GENCAD is seeking qualified candidates for the following positions: Field Officer (1), Mentors (7), Markets and Financial Linkages Officer, and ICT Officer for the anticipated Kuza Jamii project in Mandera County.
Kuza Jamii will support the Government of Kenya progressively assuming responsibility for the National Economic Inclusion Programme in Garissa, Isiolo, Mandera, Marsabit, Samburu, Tana River, Turkana, and Wajir.
Interested and suitably qualified candidates to submit their CVs and a cover letter to info.gencad@gmail.com
Applications must be received by 22nd March 2024. Late applications will not be considered. While we thank all applicants for expressing interest in the role, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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Dear friends and donors,
In my last report, I mentioned that we have completed beneficiary selection and was in the process of validating it and collecting baseline data. This exercise is now complete, and we have moved to the next stage, which is beneficiary training.
The past three months, our beneficiaries have undergone a structured and tailor-made basic business skills training provided by Street Business School. We adopted the training programme (eight modules) so that it’s relevant and easily accessible by the ultra-poor women we are supporting. Although challenging, the training programme was an eye-opener both for us and the women. We have seen incredible changes in attitude and enthusiasm shown by the women during the training and during their graduation. The women received a certificate as recognition for their hard work and new skills acquired.
In addition to the training programme, the beneficiaries also received mentorship support, help with the formation of savings and loans group, group registration and opening of a group’s bank account. Also, to help reduce anxiety due to loss of income during the training, we provided the women food packages which were well received.
We are currently assessing their existing businesses (those who are in business) and also map out livelihood options the women could engage in. Once business viability assessment is done, and the women’s business knowledge is assessed as adequate, they will receive a productive asset in the form of live animals (goats, sheep cows), donkey carts, sewing machines and stock of goods for those who are keen to start or expand their small enterprises. God willing, by the end of March 2020, all women would have received their asset.
We are excited by the changes we have seen so far as the result of the training, and we hope that once the asset is transferred, the women will unleash their business acumen and start a sustainable business. Because we know in our community women have played a leading role in providing for their families, we are confident many children who would have otherwise gone to bed hungry will now be able to sleep well. We thank you for having been part of this journey and would love to see you continue with us to reach more women in a similar situation.
As we approach the #IWD in early march, let me take this opportunity to request you for your support as we prepare ourselves for the Girl Fund Campaign. Please keep an eye on an email which will go out soon in that regard.
Thank you so much for your support and generosity.
Thank you, and May God bless you.
Abdirashid Ali
Executive Director
]]>Halima was chosen as a beneficiary of GENCAD’s inaugural micro-credit project along with 10 of her village residents. She took an income generating loan of Sh15, 000. She used this money to buy herself a new sewing machine. Her shop is in a strategic location in the local market and receives a lot of customers daily making 1500 shillings daily.
Confident about the sales and her hard work. She paid back her loan and saved a significant amount of money together with her group Hasbunallah. Halima is an inspiration to many people struggling in-life today. She is a role model for other struggling women in Elwak. Halima recently felt much rewarded after she sold her old sewing machine and replaced with a new one. Thank you for making that possible.
She shared her enjoy with GENCAD’s project coordinator, Zakiya.
“In the past, I used to take my children clothes to tailors, but now I am happy that I can do it myself and support them at the same time. Thanks to GENCAD, I can confidently take another Loan and pay back with no worries.”
Without the support of wonderful donors like yourself, this wouldn’t have been possible. Please continue to support our cause as we do our best to lift out of poverty our women, one woman at a time.
You will also be glad to hear that in August we shall be launching a grant scheme for 100 women like Halima. We shall let you know about this project once the grant is officially announced by the institutional funder.
Thank and May God bless you.
Abdirashid Ali
Executive Director.
In our quest to establish a reading culture, GENCAD in partnership with BookAid International delivered 6000 books worth £100K to schools, colleges and community libraries in Mandera County, Kenya. This is in addition to over 2000 books delivered last year. This year’s delivered was extra special for us as it coincided with the planned opening of a new Medical Training College established by the National and County Government of Mandera to serve not only the residents of Mandera but also the border regions of Somalia and Ethiopia. Over the years Mandera had suffered an exodus of non-local skilled personnel especially in the teaching and medical professionals due to insecurity challenges posed by Al-Shabab from across the border in Somalia. The opening of the medical and teaching training colleges in the county will help the training of local youths as teachers and medical staff to fill the biting shortages. GENCAD will continue to solicit support for the local institutions and work in partnership with the county government to address emerging issues in the education and health sector.
]]>We are delighted to update you on the progress of our project. Despite many challenges they faced from droughts, insecurity and the economic downturn as a result of the prolonged electioneering period in the country, our beneficiaries have continued to make the best that they can.
In a recent survey to meet the beneficiaries of Gencad women empowerment, we spoke to Habiba from Wajir IDP camp.
Habiba is a 57-year-old widow who moved from Wajir county to Elwak because of the clan conflict. She lost her son in the process and remained with his children to look after. She is on her second loan of around Ksh.15,000 to set up and expand a retail grocery shop.
The organisation was able to lend her money by using a group lending system, in which groups of women are jointly responsible for repayments of the loan.
The loans allowed her to make her business more profitable and to spend the extra income on her children’s education and her families’ medical expenses. ”I can now take care of my grandchildren who are depending on me, for a while I thought they would not go to school.”
In her opinion, the loan provided although smaller in amount has challenged her life and those of her grandchildren considerably. She is now able to buy basics necessities of life for her family and wishes to expand her business. As the treasurer, she has become instrumental in the smooth running her group, and to her credit, she has ensured her group members are up to date on their repayments and savings.
Microcredit with women as the principal borrowers is a powerful tool in the reduction of poverty and the transformation of society.
It is because of your support we able to lend a helping hand to women like Habiba. Thank you for making that possible. With your continued support, we shall aim to reach more vulnerable women in the coming months and years.
Currently, we are competing for bonus prices on the GlobalGiving website as part of the end year campaign. If at all possible, please consider donating to our project so that we can support more women early next year. We appreciate any amount. Thank you.
On behalf of our trustees, staff and beneficiaries, please accept our seasonal greetings and a happy 2018.
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