“At any time to my farming history, I have never seen middle-men so cowed. They were literally persuading us because everybody refused their meagre prices, what a season”, says Joseph Maina of Mbiriri catchment group. HSHC linked the group to a passion fruit buyer in Nairobi which effectively by-passed the middle-men who otherwise offer low prices to the farmers. Because of HSHC’s intervention, farmers for the first time were more or less able to dictate the prices and earn a decent income from their produce.

Sometimes simple measures can make a huge impact. HSHC is dedicated to search for those interventions that promote sustainable development and help forest-adjacent communities to earn a reasonable living. We encourage local people to make use of the resources around them and we help them to start or improve their businesses. We believe that a vibrant rural economy is the key to lift our target groups from poverty.

HSHC currently implements the following projects:

1. Fair Economic Development Programme 2009-2011 (ICCO)
2. Scaling up Biodiesel Production in Kenya Project: 2011 – 2013 (BEIA)
3. Forest Diesel for Improved Rural Livelihoods Project 2010 – 2011 (EEP)
4. Mount Kenya Forest Management Project 2011 – 2012 (ACP FLEGT)
5. Sustainable Forests Governance and Non Wood Enterprises Development for improved Livelihoods and Ecosystems Conservation Program - Western Mount Kenya Landscape 2010-2012 (PACT Kenya)
6. Kenya Eco-Energy Program
7. Production of Sustainable Bio-fuels, agro-inputs and animal feeds in the Mt Kenya area
8. Volunteer program