Our Nishati project improves health and reduces poverty by providing low-income communities with safe and affordable alternatives to kerosene and charcoal for cooking. Through our ‘Handshakes not Handouts’ model, we will also be developing sustainable livelihoods for women, helping them earn income to support themselves and their families.
A large percentage of households in Kenya use kerosene and charcoal for cooking and lighting which affects their health: prolonged use of kerosene causes blindness and serious respiratory diseases that may lead to death. Treating and controlling these outcomes are as expensive as the charcoal and kerosene. In urban areas, the electricity provided to low-income communities is expensive for them and as a result, they resort to illegally tapping electricity, leading to loss of property and potentially lives which further pushes communities to lower levels of poverty.
Our Nishati project will work with women’s groups within selected communities where PFP already has established presence or partnerships. Central to this project is the DREAM Nishati Kit, consisting of a home solar solution (Little DREAM Box) and a Kunikoa Turbo Jiko Cookstove, which is able to burn dry wood, wet wood or briquettes. As the cookstove is paired with a small solar unit, it gives the user and their household lighting and device facilities using clean electricity.
In 2022, PFP is piloting the Nishati programme with a group of 15 women from Mbita and surrounding areas. We have donated 15 DREAM Nishati Kits, which are repaid into a community fund owned by the group based on a subscription of KES120 per day. After this they will own the kit outright and the money collected can be used by the group to invest in either more Nishati kits for re-distribution on the same subscription model, or to invest in other community initiatives.
The repayment is affordable, it is 3x less than the amount they pay every day for kerosene and charcoal. It will further save money because they will use much less fuel to cook and have no lighting or mobile device charging costs.
Through our partners DEVLINK Africa, the women have also accessed catering and briquette-making training, offering further opportunities to develop livelihoods.
Only one month into the pilot and some of the women have started operating a small eatery – truly creating sustainable economic development.
Our aims
Skills and education
Provide women with training and skills development via the PFP Academy and working with our partners DEVLINK.
Improved health
Reducing kerosene and charcoal use, which can cause serious health issues and even death.
Sustainable livelihoods
Giving women opportunities to earn income whether through small catering businesses, briquette-making or distributing Nishati kits.
Reducing carbon emissions
The Kunikoa Turbo Jiko Cookstove saves 2.16-4.93 tonnes of CO2 per stove per year.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
The Nishati project supports the following Sustainable Development Goals: