NYERI COUNTY GOVERNMENT

State Department of Agriculture

NJAA MARUFUKU KENYA (NMK) PROJECT

Component 3: Support to Private Sector Food Security Innovation

END OF PROJECT REPORT

Kieni East Sub County

Project Title: Kieni East Dairy Goat Upgrading Program For Better Nutrition and

Economic Empowerment

Contact Address: Pascal M. Mailu

Chief Executive Officer

G.R.A.C.E. Africa,

P.O.BOX 13993—00100,

NAIROBI.

Tel No: 020 523 0176 or +254 720 446 884

Website: www.graceusa.org

E-mail: info@graceafrica.org

SECTION A: OVERVIEW

Project Implementation and Progress

The project was implemented over a two year period between June 2013 and June 2015 with the

aim of improving the nutritional status and incomes of vulnerable members of the community

through upgrading of local goats for purposes of increasing dairy goat milk yields and

introduction of internal savings and lending schemes in Kieni East district

Implementation was jointly done by G.R.A.C.E Africa –Nanyuki office Project Manager, Mr

Gideon Muthuri, Ministry of Agriculture, NMK Desk officer, Kieni east Sub County-Mrs.

Beretha Ngunjiri and the Project Technical liaison officer, from ministry of Livestock-Ms Jane

Njuguna.

The progress made by the project from start to end was commendable, with almost all project

activities being implemented within the project’s time frame and numerous set targets exceeded

by the end of the project. The project’s financial and non financial resources were used in an

effective and efficient way, and community participation levels were high, thus ensuring high

levels of sustainability.

Fig 1: Project Sign post at Gakawa location, Kieni East Sub-County

Key Accomplishments/Milestones

The following key actives were implemented as per the project’s work plan;

1. District Coordination Unit (DCU) Meetings

All scheduled DCU meetings (which were later renamed as Sub-County Coordinating Unit-

SCCU meetings) were held during which project activities were planned and implemented

activities reviewed on a regular basis. The first SCCU meeting served a dual purpose as it was

also the project inception meeting during which the project manager and the technical liaison

officer shared the details of the project with the other members of the SCCU. However, it was

sometimes necessary to hold SCCU meetings between the scheduled meetings on a needs basis

as demanded by the different project implementation phases. This caused the number of SCCU

meetings to exceed the number initially planned and budgeted for in the initial work plan. The

number of SCCU meetings at the end of the project had reached 10.

2. Stakeholder Analysis and Stakeholder Workshops

In order to identify the different project stakeholders in the sub-county, a stakeholder

analysis/mapping was conducted during the first SCCU meeting in June 2013. A total of 18

stakeholders were identified and invitation letters sent out inviting all of them to the first

stakeholder meeting in order to introduce the project to them, granting them the opportunity to

interrogate it and eventually get their buy-in. A majority of the stakeholders remained committed

to the project throughout the project life as indicated by the regular attendance of the 3

Stakeholder workshops that were held bringing together 10 representatives from different

agencies.

Fig 2: A stakeholder Workshop in progress

3. Identification of Target Beneficiaries

The project was set to be implemented through organized groups of 10 members that would host

the pedigree dairy goats (bucks). A strict selection criterion was developed and used to vet the

more than 45 proposed groups, reducing the final number to 30 groups. These groups passed the

set criteria, whose requirement included the following;

The groups had to be registered with the ministry of gender and social services and have

renewed the certificate

Holding regular meeting with records of minutes of meetings

Groups were either Persons Living With Disability (PWD), Persons Living With

HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) or groups comprised of or caring for Orphans and Vulnerable

Children (OVC)

Through the Provincial Administration, all groups that had met the selection criteria were invited

to attend public meetings (barazas), during which the project was introduced to them and

feedback obtained on their perception of the project so as to foster the project’s ownership by the

intended direct beneficiaries. The identification and selection process proved successful because

out of the 30 initial groups selected, all except 2 remained with the project through the

implementation phase and have remained active and functional even beyond the project life. The

2 groups had to be dropped because they were found to be short of some key selection criteria

but they were replaced in a timely manner

.

Fig 3.Sample project sensitization baraza.TLO Project Manager addressing the community at

different sites

4. Training of Enumerators

After the successful selection of the beneficiaries, 10 youths from the community were identified

and trained as enumerators. The training was conducted by the project manager and technical

liaison officer, who employed the training materials and procedures provided by the NMK

secretariat during the earlier workshop on Project Management and Implementation preceding

the release of the grants. The training equipped the selected youth with data collection skills in

preparation for the baseline survey aimed at providing baseline data on the state of dairy goat

farming and income levels among the intended beneficiaries before the project commenced.

5. Baseline Survey

In July 2013 and following a successful campaign to introduce the project to the community

through public meetings (barazas) a baseline survey was conducted in all the five locations,

covering all the beneficiary groups. The aim of the baseline survey was to establish the status of

the groups at time zero of the project in terms of their activities in dairy goat farming and other

enterprises and hence identify the gaps that would form the basis of the scheduled trainings. This

exercise was conducted by the enumerators and supervised by the project manager, TLO and

D.O.

A report detailing the outcomes of the survey was prepared and submitted. The baseline findings

not only guided the content and focus of the planned trainings but also provided important

information against which the project progress was to be measured during the continuous

monitoring activities as well as the end term evaluation exercise.

6. Constituting a Management Committee

A project management & implementation committee was constituted drawing representatives

from the project beneficiaries. The management committee was actively involved in project

management activities throughout the project period. The formation of this committee was part

of the exit and sustainability strategy through the provision of continuity beyond project life as

detailed in a later section of this report. The committee which was constituted in August 2013

has remained in office and continues to oversee the management activities of the project.

7. Trainings

Fig 4: G.R.A.C.E. Africa PM trains on Fig 5 A livestock officer puts a point through

In order to ensure successful implementation and uptake of the project by the beneficiaries and

the community at large, several capacity building trainings were conducted for the 30 selected

groups from September 2013. The topics of the training were modeled against the main project

components as well major cross-cutting issues and reached a total of 923 people, 61 of whom

were trained as Trainers of Trainees (ToTs) in valued addition and Income Generating Activities

(IGAs). Trainings provided were as follows;

i. Dairy goat upgrading and breeding.

ii. Housing and record keeping.

iii. Disease and disease control and routine management.

iv. Feeding, pasture establishment and conservation.

v. Nutritional management of HIV/AIDS and other vulnerable persons

vi. Establishment of high value kitchen gardens.

vii. SILC – Savings and Internal Lending Communities

viii. Value addition of the dairy goat milk (Yoghurt making)

ix. IGAs – Income Generating Activities (Bead work).

x. Cross cutting issues – Fuel Energy Conservation

Figs 6.NMK DO preparing for training Fig 7.Yorghut making demonstration

Table 1: Trainings modules and number of participant

Fig 8: SILC training Workshop Fig 9: Financial record book shot of SILC

Activity for Naromoru Child Support group

Tour/exposure visit to an advanced area in dairy goat farming

In order to build confidence of the beneficiaries and demonstrate the practicability of the project,

35 farmers were taken on an exposure visit to Mukurwe-ini sub-county to “look and learn” from

their counterparts in the region which is more advancement in dairy goat rearing. During the

Trainings DATES. expected total

1 Record keeping, kitchen garden

and disease control

24/9/2013,

25/9/2013

and 26/9/2013

300 292

2 Dairy goat feeding, fodder

establishment and routine

management

27/8/2013,

28/8/2013

and29/8/2013

300

285

3 Dairy goat breeding and housing;

Energy saving; HIV nutrition and

DGAK regulations and

opportunities.

30/7/13, 31/7/13

and

1/8/13

300

285

4 4.Training on value addition and

I.G.A(beadwork)

24/2/15, 25/2/15,

25/2/15 and26/2/15

30 (ToTs)

30

5 SILC (Table Banking)

26/5/14,27/5/14,

28/5/14 and29/5/14

30 (ToTs) 31

visit, the farmers were briefed on the best practices on dairy goat rearing, asked numerous

questions and got feedback from their hosts. The tour was a worthy investment as the farmers

returned determined to implement the project based on the lessons learnt from Mukurwe-ini.

Upon returning to the project site, the famers who participated in the visit passed on the

knowledge and skills gained to other farmers during group meetings and trainings.

Fig 10: Tour to Mukurwe-ini, host farmer shares his practices with participants

9. Sourcing and distribution of pedigree dairy goat (bucks)

In November 2013 and after all the preparatory project activities had been done, 30 pedigree

dairy goats of the Kenya Alpine breed were sourced from Muranga, Kirinyaga and Nyeri

municipalities and distributed to the 30 identified groups.

The groups had selected one group member who would host the buck, tend to it while making it

available to serve group members’ and community does within a set radius. Those receiving the

services paid an agreed fee. Most groups charged KES 200 for non-members and KES 100 for

members per service. The money was used to buy food supplements and meet other maintenance

costs associated with the bucks’ upkeep. The host farmers benefitted from the manure generated

by the goats to improve their farms’ soil fertility, leading to a significant increase in crop

production.

Fig 10: Sourcing of bucks- Kirinyaga County Fig 11: Distribution of dairy goats

10. Launch/ Famers’ Field Day

Group members launched the project during the inception period. All the thirty benefiting groups

were represented.

A field day was later held in August 2014 at the premises of the Gathiuru Hope OVC group in

Githima location at the height of the project implementation process to showcase the progress

and success of the project and to educate the community further on the various components of

the project. The event which was attended by 161 farmers, with 16 stakeholders groups

exhibiting their project work and related materials.

Fig11: Exhibitors during field day

11. Rotation of bucks

Based on animal health and production practices, the buck rotation was timed to take place

before its first off-spring came to maturity to prevent inbreeding. This was successfully done in

May 2015 by the implementing team and dairy goat association of Kenya (DGAK) staff.

12. Regular monitoring and evaluation exercises

Project monitoring and evaluation exercises were conducted every quarter beginning in the fifth

month of the project implementation for a total of 7 times. Key project indicators were monitored

and documented to inform progress made in project implementation. Opportunities and gaps

were identified during the exercise and addressed accordingly by the technical team or through

the project management committee to improve on the project.

Fig 12: Monitoring Exercise with SCAO Fig 13: Monitoring Exercise

13. Implementation of Exit and Sustainability Strategy

From the onset of the project and throughout the life of the project, various strategies were

implemented to prepare the beneficiaries for project termination (exit) and to set in place

sustainability mechanisms. These included;

i. The constitution of a project management and implementation committee comprised of

group leaders, who were actively involved in project management activities throughout

the project period and finally took over the management role of the project at the end of

the project.

ii. Training of project beneficiaries on the establishment and management of Savings and

Internal Lending Communities (SILC), a form of table banking to enhance provide

micro-finance for the beneficiaries. SILC operates through a collective pooling of

individual finances to form a common kitty from which members borrow and repay with

interest. The interest generated goes back to the members increasing their kitty and is

shared out equally at the end of each year. These skills enabled the beneficiaries to access

credit services to invest in their wellbeing (education, shelter, health) and in improving

livelihoods.

iii. Charging a fee to farmers and other community members who needed the services of the

bucks ensured that there was a small kitty to maintain the bucks’ health and other needs

as well as generating income for the group members.

14. End of project evaluation exercise and Final Report Submission

The implementing team conducted an end of project evaluation exercise, which was also

contractual obligation between G.R.A.C.E. Africa and the NMK secretariat. The evaluation was

aimed at assessing to what extent the project was successful in meeting its expected objectives

and results. The evaluation also sought to inform planning, implementation and management of

future G.R.A.C.E. Africa projects by embracing lessons learnt and replicating best practices. The

exercise was conducted between 03/06/2015 and 08/06/2015 by enumerators supervised by TLO,

PM, NMK DO and SCAO. All data collected was analyzed, collated, summarized and a report

produced, a copy of which is attached to this report.

Variances in Key Targets during the project Implementation Period

There was no significant variance between the set targets and those achieved by the end of the

project period. All the activities reported at least 100% implementation status of the key targets.

Table 2: Key Challenges/ Constraints Encountered During the Implementation Period, their Effects to Project Activities and How

they were addressed

NO Challenge Effect Anticipated

Outcomes

Home Grown Solutions

1. Shortage of DGAK staff to cover the

area adequately in terms of registration

of the offspring.

It took along time to

have the offsprings

registered.

Poor market prices

for the unregistered

goats.

Pool the goats together to

minimize the number of visits by

the DGAK staff and enhance a

wider coverage.

2. Securing of training venues that were

friendly to those groups of people with

disability, while at the same time fairly

considering the other vulnerable

categories.

PWDs concentration

levels were low due to

fatigue

Forgetfulness of

covered topics.

Future, trainings to be tailored to

the specific needs of different

groups based on the type and level

of their vulnerability.

3 Training lessons in the work plan were

very few with many topics forcing the

trainers to take more than 5 hrs for

training sessions which was not

desirable to PLWHAs.

High levels of fatigue

among participants

during training

sessions.

Low concentration

levels due to

tiredness.

Incorporation of other interesting

topics like solar lighting and

breaks (energizers) to keep the

audience alert.

Table 3: Level of Participation by Beneficiaries, Stakeholders/Collaborators

Direct beneficiaries 95%

Stakeholders 85%

Collaborators 80%

SECTION B: STATUS SUMMARY STATEMENTAT END OF PROJECT

Summary of Key Work-Plan Activities

Key Tasks Start Date Target Due Date % Complete Status at end of project

Project sensitization barazas 1st Month 1

st Month 100% Achieved

Stakeholder forums 1st Month 15

th Month 100% Achieved

DCU meetings 1st Month 26

th month 100% plus Achieved

Baseline survey 1st Month 1

st Month 100% Achieved

Baseline survey report writing 1st Month 1

st Month 100% Achieved

Constituting of management committees 3rd

Month 3rd

Month 100% Achieved

Training on dairy goat husbandry, Milk utilization & value

addition, record keeping, crosscutting issues and financial

management and IGAs

4th Month 26

th month More than

100%

Achieved

Supervision, monitoring and evaluation 5th Month Once every

quarter

More than

100%

Achieved

Tour to an advanced area 6th

Month 6th Month 100% Achieved

Sourcing and distribution of pedigree bucks 6th

Month 6th

Month 100% Achieved

Field Day / Launching of Project 15th Month 25

th Month 100% Achieved

Rotation of bucks 20th Month 100% Achieved

Report writing 3rd

Month 26th Month 100% Achieved

2. Project Activity Status SECTION C: DETAILED REPORT

1. Fund Utilization

Funds received

this Quarter

Cumulative Activity summary Expenditure

per activity

Cumulative

expenditure

Balance

1,773,128 1,960,686 1,960,686

15925.5 1976611.5 Bank Interest 1,976,611.5

Bank taxes 3293.2 3293.2 1,973,318.3

Mobilization and

sensitization

19,100 22393.2 1,954,218.3

SCCU meeting 67,450 89843.2 1,886768.3

Stakeholder forums 62,900 152743.2 1,823868.3

Trainings 761,630 914373.2 1,062238.3

Sourcing 31,750 946123.2 1030488.3

procurement 420,000 1366123.2 610488.3

Distribution 103,850 1469973.2 506638.3

M&E 211,100 1681073.2 295538.3

Baseline survey 73,090 1754163.2 222448.3

Tours 42,500 1796663.2 179948.3

Rotation of bucks 26500 1823163.2 153448.3

Field day/launch 50,700 1873863.2 102748.3

publicity 33930 1907793.2 68818.3

Retrieving the

bucks

10,000 1917793.2 58818.3

End of project

evaluation

38500 1956293.2 20318.3

Report

writing/stationery

20,250 1976543.2 68.3

Totals 1,976543.2

Key project

activity

Progress made Original

Schedule

Variance Actual Cost Budgeted

cost

Variance

Sensitization and

mobilization

More than 300

members and

five chiefs

sentisized

35,100 16,000 19,100 21,970

2,870

Baseline survey Conducted 51,000 22,000 73,090 51,000 22,000

report written

and submitted

publicity Erected in

Gakawa location

and banner

prepared

40,000 6,070 33,930 33,930 …….

trainings All training done 647,400 114,230 761,630 776,880 15,250

Stakeholders

meeting

3 meetings held 22,050 40,850 62,900 62,900 ……….

M&E 79,600 131,500 211,100 184,800 26,300

sourcing/

Procurement/

Distribution

30pedigree

bucks purchased

And distributed

628,000 72,400 555,600

555,600

…….

tour 1 tour held 47,000 4,500 42,500 42,500 ………..

Launch/field day 1 held 53,600 2,900 50,700 41,500 9,200

rotation 28 bucks rotated 34,650 8,150 26,500 26,500 …….

End evaluation Done and report

written

51,000 12,500 38,500 37,500 1,000

Explanatory Notes:

Explain variance in activities and costs. Also include:

Number of SCCU meetings exceeded the number of meetings planned; this was necessitated by demand created by the extensive project area

not envisioned in the initial project design.

The extensive area of coverage also required more days to conduct M&E visits and related exercises than had been planned and budgeted for

in the initial work plan and budget.

3. Project Outputs/Deliverables

Key project activity Projected output Actual realized Variance Remarks

Trainings 5 held 5 0

Stakeholders meeting 3held 3 1 achieved

SCCU meetings 4 10 held 6 More due to regular

planning meetings

Baseline survey Done and report

written

1 done 0 Report written and

submitted

Distribution of bucks 30bucks bought

and distributed

30 0 2 died

M&E 8 8 visits 0

Tour 1 held 1 0

Management

committee

1 1 0

Reports 8

Evaluation exercise 1 1 0

4. Extension Activities & Field Visits

Backstopping team Date of visit Key recommendation Remarks

SCAO,DO ,TLO,PM,LO 6/11/13 and

7/11/13

To advised to complete

house construction

SCAO,DO ,TLO,PM,LO 28/1/14 to

30/1/14

The groups were advised

to keep proper records

and deworm the bucks.

Most does served were

pregnant.

SCAO,DO ,TLO,PM, 22/7/14 to31/7/14 Community members

who are not already

6 groups had been formed

by end of project.

engaged in economic

empowerment activities

to form SILC/table

banking groups.

SCAO,DO

,TLO,PM,DGAK

22/10/14 to

31/10/14

Dgak assistance to be

visiting groups frequently

to address issue of

registering

Most farmers had offspring

from the bucks.

SCAO,DO

,TLO,PM,DGAK

26/3/15 to 1st

/4/15

Mange treatment for

those infected before

rotation.

Farmers ready for rotation.

SCAO,DO ,TLO,PM,L.O 2/5/15 to 6/5/15 Most bucks healthy after

rotation.

SCAO,DO ,TLO,PM &

Local chief

15/6/15 To follow up the sold

buck

Buck keeper to buy another

By September.

5. Collaboration with Stakeholders

Name of stakeholder Specific area of

collaboration

Remarks

Dairy Goat Association of Kenya

(DGAK)

Breeding program of dairy

goats

Registration with DGAK in

progress

Kieni East dairy goat farmers

association (KIDAGOFA)

Marketing and Value addition

of goats milk

All the 30 groups to register

with KIDAGOFA

Local administration Mobilization All chiefs and their assistants

were involved

6. Revolving Fund

Amount saved this quarter Cumulative saved to date Remarks

222,270.00 222,270.00 Not all groups have started

NB: The total amount of money saved by some of the groups since SILC/table banking training.