World Agroforestry Centre - Eastern & Central Africa

"The ECA programme of the World Agroforestry Centre is a regional agroforestry research network that aims at improving livelihoods of smallholder farmers and other users of tree products, and that strengthens national programs through collaborative research, education and development programs.

Since its inception, the program has developed a wide range of agroforestry technologies that are being used by thousands of farmers. Additionally, the program has developed methods and tools that can help characterize land use problems, recommend appropriate interventions, catalyse wide-scale dissemination and assess impact. "

Example Publication "Adding Value - improving capacity and linking institutions and professions for promoting synergy between farmer's producttion, value addition and marketing"

Kenya Seeds for Life

The KENYA - Seeds for Life Project

Aim: to enhance ex situ conservation and sustainable utilisation of plant genetic resources indigenous to Kenya. Kenya's land area consists of about 80% arid and semi-arid lands and the project will focus on the conservation of plants from these areas. To achieve the objective of the project, partners have identified 4 key outputs expected over the next 3 years.

1. The strengthening of Kenyan capacity to conserve plant genetic resources - through the provision of equipment and technical and academic training programmes.

2. The conservation of seed collections of priority plant species using appropriate and improved methods

3. The generation and dissemination of appropriate scientific information to aid the conservation of Kenyan biological diversity

4. The identification and consideration of the current status and the potential benefit of on-farm utilisation of indigenous plants.

"Excellent Development" in Mtito Andei

Excellent Development is a UK/Kenya NGO working with community based organisations in and around Mtito Andei district. They have a development process that looks at water supplies, food production, health & income. There are a number of short documentary films about this work that may or may not be of use educationally.

TradeNet

TradeNet

... aims to be a kind of eBay for agricultural products, in various African countries (though not Kenya as yet). Buyers and sellers send a text message from mobile phone which then goes to the site and is sent to all subscribers in four languages. The service is free - to be supported by targeted ads in the text messages; in other words it will sell your details to advertisers...

Upcoming education/technology events in Africa

E-Learning Africa
28-30 May, Nairobi

IST Africa
9-11 May, Maputo, Mozambique

Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture

Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture have a number of resources relating to agriculture in semi-arid regions. They are also partners in the Gardens for Life programme which is potentially interesting for school linking project work.