About Us

History

Akili Holdings was founded by Haron Wachira in 2010,and subsequently enlarged and segmented into units that work together as a group (hence Akili Group) on specific pursuits of the social entreprise’s vision: Software tools; value addition; training/capacity building; cooperative modelled savings and investments. The company’s major income stream is carbon credits from offsetting activities in communities.

Prior to the establishment of Akili, Haron Wachira , was a consultant with UNDP for 2 years to establish the cause of endemic pooverty in 20 constituencies spread across Kenya, and to develop possible ways out. The project proposed a slate of micro-industries that could potentially create meaningful employment on a large scale in each of these counties.

    Business Model

    The business model for the Akili Group was inspired by this study. 

    Currently, Akili Group’s activities comprise of:

    * The development of agricultural crops that proffer significant health benefits such as moringa oleifera, spinach, hibiscus, and lemon grass — stabilized in dried form for use as ingredients in human and animal foods.

    * Supporting farmers to grow fruit, nut, and shade trees as a source of income and also as a mechanism to offset carbon from the atmosphere and earn carbon credits.

    * Supporting coffee farmers with practical, calendar-linked agronomy training (what to do in month x) for optimal improvement of the coffee crop. Our demonstrated result increased the harvests of a coffee plant from around 2 kg to 20 kg and adoption of practices that result in the cupping score improvement.

    * Supporting farmers in the development of precision farming protocols and practices, high-impact inputs such as water retainers, and the use of high-yielding seed varieties for increased yields.

    * Promotion of beekeeping as a complementary activity on or near the farms on which Akili-linked farmers are growing trees, coffee, moringa, and other crops. Beekeeping increases the yield of all flowering crops and also generates additional income for beehive owners.

    * Promotion of the use of energy-efficient cookstoves, which save firewood and improve the users’ health.

    * Supporting farming communities linked to Akili Group’s carbon offsetting/credit value chain to think through, design, and establish financing partnerships to implement community infrastructural improvements, such as access to water, health facilities, and educational institutions.

    * Development of high-efficiency software tools for use in monitoring activities in the carbon credit value chain.

     

    Vision, Mission & Core Values

    Vision

    To be a leader in the creation of business models for sustainable holistic economic development in rural households

    Mission

    We co-invest with communities and, in partnership with social investors, donors and government, provide the tools and assistance necessary to implement holistic, environmentally sustainable and profitable value adding programmes in rural communities.

    Core Values

    • Integrity: We aim, in our business and engagements, to uphold integrity.
    • Holistic Development: We seek to grow the whole person, a whole community, holistically.
    • Transparency: We seek to maintain transparency with our partners and stakeholders
    • Fairness: We seek to ensure fairness for all members of every value chain programme we engage in
    • Value creation and sharing: We are committed to finding, creating and sharing value.

    Impact

    • Creation of jobs for rural folk, including women and youth
      At every point of the carbon value chain, Akili is working with various stakeholders to create decent work opportunities – with benefits such as access to affordable credit, and diversity of work opportunities for placement of individuals with various skill sets.

    • Improvements for rural clinics in partnership with Banda Health                                                    Starting with a small rural clinic in Nyeri town, Akili is working with Banda Health to identify rural clinics beginning by facilitating a linkage to the Banda Go installation and progressively, to upscale these clinics’ ability to deliver services in their areas.Akili is also partnering with AIC Maternal & Newborn Community Health Community Health Project to implement community health education and improvement programmes.

    • Improving the capacity of farmer groups on both lending and saving (financial literacy).Through its partnership with Akili Development Sacco, Akili is removing barriers to expand financial access to smallholder farmers and their groups, enabling investment in agriculture, business enterprises and personal development.

    • Improving forest cover in the targeted rural areasThrough partnerships with investors, Akili is implementing afforestation projects that will transform forest cover by planting millions of trees.

    • Improvements in the agricultural sector through natural aids such as biochar, and biofertilizer. Akili promotes natural, soil enriching products to replenish depleted soils and restore agricultural productivity.

    • Creation of academic opportunities for children in rural areas. Through pre-negotiated community benefits, communities will progressively access scholarships, and bursary support to needy students to ensure that education is accessible to the disadvantaged.

    • Improvement of quality and quantity production for individual farmers in rural areas. Working with Ambassadors and Field Officers, who are champions of development in Akili communities, we are creating improved access to practical agronomy know-how for the improvement of agricultural production in rural smallholder farming. 

         

      We Are a Catalyst

      Who we are

      We Are an Enabler

      Who we are

      We Are a Partner

      Who we are

      We Are a Mentor

      Who we are

      We empower individual farmers in rural communities to realize their potential, holistically

      Who we are

      The Problems We seek to Solve

      In many communities in Kenya:

      • Agricultural production is generally unprofitable – subsidized by ‘diaspora’-based relatives, government and/or NGOs
      • Education is valued, highly funded, but almost NEVER applied in small-scale agriculture.
      • Common: A general state of poverty, except among traders, brokers and the employed, eg teachers. Result: rapid urban migration to overstretched cities.
      • In nearly all rural communities (which account for 80% of Kenya’s population) there is progressive deterioration: of security; of the economy; of the environment; of the quality of life.

       

      A dairy cow, for example is maintained at over Shs 300 ($3) but only produces 3 litres of milk, which fetch a maximum of Shs 100 ($1). Pastoralists keep a cow for five years, at a cost of around Shs 30,000 ($300) only to sell it for Shs 15,000 ($150) or lose it during drought.

      Our Approach

      Entire Value Chain Approach

      The Akili implements Entire Value Chain Interventions: Organisation; institutionalisation; practical learning; credit facilitation; technical assistance; tools/mechanisation — with a view to empowering members of rural communities to implement economically sustainable activity. In an entire value chain designed production activity, profit is realised and shared equitably at every level of the programme. 

      Achieving Long-Term Change

      An entire value chain focus examines every aspect of an intended value chain, and institutionalises the mechanisms for overcoming all identified challenges. Akili, therefore, works with members of the respective community, social development partners, research institutions and government to address the plethora of challenges that contribute to the endemic cycles of poverty that define our rural areas: loss-making production, environmental degradation, rural-urban migration, hygiene, health and practical application of knowledge.

      Improved Quality of Life

      With improved techniques, contractual assurances and profit, Akili Community members stimulate rural economies and bring about greater prosperity, education & health to rural areas: the key to lasting economic security for themselves and their families. Since 2010, we have established ourselves as a leader in creating and adding value in rural communities.

      The
      Akili Group

      Akili’s business model addresses all the components in a value chain to address inefficiency, production accountability, economies of scale, credit (funding) and facilitate value addition. Each of the components is coordinated by a specialized social venture that works with or through communities, namely:

      Akili Technologies

      Akili Technologies develops and maintains the Akili eT, our software platform for value chain management. Akili Technologies also supports community based organizations install and operate the MIFOS platform, a shareware cooperative management system developed by the Grameen Foundation.

      Akili Development Sacco

      Akili Development Sacco (ADS) is a value chain supportive cooperative that funds the establishment of value chains.

      Akili Foods

      Through Akili Foods Ltd we process (add value) products for sale as finished goods, and also semi-process vegetables and grains for export.

      Akili Development Organization

      Through Akili Development Organization (ADO), we organize communities into accountable units, provide capacity building and coordinate extension services.
      Through ADO we also provide consultancy services in the development of  last mile; carbon offset services. We also consult with organizations supporting value chain development programmes in rural areas.

      AIAT

      Applied Institute of Agriculture & Technology, the groups facilitator of training and capacity building to staff, enlisted community groups and consultants working with and for the Group.

      The Akili  Team

      The Akili Group Headquarters Team

      The Akili Group Headquarters Team is responsible for sourcing and maintaining partnerships and facilitating management across the entire Akili organization.

      The eTransact Team

      The eTransact Team develops, enhances and deploys the eT system at the individual, aggregation centre, value addition and market levels. Information from the eT system is consolidated in a national portal (link to portal).

      Field Team

      Akili’s field management team is diverse, comprising extension workers, agronomists, agricultural infrastructure specialists, researchers, engineers and logistics management professionals. Their goal, combined is one: to facilitate efficient production at every member farm.
      Photos By CIAT – 2DU Kenya 86, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30331271