How Support Becomes a Visible Pilot
We believe in transparency and proof. Explore our funding scenarios and see exactly how capital is deployed to build a durable model.
Select a Funding Scenario
See what each scale of funding makes possible on the ground in Turkana.
Scenario 1: First Demonstration Cell
Funding Target: EUR 300,000 to 500,000 (Indicative Total: ≈ EUR 417,000)
This scenario focuses on establishing the first proof-of-concept cell of roughly one hectare on a secured pilot site. It delivers the water and solar baseline, nursery propagation, first crop rows, baseline monitoring, and the initial training cohorts over approximately 24 months.
Core Outputs: A functioning demonstration cell and nursery, first solar-irrigation system, first crops and trees planted, first local training cohorts completed, and early-learning baseline data.
Demonstration Cell Budget Breakdown
| Budget Category | Description / Line Items Included | EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 0 — Feasibility & Team | Hydrogeological survey, water studies (salinity/abstraction), soil/ecological baseline, land lease legal due diligence, local entity registration, agronomic design. | 53,000 |
| Water & Energy Infrastructure | Geophysical survey (VES) before drilling, borehole drilling/testing, a contingency provision for a second borehole attempt, solar pumping system, water storage tanks (~75,000 L), rainwater harvesting earthworks, reticulation piping. | 62,000 |
| Farm Establishment (~1 ha) | Perimeter fencing, site preparation, nursery shade structure, initial planting stock (syntropic, fruit, native), composting/mulch systems, agrivoltaic test plot. | 68,000 |
| Monitoring & Data | Soil-moisture, weather, solar and water sensors, farm dashboard computers and connectivity. | 11,000 |
| Training (First Cohorts) | Simple training shelter (open classroom), facilitation costs, and course materials. | 22,000 |
| Team (~24 Months) | Project/farm manager, dryland agronomist, two field technicians, community liaison (part-time), blended farm labor. | 97,000 |
| Operations (~24 Months) | Vehicle/motorcycle transport, fuel, connectivity, utility bills, permits, and dual-jurisdiction accounting, audit, and admin. | 49,000 |
| Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning | Baseline audit, data analysis, reporting, and regional study visits. | 10,000 |
| Subtotal | Direct Phase 1 & Phase 0 execution costs | 372,000 |
| Contingency (~12%) | Turkana remote logistics allowance | 45,000 |
| Total Scenario 1 Target | Demonstration Cell Foundation | ≈ 417,000 |
Scenario 2: Full Five-Hectare Pilot
Funding Target: EUR 500,000 to 1,000,000 (Indicative Total: ≈ EUR 855,000)
This scenario builds the full pilot campus. It includes all Scenario 1 activities, plus critical expansion components to establish the full regional presence, nursery capacity, training structures, and team.
Core Outputs: Five-hectare pilot operational, active academy programs, produce sales started, live monitoring dashboard, core staff employed, institutional partners engaged, and initial impact data published.
Incremental Expansion Budget (Added to Scenario 1)
| Category Line Item | Description / Incremental Value Added | EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Base Scenario 1 Foundation | Includes all demo cell, water system, core team, and operations baseline (revised). | 417,000 |
| Expanded Water | Second borehole, larger solar array, and expanded water storage capacity. | 45,000 |
| Fencing & Site Development | Securing the full five-hectare boundaries and establishing internal pathways. | 30,000 |
| Nursery Commercial Expansion | Expanding propagation capacity to commercial seed/seedling sales. | 20,000 |
| Drip & Planting Expansion | Phased irrigation lines and planting stock across the full five hectares. | 55,000 |
| Dedicated Training Facility | Classroom structure, trainee accommodation, and sanitation ablutions. | 70,000 |
| Expanded Agrivoltaics | Scaling the test agrivoltaic crop array for larger power/shade capacity. | 30,000 |
| Produce Handling & Cold Storage | Shade house, washing facilities, and cold storage for post-harvest handling. | 25,000 |
| Curriculum & Accreditation | Structured curriculum development and vocational accreditation pathway. | 15,000 |
| Additional Staff | Hiring two dedicated trainers, a monitoring officer, and a finance admin. | 60,000 |
| Extended Operations | Extended runway for operations and community liaison over the longer horizon. | 40,000 |
| Contingency on Additions (~12%) | Remote logistics contingency on expanded elements | 48,000 |
| Total Scenario 2 Target | Full Five-Hectare Pilot Campus | ≈ 855,000 |
Scenario 3: Institutional-Scale Regional Campus
Funding Target: Above EUR 1,000,000
This institutional phase develops the site into a regional dryland climate-adaptation and vocational training hub. It expands on the five-hectare pilot after the initial model has proven its agricultural, educational, and economic feasibility.
Proposed Scope:
- Larger training infrastructure to host multi-week regional cohorts.
- An expanded renewable-energy microgrid and battery storage system.
- Advanced water management systems and recycling loop filters.
- University research partnerships and dedicated on-site research staff.
- Community replication fund to seed small-scale models in other dryland villages.
Note: Detailed line items for the institutional phase will be developed in Phase 0 after the pilot model completes its initial proof period.
Our Blended Financial Model
We choose to be realistic: an agricultural project whose primary purpose is to provide affordable food and training to low-income populations in Turkana cannot become fully self-financing from local produce sales. Claiming otherwise is unrealistic.
Instead, we use a blended financial model. We design commercial earned-income activities that cover a growing share of the campus operating costs. This income cross-subsidizes our public-good community mission (free training, land restoration), steadily reducing our dependency on grant funding over time.
Surplus Reinvestment: All surpluses generated from commercial sales flow back into the campus operations, maintenance reserve, and community training programs. No capital is extracted.
Commercial Income Streams
Sequenced by when they realistically earn. Nursery and produce sales are bought on quality and price, so they earn early; paid training is the largest earner at maturity but depends on a track record we build first.
- Nursery Seedling Sales (early earner): Resilient dryland trees, fruit saplings, and nitrogen-fixing plants are in high demand for county and NGO greening schemes — sold on quality and price, so this can earn from the first propagation cycles.
- Produce Sales (early earner): Staple foods are priced affordably for the local community, while premium crops and surplus yield are sold to Lodwar town markets, hotels, and institutions.
- Paid Capacity Building (scales later): NGOs and government entities pay to train their field staff in regenerative systems. This is our largest earner at maturity — once the campus has documented pilot results and trained graduates to demonstrate.
- Technical Consulting: Providing replication design and site assessment services for dryland farms in other sub-counties.
Target Cost-Recovery Trajectory
Our projected share of annual campus operating costs met by earned income, to be refined with pilot-phase records:
| Operating Phase | Target Years | Projected Earned-Income Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pilot Phase | Years 2–3 | 20% – 30% |
| Consolidation Phase | Years 4–5 | 40% – 55% |
| Maturity Phase | Years 6–7+ | 60% – 75% |
Partner with Us on Phase 0
We are seeking funding, academic research cooperation, and technical partnerships to initiate our Phase 0 feasibility studies, water salinity assessments, and local registrations.