Implementing Agency:
Department For International Development (PAND)

Managing Institute:
ITDG (Intermediate Technology Development Group)

Project Code: 031-680-026	Start Date: 01-Apr-89	End Date: 01-Mar-91
Commitment: £135,731	Status: Completed	Type of Funding: Bilateral - JFS

Project Background:
Western Kenya is a densely populated area with people mainly of Luo or Abluya origins. A socio/economic survey of S Nyanza (1985) showed that 37 percent of household had no cash income 44 percent 500 Ksh/month 12 percent 501-1000 Ksh/month 3 percent 1001-2000 Ksh/month 1 percent 2001-3000 Ksh/month. The women potters are usually the household heads and living in rural areas, farming is the most important economic activity. Traditionally, pottery is Western and Central Kenya has been mainly the domain of women. Often pottery is the main family income in many rural households (which are quite commonly headed by women). The profit margins are small. There is a decreasing demand for many of the traditional pottery products such as water jars and cooking pots. These products are being replaced by plastic and aluminium alternatives. In 1984 a decision was made by the Kenyan Ministry of Energy and KENGO (Kenya Energy and Environment Organisation) to disseminate the Kenyan Ceramic Jiko (known as the KCJ - a ceramic lined, metal clad, charcoal burning stove, primarily for the urban population). KENGO in collaboration with CARE established a number of Women Groups in the manufacture of the liners, in order to supply some urban based workshops manufacturing the claddings, assembling and selling the stoves. These women groups met with a number of problems: 1) Poor quality of liners produced 2) Lack of direct access to an end user market 3) Lack of business and marketing knowledge. By early 1987 only one of these Women Groups was still operational, although their business was not making money. In April 1987, ITDG and KENGO jointly embarked on a two year programme of training and support to this remaining group and to other groups involved in traditionally pottery activities. The main aim of this programme was to assist the groups to improve the long-term viability of their ceramics activities - one means of doing this was the introduction of new products, especially those with a growing market in rural areas such as an affordable wood-burning stove. Since April 1987, among other activities, the programme has trained 2 of the Women Groups in the manufacture and marketing of the 'Maendeleo' liners (a ceramic liner that is then built into a mud surround to form a wood-burning stove). One of these groups is now producing and marketing Maendeleo liners and it is planned that by the end of the existing programme in April 1989 there will be 3 production units operational. Several agencies - both NGOs and Gos and extension workers have requested assistance in the dissemination of wood burning stoves - CARE, Aga Khan Foundation, Ministry of Agriculture, Salvation Army amd ITDG will be working in collaboration with these agencies but working closely with GTZ/Maendeleo Ya Wanawake (Women in Development) National Stoves Programme.

Project Objectives:
The objectives of the project are: To improve the confidence, social status and incomes of women potters in jobs compatible with their existing family and farm committments. To create employment for youth and women as stove users through lower fuel costs, time saving, improved safety and comfort in the kitchen. To improve the quality of life of stove users through lower fuel costs, time saving , improved safety and comfort in the kitchen To reduce the domestic fuelwood consumption. To influence the Kenyan National Rural Stove Programme to encourage more women producers in the future.

Intended Outputs:
To train at least 50 women potters in the production and marketing of Maendeleo fuel efficient stove liners. To create awareness of benefits of Maendeleo stove and a market for at least 15,000 stoves per year in Western Kenya. To train and establish at least 20 stove installers in a viable enterprise. To establish production capabilities for at least 5,000 stoves per year of consistent high quality to reduce fuelwood usage. To use this experience for replication in other areas of Kenya.