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 390,000)
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 | Borehole drilling/testing, solar pumping system, water storage tanks (~75,000 L), rainwater harvesting earthworks, reticulation piping. | 44,000 |
| 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, accounting, and admin. | 43,000 |
| Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning | Baseline audit, data analysis, reporting, and regional study visits. | 10,000 |
| Subtotal | Direct Phase 1 & Phase 0 execution costs | 348,000 |
| Contingency (~12%) | Turkana remote logistics allowance | 42,000 |
| Total Scenario 1 Target | Demonstration Cell Foundation | ≈ 390,000 |
Scenario 2: Full Five-Hectare Pilot
Funding Target: EUR 500,000 to 1,000,000 (Indicative Total: ≈ EUR 828,000)
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. | 390,000 |
| 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 | ≈ 828,000 |
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
- Paid Capacity Building: NGOs and government entities pay to train their field staff in regenerative systems. This is our primary planned revenue stream.
- Nursery Seedling Sales: Resilient dryland trees, fruit saplings, and nitrogen-fixing plants are in high demand for county and NGO greening schemes.
- Produce Sales: Staple foods are priced affordably for the local community, while premium crops and surplus yield are sold to Lodwar town markets, hotels, and institutions.
- 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.