28/09/2026
From Local Resources to Livelihoods: ACK Pande Community Development Group
In Matuga Sub-County, Kwale County, six members—one man and five women—of ACK Pande Community Development Group are demonstrating how locally available resources can create sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Before joining the MCDT programme, most of the women relied on traditional mat weaving as an individual activity. However, limited production, lack of business knowledge, and challenges accessing reliable markets meant that their earnings remained low.
Through MCDT training in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and identification of local opportunities, the members began to view their traditional mat-weaving skills and locally available materials as a viable business opportunity. They came together to pool their skills, labour, and resources, enabling them to increase production, maintain quality, and work more efficiently.
MCDT also supported the group by linking them to potential markets, creating opportunities for more consistent sales and better prices. This has increased their income, strengthened their confidence, and encouraged them to further develop their enterprise.
The experience of ACK Pande demonstrates that communities do not always need external resources to create economic opportunities. By identifying, organising, and effectively using the skills, materials, and opportunities already available within their communities, members can turn traditional knowledge into sustainable enterprises and build more economically empowered and dignified livelihoods.
