United Nations Earth Summit+5 Success Stories

EARTH SUMMIT+5
Special Session of the General Assembly to Review and Appraise
the Implementation of Agenda 21
New York, 23-27 June 1997
SUCCESS STORIES FROM AFRICA

Community-based Maasai Housing Project

Location Kajiado, Kenya

Responsible organization Local non-governmental organizations spearheaded in their efforts by Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG), the Government of Kenya, residents of Kajiado

Description The Maasai Housing Project is a combined initiative involving community women's groups, the Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG), NGOs and various government departments. The project focused on training Maasai women to use improved traditional methods of housing construction.
Women were the focus of this project primarily for two reasons: women are traditionally the home-builders in Maasai society and 40% of African households are headed by women. The traditional method of construction resulted in houses that have leaking roofs, poor ventilation and lighting, low ceilings. ITDG developed a ferro-cement skin roof technique that was taught to women in order to use affordable and appropriate technology to construct a leak-proof roof. Women were also trained in stabilized soil block production and use and water jar construction.
The project has benefited about 500 members of 11 women's groups in Kajiado District. Women beneficiaries now have constructed homes that are leak-proof, have higher ceilings and better ventilation and natural lighting. An interesting finding of this project was that women had more control over housing construction as long as traditional materials and technologies were used; as soon as money-demanding techniques were employed, men took over the construction process.

Issues addressed Human settlements, technology transfer, strengthening the role of women.

Objectives To train women to use improved methods of home construction.

Results achieved 500 women were trained in home building technologies.

Lessons learned It is sometimes useful to only target women and develop technologies with and according to the target group's needs. Appropriate technologies and targeting women improves the quality of life for all.

Financing Seed money from the Government of Kenya.

Contact Mr. Elijah Agevi
Intermediate Technology Development Group
Box 39493, Nairobi
Kenya
Telephone: + 254 2/446 243

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Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Comments and suggestions: esa@un.org
Last updated 1 November 1997

	Community-based Maasai Housing Project
	Location	Kajiado, Kenya
	Responsible organization	Local non-governmental organizations spearheaded in their efforts by Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG), the Government of Kenya, residents of Kajiado
	Description	The Maasai Housing Project is a combined initiative involving community women's groups, the Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG), NGOs and various government departments. The project focused on training Maasai women to use improved traditional methods of housing construction. Women were the focus of this project primarily for two reasons: women are traditionally the home-builders in Maasai society and 40% of African households are headed by women. The traditional method of construction resulted in houses that have leaking roofs, poor ventilation and lighting, low ceilings. ITDG developed a ferro-cement skin roof technique that was taught to women in order to use affordable and appropriate technology to construct a leak-proof roof. Women were also trained in stabilized soil block production and use and water jar construction. The project has benefited about 500 members of 11 women's groups in Kajiado District. Women beneficiaries now have constructed homes that are leak-proof, have higher ceilings and better ventilation and natural lighting. An interesting finding of this project was that women had more control over housing construction as long as traditional materials and technologies were used; as soon as money-demanding techniques were employed, men took over the construction process.
	Issues addressed	Human settlements, technology transfer, strengthening the role of women.
	Objectives	To train women to use improved methods of home construction.
	Results achieved	500 women were trained in home building technologies.
	Lessons learned	It is sometimes useful to only target women and develop technologies with and according to the target group's needs. Appropriate technologies and targeting women improves the quality of life for all.
	Financing	Seed money from the Government of Kenya.
	Contact	Mr. Elijah Agevi Intermediate Technology Development Group Box 39493, Nairobi Kenya Telephone: + 254 2/446 243