Announcing Haller’s Partnership with Regen Trust to Strengthen Smallholder Resilience in Kikambala, Kenya

We are delighted to announce a new partnership with Regen Trust, a newly established foundation committed to strengthening communities’ resilience through climate and biodiversity solutions.

Together, we are launching an innovative pilot project with smallholder farmers in Kikambala, Kilifi County, bringing together renewable energy, water security and regenerative agriculture in one integrated, community-led approach.

Responding to Community Need

Coastal Kenya is increasingly vulnerable to climate shocks. Erratic rainfall, prolonged drought and soil degradation are making it harder for rural families to grow food, generate income and plan for the future.

In Kikambala, many households depend on small-scale, subsistence farming. Communities have voiced ongoing concerns about the lack of reliable water for both domestic use and agriculture. Women and children often walk long distances to collect water, and limited access to electricity restricts opportunities for enterprise and education.

This new partnership enables us to respond meaningfully to these challenges. By trialling innovative approaches to water security, regenerative farming and solar energy — alongside strengthening local infrastructure and delivering practical training — we are equipping the communities of Kikambala to lead resilient, self-sustaining livelihoods.

An Integrated, Community-Owned Solution

At the heart of the project is the creation of five solar-powered community hubs, each serving clusters of households and neighbouring community members.

These hubs will combine:

• Solar energy for lighting, irrigation and phone charging
• Rainwater harvesting and underground storage to improve water security
• Water purification systems for safer domestic use
• Regenerative farming practices, including composting and agroforestry
• Training and enterprise support for women and youth

The project will also be strengthened through targeted bolt-ons, including:

• Eco-loos to improve safe sanitation and reduce environmental contamination
• Advanced drip irrigation systems to increase yields while improving water efficiency
• Advanced community cooperative and enterprise training to strengthen governance, financial literacy and locally led income generation

In total, the pilot will aim to reach approximately 1,500 people, with 250 direct beneficiaries of the solar hubs and wider impact across five community-based organisations. Importantly, each hub will be community-owned and managed, strengthening local governance and ensuring long-term sustainability.

Ecology and Economy Together

This pilot reflects Haller’s long-standing belief that ecology and economy must thrive together.

By combining renewable energy with water security, regenerative agriculture and enterprise development, the project will:
• Improve year-round food production
• Reduce pressure on natural water sources
• Strengthen soil health and biodiversity
• Increase household incomes through diversified crops and enterprises
• Support women and young people into leadership and income-generating roles
• Build resilience against drought and climate volatility

Since 2004, Haller has worked alongside rural communities to share affordable, regenerative farming techniques and restore degraded land. This new partnership with Regen Trust builds on that experience — introducing solar energy as a powerful enabler of long-term, locally driven development.

Looking Ahead

Over the next 12 months, we will work closely with the Kikambala communities to deliver the infrastructure, training and cooperative support needed to create self-sustaining systems that can be replicated across the coastal region.

We are deeply grateful to Regen Trust for their partnership and shared vision — and we look forward to sharing progress as this exciting new chapter unfolds.