Pillar 3: Sustainable Livelihoods, Agribusiness, and Climate Justice (SLAC) - Climate-Smart Agriculture & Economic Empowerment

Agriculture remains a cornerstone of livelihoods in Kenya's Lake Region and Sugar Belt areas, especially for smallholder farmers in the 10 targeted counties: Kisumu, Siaya, Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, Migori, Homa Bay, Kwale, and Tana River. However, these regions face escalating challenges from climate change, collapsed sugarcane economies, overfishing, and erratic rainfall patterns that have reduced agricultural productivity and exacerbated poverty among AGYWs, youth, and PWDs.

According to the Kenya Climate-Smart Agriculture Strategy (KCSAS) 2017–2026, unsustainable farming practices, including monocropping and overuse of chemical inputs, have further degraded soils, water bodies, and ecosystems. The African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics (2022) reveals that women's disempowerment in sugarcane farming is linked to higher household poverty, with key disempowerment domains including income control, work balance, and leadership roles.

In addition to environmental degradation, marginalized groups particularly adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) face pervasive social injustices that compound their vulnerability:

• Sex for Fish (Jaboya System): Exploitative practices in Lake Victoria fishing communities where AGYW are coerced into transactional sex to secure fish for resale, increasing HIV risk and GBV exposure.
• Sex for Pads: Girls from economically disadvantaged families are forced into exploitative arrangements to access menstrual hygiene products, perpetuating cycles of abuse.
• Gender-Based Violence (GBV): Lack of economic independence and the collapse of sugarcane-based livelihoods increase vulnerability to domestic and sexual violence.
• Economic Marginalization: Youth and PWDs often lack access to land ownership, agricultural inputs, digital skills, and microfinance institutions, excluding them from meaningful agribusiness opportunities.
• Climate Vulnerability: Floods, droughts, and declining fish stocks threaten food security, while inadequate WASH infrastructure undermines health, especially for menstrual hygiene and PWDs with mobility challenges.

HEDSO's climate-smart agriculture and agribusiness initiatives under the SLAC pillar extend beyond environmental sustainability to address systemic social injustices. By 2030, HEDSO will establish and scale 500 climate-smart agribusiness enterprises led by AGYWs, youth, and PWDs, link 3,000 vulnerable households to savings groups and green value chains, and train 5,000 households on land rights and inclusive governance. This dual approach ensures communities are not only climate-resilient but also free from exploitation cycles that hinder progress.

Key Interventions (2026-2030)

• Climate-Smart Agribusiness Incubation: HEDSO incubates 500 green enterprises promoting climate-smart vertical farming, organic farming inputs, aquaculture, agroforestry, beekeeping, and mushroom farming. These enterprises are linked to extension services, e-agriculture tools, and bi-annual county agribusiness expos to showcase innovations. By 2030, 70% of enterprises will achieve commercial scale with 40%+ income increases.
• Capacity Building for Marginalized Groups: HEDSO establishes Farmer Field Schools (FFS) and Youth Climate Clubs for continuous learning on climate-smart practices. At least 300 young mothers and youth per county receive training on income-generating activities, business coaching, and market access linkages. Community-based revolving microgrants support enterprise start-up capital.
• Economic Empowerment & Financial Inclusion: HEDSO forms and trains AGYW, youth, and PWD savings groups with embedded financial literacy modules, linking 3,000 vulnerable households to conditional microgrants and green value chains. By 2030, 60% of households will sustain active savings group participation with 50% increase in household savings and asset ownership.
• Land Rights & Inclusive Governance: Through community-based forums, digital platforms, and training of local leaders, HEDSO improves land rights knowledge among 5,000 households. By 2030, 60% of trained households will actively exercise land rights, with at least 5 county-level policies influenced by AGYW, youth, and PWD advocacy networks.
• Environmental Conservation & Circular Economy: HEDSO launches environmental clubs focused on upcycling and tree planting, trains 5,000 households on waste management from household level, and pilots youth-led circular economy hubs. By 2030, 70% of trained households will sustainably apply ecosystem restoration practices, with 25% increase in tree cover.