Initiative funding through the Nutrition in City Ecosystems (NICE) project, a number of enterprising food producers in the region of Bungoma County, Kenya, are finding deserved success It was a message posted by a youth group on social media …

Self-help group promotes traditional crops

A farmers’ group providing nutritious leafy vegetables is gaining a reputation in their community and beyond   Assisted by Small Grants Initiative funding through the Nutrition in City Ecosystems (NICE) project, a number of enterprising food producers in the region of Busia County, Kenya, are finding deserved success Back in 2019, in a remote area …

NICE helps set a new pace in agroecology

Agroecology experts agree on the importance of women and youth in transforming food systems. A new conference format recently offered a stage on which to present NICE. Together with partners, we’re using this project to improve nutrition in cities. The first Eastern Africa Agroecology Conference took place recently in Nairobi, Kenya.  More than 500 participants …

Small steps feather nests

Assisted by Small Grants Initiative funding, piloted by the Foundation and supported by the Nutrition in City Ecosystems (NICE) project, a number of enterprising food producers in the region of Bungoma County, Kenya, are finding deserved success. Lennson Mumo’s passion for poultry farming began in boyhood when he used to watch his parents rearing local kienyeji chickens. …

From Farm to Fork: NICE Celebrating World Food Day 2023

NICE brings together urban dwellers, farmers, producers, and other food system players for the World Food Day 2023 commemoration in Bungoma County in line with the theme of water conservation. World Food Day is celebrated worldwide on October 16th to raise awareness of food production and the importance of promoting food security. This year’s theme …

Policy Makers In Kenya Discuss How the NICE Project Can Inform Policies on Nutrition

The NICE Project aims to improve nutrition in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas, by shaping urban-rural food environments and informing national and local policies. In Kenya, a high-level meeting with key policymakers was recently held at Acacia Premier Hotel in Kisumu on the 17th of May 2023. The meeting was graced by key policymakers from …