Great Companies: How did you get your idea or concept for the business?
Jonathan Munyany: In 2018, Jonathan Munyany visited Makueni County, Kenya, to
assist with meat exports. He noticed the contrast between prosperous ranches and
impoverished villages, where many young adults had left in search of better opportunities.
Jonathan found that their youths in urban areas formed the cheapest labor force, living
in slums and struggling with low wages. Despite some daughters supporting their
families, many parents faced severe food insecurity. Access to water was seen as a
vital solution by the abandoned youth.
During his interactions, Jonathan witnessed substance abuse issues and the custom of
marrying young girls. Motivated by these conditions, he traveled to different towns,
engaging with young people who had been forced to leave their homes due to limited
resources.
Realizing the importance of water and food, Jonathan planned to establish water access
points and farming projects. His aim was to break the cycle of devastation and
abandonment in Makueni, while empowering communities through improved education,
water, and farming.
Great Companies: What are the various services provided by Civicom Aid?
Jonathan Munyany: Civicom Aid provide four main services in hard to reach remote
rural, dryland, and slum areas of low-income countries around Africa.
Sustainable Farming Program: Civicom Aid’s program focuses on addressing the
problems of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, food insecurity, and the impact of climate
change. We achieve this by establishing farmer water points and providing training to
farmers organized in Safe Groups.
The establishment of water points enables communities to access reliable water
sources for year-round crop irrigation. Through the training programs, farmers acquire
essential farming skills and learn about tree intercropping techniques. This combination
of water points and farming skills allows farmers to cultivate crops both for food and
profit.
The crops grown serve the purpose of combating hunger, malnutrition, and poverty,
while the integration of trees helps mitigate the impact of climate change. Furthermore,
our efforts to connect farmers to markets create better opportunities for them to sell their
produce. As a result of our interventions, there is an increase in food production, improved food security, and better living conditions and a reduction in poverty levels. The Maternal-Child Health: Civicom Aid is currently focused on promoting the health of mothers and children and reducing malaria prevalence.
To achieve these goals, we educate birth attendants and women, equipping them with
essential skills for maternal and child health. Trained community members assist us in
distributing mosquito nets, sensors, and repellents. We also map mosquito sites,
identify and eliminate breeding places, and conduct spraying activities. Additionally, we
actively raise community awareness about mosquito-borne diseases.
Through these ongoing efforts, we contribute to reducing mortality rates in local
communities, with a specific emphasis on improving the well-being of mothers and
children.
The Inclusive Education: Civicom Aid promotes education and employment in remote,
slum, and dryland areas through various initiatives. We establish youth hubs as safe
spaces for accessing entrepreneurship skills and online job opportunities, empowering
young individuals. Additionally, we build schools in areas where the nearest one is 30
kilometers away, making education more accessible. We provide support to students by
covering tuition fees and donating school supplies, removing financial barriers and
encouraging enrollment. Our efforts also focus on bringing back out-of-school children
and preventing dropouts. Overall, our initiatives aim to empower individuals, foster
development, and create opportunities in these communities.
The Home Biogas: Program promotes renewable energy among marginalized pastoral
communities. We provide financing for biodigester installations, train youths in
renewable energy technologies, and raise awareness about forest conservation. The
program improves health conditions by reducing diseases caused by wood fuel smoke
and contributes to girls' education by reducing the need for wood fuel collection. It also
helps mitigate climate change and encourages the conservation of trees.
In summary, Civicom Aid's programs have tailored approaches, comprehensive
strategies, and address the unique challenges faced by communities in remote, dryland
areas, and low-income countries in Africa. They prioritize sustainable development,
empower individuals, alleviate poverty, and promote environmental stewardship.
Great Companies: What makes Civicom Aid different from hundreds of other similar service providers?
Jonathan Munyany: Civicom Aid stands out in its Sustainable Farming Program by
providing comprehensive support to small-scale family farming in remote, dryland areas,
and low-income countries in Africa. We address water scarcity by establishing farmer
water points and offer training to farmers organized in Safe Groups. The program
connects farmers to markets, creating better opportunities for selling their produce. The
objective is to reduce hunger, poverty, and combat climate change through sustainable
livelihoods .Their Maternal-Child Health Program empowers women through Birth Champions groups to improve health conditions and alleviate poverty. Civicom Aid tackles malaria and other diseases by distributing mosquito nets and educating women on mosquito control. They arrange ambulance services for healthcare access and utilize tree-based mosquito sensors. Through entrepreneurship training, the program aims to make
women self-reliant and economically independent, while focusing on overall community
well-being.
The Inclusive Education Program promotes education and employment in remote, slum,
and dryland areas. Civicom Aid establishes youth hubs as safe spaces for accessing
educational resources, skills development, and job opportunities. By empowering
youths and breaking the cycle of poverty, the program aims to transform communities
and reduce social crimes and early marriages. It addresses barriers to education by
building schools, covering tuition fees, and distributing supplies.
Civicom Aid's Home Biogas Program promotes renewable energy among marginalized
pastoral communities. They provide financing for biodigester installations, train youths in
renewable energy technologies, and raise awareness about forest conservation. The
program improves health conditions by reducing diseases caused by wood fuel smoke
and contributes to girls' education by reducing the need for wood fuel collection. It also
helps mitigate climate change and encourages the conservation of trees.
In summary, Civicom Aid's programs have tailored approaches, comprehensive
strategies, and address the unique challenges faced by communities in remote, dryland
areas, and low-income countries in Africa. They prioritize sustainable development,
empower individuals, alleviate poverty, and promote environmental stewardship.
Great Companies: What were the struggles and challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?
Jonathan Munyany:During the implementation of the Sustainable Farming program,
Civicom Aid faced challenges such as water scarcity in remote, dryland areas. To
address this, they established farmer water points with solar panels, providing water
access and electricity for the communities. Lack of knowledge and skills among small-
scale farmers was another obstacle. Civicom Aid organized training sessions in Safe
Groups to equip farmers with sustainable farming techniques and improve their
practices. Connecting farmers to markets was also a challenge, so Civicom Aid
established linkages to help farmers sell their crops and generate income.
In the Maternal-Child Health program, Civicom Aid encountered challenges related to
malaria and other diseases. They distributed mosquito nets and implemented
educational programs on mosquito breeding site destruction to protect families. Women
lacked knowledge on relevant health issues, so we provided training to address this.
Arranging ambulance services was also a challenge in remote areas, so Civicom Aid
collaborated with local healthcare providers to ensure timely access to healthcare
facilities for pregnant women.
The Inclusive Education program faced obstacles in promoting education and
employment. Civicom Aid established youth hubs to provide educational resources and
access job ads, aiming to break the cycle of poverty. They built schools, covered tuition
fees, and distributed school supplies to address barriers to education, preventing
dropouts and reducing poverty.
In the Home Biogas program, Civicom Aid faced challenges in promoting renewable
energy in marginalized pastoral communities. Limited access to financial resources and
lack of knowledge about renewable energy technologies were obstacles. Civicom Aid
provided financing for biodigester installations and trained youths in building and
repairing biodigesters. Sensitizing the community about forest conservation and
sustainable practices contributed to the success of the program, reducing diseases from
wood fuel smoke and mitigating climate change's impact.
Great Companies: How do you plan to grow in the future? What does 5 years down the line look like for Civicom Aid?
Jonathan Munyany: Over the next five years, Civicom Aid plans to expand and
strengthen its programs in remote, slum, dryland areas, and low-income countries in
Africa.
In the Sustainable Farming Program, we aim to establish 1,500 farmer water points and
train 10,000 farmers. We will connect these farmers to markets, creating more
opportunities to sell their produce and generate income. The program focuses on
reducing hunger, malnutrition, and poverty by 10%, and addressing climate change
through sustainable livelihoods.
For the Maternal-Child Health Program, Civicom Aid aims to train 500,000 women
organized in Birth Champion groups. They will distribute 200,000 mosquito nets and
educate on mosquito control. We will improve ambulance services and utilize innovative
technologies like tree-based mosquito sensors. The program aims to empower women,
improve community health, and alleviate poverty.
In the Inclusive Education Program, Civicom Aid plans to establish 100 youth hubs in
remote, slum, and dryland areas. They will expand educational resources, skills
development programs, and provide 1,200 job opportunities for young individuals. We
will build 10 schools, cover tuition fees, and distribute supplies to 5,000 students, aiming
to transform communities, break the cycle of poverty and barriers to education, and
reduce social crimes and early marriages.
In the Home Biogas Program, Civicom Aid plans to finance 1250 biodigester
installations and train 20 youths in renewable energy technologies. They will raise
awareness about forest conservation and promote sustainable practices. The program
aims to improve community health by reducing diseases caused by wood fuel smoke.
Civicom Aid will contribute to girls' education and mitigate climate change through
renewable energy promotion and tree conservation.
Overall, in five years, Civicom Aid envisions expanding its programs to reach more
communities, reduce poverty, empower individuals, and promote sustainable
development in remote, dryland areas, and low-income countries in Africa.
Great Companies: If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?
Jonathan Munyany:
Sustainable Farming Program: Emphasize continuous learning and adaptation for farmers to improve crop yields and resilience to climate change through new techniques and technologies.
Maternal-Child Health Program: Prioritize community engagement and empowerment, encouraging women to play an active role in their health and promote disease prevention within their communities.
Inclusive Education Program: Foster partnerships with local stakeholders to create a supportive environment for education. Collaborate with parents, teachers, and community leaders to increase resources and effectiveness.
Home Biogas Program: Focus on educating communities about renewable energy benefits and sustainable practices. Empower them to adopt biogas technologies, providing training and support for proper use and maintenance, leading to a cleaner environment.