Introducing FLID: Empowering Communities Through Farmer-Led Irrigation

We are honored to be part of a groundbreaking program that is set to transform agricultural landscapes and livelihoods in Kenya through a climate-smart, community-driven approach. In partnership with the County Government of Narok, the Government of Makueni County, and our host, the County Government of Machakos, we are implementing the Farmer-Led Irrigation Development (FLID) initiative—under the National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP), supported by the World Bank through the Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock Development.

At the center of this initiative lies our organization’s unique and proven approach—the CIM Model, which integrates four key pillars:

– Mindset Change

– Empowered Worldview

– Community Mobilization

– Sustainable Livelihood Solutions

Our work under this program focuses not only on introducing technical agricultural practices but also on transforming attitudes, inspiring leadership, and building community ownership. Through exposure, dialogue, and practical engagements, the FLID component goes beyond irrigation—it fosters resilience, agency, and long-term impact.

From County Conversations to Community Empowerment

Before the current activities began, we engaged extensively at both county and community levels to introduce the CIM Model and our facilitative role within the FLID program. These early interactions were essential in creating alignment with local leaders, understanding context-specific challenges, and laying the groundwork for meaningful collaboration.

Training and Exposure Begins: Narok County Leads the Way

We recently hosted a team of selected community champions from Narok County at our Yatta Resource Center for a powerful exposure visit and training program. These sessions focused on practical and mindset-based learning—bringing to life concepts such as household water harvesting, farmer-led irrigation, and livelihood resilience within a community-driven context.

The training was deeply participatory, integrating learning circles, testimonies from peer farmers, and interactive leadership engagements. By the end of their visit, participants not only gained knowledge—they returned home as ambassadors of transformation within their communities.

The journey continues as we prepare to host teams from Makueni and Machakos counties over the next three consecutive weeks. These visits are not only about replication—they are about building a connected network of local change agents who will drive the FLID vision forward in their respective regions.

Why This Work Matters

Kenya’s agricultural future depends on sustainable, community-led approaches that are locally adapted, scalable, and climate-resilient. Through the NAVCDP FLID component, and with the support of dedicated partners and communities, we are seeing this vision come to life.

We believe that lasting change begins with the mind and is sustained through collaboration, capacity-building, and local ownership. This is the heart of what we do at CIM, and it is what makes this program unique.

We invite you to follow the journey, hear the voices from the ground, and witness the impact as we sow the seeds of sustainability, resilience, and self-reliance—together.

Stay connected.

Follow our updates on [https://www.facebook.com/share/1Epk93iKA5/], [https://www.instagram.com/cim.kenya?igsh=NjhpbnhmZzRxbGFo], and [https://x.com/cim_254?t=a9EIEQCyJlZ_tX0_cT4uRQ&s=09] to see more stories and milestones from the field.

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