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IIRR Africa Regional Center

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IIRR Africa Regional Center

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from IIRR Africa Regional Center, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Mashiara Park, Kaptagat Road, Loresho, Nairobi.

To enable communities and those who work with them to develop innovative yet practical solutions to poverty through a community-led development approach and widely share these lessons to encourage replication.

14/08/2026

Transforming Lives Through Access to Finance: The Story of Tayiba.

Tayiba lives in Mokona Chafe Kebele of Agarfa District in Bale Zone. A widowed mother of four, Tayiba has faced many challenges in providing for her family. Despite these hardships, she has shown remarkable determination to build a better future for her children.

Through the Mass Youth Employment in Apiculture (MaYEA) Program, Tayiba gained access to financial services that helped her begin her entrepreneurial journey. With support from the program, she received a loan through Kifiya Financial Technology, facilitated by the Cooperative Bank of Oromia. This opportunity marked a turning point in her life.

Tayiba started small by constructing a sheep shed with an initial investment of 4,000 ETB. Within three months, she purchased 10 sheep worth 50,000 ETB. Her efforts quickly began to pay off. She later sold seven of the sheep for 70,000 ETB, generating a profit that allowed her to expand her business.

Determined to grow further, Tayiba reinvested 40,000 ETB into bull fattening. After successfully raising the bull, she sold it for 95,000 Birr. Currently, she is fattening another steer that she purchased for 50,000 ETB. Her livestock business has continued to grow, and she now owns 21 sheep with an estimated total value of over 200,000 ETB.

Reflecting on the changes in her life, Tayiba says: “Had it not been for the support of the MaYEA program in facilitating a loan for me, my children and I would have been desperate and still dependent on my brothers. I am grateful to SOS Sahel Ethiopia for all the support. This success has given me hope to secure my future, educate my children, strengthen my livelihood, and become independent and self-confident.”

In addition to expanding her livestock business, Tayiba has also started saving. Through her Village Economic and Social Association (VESA) group, she has saved 5,000 ETB, which she considers an important step toward financial security.

Tayiba is also engaged in beekeeping. She currently owns two modern and five traditional hives. However, honey production has been limited due to excessive chemical use in the area and prolonged dry seasons that reduce nectar availability. Despite these challenges, she remains hopeful that a favorable season will allow her to generate additional income from apiculture.

Today, Tayiba’s story demonstrates how access to finance, combined with determination and hard work, can transform the lives of rural women. With growing assets, savings, and renewed confidence, she is steadily building a more secure and hopeful future for herself and her children.

The MaYEA program in the area is facilitated by SOS Sahel Ethiopia led by IIRR.

26/07/2026

At the recent EASETRADE Champions Training in Nakuru, IIRR brought together 16 Champions from Kiambu, Meru, Nakuru and Nyeri to strengthen community-based support for MSMEs beyond the classroom.

Over three days, the Champions were trained in Longitudinal Impact Tracking (LIT), Outcome Harvesting (OH) and participant mentorship to support MSMEs as they grow their businesses. They will help track how entrepreneurs apply their training to improve access to finance and markets, create jobs and strengthen enterprise performance, while documenting impact and linking participants to relevant support helping ensure the EASETRADE project delivers sustainable and measurable impact.

The training also included a practical field pilot to test the Champions model, providing valuable lessons that will inform its wider rollout. By staying close to the journeys of project participants, the Champions will play a key role in improving project learning, strengthening evidence of impact and supporting sustainable business growth.

25/07/2026

From Job Seeker to Job Creator: Sara Saba's Inspiring Journey

When 19-year-old Sara Saba graduated with a diploma in nursing in 2022, she dreamed of starting her career. But after two years of searching, no job came. Rather than giving up, Sara looked closer to home and found an opportunity she had known since childhood.

"My father has been a traditional beekeeper for many years," she says. "I grew up helping him make beehives, hang them in trees, and harvest honey. So when young women were being selected to join the MaYEA program in our village, people believed I was the right person."

Through the MaYEA program, Sara received practical training in modern beekeeping, livestock fattening, poultry production, entrepreneurship, saving, and gender equality."I already loved beekeeping, but the training completely changed how I saw it," she explains. "I learned how modern and transitional hives can produce more honey, and I gained the skills and confidence to manage them myself. The gender training also showed me that women can succeed in business."

Determined to put her new skills into practice, Sara borrowed money from her Village Saving and Economic Association (VESA), locally known as Siqo. She bought modern beehives, built transitional hives, and invested in goats for fattening.

The investment quickly paid off.

Today, Sara owns 15 modern beehives, 10 transitional hives, and many more traditional hives. She also runs a profitable sheep-fattening business, has built a new house, and owns a motorcycle that generates additional income through weekly rentals.

"My honey production has increased a lot," she says proudly. "Before, we had to sell every drop because we needed the money. Now my family enjoys eating honey too, and I can even share it with my neighbors."

Sara's success is inspiring other young women in her community to believe in their own potential.
"People are beginning to see that women can build successful businesses, create jobs, and improve their families' lives," she says. "That gives me hope for the future."

For Sara, however, success is about more than earning an income. "My daughter is only one year old," she says with a smile, "but my biggest dream is for her and every child in my community to receive a good education and have a better life than mine."

Stories like Sara's remind us that when young women are equipped with skills, access to finance, and the confidence to lead, they don't just transform their own lives-they help build stronger families and more resilient communities.

12/07/2026

My Family and I Now See the Light at the End of the Tunnel”

For 33-year-old Paulos Shabo, beekeeping has always been part of his life. Growing up in a poor farming family in Shefite Kebele, Oyda Woreda, he learned traditional beekeeping as a child.

However, limited skills and traditional practices meant that honey production brought little income for his family.

A new chapter began when Paulos joined the Mass Youth Employment in Apiculture (MaYEA) program, implemented by IIRR with support from Mastercard Foundation. Through training, mentorship, and access to finance, he gained modern beekeeping skills and received a loan of 64,000 birr to expand his business.

With his new knowledge and determination, Paulos purchased bee colonies, improved hive management, and harvested about 450 kilograms of honey. The income helped him support his family, renovate his fire-damaged home, and establish the Paulos Shebo and Family Honey and Beehive Suppliers Enterprise together with his family members.

Today, Paulos is not only building a better future for his family but also mentoring other farmers to improve their beekeeping practices.

“My family and I now see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he says with hope and confidence.

10/07/2026

Strengthening Capacity for Sustainable Dryland Landscapes

IIRR recently convened a five-day regional writeshop in Nairobi under the Dryland Sustainable Landscapes Impact Program (DSL-IP), bringing together technical experts and partners to co-develop practical training modules for sustainable landscape management across the Miombo-Mopane region.

The participatory process produced context-specific learning materials on key themes including land restoration, agroforestry, soil and water management, agrobiodiversity, integrated crop-livestock systems, green enterprises, and monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL). The modules will equip extension workers and facilitators with practical tools to support communities in restoring landscapes, strengthening livelihoods, and building climate resilience.

Through collaborative knowledge creation and capacity strengthening, IIRR continues to advance sustainable land management solutions that empower communities and contribute to resilient dryland ecosystems across Africa.

21/06/2026

FROM SELLING EGGS TO BUILDING A FAMILY ENTERPRISE: SHAMBEL SHEWA’S STORY

“I come from a poor family that could not afford to send me to school,” says Shambel Shewa, a 33-year-old father of four from Tigacha Kebele in Checha Zuria Woreda, Gamo Zone. “When I was about nine years old, I started raising chickens and selling eggs at the Dorze market and nearby eco-lodges. The income helped me buy stationery and textbooks, and I became confident that I could support my education.”

Despite his determination, poverty forced him to leave school after Grade 10.

“I got married and started weaving cotton and growing coffee, potatoes, and cereals on my half-hectare land,” he recalls. “But despite working hard, I could not achieve a better life than my parents. I felt disappointed.”

Things changed in 2025 when Shambel joined the Mass Youth Employment in Apiculture (MaYEA) Program.

“I received training on beekeeping, poultry production, sheep and goat fattening, and business development,” he says. “Poultry attracted me the most because it had helped me during my childhood.”

Using his savings, he built a small poultry house and bought pullets.

“After raising them, I sold them and gradually increased my stock to 100 pullets,” he explains. “I also raised and sold chicks. I have completed three production cycles and earned much more profit than I expected.”

Encouraged by the results, Shambel and his family established Dicha Enterprise, which means “grow” in the Dorze language.

“There is a huge demand for eggs because several eco-tourism lodges operate in our area, but only a few producers supply them,” he says. “This is a great business opportunity for us.”
Looking ahead, Shambel and his family have big ambitions.

“Our goal is to expand the business, create employment opportunities for more people, and become one of the leading suppliers of eggs and chicken meat in the region,” he says. “What started as a way to support my education as a child is now becoming a pathway to economic growth and employment for my entire family.”

05/06/2026

At IIRR, we recognize that thriving communities depend on a healthy environment. Through our work, we support climate-smart agriculture, sustainable natural resource management, environmental conservation, and community resilience initiatives that empower rural communities to adapt and prosper in the face of climate change.

As we mark World Environment Day, we reaffirm our commitment to working alongside communities, partners, and stakeholders to protect our planet and build a more sustainable future for generations to come.

Together, every action counts.

03/06/2026

Empowering Youth Entrepreneurs for Sustainable Growth

Meet Muthoni Kanja, the founder of MK Plugs, a youth-led business specializing in household items and African-inspired bags. Through determination and innovation, Muthoni has successfully utilized the rent-a-shelf model to reach customers while growing her brand online.
Today, through the EASETRADE Project, Muthoni is strengthening her entrepreneurial journey through targeted capacity development support.

The project is equipping her with valuable business management, digital marketing, and enterprise growth skills, helping her navigate challenges, expand market opportunities, and position her business for long-term success.
As Muthoni continues to grow her enterprise her desire and future plans are to create pathways for economic empowerment and employment opportunities for other young people in her community.

At EASETRADE, we believe that investing in youth entrepreneurs is investing in stronger businesses, thriving communities, and a more inclusive economy.

# IIRR # YouthEmpowerment

28/05/2026

“THERE IS NO GOING BACK”-ENANAU YIGEZU’S JOURNEY TO SUCCESS

Enanu Yigezu lives in Bursa Woreda, 01 Kebele, in the Southern Zone of the Sidama Region with her husband and two children

After graduating as a health extension worker, Enanu Yigezu struggled to find employment. Rather than give up, she seized the opportunity offered by the MaYEA program and trained in beekeeping, livestock fattening, and business development.

Despite facing skepticism from community members who believed beekeeping was not for women, Enanu remained determined. Today, she owns 10 beehives, including six transitional hives, and leads a group of five women working to expand their beekeeping enterprise.

Their vision is to increase honey production, access modern equipment, and establish a honey shop that will provide sustainable income for their families.

“There is no going back,” says Enanu. “We want to build a stable and fulfilling life for our families.”
The program in this area is implemented by SOS Sahel Ethiopia led by IIRR.

18/05/2026

FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS TO A GROWING BEEHIVE BUSINESS

Habtamu Aredo from Yewura Kebele, Bita Woreda, once struggled to support his wife and five children through small-scale farming and occasional carpentry work. After dropping out of school in Grade 5, opportunities were limited, and traditional beekeeping brought little income.
Everything changed when Habtamu joined the Mass Youth Employment in Apiculture (MaYEA) Program in 2024.

Through training provided by MaYEA, implemented by MELCA Ethiopia and partners, Habtamu gained advanced skills in modern beehive construction and beekeeping. Today, he has built 12 modern beehives for himself and produced about 250 standard beehives for fellow program participants in his community.
By supplying affordable, quality beehives, Habtamu is not only increasing his family’s income but also helping strengthen local beekeeping enterprises and job creation in Southwest Ethiopia.

“I owe a lot to the MaYEA program officers and their partners. I have learned so much about modern beekeeping and how to construct high-quality beehives,” says Habtamu.

With support from donors and implementing partners, the MaYEA program continues to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for rural youth and communities through apiculture development.

Address

Mashiara Park, Kaptagat Road, Loresho
Nairobi
P.O.BOX66873-00800

Opening Hours

Monday	09:00 - 05:00
Tuesday	09:00 - 05:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 05:00
Thursday	09:00 - 05:00
Friday	09:00 - 05:00

Website

http://www.iirr.org/

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