Speaking during the “From Soil to Scale” panel moderated by Larry Madowo at the Global Perspectives: On Africa Summit in London, Dr. Wambugu emphasized the need for Africa to invest in agricultural technologies, especially high-yielding seeds, to reduce dependence on imports such as maize.

“We must diversify into more resilient crops like sorghum and millet,” she urged.

The event, held on November 3, 2025, offered a global platform where influential voices explored one critical question: What will it take to shape a new era of inclusive and sustainable growth as Africa’s momentum builds?

We are proud that our CEO, Dr. Florence Wambugu, was among the key speakers, sharing her insights on envisioning a sustainable future, and much more.

Click here to watch here full interview.

“I was unemployed and an alcoholic,” confesses Antony Kimonjino. “But after joining the Restore Africa Programme and attending the trainings, I turned my life around. I now run my own tree nursery, my children are eating well, and they’re attending good schools.”

A 41-year-old father of four from Narok, Kenya, Kimonjino’s journey into tree seedling care began in the most unexpected of places—outside a bar.

One afternoon, while stepping out for some fresh air, Kimonjino bumped into Edwin Ngunjiri, a Project Officer at the Green Belt Movement. Ngunjiri was in the area scouting for tree nurseries to support under the Global EverGreening Alliance’s Restore Africa Programme.

“Are you from this neighbourhood?” Ngunjiri asked.

“Yes, yes… are you looking for someone?” Kimonjino replied.

That chance encounter quickly turned into a conversation, and before long, a guided tour. Hoping to earn a quick shilling, Kimonjino showed Ngunjiri around the nearby nurseries. But what stayed with him wasn’t just the walk—it was what he learned about Restore Africa. Ngunjiri explained how the programme works and the potential benefits for local farmers.

Kimonjino didn’t commit to join the programme upfront. They exchanged contacts, and he went on with his day. Yet the conversation lingered in his mind.

“Three days later, I gave him a call,” he recalls. “I told him I was interested.”

That single phone call marked the beginning of a new chapter. Ngunjiri, along with Joseph Santeto, Project Officer for Africa Harvest based in Narok County, began inviting him to programme trainings and community meetings.

The Restore Africa Programme uses a group-based approach, where farmers are recruited, trained, and supported collectively. With encouragement from Santeto, Kimonjino joined Olisigi Tree Nursery, an already established community group. Today, he serves as the group’s secretary and head of marketing.

Africa Harvest, one of the implementing partners of the Restore Africa Programme in Kenya, supports these groups by sourcing fruit tree seedlings from them—creating a steady income stream for members. After attending several trainings on tree species and nursery management, Kimonjino was inspired to start his own tree nursery. With equipment provided by the programme—including seedling potting bags, wheelbarrows, a solar water pump, and a water tank—he was able to get started.

“I was unemployed and an alcoholic,” he says again, reflecting. “But after joining the programme and attending the trainings, I turned my life around. I now run my own nursery, my children are eating well, and they’re going to good schools.”

But the programme is about more than just growing trees. Its livelihoods component, led by Africa Harvest, helps farmers earn an income while waiting for their trees to mature. The long-term aim is to sequester carbon and generate carbon credits—something Kimonjino now fully understands and supports. He appreciates the opportunity to make a living while contributing to environmental restoration.

He recalls one training that particularly stood out—on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) for beans. Organised by Africa Harvest, the session covered land preparation, pest control, record-keeping, and post-harvest handling. It opened his eyes to the potential of the “Nyota” bean variety.

“I didn’t know beans could earn me good money,” he says. “I’ve now planted the ‘Nyota’ variety on one and a half acres of land.”

“Kimonjino is one of the farmers we’re most proud of,” says Santeto. “He puts what he learns into practice—immediately.”

As Santeto speaks, Kimonjino appears momentarily lost in thought—perhaps reflecting on his days of heavy drinking and the surprising turn his life has taken. Who would have imagined that stepping out of a bar for a breath of fresh air would lead him on a journey of purpose, restoration, and community transformation?

The Restore Africa Programme aims to achieve sustained improvements in ecosystem restoration, livelihoods, and climate change resilience for 250,000 small-scale farmers and pastoralists, covering 250,000 hectares across Kwale, Kilifi, Elgeyo Marakwet, Migori, and Narok counties in Kenya by 2052.

In Narok County alone, the programme targets 24,641 households, aims to restore 61,421 hectares of land, and plant approximately 1.5 million trees.

Kimonjino’s story is just one thread in a much larger tapestry—but it powerfully shows how transformation can begin with a single conversation. With the right support, people can truly rewrite their stories—from despair to hope.

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Joining Africa Harvest happened most unexpectedly. My mother received a screenshot of the internship advert from a friend on WhatsApp and promptly sent it to me, urging me to apply. I was hesitant, but reached out to Mwende, the Communications Manager listed as the contact. After researching the organization, I wasn’t sure I was up to the task, but I applied anyway, excited and hopeful.

Two weeks passed after the interview with Mwende, and my anticipation turned into despair. Just as I was beginning to give up, I received a call confirming my placement. I was so happy I wanted to scream. Out of panic, I showed up several days early, worried about my maroon hair color. I had been taught that appearances matter and that first impressions make all the difference.

During my internship, I supported the communications department in several ways. I managed parts of the organization’s social media presence, ensuring content was both timely and engaging. This role pushed me to balance creativity with responsibility, as every post represented the organization’s voice. I wrote captions for social media posts and videos, making sure words and visuals complemented each other to highlight Africa Harvest’s mission. Through the review process with the Communications Manager, I learned how small details can significantly impact how audiences connect with content.

I also designed graphics for storytelling, digital posters for campaigns, and visuals for commemorative events. I realized how much thought goes into creating visuals that reinforce a message. Communication, I discovered, isn’t just about sharing information; it’s about making it relatable. I even worked at the front desk, interacting with guests and supporting administrative communication, something that terrified me at first since I’m not naturally talkative.

A highlight of my internship was being invited by Mwende to attend the Community of Practice (CoP) forum, hosted by the Mastercard Foundation for its implementing partners. Communications practitioners came together to explore how intentional storytelling can drive measurable impact while prioritizing ethics and participant safety. Under the theme “Aligning Impact Storytelling with Outcome Measurement and Safeguarding,” the forum showed how authentic, consent-driven narratives amplify youth voices, build trust, and inspire change. It was eye-opening to see behind-the-scenes collaborations and the focus on protecting the voices of those whose stories are told.

Looking back, the experience was both humbling and exciting. I gained practical skills in social media management, video editing, graphic design, and office responsibilities. More importantly, I saw how my small contributions supported the organization’s larger mission. Africa Harvest is about how science is communicated to farmers, donors, and communities. My role helped me see the power of storytelling in driving real change. It also made me more comfortable approaching colleagues who once felt intimidating.

A big thanks to Braian, the Accountant, and Allan, the Data Analyst Officer, who encouraged me to relax during my first week. Communications work is helping me be more open and less hesitant to speak up. It’s still a challenge, but not nearly as overwhelming as before.

I also became aware of areas where I need to grow. I still have much to learn about strategic communication planning, designing campaigns from start to finish, and refining my professional writing voice. At first, I second-guessed my tone and visuals with every draft, but feedback from Mwende and Rose, the Multimedia Officer, helped me improve. Rose patiently taught and supported me, while Mwende has been my pillar of strength and an incredible mentor. I could talk to her about both work and personal matters. Their guidance made this internship far better than I could have imagined.

In conclusion, my internship was more than just a line on my CV. It gave me the chance to step into a world I never thought possible—communication, and to see how creativity can directly serve social impact. I learned the value of a well-crafted story, a polished video, and even a thoughtful social media post. Most importantly, the experience gave me confidence that I can grow in this field. I want to build a meaningful career that aligns with my creative interests, develop personally and professionally, gain hands-on experience that will benefit me in the future, and be known as someone who took control of her life despite challenges.

I should also thank my mom for being so insistent. Countless times, she told me she dreamed of seeing me in a communication role. I shrugged it off at first, but her prayer was answered. I now know I will thrive in this field. All I needed was to believe in myself and give it my all. This is only the beginning, but it’s certainly the right one.

The program, implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in collaboration with Africa Harvest and Ashoka Africa, brings together 30 youth entrepreneurs from the coffee, leather, and packaging value chains, from producers and processors to exporters and innovators such as coffee waste turned into beauty products and fuel, fish leather, eco-packaging from agricultural waste, and digital traceability tools.

Notable speakers included Dr. Florence Wambugu, CEO of Africa Harvest, who shared her entrepreneurial journey and emphasized the power of innovation and partnerships for growth. Ashoka Africa’s Country Director inspired participants to embrace a changemaker mindset, urging them to go beyond conventional business and position themselves as social entrepreneurs driving solutions to societal challenges.

The entrepreneurs are also part of the Ye! Community (Youth Entrepreneurs), a global networking platform that connects participants with peers and opportunities worldwide.

Kenya’s cohort now joins their counterparts in Uganda and Rwanda, who are going through the same journey under MarkUp II with an even wider scope of value chains, including avocado, spices, essential oils, gum arabica, French beans, cocoa, and tea.

Entrepreneurs shared opportunities, barriers, and solutions, and officially began their learning journey through the MARKUP Online Academy, which will provide training in export markets, business skills, and enterprise growth. The participants expressed enthusiasm for the online training modules and cross-country learning.

“I am looking forward to networking with my peers, acquiring mentorship, and also learning more about agribusiness,” said Daniela Nairita, from Yarsi Acquacycle, Turkana Marsabit County.

The launch marks the beginning of a transformative regional journey for youth agripreneurs to scale their enterprises, create jobs, and unlock opportunities in East Africa’s agricultural value chains.

Our County Implementing Officer under the DTCs 4 Youth Jobs Creation Project, Fred Wambua, represented Africa Harvest at the event. Themed ‘Promoting Resilient Agriculture for Food, Trade and Nutrition Security through Sorghum Growing,’ the field day provided a hands-on learning platform to promote innovative sorghum production technologies. It aimed to showcase the potential of improved sorghum varieties—particularly Pato I and Smart Sorghum—that naturally deter birds, reducing crop losses without the need for costly and labor-intensive bird-scaring techniques.

Demonstration plots illustrated the effectiveness of these varieties, with Pato I showing only 5% bird damage and Smart Sorghum as low as 0.6%, even without active bird control. For farmers in Kitui County, where agriculture is vulnerable to pests and erratic rainfall, these innovations presented real, scalable solutions to boost yields and reduce post-harvest losses.

Other stakeholders in attendance included the Kitui County Ministry of Agriculture, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Biovision, Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), Hand in Hand, and top agrochemical and seed companies like Syngenta, SeedCo, Bayer, and Greenlife. They led technical sessions on pest management, crop inputs, and climate-smart farming.

Farmers engaged in one-on-one consultations, hands-on exhibits, and networking, creating opportunities for peer learning and practical problem-solving. Informational materials on drought-tolerant crops were distributed, and discussions with local youth and potential village-based mobilizers opened doors for new partnerships.

Among the key achievements was the successful sensitization of over 600 farmers and stakeholders on resilient sorghum varieties and production techniques. New networks were formed, particularly with agrochemical companies like SeedCo, laying the groundwork for future collaboration and access to inputs for farmers.

Importantly, several potential trainers of trainers (ToTs) and grassroots mobilizers were identified to spearhead farmer engagement in Kitui – a critical step toward building a strong, local support system that will help scale innovations and ensure sustainability.

One farmer shared, “These improved sorghum varieties will help us reduce losses and improve food security for our families.”

The Sorghum Field Day in Kitui underscored the transformative power of community-driven learning, strategic partnerships, and technology in building agricultural resilience. As the DTCs 4 Youth Jobs Creation project continues to scale, these lessons and connections will be vital in achieving greater food security and economic opportunity across dryland regions of Kenya and beyond.

Watch the full story on Citizen Planet here

Another farmer, Paulo Muteti, acknowledges the agricultural programme as more than a strategy, adding that it’s a lifeline and a legacy in the making. He believes that with continued efforts, hunger will soon be a thing of the past, as the farms begin to produce food in abundance. 

Read more on People Daily Digital here

29-year-old Godfrey Chabari, an Information Technology diploma graduate who turned to cereal farming after losing his job due to the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, was trained to be a community trainer by the DTCs 4 Youth Job Creation Project, which enabled him to guide other farmers while sustaining his farming enterprise.

He converted his three-acre farm into a seed production hub, which yields 450kg per harvest of green grams, pearl millet, or sorghum, with an average of 380kg. The knowledge he gained helped him achieve good yields, which in turn allowed him to invest in building a house, starting a cybercafé, and supporting his young family.

The project’s focus on drought-tolerant crops and youth empowerment has significantly improved yields and ensured a drop in food insecurity in Tharaka Nithi.

Read the full story here in The Star newspaper.

Read more about their journeys here in The Star newspaper.