Human Needs Project Kenya
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Mission Statement
The Human Needs Project (HNP) focuses on empowering individuals in urban informal settlements to overcome poverty through a unique, integrated, and sustainable "Town Center" model. The Vision of HNP is a world where people living in the poorest urban areas can access prosperity and lift themselves out of poverty through local, centralized centers that provide essential services, education, and opportunities. They aim to transform slums into thriving, sustainable communities, ultimately integrating them more fully into the wider city. HNP's mission is to "build environmentally, socially, and financially sustainable infrastructure systems that provide a path out of poverty for people living in informal settlements." They seek to combat poverty through economic growth and by pioneering a new model for integrated service delivery. The core purpose of HNP is to provide dignity, health, and economic self-sufficiency to slum dwellers. They achieve this by offering a "one-stop shop" for basic human needs (clean water, dignified sanitation, laundry, showers), combined with vital empowerment programs such as skills training (IT, business, clean technologies), job linkages, and access to financial services like micro-lending through a Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCO). Their ultimate goal is to empower residents to improve their own lives and health, fostering agency rather than reliance on charity. Human Needs Project empowers slum residents by providing clean water, dignified hygiene services, skills training and livelihoods opportunities through sustainable community centres.
About This Cause
The Human Needs Project (HNP) is a pioneering non-profit organisation dedicated to combating extreme poverty and fostering human dignity within urban informal settlements, particularly focusing on communities like Kibera in Nairobi, Kenya. Our innovative model centres around establishing and operating integrated "Town Centres", i.e., self-sustaining hubs that provide a comprehensive array of essential services and empowerment programs, offering a tangible pathway out of poverty for underserved populations. At the heart of HNP's approach is the recognition that poverty in informal settlements is multi-dimensional, stemming from a severe lack of fundamental infrastructure and opportunities. Residents often endure daily struggles without access to basic necessities that are commonplace in planned communities, such as clean water, dignified sanitation (toilets and showers), reliable electricity, security, healthcare, and viable livelihood options. This chronic deprivation not only perpetuates cycles of poverty but also compromises health, safety, and human dignity. For instance, in Nairobi, over 60% of the population lives in such informal settlements (UN-Habitat, 2023), highlighting the vast scale of this challenge. HNP's commitment is to directly address these profound issues by building and expanding a proven, community-centric solution. Our flagship initiative, the Kibera Town Center (KTC), launched in 2014, has demonstrated the profound impact of this integrated model. This centre is not merely a service point. It is a catalyst for community transformation. Our Core Offerings and How We Implement Them: Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Services: We provide reliable access to purified, affordable clean water through a reverse osmosis water treatment plant. Crucially, we offer dignified and clean public toilets and hot showers, directly tackling the prevalent issues of open defecation and lack of personal hygiene facilities. These services are often revenue-generating at a low, affordable cost, contributing to the centre's financial sustainability. Skills Training & Empowerment Programs: Recognising that access to basic services must be coupled with opportunities, HNP offers demand-driven skills training. This includes: IT Training: Equipping youth and adults with essential computer literacy and digital skills, critical for navigating the modern job market. Business & Entrepreneurship Training: Providing foundational knowledge for starting and managing small businesses, fostering local economic activity. Clean Technologies Training: Offering skills relevant to sustainable energy and environmental solutions, aligning with global green economy trends. Job Linkages: Actively connecting graduates with employment opportunities through partnerships with local businesses and organisations. Financial Inclusion Services: HNP facilitates economic empowerment through access to formal financial mechanisms. Our Savings and Credit Cooperative (SACCO) enables community members to pool small, regular savings, creating a collective fund from which members can access credit for micro-enterprises or personal needs, often using other members' savings as collateral. This fosters financial literacy, discipline, and communal support, building self-reliance. Urban Farming: We have a project on urban farming using the water-efficient hydroponics farming in greenhouses, where about 15 urban informal and high population schools are able to produce nutritious leafy vegetables to supplement their kitchens, while at the same time cultivating the interest of the learners in sustainable and cleaning farming technologies. Solar Street Lighting: We have lit about 2 miles of Kibera's previously dark alleys, using high quality pole mounted solar street lights. Their positive effect has been the reduction of crimes like muggings, burglary and Gender Based Violence (GBV), as well as an increase in economic activity since the small enterprises lining the streets are able to open early and close late into the night, safely. Sustainable Infrastructure & Operations: Our centres are designed for long-term environmental and economic viability. They incorporate clean energy solutions, such as solar power systems (e.g., our proposed partnership with Solar Electric Light Fund - SELF), minimising operational costs and environmental footprint. The revenue generated from WASH services, along with strategic grants and partnerships, ensures the centres can maintain and expand their operations, moving towards self-sufficiency. HNP's Expertise, Capacity, and Resources: HNP brings a decade of specialised expertise in designing, implementing, and managing integrated development initiatives within challenging urban informal settings. Our team comprises professionals with deep knowledge in clean water technology, sustainable infrastructure development, community mobilisation, and program management. We possess the institutional capacity to: Lead the entire project life-cycle, from site identification and community engagement to construction oversight and long-term operation. Develop and implement robust operational systems for service delivery, financial management, and program monitoring. Provide comprehensive training curricula and materials for both staff and beneficiaries. Leverage our proven model from the Kibera Town Centre, adapting best practices and lessons learned for new sites. Maintain rigorous standards of ethical practice, transparency, and accountability in all our endeavours. How Our Partners Contribute: Our success is amplified through strategic partnerships that bring specialised expertise and resources: Community Residents: As primary beneficiaries, residents are crucial partners. They are actively involved in site identification, contribute local labour during construction, and supply necessary construction materials where feasible. Their ongoing participation ensures the centres are truly community-led, demand-driven, and culturally appropriate, fostering a strong sense of ownership and long-term sustainability. Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF): For new initiatives like the proposed Satellite Centre, we propose partnering with SELF as a key technical partner for solar power systems. SELF's over 30 years of experience in deploying solar energy solutions in energy-impoverished environments will ensure our centres are climate-smart, energy-independent, and contribute to environmental sustainability, further reducing operational costs and expanding their reach. Local Government & NGOs: We collaborate with local governmental bodies, community-based organisations (CBOs), and other non-governmental organisations to ensure our efforts align with broader development goals, avoid duplication, and maximise impact within the existing ecosystem. This includes potential partnerships for health outreach, vocational training accreditation, and security initiatives. Donors & Funders: Philanthropic partners provide the critical capital investment required for initial setup, expansion, and scaling of our proven model, enabling us to reach more underserved populations. We enlist the services of reputable financial audit and management firms like BDO East Africa and Sutro Li, to ensure efficient, optimum and transparent application of the funds. By replicating our integrated model, HNP is committed to upholding residents’ dignity, improving health outcomes, enhancing safety, and fostering economic self-reliance, providing genuine opportunities that lead to overall improvement in economic livelihoods and health outcomes for millions living in informal settlements.