Who are we?

Ecofinder Kenya is a Community Based Organization (CBO) founded in 1995 and registered as Ecofinder Youth Group by Department of Social Services and Development, Republic of Kenya as a self-help group. Ecofinder Kenya is a vibrant, innovative and grass-root-based organization spearheading initiatives for sustainable communities around Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya. Our interventions include research and monitoring, landscape rehabilitation, entrepreneurship, capacity building and training, conservation education and advocacy, leadership incubation and nurturing, promotion of good governance and peace at grass-root level and preventive health education.

More about us

Ecofinder was formed by like-minded young people residing in shanties of Kisumu who were touched and moved by myriad problems (State of affairs) affecting them and other young people in the slums and beyond; idleness and unemployment, substance abuse, school drop-outs, unwanted pregnancies, unhealthy boy-girl relationships, peer influence/ pressure, sexually transmitted infections and other ailments, environmental mismanagement, street urchins, orphans, lack of basic needs inter alia. Therefore, the pioneer members decided to initiate this self-help project (CBO) to mobilize the young people to take a proactive role in ameliorating the aforementioned state of affairs. Ecofinder Kenya operates on the principle of integrated or holistic approach in tackling the myriad problems: Environment, Health and other Socio-economic problems and to accommodate the diverse background and interests of the people involved. The organization also recognizes the gender concerns in the society and aims at achieving social justice, equity and poverty alleviation.

The mandate of Ecofinder Kenya is captured in its herein stated vision, mission, goals and objectives:

Our vision

Ecofinder is committed to the promotion of Lake Victoria people’s active participation in ameliorating their Environment, Livelihood and Health and by extension that of their communities.

Our Mission

To empower and work with the grass-root communities through holistic approaches in order to make them realize their potentials and attain local sustainable development.

Goals and Objectives

  1. To facilitate grass-root communities proactive involvement in sustainable development issues around Lake Victoria region.

  2. To promote natural resources conservation among Lake Victoria communities.

  3. To promote environmental friendly enterprises for poverty alleviation

  4. To facilitate sustainable development education, training and advocacy on various thematic issues among Lake Victoria grass-root communities.

Meet Our Team

Maurice Ogoma

Maurice holds B.Sc. in Environmental Science from Egerton University, Kenya and M.Sc. in Tropical Ecology from University of Bremen, Germany.

Roniance Adhiambo

Masters Degree in Environmental Policy, University of Nairobi (Ongoing). Holds a BSc in Wildlife Enterprise and Management from Egerton University, The Netherlands. A post graduate certificate in Wetlands, Integrated Water Resources Management and Food Security from Wageningen University, The Netherlands

Francis Omungo

Holds diploma in social work (Moi University). Has experience in community mobilization, development and health. Has participated in numerous acting and puppetry theatrical projects ranging from ecological sanitation, wetland conservation and health issues.

Faith Magadi

Holds BA in Public Administration and International Relations from Moi University. Has experience in Leadership mentorship and incubation, community mobilization and capacity building, social marketing, conflicts management, institutional analysis, networking, public affairs management and development communication.

Joseph Onyango

(Bsc. Fisheries Management, Moi University). He has experience in fisheries management, aquaculture, conservation research and community training on nature-based enterprisess

Jacktone Hamisi

Holds advance Diploma in Community Based Development and Project Management from Premese Africa Institute. Likewise, Certified Public Account (CPA I). 

Nehemia Odero

Holds Diploma in Banking and Finance and Bachelors of Business and Management (Accounting option). Has experience in financial accounting and management.

The Advisory Board

Leonard Akwany

Holds Bsc in Natural Resources Management from Egerton University and Msc in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management from consortium of European Universities; University of Manchester, UK, University of Lund, Sweden, Central European University, Hungary and University of Aegean, Greece. His role in the advisory board includes technical backstopping in strategic planning, scientific research, interventions design and development, resource mobilization, networking and impact evaluation.

Mike Skuja

Holds Msc in Environment and Development from Oxford University. He is the Executive Director of CREE and has experience on resource mobilization, poverty alleviation and nature conservation.

Karen Basiye

Holds Msc in Environmental Management from Lund University. Works with Safaricom Company Limited and has experience in sustainable development education, environmental governance and corporate citizenship.

Susanne Roelofsen

Her role in the advisory board includes technical advice in the areas of entrepreneurship or business development and networking of Ecofinder Kenya in the global arena. Her educational background includes B.Sc. in International Business and Management and M.Sc. in Strategic Innovation Management from the University of Groningen, Netherlands. 

Dennis Osodo

Holds Bachelors of Commerce and CPA (K). Works with Price Water House Coopers and has experience in project and financial management.

Ciara Sutton

Ciara is a video journalist and producer for Reuters in London. She holds an MA in International Journalism and has experience in applied theatre, international journalism, communication, filming and local development work. 

Past Projects

Enhancing Women and Youth Capacity to Pursue Sustainable Livelihoods through Environmental Leadership Training

Funded by – Canadian High Commission (Canada Fund for Local Initiatives)

2019 – 2020, Lake Victoria Region

Co-designing plastics pollution reduction tools & curriculum for 300+ watersheds

Funded by – National Geographic Society

2019 – 2020, Kenya – Lake Victoria

A bid to Save the Papyrus Endemic Birds of Lake Victoria

Funded by – Eric Hosking Charitable Trust

2017 – 2018, Lake Victoria Region

Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Building Among Lake Victoria Communities Kenya

Funded by – USAID – The PREPARED Project

2015 – 2018, Lake Victoria Region – Siaya County

Enabling Rural Riparian Communities to Conserve and Benefit from Wetlands in the Winam Gulf, Lake Victoria, Kenya

Funded by – MacArthur Foundation

2014 – 2017, Winam Gulf, Lake Victoria Region

Applied Theatre for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

Artefact Center for Sustainable Development, Germany

2010-2011, Lake Victoria Region

Strategic and Multi-stakeholders Advocacy for Yala Wetland Community Conservation Area and Ramsar Site, Kenya.

Rufford Small Grants Foundation, UK

2010-2011, Siaya

Conservation, Training and Entrepreneurship

Whitley Trust Fund for Nature, UK

2009-2010, Kisumu and Siaya

Conservation, Poverty and Ecological Sanitation

Centre for Rural Empowerment and the Environment (CREE), USA

2008-present, Kisumu and Siaya

Conservation Education, Survey and Monitoring

Rufford Small Grants Foundation, UK

2008-2009, Siaya

Primates Survey and Conservation Education

International Primatological Society (IPS)

2009, Kisumu and Siaya

Avitourism Survey

African Bird Club, UK

2008, Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya

Self-Sufficient Schools, Entrepreneurship in Schools

Teach A Man To Fish, UK

2007-2008, Siaya

Fellowships on Field Ecological Research

Earthwatch Europe and Kenya

2009, Madagascar, Malawi and Kenya

Performing Arts in Schools and Villages

Kenya Community Development Foundation, Changamoto Fund

2006, Kisumu

Environmental Education and Awareness

Lake Victoria Sunset Birders Kisumu,

Siaya 2006-present

Sustainable Development Education

Civil Society and Government Departments

1995-present

Edu-entertainment performance

Institute of Performing Artists Limited (IPAL)

2005, Nairobi

Social Marketing (Malaria, Water Treatment and HIV/AIDS)

Population Services International

2002-2004, Kisumu

Human Rights Issues and Women Empowerment

Kenya Human Right Commission (KHRC)

1995, Kisumu

Peace Promotion/ International Peace Day

Peace One Day, UK

2019

Environment

Ecofinder Kenya in partnership with grass-root communities and other stakeholders facilitate diverse interventions towards enabling sustainable utilization and conservation of natural resources base. Interventions include environmental education, environmental research and monitoring, training and capacity building and habitat rehabilitation and restoration. These interventions target wetlands, catchment areas, water and sanitation, human-wildlife conflicts and climate change thematic domains.

IT AND ENTREPRENUERSHIP

Ecofinder Kenya recognizes the imperatives of information technology and entrepreneurship in not only tackling communities' problems but providing avenues for prosperity. Therefore, undertakes interventions aimed at mainstreaming IT and entrepreneurship into grass-root communities' socio-economic endeavours. Hence undertake training and enabling application of the same in environmental conservation, livelihoods improvement and diversification.

HEALTH AND OUTREACHES

Ecofinder Kenya promotes preventive health care through health education and provision of required deliverables such as mosquito nets and medicine. Other outreach activities include provision of charitable materials such as food, school uniforms, books et cetera. This programme intervention is necessitated by the fact that unhealthy or hungry community cannot participate actively in environmental conservation and entrepreneurial activities.

PEACE, LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE

Peace, Leadership and Good Governance are critical prerequisites for environmental management and economic prosperity. Ecofinder Kenya focuses on local peace, leadership and governance and target youth. Our interventions include training and capacity building through coaching, mentorship and incubation on peace, leadership and governance. Activities such as sports for peace, festivals for leadership and camps for good governance are undertaken under this programmatic intervention.

Drop us a message

Working hours

Monday- Thursday:8:00-18:30 Hrs
(Phone until 17:30 Hrs)
Friday - 8:00-14:00

We are here

Kisumu, Kenya
Phone: +254-726-701042
Email: [email protected]