Annual Report

2012 - 2013

Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

Leadership Brand
We want to be known for being innovatively inspiring, competently driven and assertively
results oriented so that we can deliver the best technologically-centered programme,
with the greatest impacts on the lives of poor people in Eastern Africa

Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

iii

Contents
Foreword ..................................................................................................................... 1
Our Vision .................................................................................................................... 3
Our Mission .................................................................................................................. 3
Our Values ................................................................................................................... 3
Our Influencing Work ................................................................................................... 5
Goal 1: Universal Access to Energy .............................................................................. 7
Goal 2: Food, Agriculture and Disaster Risk Reduction .............................................. 11
Goal 3: Urban Services: Water, Sanitation & Waste Management ............................... 15
Practical Answers ...................................................................................................... 17
Practical Action Consulting ........................................................................................ 18
Financial Performance for 2012/13 ........................................................................... 19

Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

iv

Caroline Obonyo enjoying her SCORE stove in an image that was acknowledged as a winning photo by Practical
Action in an inter-country competition for image of Technology Justice in Action (Photo by Vincent Okello)

Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

result of the Brand in action!

Produced a high quality strategic plan to drive the regional dream for 5 years
We are a pace-setter on energy matters in the-country and are at the forefront
on SE4ALL engagements in Eastern Africa
In Turkana, we are the organization of choice and subject matter experts on
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
Brought on board two new strategic partners and donors (FAO & USAID - OFDA)

Photo credits:
George Kamau/Practical Action 2012
Francis Muchiri/Practical Action2012
Report compiled and edited by: Aileen Ogolla

Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

vi

Foreword
This annual report covers the period 2012/13. It marks the first year of implementation of the new Strategic Plan
(2012-17). During the first quarter, we focused on ensuring that the management systems and staff were well
positioned to ensure clarity and capacity to deliver on the expectations.
Development of the regional strategic Plan was very consultative. We involved our staff and partners in the process.
This provided great learning for those who had never been involved in strategic planning. The regional office
invested heavily in staff training and development. Several group and individual trainings were held and a number
of staff were given opportunities to go for exchange visits in to other country offices and allowed time-off to
attend local and international trainings and workshops. The year marked significant improvement in performance
management processes. There has been continuous sensitization of line Managers on performance management
processes.
There has more collaboration within and across teams. Deliberate efforts were made to integrate PAC and
Programmes. There was also a marked increase in virtual interactions. During the last quarter of the financial
year, Kenya was charged with heightened political activity. Fear of post-election violence resulted in low project
implementation and a decline in funding opportunities. The donors appeared to have adopted a-wait-and-see
attitude.
To improve on governance and accountability to stakeholders, the regional office inaugurated a Kenya Board with
the NGO Coordination Board. This is the first local Board within the Practical Action group. The Regional Office
relocated to new premises in October 2012. The well branded office is quite inspirational to staff and partners after
a stay of about 15 years in the previous location. The region looks forward to building on the gains of this reporting
period- especially on building partnerships, influencing and knowledge brokering.

Grace Alice Mukasa

Regional Director
Practical Action Eastern Africa

Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

Photo by George Kamau awarded runners up in the Technology Justice in Action competition.

Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

Our Vision
An Eastern Africa region where all people have the knowledge, skills and opportunities
to access equitable, affordable technologies and services for their well-being

Our Mission
We work with poor and marginalized people and their organizations to increase their
access to information, services and build their capacity to improve their lives.

Our Values
We believe:
Technology is a driver for change
In innovation and creativity
In the efficient, effective and durable use of natural resources
In gender equity and equality
We value poor peoples participation and empowerment to achieve lasting change.

Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

Our Influencing Work

Energy and Food, Agriculture & Disaster Risk Reduction programmes have contributed significantly to our
Influencing agenda, for example:
Using its convening position, as the leading Civil Society Organization engagement on energy, Practical Action
lobbied for Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) at national level. The energy team developed the Kenya CSO
advocacy strategy. They co-facilitated a series of workshops which resulted in the Waterbuck Declaration that
engages the Kenyan government and other stakeholders around the Energy National Implementation Plan.
Working with Members of Parliament, other CSOs and other players, the Food and Agriculture team worked
with legislators to develop pro-poor legislation for compensation of pastoralists whenever disasters wipe off their
livestock. The Bill (Statute Law Miscellaneous 2012 http://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/ken115465.pdf) was discussed
and passed in parliament. The new law took effect in January 2013. The
FADRR team also lobbied for enactment into Law ASAL policy that supports policy making processes for ASAL
development. In the reporting period, we supported the Kenya Climate Justice Women Champions to form the
Turkana Climate Change Women Forum. We supported the capacity building agenda. They were trained on water
resources management, alternative sources of cooking energy and enhanced promotion of leafy vegetables to
promote nutrition.
Our Urban Services promoted use of Innovative Delegated Management Model approach (applied by the Peoples
Plans into Practice). This approach has been adopted by various county authorities to improve access to clean
water in low income settlements in Kitale and Kisumu.

Practical Action - Rwanda Office

launching the Poor Peoples Energy
Outlook 2013 in Kigali.

Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

Universal Access to Energy

The programme promotes access to equitable modern
energy services across the Eastern Africa region where
poor women and men make informed choices to
access appropriate and affordable energy technologies
and services.

public awareness on the benefits of using briquettes

as an alternative energy source. This elicited several
enquiries, through our Practical Answers service.
Susan says:
I am sure that I speak for all the entrepreneurs featured
when I say a big Thank You to Practical Action. Following
the airing of the program on Monday, I received a number of
calls from old friends and acquaintances, some requesting
to become distributors for Chefmate my brand name for the
briquettes that I produce and sell.

Through this programme we reach the poor in urban

informal settlements and the hard to reach poor in the
region who currently rely mainly on firewood, charcoal
and paraffin for their energy needs.

And the best part: after viewing the feature and hearing
the testimony of the hatchery owner who said that he now
uses 1.5 bags of briquettes compared to 5 bags of charcoal
previously, the management of an institution that I had been
trying to sell to bought 5 x 50Kg bags of briquettes from me.
I hope this and other stories that will certainly come your way
will serve to re-affirm to you that your project does indeed
impact on the lives of people and re-energize you to continue
with the good work!

Practical Action was the only Civil Society Organization

involved in the drafting of the National Gap Analysis.
We ensured that Pro-poor energy issues and language
were incorporated in the Report. Practical Action has
been at the forefront in lobbying for incorporation of
gender and recognition of the role of civil society in
delivering energy for all.

The story of Karori

Turning Waste to Energy was implemented in

partnership with ETC Foundation. It was funded by
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland and the Austrian
Corporation through the Energy and Environment
partnership Programme with Southern and East Africa.
The Energy Enterprises Project (EEP) project sought to
increase access to affordable fuel to men and women
in un-served or underserved informal settlements and
peri-urban areas of Nakuru and Nairobi.

Karori was once a small scale farmer who was gradually edged
out of his piece of land as a result of the population expansion
in his area. By that time crop production was also declining
and he could barely support his family.
He tried many livelihood options with little success until
recently when he was introduced to Practical Action,
which has built his capacity and other SMEs to develop a
sustainable business of micro and small scale fuel briquettes
in the informal settlements of Nairobi and Nakuru.
Practical Action trained Karori and he gained skills on how
to use the different waste materials to produce quality
briquettes. He also learnt how to keep records, market
and source for business finance from the various financial
institutions. His improved briquettes burn better with reduced
smoke and increased heat. He produces briquettes of all sizes
to suit the pockets and needs of his diverse customer base.
The daily sales give him almost 100% profit.

It supported production, marketing and use of

briquettes in households and catering establishments.
The EEP project supported 96 women and 54 men
small scale entrepreneurs to produce and market
briquettes. The project undertook several activities
with the media (interactive radio programmes,
features on the process) climaxing in road shows
featuring entertainment troupes. The purpose of the
heightened communication activities was to create

Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

Goal 1

He is now saving and is confident he will be able to buy a

motorized machine in the near future. This will enhance his
production and reduce his workload.

Through the project, Practical Action trained 180

entrepreneurs who share a similar testimony to Karori.
The successes of the pilot project have interested
Micro-Enterprises Support Programme Trust (MESPT)
to work with Practical Action to deliver a similar project
in the Coastal Areas of Kenya; this time using coconut
shells which are readily available material.
Energy and Environment Partnership/Southern and
Eastern Africa also approved funding for scaling
up the project in Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu and
Nairobi. In addition, on Practical Action supported the
modification of the motorized briquetting equipment
to provide for variety in shape and size of briquettes to
meet user preferences.
The two-year pilot project aimed to test the viability of a
household cooking market for bioethanol in Kenya, from
the perspectives of user acceptance and economic viability.
Practical Action wanted to understand the bioethanol supply
chain from production to end-use, as well as its demand
in peri-urban areas of Kisumu and ultimately elsewhere in
Kenya. We have been able to generate data for a range of
stakeholders including policy makers and private sector
organisations. The information is critical for drafting policy
briefs that will guide decisions related to taxation and
promotion of the stoves and bioethanol as a viable energy
option in the country. The project was implemented by
Practical Action together with the Kenya Ministry of Energy
in two informal settlements in Kisumu, in western Kenya.
This was done with the support of UNDP it combined
independent expertise in Indoor Air Pollution (IAP), and
sustainable participatory market development.

Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

s. Grace Adhiambo Onyango is a resident of Got Owak village, Nyalenda B ward in

Kisumu. She is married and leaves in a two-roomed house with her husband and
five children aged between 4 and 18. She was one of the 100 residents of the informal
settlements to receive the clean cook stove. This is a special stove that uses bioethanol
as fuel for cooking.
Ms. Adhiambo used charcoal and firewood stoves as her main fuel for cooking meals for
her family. I use the charcoal stove most of the time for our meals of the day (lunch
and dinner) while I use the firewood stove to cook Githeri (mixture of beans and maize)
at least once a month, it needs more time to cook. She adds, I spent KES.70.00 on
charcoal and KES. 20.00 on firewood a day.
In addition to the high cost of fuel, she says that lighting the charcoal stoves takes time
and more often, she gets help from her children to fan the charcoal stove to ensure that
its well-lit.
She continued, However, with the new stove, I do it with a lot of ease. I have even
shown my children how to operate the stove and they now do it by themselves, she
said.

Previously, my family experienced unending coughs and sneezing because of inhaling

smoke. During the rainy season, it is challenging to cook outside using firewood especially when I do not have money to buy
charcoal. I am forced to do my cooking inside my small and squeezed kitchen with children around me. I know this is a great risk
to the family because it exposes them to the naked flames and smoke emission, but with the new stove, I can comfortably do my
cooking in my living room without causing any discomfort to anyone.
Within a short period, there is reduced coughing and sneezing in my household because of the clean environment. I do not see
any smoke emitted by the stove. When lighting the new stove, my kids are saved from the trouble of fanning the stove and can
now do other chores as they wait for food to be served.
I have been able to save some money that has enabled me to buy some batteries for my spotlight. The family uses the battery
powered lamp for lighting the house and this has substituted the kerosene tin lamp which is smoky and releases bad fumes. The
children also use the light for their homework in the evenings. From the family savings, I am also able to provide breakfast for my
family, which initially was not possible.
Ms Adhiambo continues, This new stove has made a big difference in my life and my family. I hope that more people in my
neighbourhood will be able access this new stove.
She said. This will greatly improve the living standards of the many people,

Practical Action worked closely with Kisumu Indoor

Air Pollution Network (KIAPNET) to design and
implement the Household energy project. There are
seven Community Based Organizations in the Network
seeking to address access to improved cook stoves
and sustainable access to fuel. Working with CSOs in
the region, Practical Action has been at the forefront
to lobby action on implementation of SE4All in Kenya,
Uganda and Tanzania. Additionally, Practical Action
ensures that gender has been mainstreamed in the
process.

sector, such as the government and UN bodies like

UNIDO and UNDP recognize Practical Actions role.
Practical Action has also continued to engage with
Financial Institutions like K-Rep to link energy
entrepreneurs to access affordable loans. The
activities of the energy team have been captured in
the development of several knowledge products and
events that were also covered by the mass media. One
of the exciting things that we did was a road show. This
was a great opportunity to create awareness about the
briquettes. The entrepreneurs had an opportunity to
market their work and share their contact details and
show the public in the selected areas the process of
briquette making and why it was a superior choice to
charcoal. Training entrepreneurs is an excellent way
of expanding our reach as several of them become
facilitators earning extra income.

Practical Action also contributed to the Improved

Cook Stoves manufacturing, standards, regulation,
distribution and use on draft regulations by the
Energy Regulatory Commission. Practical Action is
represented in the Kenya Bureau of Standards which
develops ICS standards. Key players in the energy
Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

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Food, Agriculture &

Disaster Risk Reduction
The programme develops productive and disaster
resilient systems for food production and improved
livelihood security.

Providing Namoruputh with water from the sun

Priscilla of Namoruputh Village, in Turkana, had always
experienced serious water scarcity. She covered long distances
to fetch water during the long drought spells or waited tirelessly
for days for the government funded water trucker or in the
worst case scenario, scooped water from the sand on the lugga.
In 1980, a church group installed a windmill water pumping
system at a borehole and Priscilla and her community thought
that their problems had ended. The queues at the water point
were lengthy and at times the water would not be enough
especially during the prolonged and recurrent droughts. The
water level could only be reached during the rainy season.
After a couple of years, the wind-pump stopped working and
there was no one in the community who could keep it running.
The installers had, by then, withdrawn from the project. The
community went back to their old ways sand scoops and
long treks.

Targets: Food insecure and vulnerable smallholder

farmers and producers within Eastern Africa.
Towards the end of the Financial Year, we successfully
engaged two new strategic partners Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) and OFDA/ USAID.
They provided us with funds to support our ASAL
work in Turkana (strengthening of human security in
border communities in Turkana and Pokot Counties)
and Mandera (resilience building). We also had the
Camel Milk Project and Livelihood and Donkey Welfare
(LIDOW) ending as we closed the year.
In October, we began implementation of the multisectoral OFDA/USAID funded project on resilience
building (Vulnerability to Resilience V2R) dubbed the
Mandera Resilience Project. The project will benefit an
estimated 32,224 people in the sectors of Agriculture
and Food security; Economic Recovery and Market
Systems; and Water Sanitation and Hygiene over oneyear. We hope that in the coming year we can attract
longer term funding that can support the greater
impact process-oriented project implementation.
The programme is also in discussions with OFDA
for continued funding for resilience programmes in
northern Kenya.

Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

Goal 2

In 2004, Practical Action went to Namoruputh to work

with the community in resolving the prevalent conflicts over
limited water and pasture resources available in the area. A
needs assessment with the community identified water as the
main issue to resolve the high rate of school dropout, heavy
workloads for women and conflicts in the community. With
its long experience in peace building, conflict resolution and
ability to use technology to reduce poverty in the region,
Practical Action started mapping out the options that could be
introduced and managed by the community long after it had
left the community.
Practical Action worked with the community to sink two
boreholes; connected submersible pumps that use a
solar system and set-up a number of water kiosks in the
neighborhood. They also rehabilitated existing shallow wells.
The water sources served several needs of the community.
Apart from increasing physical access to clean and safe water
for humans and animals, the process was linked to improving
sanitation and hygiene in the community, while at the same
time reducing conflict. The communities also used the water
for irrigating their kitchen gardens leading to improved
nutrition security for their children. For the majority of women
like Priscilla, water access reduced their heavy workload,
improved their own health and that of their children who could
now regularly attend school.

11

The Camel Milk Project in Mandera targeted women

traders and was implemented in partnership with the
National Drought Management Authority (formerly
Arid Lands Resource Management Project), the
Emergency Pastoralist Aid Group and the District
Livestock Marketing Council. The project targeted all
the actors in the milk value chain. This resulted in
improved handling of milk; it improved market access
and enhanced livelihoods.

The water pumps are user friendly and the communities were
empowered to develop management structures to manage the
resource. John Lakali, the Secretary of the Namoruputh Water
User Association says that their group has grown through
engaging with Practical Action over the years. He confirms
that lack of water in the locality was serious and that the
community is very pleased with Practical Actions approach.
He said, Practical Action involved the local people at every
stage, from conceptualization through to the management of
the facilities.
The problems did not end immediately but efforts that involve
the community should be lauded and encouraged because it
enhances ownership of projects.

In Turkana, we partnered with the Ministries of

Agriculture and Water to support small scale irrigation
units for pastoralist drop-outs. We trained three
womens groups in dry-land farming and microirrigation to enhance food-security. Over 90 households
have benefitted from the kitchen gardens and small
scale irrigation units through the solar powered water
supply.

Priscillas household is happy that they now have enough

water to drink and grow food. They no longer suffer from
water-borne diseases and use their money in paying school
fees and buying more food. The children are also healthier
because of improved nutrition from the vegetable garden at
their backyard. They have more wealth in their animals that no
longer die from lack of water during drought.

We continued to work closely with a wide range of

partners to ensure that we do more work, achieve
impact at scale and to enhance sustainability. Practical
Action prides itself in being a knowledge broker and
seeks to build the capacity of local organizations to
deliver better on their mandates and to ensure that
the quality of support is similar across the board. For
example, we are working with a womens National
platform for networking and advocacy on climate
justice, the Kenya Climate Justice Women Champions
(KCJWC), the Turkana Climate Change Women Forum,
Camel Milk producer groups, Water User Associations,
Community Livestock Extension Workers, amongst
others.

Practical Action has our goodwill in Namoruputh. They have

been working with us throughout the good and the bad times.
They have opened a door that has shed a light to our situation
and helped us see the solutions we have at our disposal,
Priscilla sums up.

Providing adequate water involves identifying the right

technology and use for both animals and community
members in Turkana
Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

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The project dubbed Building Capacity of Pastoralists

(BCP) funded by Cordaid, recorded results beyond the
expectations of the project. The organized community
planning teams helped in identifying, synthesizing, and
prioritizing key development issues within the Mandera
Town Council (before devolution) and as a result,
the local Authority has been more accountable on
managing public funds. As a result of the participatory
planning processes (BCP), Mandera Town Council
was ranked third in the National evaluations.
Through the various projects, the programme
introduced sanitary techniques for clean milk
production, use of solar power to provide water access
in dry lands, introduced use of GIS for disaster Risk
mapping and preparedness.
Practical Action has continued to improve access to
safe water and sanitation, food security and household
nutrition and livelihood security. During the year under
review, the projects have benefitted 326, 502 people
(156,525 women and 169,977 men). We aim to
ensure that poor urban dwellers live in healthier and
wealthier urban environments.

Before

After
Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

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Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

14

Urban Services: Water, Sanitation

& Waste Management

Goal 3

Targets: Urban poor and vulnerable groups, women and children, and unemployed urban youth.
Through the Peoples Plans into Practice Project (PPP), Practical Action increased access to safe water to about
31,000 people in turn increasing the incomes of 162 people. PPP and WASH Project component being implemented
in Kajiado improved access to sanitation to 3992 men and women, and provided access to improved solid waste
collection services to 884 persons. The Delegated Management Model has been our strongest selling point in the
year. We influenced the Nzoia Water Services Company to adopt it to supply water in Kipsongo and Kitale. The
expectation is that this pro poor tariff approach will be used in the other urban areas under their jurisdiction.
Clean water and more money in my pocket
Water was identified by the Neighborhood Planning Association
(NPA), as a priority issue in Nyalenda, a sprawling informal
settlement, less than a kilometer from Kisumu City center.
The association also identified a natural spring that they could
protect. The owner of the land is an elderly lady known as
Celina or dani (grandmother). The community had always
come to fetch water at the open spring. They would scoop the
water, using jugs and cups the process was long and tedious.
The water was contaminated (10% ecoli presence) and may
have contributed to some of the water borne diseases in the
community; it was also a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
After the spring protection intervention of Practical Action
and KUAP and Shelter Forum, Celina is a happy octogenarian.
She spends her days under a shade monitoring water usage
at the protected spring. She charges KES 50/= a month for
unlimited use and a meagre KES 1/= for a 20 liter jerrican.
On a good day during the drought season, she can make up
to KES 70/= a day. The protection was undertaken using
PPP resources (Comic Relief funded) but it provides some
compensation to the landowner who does not mind people
coming to fetch the clean water at minimal costs.
Cases of water borne diseases are on the decline in the
neighborhood; in addition, it takes a much shorter time to fill
up the containers. The community has also taken advantage of
the overflow to practice urban farming. They have channelled
the water to irrigate their farms and also created a fish pond
for commercial purposes. The spring has provided alternative
employment to the youth and improved incomes as well as
living standards among the poor community members in the
neighborhood. Many women and men alike now engage in
farm entrepreneurship and are able to respond to family needs
efficiently.
Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

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The PPP project depended on the Neighbourhood

Planning Associations (NPAs) membership
organizations that draw representation from residents
(tenants, landlords), CBOS, local administration
and religious leaders to champion the development
efforts in their respective areas. The Associations
prioritize on the interventions and play an oversight
role in monitoring project performance. It is through
these organizations that PPP project developed
comprehensive Strategic Ward Plans for the four
areas (Nyalenda A and B, Kondele, and Manyatta that
will be useful in future development initiatives in the
locations.

provide services to about 60% of the plot owners.

The Safe Water project in partnership with PATH was
designed to promote water filtering by water vendors. It
is also expected to reduce illness related to untreated
drinking water in the informal settlements.
Kipsongo ...

The Strategic Ward Plans (SWAPs) are used to lobby

for resources from government and the local NGOs.
Through the Peoples Plans into Practice Project funded
by Comic Relief and implemented in partnership
with Kisumu Urban Apostolate Programmes (KUAP)
and Shelter Forum, we managed to undertake a GIS
mapping of basic services in the informal settlements
in Kisumu and Kitale showing the distribution and
services levels to the poor. The results will be used to
inform development decisions in the two counties.

Then

One of the exciting things that happened this year is

the allocation of 3.5 acres to the squatters in Kipsongo.
Through intense lobby and advocacy work of the PPP
partners; the residents now have security of tenure
and a place they can call home. The new development
has also attracted the Swedish Cooperative Center and
the Kenya Slum Upgrading Programme (KENSUP)
under the Ministry of Housing to prioritize Kipsongo in
their slum upgrading programmes.
In Nakuru, we continued to implement the Comic
Relief funded Realising the Right to Total Sanitation
in Nakuru using the Urban Community Led Total
Sanitation approach. This is an innovative approach
traditionally applied in the rural areas. We are using
the approach to realize sanitation coverage in two
large low income settlements. We expect to reach
190,000 people with improved access to improved
services and positive hygiene practices. Community
members have been involved in the development
of the sanitation designs. A positive outcome is the
negotiated recognition of the manual pit emptiers who
Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

Now

16

Practical Answers
In the last one year, we have witnessed an increase
in the number of Technical Enquiries (from 112 to
4609). This impressive growth can be attributed to
public increased access to our information through
Arid Lands Information Network, Maarifa Centers. The
focus is now towards ensuring follow-up so that we can
report on impact. We also enjoyed closer engagement
with the programme teams and media. We supported
development of energy-focused episodes for the
popular Makutano Junction edutainment programme
(local soap opera). This not only enhanced our visibility
but it also created public awareness of our work
leading to a number of enquiries. During the year, we
developed a number of Knowledge Products that talk
about our work or provide guidance on processes and
technology. For example:

the available viable options including gender aspects,

energy distribution access and affordability. Closely
linked to Makutano Junction, Practical Answers also
negotiated for Practical Actions work to be included
on Shamba Shape Up a bonus educative program also
by MEDIAE. The programme highlighted our project
initiatives on improved cook stoves in Western Kenya.
Practical Answers Eastern Africa also added a variety
of knowledge products that can be accessed from its
repository.
Practical Answers supports alternative livelihoods
Recently, Alice from Nanyuki is a farmer who has been
planting wheat, hay on her farm. Recently as a result of
changes in climate the yields have reduced. The prices were
also discouraging. So Alice determined that she needed to
something different with the hay and the straw. As she was
surfing the net, she came across briquettes. Since hay and
straw are combustible products, she decided to find out how
to produce briquettes. So she called Practical Action.

Makutano Junction: is a 30-minute edutainment

(education and entertainment) program, which
has over 6 million viewers across East Africa and is
also available on satellite channels. The program is
known for its innovativeness and initiative in covering
development initiatives. Practical Answers developed
a series of episodes on the challenge of total energy
access in Kenya in collaboration with MEDIAE, to
highlight the key issues involved in ensuring access
to affordable clean and renewable energy options by
the poor in society and the challenges of providing
Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

We requested her to come into the office and we had the

initial discussions and linked her up to one of our project
briquetting entrepreneurs. She was trained, and she bought
two briquetting machines. She has setup these machines on
her farm. We have continued to engage with her and she has
also decided to expand into plastic recycling with enhanced
knowledge from materials available on Practical Actions
website.

17

Practical Action Consulting

In 2012/13, we continued to bid for work within our thematic areas (energy, agriculture/disaster risk reduction,
climate change, gender and market development). This culminated in the delivery of exciting assignments which
demonstrated our internal and external expertise and capabilities.
Some of the organizations who have benefited from our expertise include; Concern Worldwide-Dublin, Christian
Aid, DfID (for the PISCES project), Kenya Climate Change Working Group, Oxfam among others.
We will continue to extend the reach, progression and impact of Practical Action by innovating and delivering
consulting opportunities within Eastern Africa region with Rwanda, Ethiopia and Tanzania as immediate priorities
in addition to Kenya, Uganda, DRC and Burundi.

Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

18

Financial Performance for 2012 - 2013

The end of financial year 2012/13 marked the end of the first year of the 2012 -2017 strategy and a major point
of evaluating our performance against set targets and planning ahead for future years. The 2012/13 audited
accounts show that our restricted income as a region was 1.8m - see chart below.
Income Categories 2012 - 2013

0%
13%
20%

Government Grants (EC, Finnish Govt, etc.)

5%

NGO Grants (UN Agencies, INGOs e.g. Cordaid, Oxfam, etc.)

Other Grants (Comic Relief, Foundations, etc.)
Donations
29%

PAC
33%

Other Income

Our expenditure under the Three Goal areas; Urban services Water, sanitation and waste management; Food,
Agriculture and Disaster Risk Reduction; and Universal Energy was determined by the realized income targets
within the financial year as illustrated by the chart below.
Goal Performance in 2012 - 2013
40%
40)

35)

28%

30)

25)

18%

20)

15)

Universal Access to Energy

9%

Food, Agriculture and Disaster Risk Reduction

10)

Urban Services: Water, Sanitation and Waste

Management
Knowledge Brokering

5%
5)

Other
O)

Review of the annual performance reveals a slow uptake of the Income targets vs. the 2012-2017 strategic
ambitions and to address this, we have prioritized fundraising and strategic financial management with a view of
strengthening the overall financial performance of the region in 2013/14 and the remaining years of the strategy.
Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

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Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

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Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

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For more information please contact:

Practical Action - Eastern Africa Regional Office
Methodist Ministries Centre, Office Block C, (1st Floor.)
Oloitoktok Road, off Gitanga Road
P.O. Box 39493 - 00623 Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone: +254 20-2595311/12/13/14/15/16
Email: kenya@practicalaction.0r.ke

www.practicalaction.org
Practical Action Eastern Africa - Annual Report 2012 - 2013

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