Great Companies

6 min read

Jonathan Munyany, CEO at Civicom Aid

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