Since its formation, IMI Kenya has grown into a dynamic, women-led, youth-driven organization that champions sustainable, community-led development across Isiolo County and the wider ASAL regions. Our journey is marked by impactful milestones that reflect our dedication to empowering youth, advancing gender equality, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and driving social change.
One of our significant achievements has been our successful partnerships with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and The Safaricom Foundation, where we have led impactful youth empowerment programs focused on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and apprenticeships. Through these initiatives, we have built the skills and capacity of young people to access employment, start their own businesses, and contribute meaningfully to their communities’ economies.
In partnership with ActionAid, IMI Kenya further expanded its youth empowerment agenda through digital literacy and filming training programs. These initiatives provided young people with essential digital skills, storytelling techniques, and creative platforms to express themselves, document community challenges, and advocate for positive change. Through this training, youth gained not only technical knowledge but also a powerful voice to influence their peers and shape their own narratives.
Our collaboration with JSI (John Snow, Inc.) has been another key milestone, where IMI Kenya played a central role in developing Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) communication kits and educational music to support resilience programming. Through participatory storytelling and community-driven creative processes, we successfully delivered messages that addressed critical social issues and fostered positive behaviour change at the grassroots level.
Additionally, IMI Kenya worked with CRS to promote alternative livelihood opportunities in Merti Sub-County and Oldonyiro Wards. Through this partnership, we introduced and supported climate-smart, sustainable economic practices such as gum and resin harvesting, apiculture (beekeeping), and aquaculture (fish farming). These interventions provided communities with practical pathways to diversify their income, adapt to climate challenges, and reduce their reliance on traditional livelihoods that are increasingly at risk.
Across all these milestones, IMI Kenya has remained committed to participatory, locally led solutions that prioritize women, youth, and marginalized voices. Our ability to successfully mobilize communities, build partnerships, and deliver transformative programs has strengthened our position as a trusted development partner in the region.
As we look to the future, we are inspired to scale our impact beyond Isiolo to other ASAL counties, integrate evidence-based climate action, expand gender-based violence (GBV) programming, and embrace innovative technologies that will further empower the communities we serve.
