www.selfhelpafrica.

net
Annual Report 2008
BURKINA FASO/ETHIOPIA/ERITREA/GHANA/
KENYA/MALAWI/TOGO/UGANDA/ZAMBIA

sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 1 02/07/2009 18:31:16

 A RURAL AFRICA FREE FROM HUNGER & POVERTY

is a rural development agency that seeks to improve the lives of some of the poorest communities in
Sub-Saharan Africa. The organisation works with local staff, local partners and rural communities in
Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Togo and Zambia. Self Help Africa’s aim
is to deliver cost effective and sustainable solutions to the challenges facing rural African people.

WHAT WE DO
Activities that enable people to grow enough food all year around
Crop diversification, improving access to quality seed, supporting irrigated farming, improving livestock, promoting the use of appropriate technologies
and other sustainable farming methods.
Initiatives that improve opportunities for Africans to earn a living
Improving access to micro-finance and loans, providing skills, training and backing for initiatives that allow rural households to increase their earnings and
diversify their sources of income.
Activities to improve access to basic social services
Support for bore hole and shallow well construction, pump distribution, sanitation and pit latrine construction, support for school rehabilitation and
expansion, improvements to health services, education and training.
Initiatives that support and strengthen the organisational capacity of African communities
Promotion and support for farmers co-operatives, support with marketing opportunities, development of improved infrastructures including crop storage
facilities, value addition to food production, establishment and support for savings and credit co-operatives and provision of training.
Programmes that preserve and rehabilitate their natural environment and use available land wisely
Tree planting, nursery development, watershed management programmes, gulley regeneration and land reclamation, soil fertility
management, promotion of composting, complementary cropping and other activities to encourage sustainable land use.
Advocacy and dissemination for policy change
Self Help Africa seeks to influence policies and issues affecting the lives of rural Africans through advocacy, dissemination,
partnerships and the promotion of best practice.
Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS and gender
Voluntary counselling and testing programmes and measures to increase understanding and reduce the stigma
associated with HIV/AIDS along with activities and training initiatives that promote gender equality.

2 Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008

sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 2 02/07/2009 18:31:21


INTRODUCTION FROM THE CEO
W
elcome to the first annual
report of ‘Self Help Africa’.
Within these pages we seek to
record some of the notable achievements
of the organisation leading up to and
following the successful integration of
the operations of Self Help Development
Ray Jordan
Chief Executive
International and Harvest Help, last
summer.
Although Self Help Africa is a new organisation, the programmes
that we are implementing and the support that we are providing
in our African programmes and here at home in Ireland and
the UK is building upon the experience, the knowledge and the
understanding that the integrated new organisation has drawn
from its 25 years of experience working to alleviate the challenges
faced by Africa’s rural poor.
We firmly believe that agricultural production and the needs of
small-scale farming communities must be at the centre of efforts to
alleviate poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa in the years ahead.
It is a case that we make in the article on food and livelihoods on
the following pages and is at the heart of the work that we are
doing and which we document throughout this report.
The economic downturn of the past year and the alarming
sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 3
www.selfhelpafrica.net
inflation in global food prices over the same period underlines the
uncertain times we live in. Nonetheless, it is more pressing than
ever that we play our part and support communities in Africa so
that they escape the poverty trap once and for all.
The ‘self help’ approach to development that is applied by our
organisation across more than 40 development programmes in
nine countries works. We have seen it time and again and the
achievements and impacts are well documented in numerous
independent evaluations and assessments of our work. It is also
in our view the most cost effective way to achieve sustainable
and lasting change for the communities in Africa with whom we
collaborate.
I would urge you to share with us the successes that have been
achieved, but do so in the knowledge that a great deal of work
must still be done if millions of Africans are to have enough food
to eat, clean water to drink and the chance of a better life. Do so
also with the awareness that you too can play your part in making
a reality our vision of an Africa free from hunger and poverty.
Ray Jordan,
CEO, Self Help Africa
Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008 3
02/07/2009 18:31:23
 INVESTING IN AGRICULTURE

F
or 25 years Self Help Africa has been working to improve the
lives of rural Africans, investing in sustainable programmes
designed to increase food production and enable Africans to
earn a living. Developing agricultural production at both local and
regional levels is crucial if the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa
are going to be able to feed their growing populations in the years
ahead.
2008 saw a dramatic increase in world
food prices and a wave of protests and
rioting, which put the issue of small-
scale agriculture into sharp focus for
Irrigated horticulture helps rural families to increase production.
world leaders.
The gravity of the situation was
evidenced when the Secretary General improving food security for the world’s poor.
of the United Nations Ban Ki Moon At the same time as the United Nations was addressing the issue of food
convened an emergency food summit production the UN’s former chief Kofi Annan launched a separate initiative
in Rome and spoke afterwards of a designed to drive farm production in Africa.
need to ‘seize the historic opportunity The number of people going hungry globally is expected to top the one
to revitalise agriculture’. billion figure for the first time in human history and against this backdrop
While the immediate concern of the Self Help Africa is more convinced than ever that agriculture provides the
UN sponsored summit was on finding
a response to high food prices, the
Secretary General also sought the
“Developing agricultural production
Margaret Malakita irrigates her mustard crop
creation of a United Nations taskforce
at both local and regional levels is
in Malawi.
to focus on the longer term goal of crucial.“

4 Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008

sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 4 02/07/2009 18:31:29

 www.selfhelpafrica.net
80% OF AFRICANS RELY ON FARMING FOR THEIR SURVIVAL

route out of poverty for the world’s poor. of Africa and thus drive down local prices, are amongst the issues which
Upwards of 80% of the people of the continent, or approximately 600 must be tackled by the world community. It is vital however that a practical
million Africans rely on small scale farming for their survival. It is only by and pragmatic approach which reflects the culture and the circumstances of
tackling the challenges and difficulties that they face that we will achieve a African farmers themselves is brought to this challenge.
lasting, long term solution to the problems of extreme poverty. The 2000 Millennium Development Goal to halve the proportion of the
At Self Help Africa we have found that simple, affordable technologies can world population facing poverty and under-nourishment by 2015 is in
have a profound effect on agricultural production for small-scale farmers. jeopardy – with increasing population, climate change and a global recession
Treadle (foot) pumps and drip irrigation kits provided to farm families all putting additional strain on the resources that are available to assist the
in countries where only 4% of agricultural land is irrigated has enabled poorest and the most vulnerable.
small-holders to double food production; support for the formation of co- It is heartening that the G8
operative structures that allow farmers to access good quality seed stock in countries and other world bodies
time for the planting season and assist co-ops with the marketing and sale of are prepared to take the lead
any surpluses has helped to lift many rural Africans out of poverty. in adopting sound agricultural
Complementary cropping and crop rotation, the use of policies and strategies to support
manure based composts rather than oil-based chemical farming and rural development
fertilisers and the sustainable use of available in Sub-Saharan Africa.
land and resources are amongst the many other We hope that others too will
approaches that can help Africans to grow more see the merit and value of
food in a way that is both cost effective and this approach and back the
sustainable. sustainable and participatory
Years of chronic under-investment in the approaches to poverty reduction
agricultural sector in Africa, allied to that Self Help Africa has been
unequal trading arrangements which championing for the past quarter
have allowed western producers to century.
Nursery production in Uganda.
dump their surpluses on the markets

Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008 5

sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 5 02/07/2009 18:31:35

 ETHIOPIA
A
series of integrated area based development programmes
that focus on local food production, income generation
and improving access to water and social services were
implemented last year by Self Help Africa in Ethiopia.
The organisation also supported initiatives to mobilise farmers in Oromia
and Southern Nations and Nationalities (SNNPR) into primary agricultural
co-operatives. These groups and a number of co-operative unions worked to
strengthen organisational capacity and to promote
diversification and marketing opportunities for
farmers.
Self Help Africa expanded micro-finance savings
and credit opportunities, directly supporting the
mobilisation of 8,000 new members into local
savings and credit co-operatives (SACCOs) and
providing backing to five SACCO unions in Oromia
and SNNPR regions.
Four area-based development programmes at
Bora, Huruta, Sodo II and Aleymaya II undertook
activities to improve agriculture and food
production. Activities also sought to rehabilitate the
natural environment, support income generation
Rope & washer pumps help
households to irrigate land. and improve access to water, sanitation, healthcare
More than 30 supporters
sponsored new pumps for
and education in the four areas.
Sodo II, in its third year, distributed drought-
irrigated farming last year.
resistant enset seedlings to 250 farmers; 90 farmers
6 Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008
sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 6
began apple production; a range of
rain fed and irrigated crop production
activities were carried out and support
provided to an artificial insemination
(AI) scheme to improve local livestock
breeding.
The Sodo II programme was
supported in 2008 by the Skerries/
Sodo Community Group.
250 students were recruited to
the newly opened Kella High School
and more than10,000 people received Papaya production is a valuable way to
supplement income.
clean water from two new shallow
wells and the capping of a community
spring. Elsewhere, check dams and micro-basins were constructed to
conserve water and arrest soil erosion and 35 rope and washer pumps were
distributed to enable farmers to irrigate farm land.
The Huruta area programme supported nearly 4,000 farm families with
improved seed, distributed over half a million tree seedlings, 3,600 poultry
birds, 140 beehives and created an irrigation co-operative for 140 farmers.
A rainwater harvesting scheme was developed to support seven remote
“4,000 families in Huruta received
improved quality seed.“
02/07/2009 18:31:40
 INVESTMENT: €1,976,826 / £1,574,245 • PERCENTAGE OF PROGRAMME SPEND: 34.1%
rural villages; more than 1,000 SACCO members received assistance, while
nearly 3,000 farmers took part in training in methods of seed multiplication,
beekeeping, sanitation and family planning. Supported by the One51
Charitable Foundation, the Huruta Programme completed its three-year
development cycle in 2008.
The Bora area based programme supported 800 households to set up
tree nurseries, assisted a poultry development programme that reached
234 households, promoted a range of both rain-fed and irrigated farming
activities and supported composting and irrigated vegetable production at
farm household level.
Support was provided to a community to sink a borehole and provide
clean drinking water to over 500 households.
A revolving drug scheme to provide a sustainable supply of medicine to
users of a health centre in Alemtena was implemented and training was
provided on HIV/AIDS and gender to teachers.
At Alemaya II programme more than 1,300 farmers in Ethiopia’s
Eastern Highlands benefited from the promotion and
distribution of improved quality wheat seed, haricot
beans, teff and bean seeds during 2008. Nearly
1,000 other farmers were supplied with garlic,
potato and onion bulbs to begin vegetable
production, a further 720 households started
poultry rearing and 230 farm families planted
enset for the first time.
Self Help Africa’s Oromia and SNNPR
sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 7
www.selfhelpafrica.net
Agricultural Cooperative Development Programmes focussed on measures
to improve incomes, organisational strength and the earning potential of
co-operative members.
In Oromia 1,000 members received wheat and other crop seeds under a
local seed multiplication programme; seed potatoes were also multiplied and
distributed and finance and training was provided to savings and credit co-
operative members. This work received support from Dutch based ICCO.
In SNNPR region seed multiplication co-operatives provided improved seed
to over 4,500 farmers. Nearly 3,000 landowners were assisted in starting
production of alternate cash crops including haricot beans, onions and chilli.
Structures were put in place to strengthen dairy co-ops, with support
being provided for milk production systems, promotion of added value and
marketing of dairy produce.
Membership of SACCOs in Oromia increased to over 10,000 people, with
29 new primary credit co-ops joining three existing SACCO unions – at
Awash, Keleta and Ifa Boru. In SNNRP 8,000
additional members joined primary savings
and credit co-ops, increasing the membership
of two regional SACCO unions to more than ETHIOPIA
ADDIS ABABA •Alemaya II
20,000. The Irish League of Credit Unions Bora•
Foundation (ICLUF) is supporting this work. Huruta•
•Sodo II
Described as ‘the tree against famine’ because
it can survive drought and can be stored for long
periods, enset has been promoted to support
SOMALIA
food security across Self Help Africa’s Ethiopian KENYA
programmes for more than a decade.
Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008 7
02/07/2009 18:31:44
 ERITREA

S
elf Help Africa marked its 15th year in Eritrea in 2008. Work
included area programmes in the Gash Barka and Southern
Regions and support for a national beekeeping development
programme.
The organisation is one of a small number of international development
agencies working in the country, the result of a cautious approach to the
presence of overseas agencies by a Government that believes Eritrea should
not become dependent on the
resources of international NGOs.
Both of Self Help Africa’s area-
based programmes were affected
by a shortage of rainfall, which had
an impact on crop yields in many
areas. A shortage of farming inputs, The search for firewood is a daily chore in rural Eritrea. Homestead woodlots
provided by Self Help Africa provide families with a ready supply of fuel wood
construction materials and fuel also
for their domestic needs.
led to plans for several construction
programmes including dam and pond
building being deferred. 160,000 mixed tree saplings and assisted a programme that treated close to
In 2008 the Emni Haili programme 20,000 livestock at two recently built animal health posts.
supplied and distributed 500 ox- In Gogne, where the drought was particularly acute, two new rainwater
ploughs through two community-run harvesting irrigation ponds were constructed to provide water to more than
farm shops. The programme also

Rain harvesting ponds in Gogne assisted

distributed, through revolving funds,
close to 16,000 fruit tree seedlings; “500 ox-ploughs were distributed
householders to irrigate their land.
supported planting of an additional through farm shops in Emni Haili.“

8 Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008

sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 8 02/07/2009 18:31:50

 INVESTMENT: €421,192 / £335,417 • PERCENTAGE OF PROGRAMME SPEND: 7.3%

410 households (2,500 people) and 4,750 livestock. Because of the dry
conditions these facilities were dry for several months however.
Elsewhere, construction of a new elementary school was undertaken
in Adi Gebru with funding support of €100,000 (£90,000) provided by
friends and family in memory of Irish teacher Barbara Gill, while more than
140 desks and other furnishings were also provided to fit out the building.
www.selfhelpafrica.net
Several primary savings and credit co-operatives (SACCOs) were also
established.
Nearly 9,000 high school students attended a two-day HIV/AIDS
awareness raising seminar and 8,200 students attended a drama
performance to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS, while 480 students visited
voluntary counselling and testing centres.
As part of the beekeeping development programme more than 110
colonies were raised and distributed through revolving funds to farm
families, while bee fodder planting was undertaken in different areas.
Planning and baseline studies for a number of proposed new area-based
programmes (ABPs) at Elabared and Mai-Aine sub-regions and at Kimira
in the Southern Red Sea region took place. These new programmes will
replace the existing ABPs at Gogne and Emni Haili, which will phase out
in 2009.

SUDAN

ERITREA
•Gogne
ASMARA
Emni Haili •

ETHIOPIA
Rosena Garza used a small loan from a Self Help Africa savings co-operative in
Gheleb to start a small sewing business in her village. 110 farm families in Eritrea
began beekeeping last year.

Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008 9

sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 9 02/07/2009 18:31:57

 KENYA

S
elf Help Africa made significant progress towards improving were promoted across each
food and livelihood security systems in its Kenyan programmes of these districts.
in 2008, a year that was marred by widespread civil unrest, A review and evaluation
unpredictable weather patterns and damaging fluctuations in food of Self Help Africa’s
prices in the country. partnership with BAC on a
Food production was increased for householders across both area- beekeeping development
based programmes in Gilgil and Kamara. This came despite the enforced programme that has
suspension of activities in Kamara early in the supported more than 5,000
year, as post election violence caused more than rural Kenyans across the Rift
120 deaths, destruction of over 3,800 houses Valley and Pokot regions to
and the displacement of over 24,000 people from develop beekeeping and
their homes. honey production activities
Dozens attended beekeeping artisan skills
As a result of the violence both Self Help over the past five years was
training courses at Baraka College, where they
Africa and its local partners at Baraka Agricultural also carried out. learned how to make their own hives.
College (BAC) teamed up with the Kenyan Red Agricultural production
Cross and other agencies to provide short-term was enhanced by seed
emergency support to local communities and later multiplication and the distribution of alternate seed varieties, as well as
supported conflict resolution measures affecting by the promotion of improved quality maize. Support was given for the
communities. distribution of sweet potato and beans as a drought-tolerant crop.
As 2008 progressed major progress was made Drip irrigation and a range of activities to support farmers associations
with efforts to improve food and livelihood were undertaken and assistance through revolving fund loans was provided
A seed multiplication programme security activities in Kamara and Gilgil; measures

“Construction of a new primary

helped local crop diversification in
Kenya. More than 120 supporters
sponsored seed packs in 2008.
to strengthen local farm production and capacity
were undertaken at Nakuru, Bomet, Kericho,
school at Thome was started.“
Koibatek and Baringo and beekeeping enterprises

10 Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008

sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 10 02/07/2009 18:32:02

 INVESTMENT: €611,378 / £486,870 • PERCENTAGE OF PROGRAMME SPEND: 10.6%

David Karanja of the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute presents packets of
drought tolerant beans to a seed multiplier group in Gilgil.
to farmer ‘common interest groups’ (CIGs) to build poultry and livestock
housing and to strengthen links with Government Ministry services.
Crop failures caused by drought and low prices paid for produce
www.selfhelpafrica.net
Self Help Africa established a number of valuable funding partnerships
during the year - with the Australian High Commission supporting a drip
irrigation initiative and Family Health International (FHI) supporting a
programme to help individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS. Partnerships
were also established with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP);
the Republic of Finland on the localisation of the Millennium Development
Goals and with Community Development Trust Fund (CDTF) on a programme
of advocacy and environmental rehabilitation in Gilgil and Elementaita. Self
Help Africa established a funding partnership with Irish NGO Gorta that
provided valuable backing for elements of the organisation’s area based
programme at Gilgil.
SHA also successfully networked with a range of Kenyan government
institutions, including the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) on
the promotion of drought tolerant crops; the Kenya Rain Water Association;
Kenya Land Alliance (KLA) and the Horticultural
Development Crops Authority (HCDA).
Market oriented production of passion fruit,
avocado and sunflower was undertaken, with SOMALIA

affected many producers however. markets sourced for the sale of farmers KENYA
Kamara•
Farmers in Gilgil were also assisted with the production produce to local outlets in the •Gilgil
of sunflowers and onions as cash crops. Other activities Gilgil area. NAIROBI

were carried out to improve the management of local natural

Links were forged to allow four
resources, including the development of water points at TANZANIA
farmers associations in Gilgil to sell
Kiambogo and Reracua, while construction of a new primary school their sunflower crop to a local food
at Thome was started. oil producer.

Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008 11

sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 11 02/07/2009 18:32:09

 MALAWI
S
elf Help Africa’s Malawi Programme is known as FAIR and is
run in collaboration between ourselves, the Development
Fund, a Norwegian organisation and the UK-based agency Find
Your Feet.
The FAIR rural livelihoods programmes continued to work with more
than a dozen local partners in the north and central regions. The FAIR
programmes included a range of community based rural development
initiatives to support more than 17,000
households (approx. 85,000 people) to improve
their livelihoods.
In 2008 its activities included an extensive
food security programme for nearly 9,000
households at Rumphi that receives backing from
the European Union and an initiative to train
several thousand ‘lead farmers’ as trainers in
communities in Nkhata Bay, Mzimba and Rumphi
districts.
The participatory community approach in
Rumphi was applied to support three local
partners - LOMADEF, CICOD and TAPP to re-
engage with communities in other areas of
the north on new programmes. CICOD and
TAPP were also supported to collaborate on a
Support was provided to members
of 16 micro-finance groups. programme to maximise the impact of their work
by using shared learning and expertise.
12 Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008
sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 12
During a three year period (2008-
2011) FAIR will seek to improve rural
livelihoods and food security for
upwards of 30,000 households in
nine districts, with specific emphasis
on strengthening the capacity of local
partners to undertake future activities.
The programme is also engaged in
successful partnerships with local
Examining a cassava plantation
NGOs who are working
in Malawi.
in areas of biodiversity
development and conservation, in wetlands management, in
HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness and in advocacy.
Local partners undertook a broad range of activities
in 2008 including: sinking wells and developing water
sources for drinking and irrigation; promoting and
developing composting and manure production,
beekeeping, tree nurseries, alternative vegetable crops
and fruit tree promotion, as well as activities to support
“The FAIR programme
works with more than
a dozen local partner
“
NGOs.
2,200 households began soya production in 2008
02/07/2009 18:32:14
 INVESTMENT: €669,936 / £533,504 • PERCENTAGE OF PROGRAMME SPEND: 11.6%
A farmers co-operative in Malawi.
and develop livestock production. Small-scale micro-finance programmes
and seed multiplication co-operatives were supported, and assistance was
provided with the roll out to communities of voluntary counselling and
testing services (VCT).
Self Help Africa’s two food security and integrated rural development
programmes, at Masumbankhunda and Kalembo in the south of the
country, are seeking to improve the lives of 17,600 households (approx.
120,000 people) in the geographic areas of Lilongwe and Kalembo Districts
respectively, over a five year period to the end of 2011.
During 2008 the programmes supported the formation of 74 seed
sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 13
www.selfhelpafrica.net
committees to multiply and distribute improved quality seed and alternate
seed stock to rural farmers in their areas. Training in crop management was
provided to over 670 farmers, while 2,200 households received seed and
training to begin soya, cassava, groundnut and sweet potato production.
Farmers associations, clubs and co-operatives were formed into
associations, clubs and co-operatives; members of 22 groups received
training in irrigated horticultural production; 21 livestock groups were
supported with goat and pig rearing activities, and the members of 16
primary micro-finance savings and credit co-operatives were linked to the
leading finance lending institution FINCOOP.
Construction work on new school blocks at Kaweche Primary School in
Masumbankhunda and at Mbayi Primary in Kalembo was completed, while
additional school improvement work at a further two schools was started
during 2008.
18 new shallow wells were sunk and Malda pumps
TANZANIA
installed; 174 community representatives from 17 villages
•Karongo
received training in water management and hygiene and
MALAWI
a programme to promote agro-forestry and fruit tree
•Rumphi
production was started.
Simlemba •
More than 4,400 people attended HIV/AIDS awareness
•Masumbankhunda
LILONGWE
raising activities and training, while nearly 1,300 signed up
Kalembo•
for voluntary counselling and testing for HIV/AIDS.
In 2008 Self Help Africa finalised its earlier area-based
development programmes at Nsondole in Zomba District
MOZAMBIQUE
and at Kaphuka in Dedza.
Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008 13
02/07/2009 18:32:19
 UGANDA
S
elf Help Africa commenced one new area based programme
in Uganda in 2008, bringing to four the number of area based
programmes being implemented in the country.
The newest programme was started at Kumi-Bukedea in the second half
of the year following baseline needs assessment work and the recruitment
of local staff. The programme is located in north-eastern Uganda, in an area
with a total population of more than 450,000 people living in and near over
440 villages. More than 75% of households
live below the poverty line.
Preliminary work in Kumi-Bukedea
included the identification of suitable sites
for cassava multiplication, hosting of a series
of meetings with district planners, sub-
county leaders and others who will support
the organisation’s development activities
over the coming five years. By year end
a total of 317 seed multiplication sites for
cassava production had been established.
The new programme was started
as preparations got underway for the
completion of its two longest established
Ugandan development programmes – at
Groundnuts, upland rice and cassava Amuria and Kamuli respectively.
were amongst the alternate crops being Activities in Kamuli were concentrated
promoted.
primarily on managing the exit process,
317 sites for cassava multipication were established.
14 Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008
sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 14
with particular focus placed on strengthening the organisational capacity
of farmers associations and co-operatives and on measures to add value to
post-harvest farm produce.
A number of seed store management committees were also established
across Kamuli, while training programmes were organised for farmers
associations and assistance provided with the registration of these
organisations.
In Amuria the focus was also on strengthening existing local structures,
although significant work was also carried out with farmers groups and
associations to improve productivity which had been seriously disrupted by
severe flooding in late 2007.
Extensive seed distribution was carried out in Amuria through purchase
and revolving fund, with more than 2,250 households participating in
groundnut production, 600 households in cassava production
and a further 210 farmers being supported as part of
an improved breed goat programme. To add value
and save labour with crop production activities two
“2,250 households
in Amuria took
part in groundnut
“
production
02/07/2009 18:32:26
 INVESTMENT: €933,065 / £743,047 • PERCENTAGE OF PROGRAMME SPEND: 16.1%

Farm families use small micro-finance loans to buy livestock.
ground nut shellers and two cassava chippers were procured and distributed
to farmer groups.
Two new maternity units were constructed in Amuria at Morungatuny
and Kuju sub-counties respectively, while 17 individual tree nursery farmers
www.selfhelpafrica.net
considerably, to provide coverage to approximately 80% of the district
during the year.
An extensive programme of community sensitisation meetings were also
held, promotion of alternate crops carried out and distribution of planting
materials undertaken.
Nearly 3,000 farm families were supported with crop inputs for beans,
rice, maize and cassava. A new programme to pilot banana production
amongst farmers was started, with 40 households receiving 8,000 plants to
begin production and multiplication.
Local farmers associations and co-operatives received organisational
support and 11 micro-finance savings and credit co-operatives (SACCOs)
were created. Assistance was also provided to ensure that farmers groups
can form linkages to add value to crop production and source markets for
their surplus produce.
In Kayunga five farmer-owned tree nurseries
SUDAN
were established, a sanitation programme
distributed 600 pit latrine slabs and a further 700
DRC
pits were dug. •Amuria
UGANDA
10 secondary schools were reached with
Kayunga• •Kamuli
HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention messages, KAMPALA

five voluntary counselling and testing outreach KENYA

received training. Mother gardens were established for the production of Lake
Victoria
both citrus and mango in each of six sub-counties and a programme to initiatives for HIV/AIDS were supported,18 adult
support cassava seed multiplication was initiated. literacy classes supported and 30 instructors RWANDA

The country’s fourth area based programme at Kayunga entered its trained to support further adult literacy work in TANZANIA
second year in 2008 and Self Help Africa grew its programme reach the area.

Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008 15

sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 15 02/07/2009 18:32:33

 WEST AFRICA

S
elf Help Africa extended its activities in West Africa to Burkina the Togo programme
Faso, the second poorest country in the world, in 2008. A series last year.
of new pilot programmes were started in the country with new The organisation
local partners. began working
This expansion followed the establishment of a regional office in in West Africa (as
Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso to oversee all of the activities Harvest Help) in
being supported by Self Help Africa in West Africa – in Togo, Ghana and 2005, when it took
latterly Burkina Faso. charge of a number
Across the three countries Self Help of development
Africa is collaborating with six local programmes that
development partners, the largest had been started by
of which is TRAX Togo, which is the former UK based
implementing work in the far north of organisation TRAX in
that country. the late 1980s.
The Togo programme is providing The activities
support to more than 2,500 households are in remote rural
(approx. 22,000 people), assisting communities across a
communities to increase food production geographical region
and household income, rehabilitate that includes expansive Sampana Kourouk, with her daughter Sanbon,
has seen her family income increase as a result of
the natural environment, improve local areas of savannah and
practical support they have received.
access to clean water, address the semi-arid zones where
challenges presented by HIV/AIDS and

Traditional basketry is a valuable way to

strengthen local development capacity.
€120,000 (£108,000) provided by “The Togo programme is providing
supplement family income.
the UK Big Lottery Fund was invested in support to over 2,500 households.“

16 Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008

sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 16 02/07/2009 18:32:38

 INVESTMENT: €175,469 / £139,735 • PERCENTAGE OF PROGRAMME SPEND: 3%

www.selfhelpafrica.net
soil fertility is poor and climatic conditions difficult for food production.
The new programmes in Burkina Faso include four year-long pilot
programmes carried out by local partners PER, Wend Yam, ORGANIC
and ASCDIS. This work is taking place in the provinces of Zondoma,
Bam, Oubritenga and Bazaga and focuses on soil fertility management
methods; improved seed multiplication and dissemination; livestock health
management and improved feeding; bee keeping and awareness of
HIV/AIDS.
In 2008, Self Help Africa supported a six-month Sustainable Livelihoods
and Community Empowerment programme that involved close to 1,000
poor farmers in the Northern and Upper East Regions of Ghana. The
work was carried out by a local partner, TRAX Ghana, and included soil
fertility management, crop diversification, livestock husbandry and health
Timbil Babong in his onion store in Bolgatanga, Ghana.
management, together with awareness on sustainable environment
management.
A total of nearly 7,000 people benefited from this programme,
MALI NIGER
which also provided training to 20 Community Trainers in the Millet is a valued crop for small Bam•
scale farmers in West Africa. •Oubritenga
area. BURKINA
FASO •Bazega/Zondoma
The West African region where Self Help Africa works is OUAGADOUGOU
Bolgatanga• •Dapaong
one of the poorest parts of the world. During the past decade
poverty has worsened, with IFAD estimating that nearly BENIN NIGERIA

TOGO
IVORY GHANA
50% of the total population live on less than one US COAST
dollar per day.
ACCRA LOME

Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008 17

sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 17 02/07/2009 18:32:45

 ZAMBIA
I
n Zambia, 2008 was a year of transition for Self Help Africa with
six programmes ending and four new programmes starting up.
The Striking a Balance programme has enabled 500 households across
three sites in Mpika to successfully ensure that local wetlands do not dry out.
Activities were completed at Mpika, Chibombo and Chipapa – where
crop diversification and other activities saw productivity and incomes increase
significantly.
PROP (Programme for the
Reduction of Poverty) in Eastern
Province, recorded notable
improvements in micro-finance,
with savings and credit groups
being formed and ‘village
banks’, with offices in Lundazi
and Chipapa being created. Full
repayment has been seen within
the groups circulating their own
savings and there is over 90%
repayment on loans made using
‘external’ capital.
EU funding was received
to support the development
of rural enterprise in the areas
around Kaoma, Senanga,
A goat house at a homestead in Zambia.
Solwezi and Kasempa. The
18 Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008
sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 18
two MORE (Market Orientated Rural
Enterprise) programmes in North Western
and Western Province respectively
provided business skills training and
funding for small capital investments to
improve the quality of produce sold and
build lasting links for farmers to market
and sell their produce. A pilot initiative
was also forged with Eastern Province
Farmers Cooperative in their efforts to
develop a market brokerage service
for primary cooperative groups around
Chipata.
Maize harvesting in Zambia.
In Chibombo District the work of
OPAD (Organisation for the Promotion of
Meaningful Development through Active Participation) has been extended
to another ward – Liteta, where the UK Big Lottery Fund and Development
Fund of Norway are both supporting a four-year programme to assist 2,000
“EU funding was received to support
the development of rural enterprise
in the areas around Kaoma, Senanga,
“
Solwezi and Kasempa.
02/07/2009 18:32:52
 INVESTMENT : €1,001,028 / £849,322 • PERCENTAGE OF PROGRAMME SPEND: 17.3%

www.selfhelpafrica.net
of Agriculture and Cooperatives has been strengthened through our work on
two rural enterprise programmes in the West and Northwest Provinces.
Collaboration with the Seed Control and Certification Institute (SCCI)
under the DFID funded Rights to Seed Programme is influencing thinking
about the role of small-scale seed producers in Zambia and work is under
way to prepare a scaling up of this work. The European Commission
continues to be our major funder in Zambia.
At the end of 2008 a new partnership was forged with Development
Fund of Norway for a new joint programme in Zambia.

Poultry rearing allows families to diversify their income.

Close to 200 supporters sponsored poultry gift certificates
at Christmas and directly supported African families with
Maize is an important staple crop for small-scale farmers in Zambia. poultry rearing.

households. Emphasis in 2008 was on developing community leadership to DRC TANZANIA

support agriculture development and address HIV/AIDS.

Self Help Africa in partnership with the Development Fund, FOSUP, Lundazi•
ANGOLA
PELUM and WWF-Zambia continued to explore how the voice of small Solwezi• Chipata•
Kasempa• MALAWI
holder farmers on issues of natural resource management, agriculture ZAMBIA
•Chibombo
and the environment can be strengthened. •Senanga
LUSAKA
Our partnerships in Zambia with OPAD, Keepers Zambia •Kaoma
Foundation, Mthila Kubili, Micro Bankers Trust, FOSUP,
PELUM and WWF-Zambia have continued to develop. Our ZIMBABWE MOZAMBIQUE
BOTSWANA
partnership with government, particularly with the Ministry

Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008 19

sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 19 02/07/2009 18:32:59

 ADVOCACY

LEARNING, ADVOCACY AND DISSEMINATION

S
elf Help Africa is committed to organisational learning,
bringing together the experiences gathered over 25 years to
continually improve the quality of our programmes. Self Help
Africa will use its knowledge and evidence gathered to advocate for
community-led sustainable rural development as the most effective
approach to combatting poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa.

We are seeking to achieve this objective by:

Orientating our programmes to researching and learning the most
effective practices, policies and processes that address the needs of
smallholder farmers and rural communities. This evidence based learning will
be channeled by Self Help Africa into future programme improvements, and
into wider rural development networks.
Adopting a systematic approach to capturing and recording lessons
learned through monitoring and evaluation and disseminating this
knowledge in a manner that can influence the wider
development debate.
Advocating to influence opinion in the
countries where we work, within the NGO sector,
and in the Western world.
Being a pro-active voice at national
and international assemblies where
development issues are being discussed
and policies formulated.
Self Help Africa advocates for community led development.
Utilising our Development Education network to work with secondary
schools to advocate for sustainable solutions to the challenges faced by
Africa’s rural poor, and thus influence future strategies on how poverty
eradication can be achieved.
In this way Self Help Africa will promote sustainable small-
holder agriculture as an effective response to eradicating
hunger and improving economic prospects for
Africa’s rural poor. Our influence will reach beyond
the programme areas in which we are actively
engaged ensuring that as an organisation we
have the greatest impact possible.

20 Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008

sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 20 02/07/2009 18:33:05

 DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION

M
ore than 120 Irish second-level schools participated in workshops co-
ordinated by Self Help Africa’s development education team during 2008.
Aid, trade, social justice, poverty and the Millennium Development Goals
were amongst the topics debated and discussed, as more than 3,500 students engaged
in awareness raising activities. 2008 was the 10th year that the organisation has been involved in bringing development education into
classrooms in Ireland and in that time more than 200 schools have been involved with the programme. In the UK Self Help Africa’s network of
volunteer ambassadors gave talks and encouraged fund-raising activities in post primary schools.

Amongst the notable highlights of 2008 were:
Kilkenny student Tara McGrath won the Irish Aid sponsored Science
for Development Award at the BT Young Scientists Exhibition. A TV
documentary of her subsequent visit to Ethiopia to field test her winning
invention was screened on RTE television. Tara is now at University College
Cork studying Development.
Self Help Africa (SHA) partnered with NGOs Concern and 80:20 on a
programme that took a group of students to Brussels to lobby MEPs and the
UN on the Millennium Goals.
SHA partnered with South Dublin County Council on a resource book on
Ethiopia for primary schools.
32 schools participated in a Transition Year course,
to produce a booklet to support teachers to deliver
development education in their classrooms.
Annual Easter schools trip took students and
teachers from nine post-primary schools from Ireland
and Brussels to Ethiopia.
SHA is collaborating with the Department of
Education Support Service on a new image resource on Africa.
Development Programme co-ordinator Patsy Toland is appointed to chair
the Irish Development Education Association (IDEA) and to the Ministerial
advisory panel on Development Education.
SHA and the Diseases of Poverty Consortium at NUI Maynooth delivered
two Develpment Education awareness days to 160 teacher training students
at NUIM.
SHA continues its support in the UK for development education initiatives
through its partnership with the Shropshire-based ‘Bridges’ programme.
SHA UK ambassadors gave talks in schools, which generated more than
€15,000 in funding support.
UK schools organised fund-raising activities including fetes, discos, and a
‘The Apprentice’ style business development initiative.
‘Twenty Fifteen’ is the first in a series of books to be published by our Dev Ed
unit in collaboration with our schools network. A compendium of new writing by
students and invited contributors on the MDG to eradicate hunger and poverty,
it includes submissions by Seamus Heaney, Anne Enright, Sebastian Barry and
others. ‘Twenty Fifteen’ is available for sale through Self Help Africa’s web-site.

Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008 21

sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 21 02/07/2009 18:33:10

 PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
R
ural Africans face huge problems in their efforts to feed their families.
A hot dry climate, low levels of soil fertility, small farm sizes, limited
access to quality seed, the unpredictability of rains on which so much
agriculture is dependent – all combine to make growing food more difficult.
A deteriorating natural environment caused by population growth and
consequent pressure on marginal lands, by poor farming practices and by
other factors including climate change presents yet another barrier to the
efforts of Africans to improve their lives and incomes.
The sustainable use of land and careful management of the
environment is central to the work that Self Help Africa and its
partners are doing in each of our programme countries.
This work takes many forms – from community-led
environmental rehabilitation initiatives and water table
management and water conservation activities, to the
promotion of sustainable farming practices such as crop
rotation, complementary cropping, compost production
and other measures to improve soil fertility.
Extensive tree planting programmes to conserve
the environment and measures such as the promotion
of fuel efficient cooking stoves are also part of our
natural resource management activities, which also
seek to redress the rapid decline in woodlands
caused by land clearance for farming and by the
daily demand of households for fuel wood and
charcoal to cook their meals.
22 Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008
sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 22
This work is being done to ensure that marginal lands in semi-arid
regions can continue to support rural communities.
It is possible thanks to vital backing that we receive from our supporters
each year.
Examples of this support include:
The restaurant owner who is contributing a small percentage from
each meal sold to plant trees on eroded hillsides in Gogne, Eritrea.
The hundreds of supporters who have sponsored fuel efficient
cooking stoves through our on-line shop.
The printing company that funded more than 7,000 fruit,
fodder and other mixed tree seedlings to be planted on community
scrubland in Ethiopia, last year.
And the individuals and families who bought alternative Christmas
Gifts from Self Help Africa last year and enabled more than 200
households to establish small homestead woodlots to provide fuel,
building materials, shade and shelter on their farms.
Fuel efficient stoves save labour
and use a fraction of the wood fuel of
open fires.
02/07/2009 18:33:13
 ACCOUNTS

www.selfhelpafrica.net
Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008 23

Self Help Africa Annual Report 09

sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 23 02/07/2009 18:33:16

REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2008
The spotlight cast on food prices and food production was encouraging to
us as it focussed attention on the issue, and on the key role that agriculture
has to play as the driver of economic advancement for millions of African
people. Self Help Africa has been greatly heartened by the contributions
to this debate by the United Nations, the UK Food Group and by Ireland’s
Hunger Task Force to this ongoing dialogue.
Economic Climate
The deteriorating world-wide economic climate of the past six months is just
the latest challenge that confronts us.
Although exchequer spending must be cut to balance national budgets, we
believe that it is more important than ever that these cuts do not hit the
poorest and the most vulnerable.
The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set a series of
ambitious and honourable targets for the international community when
they were first published by world leaders at the start of the 21st century.
In these difficult economic times it is important that we recognise that the
need to assist impoverished nations and improve the social and economic
conditions of the world’s poorest countries are as pressing today as they
were when first drafted.
Support
Self Help Africa is grateful for the continuing institutional support that we
receive from the Irish Government’s multi-annual programme budget –
MAPS, from the UK Department for International Development, from the
sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 25
www.selfhelpafrica.net
European Union, from the many other trusts and foundations, corporate
benefactors and members of the public who support our work and our
vision.
Some board changes took place in 2008. I wish to welcome those who
joined and sincerely thank those who no longer serve for their longstanding
contributions. I would also like to thank our staff and volunteers in Ireland,
UK and Africa who have worked diligently to develop and consolidate the
work of Self Help Africa.
I wish to acknowledge everyone who made a contribution; the board of
directors who have given freely and voluntarily of their time; donors big and
small who have not already been mentioned; our team of ambassadors,
volunteers and collectors who work so hard at church gates and with other
activities; the supporters who annually travel to Africa to review our work
having raised substantial funds; the Irish Farmers Association for continuing
to nominate Self Help Africa as their charity of choice; those professional
people who give their time and expertise to support the organisation, and
the many others who lend their support and assistance to our work.
We are committed to our vision for an Africa that is free from poverty and
hunger and look forward to your continuing support as we strive to improve
the lives of some of Africa’s poorest communities in the years to come.
Tom Corcoran,
Chairman, Self Help Africa.
Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008 25
02/07/2009 18:33:24
 FINANCIAL INFORMATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER, 2008

Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Total Funds Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Total Funds
Funds Funds 2008 2007 Funds Funds 2008 2007
Incoming resources     £ £ £ £
Income resources from charitable activities
- Grant income 218,073 5,222,679 5,440,752 5,582,631 173,662 4,159,080 4,332,742 3,822,762
Income resources from generated funds
- Voluntary income 1,834,099 1,298,634 3,132,733 2,667,419 1,460,585 1,034,167 2,494,752 1,826,542
Other Incoming Resources
- Interest & investment income 54,971 -- 54,971 21,629 43,776 -- 43,776 14,811
Total incoming resources: 2,107,143 6,521,313 8,628,456 8,271,679 1,678,023 5,193,247 6,871,270 5,664,115

Resources expended
Charitable activities (982,820) (6,642,490) (7,625,310) (6,992,985) (782,669) (5,289,747) (6,072,416) (4,788,516)
Costs of generating voluntary income (714,865) -- (714,865) (811,871) (569,283) -- (569,283) (555,937)
Governance costs (74,012) -- (74,012) (78,810) (58,939) -- (58,939) (53,966)
Total resources expended (1,771,697) (6,642,490) (8,414,187) (7,883,666) (1,410,891) (5,289,747) (6,700,638) (5,398,419)

Losses on revaluations of investment assets (8,165) -- (8,165) (1,005) (6,502) -- (6,502) (688)
Transfers between funds (51,531) 51,531 -- -- (41,037) 41,037 -- --
Merger transaction costs (37,273) (37,273) (29,682) -- (29,682) --
Net incoming/(outgoing) resources 238,477 (69,646) 168,831 387,008 189,911 (55,463) 134,448 265,008

Funds at beginning of year 575,117 1,270,551 1,845,668 1,461,587 393,817 870,023 1,263,840 1,000,836
Exchange loss on consolidation (88,483) (82,089) (170,572) (2,927) (70,463) (65,372) (135,835) (2,004)

Funds at end of year 725,111 1,118,816 1,843,927 1,845,668 513,265 749,188 1,262,453 1,263,840

26 Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008

sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 26 02/07/2009 18:33:24

 www.selfhelpafrica.net
GRANTS FROM GOVERNMENTS AND OTHER CO-FUNDERS

2008 () 2007 () 2008 (£) 2007 (£) INCOME RESOURCES
Irish Aid 3,500,000 3,004,000 2,787,225 2,057,019
European Union 654,541 628,672 521,244 430,489 General Donations Irish Aid
IAWS / One51 Charitable Trust 286,472 658,640 228,132 451,010 3,132,733 3,500,000
£2,494,752 £2,787,225
ICCO 200,000 200,000 159,270 136,952
Big Lottery Fund (UK) 141,450 288,236 112,644 197,372
Irish League of Credit Unions Foundation (ILCUF) 125,000 103,612 99,544 70,949
Department for International Development (UK) 122,096 129,650 97,231 88,779
Development Fund (Norway) 120,498 46,529 95,959 31,861
Wetland Action 113,276 44,821 90,207 30,692
Gorta 64,700 - 51,524 -
Family Health International Kenya 46,264 - 36,842 -
FAO Uganda 34,671 - 27,610 -
UNDP Kenya 25,711 - 20,475 -
AMREP - 100,000 - 68,476
AusAid - 34,000 - 23,282
Other grants 6,073 344,471 4,836 235,910

5,440,752 5,582,631 4,332,743 3,822,761

Voluntary Income Irish Aid 40%
General Donations 2,962,242 2,429,572 2,358,981 1663,674
Trusts & Other Institutional
Farmers Grow Fund 170,491 237,847 135,771 162,868 Foundations Donors
983,235 (EU,DFID,DF,FAO,UNDP)
3,132,733 2,667,419 2,494,752 1,826,542 £782,999 957,517
£762,519

A full set of our financial statements can be downloaded at: www.selfhelpafrica.net

Financial data is translated from euro to sterling at an average rate in effect in 2007 and 2008
Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008 27

sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 27 02/07/2009 18:33:28

 DIRECT CHARITABLE EXPENDITURE

2008 () 2007 () 2008 (£) 2007 (£)

ETHIOPIA 1,976,826 1,910,663 1,574,245 1,308,345

88.4% of our 2008 income was
ERITREA 421,192 489,138 335,417 334,943
spent on charitable activities.
KENYA 611,378 588,246 533,504 596,559

MALAWI 669,936 871,195 486,870 402,808

UGANDA 933,065 572,760 743,047 392,203

WEST AFRICA 175,469 136,940 139,735 93,770

ZAMBIA 1,001,028 961,229 797,168 658,211

TOTAL 5,788,894 5,530,171 4,609,986 3,786,839

EXPENDITURE ON PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES BY COUNTRY

West Africa
3.0%

Zambia Ethiopia
17.3% 34.1%

Uganda Eritrea
16.1% 7.3%

Malawi Kenya
11.6% 10.6%

28 Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008

sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 28 02/07/2009 18:33:37

 FUTURE PLANS
S
elf Help Africa is supporting a wide ranging programme of multi-annual rural development activities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
We have ambitious future plans too and with donor support will invest in a comprehensive range of new development initiatives in
the year ahead. These include:
ETHIOPIA
Completion of area programmes at Bora, Alemaya and Huruta and
measures to ensure future sustainability of programme gains.
Strengthening of agricultural co-operative programmes, with a focus
on business planning, produce storage and marketing.
Strengthening structures of savings and credit (SACCO) programme.
ERITREA
A new pilot programme to provide safe water and irrigation systems in
the remote southern lowland region of Kimira.
A new food and livelihood programme in Elabered region, with focus
on the introduction of short season, high yield crops.
KENYA
Commencement of new Rongai development programme.
Promotion of drought tolerant bean multiplication systems.
Strengthening partnerships with groups including Community
Development Trust Fund, Family Health International and others on
different development initiatives.
MALAWI
Scaling up activities in Karonga and Chitipa Districts, with a focus on
food security and nutrition for HIV/AIDS affected families.
A new programme to improve crop diversity and food production in
areas adjacent to the Simlemba programme.
sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 29
www.selfhelpafrica.net
Strengthening of local farmers co-operatives, to ensure the
sustainability of agricultural gains.
UGANDA
A new programme at Kumi-Bukedea with emphasis on food security,
natural resources and access to clean water.
Cassava bulking initiative in Amuria.
Building farmer association capacity at Amuria and Kamuli.
Planning for potential new programme in Mayuge district.
WEST AFRICA
New pilot programmes to support farming and water development.
Strengthening existing programmes and development of new
partnerships and pilot farming, irrigation and water programmes.
Specific activities will promote market gardening for women,
beekeeping, improved seed multiplication and distribution and dry
environment farming.
ZAMBIA
Self Help Africa’s new joint-programme with the Development Fund of
Norway will strengthen links with local NGOs.
Focus on strengthening business skills in the community and
investment in ‘micro-programmes’ to allow farmers to improve the
quality and quantity of produce.
Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008 29
02/07/2009 18:33:38
 HOW YOUR SUPPORT HAS HELPED

WHERE A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY sometimes 20 homes each day’, he said.

W
amala Samuel is a community development agent and health ‘In my role I give advice, help to monitor crops and can detect at an early

educator working with Self Help Africa in Bunyumya village in stage if there are problems. I am also mobilising farmers to carry out a

Kayunga, Uganda. variety of other farming activities and am involved in local efforts to promote

In late 2008 he received a bicycle to assist him in his outreach work with better sanitation and in initiatives to support people with HIV/AIDS and their

villagers and householders across the expansive Nsotoka parish. ‘I was given families’.

the bike to improve my efficiency and it has worked. In the past I could
In 2008 Self Help Africa supporters bought 100s of bicycles in our
reach just 6 or 8 households a day on foot, but now I am able to visit 15 and
Christmas Gift Campaign and from our on-line shop. Farm advisors,
health workers, midwives and HIV/AIDS counsellors are using these bikes
every day in their work.

A Community Worker

“ In the past
I could reach
with her new bike.

just 6 or 8
households a
day on foot,
but now I am
able to visit 15
and sometimes
Wamala Samuel can now cover three times the distance on his new bicycle. 20 homes. “
30 Self Help Africa Annual Report 2008

sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 30 02/07/2009 18:33:46

 NAME:
ADDRESS:

EMAIL ADDRESS:
NEW PARTNERSHIP
TEL. NO.
CHANGING LIVES,
ONE PERSON, DONATE BY CHEQUE
ONE DAY AT A TIME
I enclose a cheque to the sum of /£ made payable to Self Help Africa
Self Help Africa has just embarked on an exciting new partnership
with Global Ethics, producers of the One Water and One Vitamin DONATE BY CREDIT CARD (CARD TYPE & NUMBER)

Water brands. 100% of profits generated from the sales of these Access Visa Mastercard Maestro Solo Switch

products is invested in projects in developing countries. Self Help

Africa is delighted to be chosen as the brand’s new charity partner,
and will invest all funds received from the sale of One Vitamin Water
products in the development of irrigated horticulture and backyard Valid From Expires End
gardens in our African programmes. Security Code Issue Number
(Last 3 Numbers on back of card) (Maestro/Cirrus Cards)

Please Deduct & Pay to Self Help Africa the sum of /£

Signature Date

Please tick here if you are a UK taxpayer and wish Self Help Africa to claim
the tax on all donations you have made for the 6 years prior
to this year and all future donations, until I notify otherwise.

You can send your donation and completed form to either

Self Help Africa - Ireland Self Help Africa - UK
Freepost, Freepost RRXU-AZUB-EBEE,
✁

Dublin Road, Westgate House, Hills Lane,

Portlaoise, Co. Laois, Shrewsbury SY1 1QU
Ireland UK

sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 31 02/07/2009 18:33:53


Self Help Africa - Ireland
Freepost,
Dublin Road, Portlaoise,
Co. Laois, IRELAND
Tel +353 (0) 578 694034
Self Help Africa - Ethiopia
PO. Box 1204, Bole Road,
Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA
Tel. 00 251 115 522313
Fax. 00 251 115 517599
Self Help Africa - Eritrea
PO. Box 9313, Asmara, ERITREA
Tel. 00 291 118 8382
Fax. 00 291 118 8374
Self Help Africa - Kenya
PO.BOX 2248 Code 20100,
Nakuru, KENYA
Tel. 00 254 O51 2212291
Fax. 00 254 051 2212304
Self Help Africa/FAIR - Malawi Tel. 00 260 211 265384
PO. Box B-495 Lilongwe, MALAWI Fax. 00 260 211 265392
Tel. 00 265 1750568
Fax. 00 265 1750910
sha-annual_125_final_awV3.indd 32
www.selfhelpafrica.net
Self Help Africa - UK
Freepost RRXU-AZUB-EBEE
Westgate House, Hills Lane,
Shrewsbury SY1 1QU, UK
Tel + 44 (0) 1743 277170
Self Help Africa - Uganda
Plot 14 B, Off Naguru 2 Road
PO. Box 32249, Kampala,
UGANDA
Tel. 00 256 414 286305
Fax. 00 256 414 286305
Self Help Africa - West Africa
12 PO. Box 315, Ougadougou 12,
BURKINA FASO
Tel. 00 226 50 36 89 60
Fax. 00 226 50 36 89 61
Self Help Africa - Zambia
181 Bishops Road, Kabulonga,
PO. Box 37484, Lusaka,
ZAMBIA
02/07/2009 18:34:07