Ujamaa Centre works with impoverished communities in the tourist rich coastal province of Kenya, to enable them to harness and utilize local natural resources for income generation and improvement of their livelihoods. The centre works in the entire coastal region and has been involved in advocacy for the poor, business development support and participatory community development initiatives. The centre is well established in the coastal province with an extensive network of community based partners and corporate sector supporters. These communities have resources and skills but lack a decent market for their products. They are being exploited by the middlemen who pay minimal amounts and make great profits in the main markets. The communities are unable to access these markets due to lack of knowledge, market information and business skills. The Center in its strategic plan for 2006-2010 aims to entrench ownership and enhance sustainability in development programs within its focus communities by adopting two key strategies:
Strategy 1:
Develop economic alternatives in eco-tourism, Community Based Marine Resources and Environmental Conservation in select focus communities where such organic processes already exist or potential is evident. The process will follow existing initiatives like the Fikirini crocodile conservation and caves. The process envisages the ownership and self-generation of local resources and entrepreneurship in areas where the economic skills gaps have been identified.
Strategy 2:
Develop business plans for select income generating initiatives in the region. Ujamaa has consolidated its programs into three areas namely Social Justice and Advocacy; Entrepreneurship and Development; Research and Education all managed by Program Officers. 30 field staff conducts the capacity building progamme in the communities.
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