IIRR Africa Regional Center

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.

“THERE IS NO GOING BACK”-ENANAU YIGEZU’S JOURNEY TO SUCCESS Enanu Yigezu lives in Bursa Woreda, 01 Kebele, in the Southe...
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.

FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS TO A GROWING BEEHIVE BUSINESSHabtamu Aredo from Yewura Kebele, Bita Woreda, once struggled to supp...
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.

Conversations that drive enterprise growth are happening in Nyeri and Meru Counties!Through the EASETRADE MSME Digital I...
15/05/2026

Conversations that drive enterprise growth are happening in Nyeri and Meru Counties!
Through the EASETRADE MSME Digital Infrastructure Lending Project, IIRR in Kenya, is spearheading stakeholder engagement meetings in Nyeri and Meru, bringing together county governments, financial institutions, MSME support organizations, and private sector actors to explore practical ways of strengthening support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), particularly young women entrepreneurs in rural communities.
The engagements are focusing on:
✅ Expanding access to digital financing opportunities
✅ Strengthening entrepreneurship and business support systems
✅ Enhancing digital literacy and enterprise skills
✅ Building partnerships that can unlock growth for local businesses
Together, we are creating stronger pathways for inclusive economic empowerment and sustainable enterprise development.

IIRR Ethiopia has been providing capacity-building support on Community-Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) for tea...
11/05/2026

IIRR Ethiopia has been providing capacity-building support on Community-Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) for teams of the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission (EDRMC) Lowlands Livelihood Resilience Project (LLRP) following a partnership agreement IIRR and LLRP had signed. EDRMC collected the Woreda Disaster Risk Profile data from 120 woredas.

As part of this engagement, IIRR has successfully conducted disaster risk profile data analysis and report writing for the 120 woredas, consolidated regional disaster risk profiles for eight regions, and developed both 10-year disaster preparedness and resilience-building strategic investment plans and 5-year climate-smart public economic infrastructure investment plans for the same regions.
This important initiative is being implemented through a partnership involving the World Bank, Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission (EDRMC) the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Lowlands Livelihood Resilience Project (LLRP), and the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands (MILLs).The World Bank and IFAD provided financial support, while LLRP under the MILLs led project implementation.
The current partnership builds on IIRR’s earlier collaboration with the World Bank under the PCDP II Project, through which IIRR conducted disaster risk assessments and investment planning in Afar, Somali, Oromia, and the former Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region more than a decade ago.
IIRR believes this engagement has provided a valuable opportunity to deepen its understanding of local realities across the 120 woredas and eight regions while strengthening collaboration with partners at woreda, regional, and national levels. The initiative has also enhanced recognition of IIRR’s contribution and laid a strong foundation for future partnership in the area.

IIRR Africa Regional Office is looking for a Gender and Youth Mainstreaming Expert to support the EASETRADE Project.This...
01/05/2026

IIRR Africa Regional Office is looking for a Gender and Youth Mainstreaming Expert to support the EASETRADE Project.
This role will drive inclusive, gender-responsive approaches in youth-led agri-enterprises, supporting tool development, staff capacity building, and application of GALS within entrepreneurship, market access, and financial inclusion activities.
Ideal Candidate Profile:
 5+ years’ experience in gender mainstreaming and/or youth inclusion
 Strong background in gender-responsive programming and MEL integration
 Hands-on experience with Gender Action Learning System (GALS) approaches
 Experience working with youth, MSMEs, agri-enterprises, or market systems projects
 Excellent facilitation, training, and stakeholder engagement skills
Focus: Women and Youth entrepreneurship, market access & financial inclusion
Deadline: 9 May 2026
If you’re passionate about empowering young women and men and driving inclusive development, we’d love to hear from you!
Apply now through: www.iirr.org/careers

01/05/2026

👨🏼‍🌾 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗴𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻!

Every May 1, we celebrate Labor Day to honor the people whose hard work keeps the country moving. But too often, when we picture workers, we think of offices, factories, or city jobs—and forget the people bent under the sun, knee-deep in mud, waking before dawn to plant, harvest, and bring food to our tables.

𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗼. They are among the most essential laborers in the country, yet they are often among the least recognized.

This Labor Day, honoring farmers means more than thanking them; it means recognizing the inequalities they continue to face, especially when it comes to wages, labor protections, and public recognition.

Let us widen our understanding of labor and remember that true appreciation of workers must also include the people in the fields, in the farms, and in the rural communities whose labor keeps the nation alive.

✒ Caption & Research by Kieth Sean Michael Rey-Hipolito

Thanks for being a top engager and making it onto IiRR Africa Facebook weekly engagement list! 🎉 Mesele Markos, Anduale...
28/04/2026

Thanks for being a top engager and making it onto IiRR Africa Facebook weekly engagement list! 🎉 Mesele Markos, Andualem Oyda, Tagay Bulki, Ayalew Daka, Melese Mada Madasha

Rural communities are facing rising youth unemployment, rural–urban migration, and limited opportunities for young women...
24/04/2026

Rural communities are facing rising youth unemployment, rural–urban migration, and limited opportunities for young women to grow sustainable businesses in Kenya.
Through the EASETRADE project, IIRR and partners are tackling this by equipping young rural women with practical agribusiness skills: business leadership, financial management, understanding the legal environment, and linking them to markets and non-collateralized financing.
In Nyeri County alone, over 80 young women and youth are already gaining the knowledge and confidence to strengthen their businesses, create jobs, and build more resilient livelihoods.
Real solutions. Real opportunities. Real impact.

Wondale Wase from Kodo Wono Kebele in Kucha Alpha Woreda, Gamo Zone is redefining what’s possible for young women in her...
22/04/2026

Wondale Wase from Kodo Wono Kebele in Kucha Alpha Woreda, Gamo Zone is redefining what’s possible for young women in her community.
Wondale and her husband once lived as small-scale traders with no land of their own. When they finally managed to buy a small, unused plot near a river, they tried traditional beekeeping-but with limited knowledge, the harvest was low and the work was difficult.
Still, Wondale saw potential.
“Many women here believe beekeeping is a man’s job-but I was always interested,” she says.
Her determination paid off when she was selected to join the Mass Youth Employment in Apiculture (MaYEA) program. Through intensive training in entrepreneurship, improved beekeeping, and livestock management, Wondale gained the skills and confidence to transform her livelihood.
Today, she constructs and manages her own modern beehives and, with support from her husband, has built a shaded structure that holds 60 hives-making the work safer, easier, and more productive.
“I no longer depend on others to climb trees for me,” she explains. “Now my hives are protected, and production has improved.”
But the impact goes beyond income.
“Things have changed for the better,” Wondale says. “Men in our community are starting to see that women can succeed in beekeeping and other businesses.”
While challenges remain-especially access to finance-Wondale is optimistic about the future.
For her, MaYEA is more than a program. It’s a pathway to confidence, independence, and a stronger voice in her community.
Wondale’s story is a powerful reminder: when young women are given the opportunity, they don’t just transform their own lives-they inspire change around them.

FROM STRUGGLE TO SUCCESS At just 28, Mesele Gebrehiyowot is transforming lives in his community in Southwest Ethiopia.Af...
09/04/2026

FROM STRUGGLE TO SUCCESS
At just 28, Mesele Gebrehiyowot is transforming lives in his community in Southwest Ethiopia.
After losing his father, Mesele was forced to drop out of school and rely on subsistence farming. Despite his determination, his beekeeping efforts brought little income due to limited skills and resources.
Everything changed in 2024 when he joined the Mass Youth Employment in Apiculture (MaYEA) program.
With training in modern beekeeping, business skills, and access to essential equipment, Mesele and four peers launched a bee colony multiplication enterprise. Today, they are supplying affordable bee colonies to fellow community members-helping others start and grow their own businesses.
Mesele’s impact goes beyond income. His work is creating opportunities for others, improving livelihoods, and helping families support their children’s education.
“The future is bright-not only for us, but for our entire community,” he says.
The MaYEA program in this area is implemented by MELCA Ethiopia led by International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) in partnership with Mastercard Foundation and other partners.
Read more impact stories on our website https://iirr.org/project-impact-stories/
Empowerment

Across Africa’s drylands and climate-vulnerable landscapes, communities are turning environmental challenges into opport...
30/03/2026

Across Africa’s drylands and climate-vulnerable landscapes, communities are turning environmental challenges into opportunity through climate-smart and resource-efficient agriculture, advancing the principles of the International Day of Zero Waste.
With support from IIRR, farmers across multiple African countries are actively restoring degraded rangelands and croplands, reviving ecosystems and bringing thousands of hectares of land back into productive use.
From building stone check dams that reduce soil erosion and retain valuable water, to digging half-moons that capture every drop of rain, these practical, low-cost solutions ensure that natural resources are conserved within the landscape, minimizing environmental loss and “waste” in fragile ecosystems.
Across the region, millions of trees have been planted, alongside regenerated grass strips and restored pasturelands—strengthening biodiversity, improving soil health, and enabling more circular, regenerative land use systems.
This is what zero-waste, sustainable food systems look like in practice: reducing loss, reusing natural resources, recycling organic matter back into the soil, and restoring ecosystems through community-driven action.
Together, we are not only growing crops; we are restoring ecosystems, reducing environmental waste, and building resilient livelihoods for communities across Africa.

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

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

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