.png)
Eco-credit and Livelihood Program
In 2021, COMRED, in partnership with GreenFi and Blue Ventures, piloted the Eco-credit scheme in Kwale county to facilitate access to credit and encourage community members to be part of sustainable resource management.
ECO-CREDIT SCHEME
A theory of change conducted with the BMUs
Indicated that leaders lacked cooperation from their members to participate in conservation activities, leading to a degraded environment and overutilization of marine resources. The members' demotivation stemmed from the lack of incentives, which led to the creation of eco-credits, an incentive-based system that would tie conservation activities to tangible benefits.
Through the eco-credit schemes community members are able to access loans as an incentive for engaging in conservation activities.
OUR COVERAGE
This project has been implemented in 10 community groups in six villages
(Mkwiro, Kibuyuni, Majoreni, Munje, Mwandamu, and Bodo), and its success shows us the potential of scaling to other BMUs along the coast.
The eco-credit group members engage in mangrove restoration, establishing mangrove nurseries, conducting beach clean ups and community awareness sessions on importance of conservation.
The Impact
The Impact
- 40 eco-credit leaders trained and mentored on using ODK Collect
- Over 400,000 mangrove seedlings raised in nurseries, and more than 136,722 of these transplanted to degraded areas
- 22 awareness sessions held during BMU assembly meetings and village barazas on environmental conservation
- 43 beach clean-up sessions done (8.6 tonnes of waste sold: metal 1.4kg, glass 3,808kg, plastic 1136.64kg , flip flops 1,132 kg, HDPE 2326.42kg)
- Establishment of new businesses and expansion of existing ones through loans
- Members being able to meet their social needs such as paying school fees and hospital bills
400+
"Eco-credit is different compared to other loaning schemes we have access to. In Eco-credit, we conserve the environment and at the same time get loans in form of money which we use to empower ourselves by starting and expanding our businesses and also take our children to school."
"Eco-credit is different compared to other loaning schemes we have access to. In Eco-credit, we conserve the environment and at the same time get loans in form of money which we use to empower ourselves by starting and expanding our businesses and also take our children to school."
Stay updated
Our annual newsletter highlights our program impacts and updates on livelihood and conservation activities and milestones.
