As we build towards Giving Tuesday, we are taking the opportunity to shine a light on the partners and projects we work alongside and support throughout East Africa. Our partners are supported by every guest that spends a night in an Asilia camp, as well as through the Asilia Giving platform which combines contributions made by Asilia with private donations from individuals.
Northern Kenya Impact Projects
Our first spotlight looks at Northern Kenya where we are supporting a new initiative in our longstanding partnership with the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, and an education programme through Rhino Ark in the Southwestern Mau Forest.
Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Ol Pejeta is a 90,000-acre conservancy in Laikipia County, central Kenya, known for its integrated approach to wildlife protection and community development. It’s home to a Key 1 population of black rhino (a stable and growing population of over 100 rhino), alongside elephants, lions, Grevy’s zebra and Beisa oryx. Uniquely Kenyan-owned and led, Ol Pejeta combines tourism, livestock, and philanthropy, investing directly in the 56,000 people who live in the surrounding communities.
Through our Ol Pejeta Bush Camp, we’ve long supported the conservancy through our guests. Visitor fees help to fund wildlife protection, rangers’ salaries, and vital community projects in education, healthcare, and sustainable farming.
This year we are providing further impact funding to support Ol Pejeta’s climate-smart regenerative agriculture project. The initiative is led by the conservancy’s Community Development Department and was first tested in 2023. It responds to the persistent food insecurity in the smallholder farms that border the conservancy, where rainfall is erratic and soil fertility is poor. Many families rely on small plots and can only produce crops for a few months each year before dry conditions halt growth. The project introduces a practical, low-cost way to harvest and retain rainwater directly on farms, allowing crops to continue to thrive after the rains have ended.
The concept is a simple one, meaning there is strong potential to scale it across the region. Participating farmers excavate a shallow 200-cubic-metre pond at the top edge of their field. When the rains come, the pond fills naturally and slowly releases moisture through the soil, feeding crops planted downhill. Farmers then plant crops in sequence according to their rooting depth, maize and beans nearer the pond, deeper-rooted trees, and fruit farther away, creating a natural system of water distribution. The results have been promising. From the 134 pilot ponds dug so far, over 100 have functioned well, increasing yields by as much as 70 percent on some plots. The extra moisture also benefits neighbouring fields and attracts pollinators such as bees and birds, strengthening the wider farm ecosystem. Further benefits include less human dependency on pumping river water, shared with the wildlife inside the conservancy.
As well as assistance and training in how to construct their farm ponds, farmers receive training in crop diversification, soil management and basic agronomy. The approach is backed by science, and they also receive support from a soil scientist who tests the soil to identify the most suitable crops and location for the pond. This year’s new phase will add 20 more ponds and expand training and soil analysis. For most households, this means secure food supplies, income from surplus crops, and a shift toward farming that supports both people and the surrounding landscape.
Rhino Ark
Rhino Ark is a Kenyan conservation trust established to protect vital ecosystems and the wildlife and communities that depend on them. The organisation is best known for its pioneering role in safeguarding Kenya’s mountain forests known as the “Water Towers” that supply most of the country’s rivers.
Asilia has partnered with Rhino Ark on its Conservation Education Programme in the Southwestern Mau Forest. This initiative brings environmental awareness into schools and communities, helping young people understand the link between forest health, water, and livelihoods. The programme reaches 55 schools and has created a network of trained Community Conservation Champions who mentor teachers to support the educational messaging.
Asilia’s funding is supporting the programme’s expansion into renewable energy education and sustainable energy solutions. Rhino Ark is installing small-scale biogas digesters in two pilot schools and building two community charcoal-making kilns that convert farm waste into cleaner fuel. These practical demonstrations reduce the need for firewood, helping to curb deforestation around the Mau Forest, while also introducing students and local residents to alternative livelihoods.
Alongside the installations, 55 teachers and 15 community champions are receiving training in renewable energy and climate education. The conservation curriculum, already approved for rollout by Kenya’s education authorities, is being updated to include modules on energy efficiency and climate change. The training being provided will help teachers in delivering the updated curriculum, to build a generation of young environmental stewards equipped with both knowledge and practical skills.
We are proud to support these partners in their efforts to improve community livelihoods and conservation initiatives in northern Kenya. This Giving Tuesday, consider making a donation to Asilia Giving – the philanthropic arm of Asilia. Full donation amounts are used in support of our implementing partners, ensuring the longevity and reach of their programmes.
