CECOME X Manga HEART banana fiber project

Banana fiber project is a cooperation among CECOME, Manga Heart and ISF that aims to develop new source of income for vulnerable women

The project targets young vulnerable women, specifically survivors of partner violence, for whom new, innovative means of livelihoods will be developed. The project promotes the utilization of banana fiber as a handicraft raw material. In cooperation with experts, the project develops the whole value chain from the banana field through product development to the customer. The project also maps out other ways to use banana by-products in order to improve women’s livelihoods.

The project plan will be finalized by the end of 2023. Initially, the main development processes in 2024 are as follows:

• The project will test fiber processing techniques and technologies in collaboration with Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) and Mifuko Ltd, and train women in fiber extraction, treatment and spinning techniques and technologies as well as in weaving and knitting techniques.
• If the fiber processing results in high-quality yarn, Mifuko Ltd. will buy raw material from the project beneficiaries and train the women groups and the project staff in Fair Trade certification requirements. Together with KIRDI, the project will develop new handicraft products for women’s groups to manufacture and sell. MANGA Heart, CECOME and ISF will also make exposure visits to explore the different ways to utilize banana by-products and to familiarize with new markets and value chain actors.