A program that highlights the crucial role of DUOL FARMERS CBO in securing sustainable agricultural futures through strategic INVESTMENTS IN KNOWLEDGE "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest"

DUOL FARMERS CBO ACHIEVEMENTS Organized Workshops and mentorship with experts from ENAF YiSA program of the MasterCard foundation: Hands-on experience, networking with professionals, and learning from mentors can provide practical skills and guidance.

Hands-on experience with the help of SHIELD/ OKUMBA SACCO on table banking: Applying theoretical concepts in real-world situations, such as through internships or volunteering, reinforces knowledge and develops problem-solving skill Investing in knowledge for Community-Based Organization (CBO) members is crucial for strengthening the organization's capacity, effectiveness, and long-term sustainability. These investments build essential skills, empower individuals, and ultimately drive positive change within the community.

Facilitated Community Engagement with other CBO like KOVAACHAA from Koru Township , Mazingira na jamii CBO and Grassroots trust: Educational programs that focus on communication, conflict resolution, and participatory development methods foster greater community ownership, participation, and trust in the CBO's work.

BENEFITS OF INVESTING IN CBO MEMBER KNOWLEDGE Increased Effectiveness: Better-trained CBO members lead to more impactful programs and data-driven decision-making processes, ensuring the CBO addresses local challenges effectively. Enhanced Partnerships: A knowledgeable CBO is better equipped to form equitable partnerships with external bodies like academic institutions, government agencies, and NGOs, as members can better negotiate and collaborate.

INVESTMENTS FINANCIAL RESOURCES Such as MONEY MARKET FUND (MMF) with coop trust, and resilient practices and ensure long-term food security and profitability. The money market facilitates short-term borrowing and trading of low-risk instruments, ensuring liquidity and stability for DUOL FARMERS businesses who are seeking secure, accessible investments. The main importance of the money market lies in its role in maintaining economic stability and providing a secure platform for short-term lending and borrowing. It supports liquidity and efficient cash flow management and offers safe investment avenues for individual farmers and to the CBO.

DUOL FARMERS CBO ACHIEVEMENTS Investing in a cooperative bank trust fund money market fund by the CBO has ensured capital preservation, high liquidity, and competitive returns for short-term financial goals, Safety net and emergency fund. This has allowed CBO to access their cash quickly in case of an unforeseen financial challenge. Higher returns than traditional savings accounts: generally the CBO has achieved higher yields than standard bank savings accounts due to the compounding factor. Making some extra income for the CBO

BENEFITS OF INVESTING IN MMF

• Liquidity:
Funds can be easily accessed, often within a few business days, which is crucial for the poor farmers who may need emergency funds or cash for short-term goals (e.g., school fees or medical emergencies)

• Income Generation:
MMFs provide the CBO with regular interest or dividend payments, which can be compounded daily and reinvested to grow CBO savings over time. This helps in CBO building wealth slowly and consistently.

• Safety and Stability:
MMFs are considered low-risk investments aimed at preserving capital, as they invest in stable, short-term securities. They offer more stable returns to the CBO than volatile options like stocks.

• Financial Inclusion:

MMFs, often available through mobile money platforms, promote a savings culture among low-income individuals famers and provide access to formal financial systems, helping them hedge against inflation better than keeping physical cash.

These programs also often involve training, access to better seeds and irrigation, assistance with value addition, and support for market access to foster sustainability and adapt to climate change and also helping farmers to access financial credits

DUOL FARMERS CBO savings and loans program that offer active, and regularly make credit available to their members, enabling many small businesses to grow. This offers its members the opportunity to become part of a few-banked farming CBO. The DUOL FARMERS CBO SAC provides loans that are affordable and easy to understand because not forgetting the low-interest rates. The SAC focus on training and building its members’ financial literacy and understanding, that farmers would now be able to track all their agribusiness enterprises and expenses for effective use of the CBO savings and loans program, training the members on record keeping, best agricultural practices, market information and linkages and conservation agriculture. With access to financial services farmers can deal with crop success after many failures

DUOL FARMERS CBO ACHIEVEMENTS

• Borrow strategically:
The CBO has used the both SIKAWA FARMERS AND SHIELD / OKUMBA SACCO’S 1% low-interest loans enabled farmers to achieve productive investments, such as starting a business or farm improvement, rather than for consumption. CBO members can often borrow up to three or four times their total savings One CBO used a SACCO loan to expand her AGRI business, doubling his revenue within a few years.
• SHIELD / OKUMBA SACCO’s TABLE BANKING TRAINING:
Organizations offered training on table banking, which is a group-based funding model where members pool savings and loan repayments to be accessed by members. The aim was to empower CBO women, men and youths with financial and business skills. And also KES 30,000/= “Provided seed money” by the patron Hon Ruth Odinga this was our initial capital given to CBO SAC. This funding helps us to startup our saving and credit wing of the CBO and to start giving members soft loans.

BENEFITS OF SAVING WITH A SAVINGS AND CREDIT COOPERATIVE ORGANIZATION TO THE CBO

• Financial literacy:
The SACCOs provided CBO members with financial education and support, helping them manage their money more effectively and make informed financial decisions.

• Community empowerment:
The cooperative model of the two SACCOs promoted community cohesion and empowerment by keeping benefits within the community and supporting vulnerable members through programs like education scholarships.

• Social impact and sustainable development:
By focusing on financial inclusion and supporting members' financial growth, SACCOs contribute to sustainable development goals OF CBO members, such as promoting decent work, economic growth, and reduced inequalities