Location & context
Osupukiai is a rural Maasai community in Narok County, Kenya, where livestock and pastoralism are central to both livelihoods and community life. Increasingly frequent drought and changing weather patterns are putting pressure on traditional ways of living, making reliable water, resilient livelihoods and opportunities for the next generation increasingly important.
Since 2021, we have worked alongside the Osupukiai community to improve access to water, strengthen education and new livelihood opportunities.
Our experience here has shown the difference that investment can make, but it has also taught us important lessons about what it takes to turn that investment into lasting, locally sustained change.
Our work began by listening to local people about the barriers they faced and the changes they wanted to see.
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Access to reliable water emerged as a critical priority. During periods of drought, women and children could travel up to 15km in search of water, while the loss of livestock threatened household incomes and food security.
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The community identified priorities around education, women's economic opportunities, more resilient livelihoods and reducing dependence on livestock alone.
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These priorities are interconnected. Reliable water affects health and education as well as livestock and people's ability to develop alternative livelihoods. Our work in Osupukiai has increasingly focused not just on individual initiatives, but on strengthening the local leadership, skills and systems needed to sustain them.
Partners & approach
Our aim in Osupukiai has always been to work through our Handshakes not Handouts approach – investing alongside the community and building the local skills, leadership and structures needed to sustain change over the long term.
Our experience has also shown us that community ownership cannot be assumed or created overnight. While some initiatives have flourished, others have struggled where local management, accountability, maintenance or financing arrangements have not been strong enough.
We are applying what we have learned, working with local people to strengthen these foundations and establish clearer shared responsibilities for the future.
Funding partners & sponsors
Our work with the Osupukiai community has been possible thanks to the generous support of our funders and sponsors.
George and Jan Hetherington
Harry Truslove
What we have delivered
Since 2021, we have worked with the Osupukiai community across three connected areas: water, education and livelihoods.
Improving access to water
We invested in a solar-powered borehole, water storage and a community water kiosk, bringing reliable water closer to households, livestock and Elong'o School and helping the community through the severe 2022 drought.
The borehole is not currently operational due to damaged pipework between the borehole, water kiosk and water troughs. Restoring the water supply, alongside stronger arrangements for community management, maintenance and financing, is now a priority.
Opening up learning
At Elong'o School, our first Window on the World programme brought solar power, a library, ICT equipment and digital learning.
Importantly, the school has built on this investment, independently securing further funding for a new Junior Secondary classroom. We have also supported sports facilities and menstrual and sexual and reproductive health education.
Creating livelihood opportunities
PFP Academy and livelihoods activities have supported women to develop skills, establish enterprises and access finance through the Women's Enterprise Fund and PFP's Revolving Loan Fund.
We've also supported a men's group to pilot fodder production, exploring ways to protect livestock and diversify incomes in the face of drought.
Some of these initiatives have proved harder to sustain than others, particularly where they depended on reliable water. We are now working with the community to understand which activities have the strongest potential and what support they need to become more resilient.
Impact highlights
Since 2021, the partnership has demonstrated what becomes possible when some of the barriers facing the community are removed.
Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG6)
Up to 520 households reached by reliable water
When fully operational, the borehole substantially reduced the distance families needed to travel in search of water and provided an important source of water for livestock during drought.
Greater resilience during drought
During the severe 2022 drought, reported livestock losses in Osupukiai were around 20% – significantly lower than those reported in some neighbouring communities.
Access to Education (SDG4)
284 children benefiting from improved learning opportunities
Investment in Elong'o School has provided access to digital learning, electricity, library resources and improved facilities, while helping the school attract further investment independently of PFP.
Decent Work & Economic Growth (SDG8)
84 women building skills and livelihood opportunities
Women have participated in PFP Academy and livelihoods activities, established enterprise groups and accessed both external and PFP-backed finance.
20 men sustaining livelihoods through a community-led fodder initiative
The group manages a 5-acre fodder farm to provide livestock feed during drought periods and generate income through fodder sales. While the initiative is still in its pilot stage, the group has successfully completed one growing season. We will support them to address challenges they identified during the pilot including improved storage facilities, better access to harvesting equipment and more training on harvesting and baling.
Challenges & learning points
Our work in Osupukiai has created real change, but some initiatives have been harder to sustain than we anticipated.
The experience has reinforced an important lesson: infrastructure and investment alone don't create lasting change. Strong local leadership, clear responsibilities, sustainable financing and community ownership are equally important.
The loss of reliable water has also affected some livelihood activities that depended on it, demonstrating how interconnected different aspects of community development can be.
We are applying these lessons by putting greater emphasis on governance, accountability and local capability before expanding activity further.
Future plans & sustainability
Our immediate priority is to consolidate and strengthen what is already in place rather than launch more projects.
We are working alongside the community to:
1. Restore sustainable access to water
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Addressing the immediate borehole issue while strengthening the management, maintenance and financing arrangements needed to sustain it.
2. Strengthen community leadership
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Clarifying roles and responsibilities and building stronger local governance and accountability.
3. Build more resilient livelihoods
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Reviewing existing livelihood initiatives and focusing support where there is the strongest potential for sustainable income and community ownership.
4. Continue investing in education and skills
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Building on progress at Elong'o School and creating further opportunities for children, young people and families.
Our goal remains the same: to build a partnership in which PFP increasingly provides expertise, investment and connections, while local people have the leadership, capability and resources to sustain progress over the long term.
SDG links
