Summer Newsletter:
Highlighting Our Work in Southern Africa

Across Southern Africa, the need for small-scale irrigation is great – many areas in the region are subject to worsening drought, and according to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network, are in the stressed or crisis phase of famine. KickStart’s Southern Africa Regional Hub, established with the support of the IKEA Foundation and based in Zambia, enables KickStart to reach partners and farmers in five more countries. Farmers in Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are now able to easily access ground water with MoneyMaker pumps.

In an impact study across Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique, the majority of farmers using KickStart’s pumps reported they were able to compensate for lack of rain on their farms, and that they even generated enough new farming income to provide education and healthcare for their children! We also found that a third of the study’s participants were women farmers. After they adopt KickStart’s pumps, women often report experiencing an increased role in decision-making within their families and communities, along with feeling an increased sense of empowerment.

Our expansion into Southern Africa helped to establish an active network of over 150 new partnerships in Zambia and surrounding countries, catalyzing $30 million in annual new profits and wages. One of our key partnerships in the region is with VisionFund International, the microfinance arm of WorldVision, a collaboration that combines KickStart’s comprehensive agropreneurship trainings with VisionFund’s microfinance loans. KickStart’s technology and trainings help farmers increase the profit from their farms, which means that they can easily pay back the loans they’ve taken out with VisionFund. Following a successful pilot program in Zambia, pumps will be easily affordable for even more farmers to make significant economic strides! Read more in our FY17 Annual Report.

We are thrilled to welcome Jane Okun Bomba and David Young to
KickStart’s Board of Directors!

Jane Okun Bomba is President of Saddle Ridge Consulting and is an experienced finance and HR executive.  Previously, Jane was Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer at IHS Markit, a global, $18 billion publicly-traded Information Services company with 14,000 employees in 38 countries.  In that role, she led 450 people worldwide through many corporate functions including HR, Marketing, Communications, Sustainability and Investor Relations. Read more of Jane’s bio.

Jane is passionate about KickStart because as a business person, she appreciates that KickStart has a business model approach which emphasizes sustainable self-sufficiency for its beneficiaries, and that the board and staff think strategically about making a sustainable impact. She wanted to make sure she joined an organization where she could make a difference on the board. She knows she can do this at KickStart because the board and team are focused and disciplined about being strategic and sustainable.

David Young is a Senior Partner and Managing Director at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he works with corporations, social mission organizations, institutional investors, and governments to develop strategies and transform their organizations to increase societal impact. Dave returned to BCG in early 2016, following nine years with World Vision International, where he was the global COO with executive oversight for the performance of its field, technical, and support organizations encompassing 41,000 staff members in over 80 countries. Read more of Dave’s bio.

Dave is passionate about KickStart because we tirelessly advocate for increasing smart irrigation across the African continent and investing in the potential of smallholder farming families. The combination of its approach, loyal donors, and passionate advocacy is changing the lives of tens of thousands every year – from poverty to self-sufficiency. In two words – “Bravo, KickStart!”

Now You Know!

This month, you’ve learned all about the programs that enhance the impacts of KickStart’s pump sales – from solar innovation to agropreneurship to microfinance. Thanks to your momentous support, we are reaching and training more farmers than ever before, through our collaborative programs!

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