Innovative Aid Delivery in Africa

Affordable KickStart foot pumps increase yield and household incomes

The New Zealand Governement has partnered with New Zealand philanthropic foundation, Jasmine Social Investments, to deliver aid in a new way in Africa.

Through the New Zealand Aid Programme, the New Zealand Government recently partnered with Jasmine Social Investments through a matching agreement, to the tune of NZ$600,000 over one year, to support their established agricultural-focused social investments in East Africa. The New Zealand Government’s Africa Aid Programme is focused on enhancing sustainable economic development, through support to Agriculture and Private Sector Development in Africa.

Jasmine Social Investments (www.jasmine.org.nz) is a charitable foundation established by New Zealander, Sam Morgan which funds social entrepreneurs who have scalable programmes with measurable impact. Through Jasmine Social Investments, the New Zealand government is supporting three innovative social entrepreneurs: One Acre Fund, Root Capital and KickStart, who collectively have operations in Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.

One Acre Fund (www.oneacrefund.org) has received NZ$300,000 from the New Zealand Aid programme, to support small holder farmers on one acre plots in Kenya and Rwanda. Farmers are supported with seeds and fertilizers on credit, crop insurance, extension services and market access, to significantly increase their yields and subsequent incomes, from maize and bean farming.

The New Zealand Aid Programme has contributed NZ$150,000 to support Root Capital’s East African operations in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda & Uganda. Root Capital (www.rootcapital.org) provides capital, delivers financial training and strengthens market connections for small and growing businesses that build sustainable livelihoods and transform rural communities in poor, environmentally vulnerable communities.

KickStart International (www.kickstart.org) operate in Kenya and Tanzania and have received NZ$150,000 from the New Zealand Aid programme. KickStart design and sell simple, durable and affordable irrigation pumps to small scale farmers, to enable them to increase the variety and quantity of cash crops they cultivate to increase their household incomes. KickStart also support the agricultural value chain through business development training and incentives to the agri-businesses that stock their pumps.