CISP Africa

12/05/2026

CISP - Malawi

Through the SMART CLIMATE Project funded by MAECI through Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo, CISP Sviluppo dei Popoli is promoting peer learning among rice cooperatives from all the three regions of Malawi while strengthening the leadership and management of the target farmer organisations (FOs). A key focus is increasing the representation and governance capacity of women and persons with disabilities in the management of FOs.

Recently, CISP organized an exchange visit bringing together farmers from the Northern and Central regions of Malawi. The visit connected them with a high-performing farmer organizations in Dedza district, the Water Users Association (WUA) and Rice Cooperative from Bwanje Valley Irrigation Scheme, offering practical insights on improving their own FOs, in particular under farming, managerial and marketing aspects.

A total of 29 farmers (14 men and 15 women), representing 7 FOs and 6 Government Officials (Irrigation & Agriculture) from Karonga and Nkhotakota, took part in the 2-days exchange; fostering collaboration, shared learning, and inclusive leadership across communities. Participants are now expected to cascade the knowledge and experiences gained to their respective organizations, helping to strengthen and sustain their cooperatives beyond the phasing out of the project.

11/05/2026

DESIGNER OPEN CALL – NAIROBI, MOMBASA & KISUMU

Fashion is more than style. It’s impact. It’s identity. It’s the future!

We are calling on bold, creative fashion designers (aged 19–35) in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu to apply for the Ethical & Sustainable Fashion Training Program powered by KikoRomeo under the WINGS Project AID 013244/04/3.
This is an opportunity to deepen your craft, explore sustainable and ethical fashion practices, and build skills that support real growth in today’s evolving fashion industry.

Selected participants will gain:
• Hands-on technical training and Pattern Cutting
• Exposure to sustainable and circular design practices
• Entrepreneurship and business development skills
• Mentorship and industry linkages

Women and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible learning environment.

Apply here: https://ee.kobotoolbox.org/x/gZGxbd1B

Deadline: 24th May 2026

11/05/2026

DESIGNER OPEN CALL – NAIROBI, MOMBASA & KISUMU

Fashion is more than style. It’s impact. It’s identity. It’s the future!

We are calling on bold, creative fashion designers (aged 19–35) in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu to apply for the Ethical & Sustainable Fashion Training Program powered by KikoRomeo under the WINGS Project AID 013244/04/3.
This is an opportunity to deepen your craft, explore sustainable and ethical fashion practices, and build skills that support real growth in today’s evolving fashion industry.

Selected participants will gain:
• Hands-on technical training and Pattern Cutting
• Exposure to sustainable and circular design practices
• Entrepreneurship and business development skills
• Mentorship and industry linkages

Women and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible learning environment.

Apply here: https://ee.kobotoolbox.org/x/gZGxbd1B

Deadline: 24th May 2026

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08/05/2026

What does it take to build livestock insurance systems that truly work for pastoralist communities facing climate shocks?

Last week in Nairobi, researchers, government actors, insurers, development partners, and community representatives gathered for the BIMA Stakeholder Engagement Workshop to discuss how Index-Based Livestock Insurance (IBLI) can become more accurate, inclusive, and responsive to drought realities in Kenya’s ASAL regions.

Led by the BIMA consortium (CISP Sviluppo dei Popoli, University of Nairobi, TriM - Translate into Meaning and Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development), the workshop shared emerging findings from research and simulation activities in Tana River County.

One key discussion focused on “basis risk”: the gap between what communities experience during drought and what satellite systems detect. By combining weather data, vegetation indices, machine learning, and local observations, the project is working to improve payout accuracy and reduce missed triggers during severe droughts.

But resilience is not only technical, it's also about trust, inclusion, and participation. Through simulations involving 240 volunteers in Tana River County, nearly half of them women, the project is exploring how communities understand and engage with livestock insurance before implementation at scale.

The discussions highlighted the importance of:
• Gender-responsive and culturally relevant insurance systems
• Sharia-compliant models for pastoralist communities
• Stronger links between insurance, animal health, and livestock value chains
• Community ownership of weather monitoring systems
• Better connections between research and policy

As climate change continues to impact pastoral livelihoods, solutions must be built with communities, not only for them.

30/04/2026

CISP – Somalia

Health staff from Baidoa and Dinsoor participated in an Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) training facilitated by the Ministry of Health Somalia at Baidoa. This training focused on strengthening their capacity in screening, diagnosing, and managing acute malnutrition cases in line with national guidelines.

The sessions covered Mid-Upper Arm Circumference measurement, classification of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM), treatment protocols, referral pathways, stabilization center management, and proper reporting and documentation. The training aimed to improve early detection and timely treatment of malnourished children, which is crucial in Baidoa and across Somalia where malnutrition remains a major public health concern due to recurrent drought and displacement.

Participants expressed their appreciation for the knowledge gained. "This training has equipped me with practical skills to correctly manage severe acute malnutrition cases at our facility. I now clearly understand the referral system and proper documentation, which will improve our reporting and quality of service. I also feel more confident in screening and classifying children accurately."

28/04/2026

CISP – Malawi
From vulnerability to sustainability. In southern Malawi, Mwanza District remains highly vulnerable to disasters, with communities facing erratic rainfall and limited shock-responsive social protection systems. As the 2025/2026 lean season deepens, many households require urgent support to withstand growing food insecurity.

Through the THRIVE Project funded by MAECI through AICS, CISP is supporting vulnerable households in Mwanza reaching 200 beneficiaries across two Traditional Authorities.

Among them is 63-year-old Eveles Jipi, a widowed woman living with a disability and caring for four household members. Jipi received 2Kgs of soybean seed and 2Kgs of NUA beans during a seed distribution conducted on 29th December 2025. Despite having an inactive left arm, Jipi quickly put the support to use. With guidance from the project, she adopted improved farming practices such as two-ridge row planting to maximize yields.

She planted the seeds in early January on previously idle land and remains optimistic about her harvest. While erratic rains and heatwaves have affected some crops, she notes that the seeds received from the project have shown resilience.

Regular follow-ups from CISP field officers continue to strengthen her progress, with Jipi now regarded as a model farmer. She expects improved food availability, a more balanced diet, and increased self-reliance for her household. “Thank you CISP, MAECI and AICS for the timely support,” she shares, hopeful for a better harvest ahead.

24/04/2026

CISP - Kenya

We asked a simple question this Fashion Revolution Week:
Do you know who made your clothes?

Surprisingly, all of us did.
Some of us even had labels to prove it with “Made in Kenya” tags.

But others didn’t.
No label.
No name.
And yet we still knew who made them.
A trusted fundi.
A designer we’ve worked with.
Someone behind the scenes whose work we value, but whose name isn’t always visible.

It made us pause.
In Kenya, we often know who made our clothes.
But there's no way to show it.

A label is more than a tag.
It’s recognition, visibility, and traceability.

Through initiatives like WINGS - (Work, INclusion, Growth and Sustainability for women, youth and persons with disability) funded by MEACI through Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo , we’re thinking about what it means to not just create opportunities in ethical fashion but to ensure the people behind the work are seen, named, and valued.

16/04/2026

CISP - Moçambique

Como o Body Mapping Apoia a Cura e a Reintegração Em março, na Beira, Província de Sofala (Moçambique), o CISP Sviluppo dei Popoli facilitou uma formação de seis dias de Formação de Formadores em Body Mapping , uma metodologia baseada nas artes que apoia a construção da paz, a cura e a reintegração. Esta atividade foi organizada no âmbito do projeto PROPAZ, cofinanciado pela União Europeia em Moçambique.

A formação envolveu participantes de Organizações da Sociedade Civil que atuam em áreas e comunidades afetadas por conflitos na Província de Sofala.

Através de um processo profundamente participativo e experiencial, parceiros da sociedade civil exploraram como a criatividade, a narrativa e a consciência corporal podem abrir espaços para o diálogo, a autorreflexão e a transformação.. O que tornou esta experiência tão marcante não foi apenas a metodologia, mas também as vozes de quem a viveu:

“Não se tratava de perfeição; tratava-se de nos aceitarmos enquanto crescemos em muitos níveis.”
“Exigiu tudo de mim… como se eu tivesse sido libertado, como se pudesse falar com as minhas mãos.”
“O Body Mapping é curativo e pode dar voz a grupos marginalizados.”
Os participantes reforçaram as suas competências de facilitação e começaram a imaginar como levar esta abordagem às suas comunidades, especialmente no trabalho com ex-combatentes e as suas famílias.

A formação promoveu confiança, conexão e um renovado sentido de protagonismo entre os participantes.
“Sinto-me livre e quero usar isto para ajudar os outros.”

O encerramento foi marcado por uma exposição das obras produzidas, evidenciando o compromisso, a motivação e o entusiasmo dos participantes em aplicar esta abordagem inovadora como instrumento de transformação social.

14/04/2026

CISP-Somalia

As for many families in IDP-Camps, access to health care has often been a challenge in Baidoa. The mobile medical outreach implemented by CISP Sviluppo dei Popoli and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) through Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo has become a central source of assistance for the displaced communities.

Having learnt of the availability of free health services from sensitization efforts of health workers in the region, Madina Daud brought her ailing son to receive treatment at the camp.

“My son, Abdi was sick for days. He had a hot body, vomiting, and rashes. That is why I brought him here for treatment.”

After receiving care, Madina expressed satisfaction with the treatment her son received. “My child was examined and given the necessary treatment. We were treated well, and I am satisfied with the care provided,” she said.

COOPI

10/04/2026

CISP Malawi -SMART Climate

In Nkhotakota and Karonga districts, the SMART-Climate project—implemented by a CISP-led consortium with support from MAECI (Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) and the Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo is helping 2,500 households strengthen resilience and transform their livelihoods.

Through savings groups, climate-smart agriculture, and income-generating activities, families are improving food security, adopting sustainable practices, and building financial stability. At the core are 40 Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), alongside a MWK 30 million (approx. €14,500) revolving fund supporting the most vulnerable with access to credit.

Rajabu Bashiri from Namawe VSLA exemplifies this impact: starting with a small loan (MWK 50,000 – approx. €25), he grew a maize business to MWK 500,000 (approx. €240) in nine months and now invests in farming, livestock, and his son’s education. The project shows how targeted support can shift communities from dependency to self-reliance.

07/04/2026

CISP – Kenya
For pastoralists, livestock is life. Maimuna from Wayu village, in Tana River county, has seen how livestock insurance can help during drought, but also how delays in payouts can leave families exposed.

The improved developed by BIMA project funded by Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and IDRC / CRDI, brings hope for a better system. One that responds faster, reflects real conditions on the ground, and truly protects livelihoods.

https://clareprogramme.org/update/maimunas-journey-with-livestock-insurance/

For Maimuna Ismail, livestock is more than an asset, it is life itself. A herder of goats and cows in Wayu Ward and a former livestock insurance policyholder, her livelihood and that of her children depends primarily on her animals. I do not buy milk for my household; I provide it for my children da...