Trade Over Aid (TOA) Initiative is Transforming lives

The Trade Over Aid (TOA) initiative under WBH is redefining economic empowerment for women in Kisumu’s informal settlements. By shifting from aid dependency to enterprise-driven dignity, TOA supports women-led microenterprises to grow, formalize, and access markets. The program builds on existing trade practices—enhancing them with training, capital access, digital finance, and visibility.

Recent field visits and visual documentation reveal a thriving ecosystem of informal commerce: fruit vendors, grain sellers, cooking equipment makers, textile artisans, and traditional basket weavers—all demonstrating resilience, creativity, and untapped potential.

Field Insights: Enterprise in Action

The images collected during this reporting period offer compelling evidence of TOA’s impact:

• Fresh Produce Vendors: Women selling bananas, tomatoes, onions, avocados, and leafy greens from roadside stalls and shaded tables.
• Grain & Dry Goods Traders: Mobile money signage (M-PESA) visible at multiple stalls, signaling digital finance integration.
• Cooking Equipment Makers: Repurposed metal drums and charcoal stoves reflect local innovation and demand for household tools.
• Textile & Accessories Sellers: Colorful fabrics and handmade items showcase cultural entrepreneurship and aesthetic value.
• Basketry & Traditional Crafts: Woven covers and baskets suggest potential for branding, packaging, and export.

These scenes affirm TOA’s core premise: Women are already trading. What they need is structure, capital, and visibility.

Key Milestones

Focus Area	Achievements
Enterprise Mapping	87 women-led businesses profiled across six market zones
Digital Finance Adoption	72% of vendors now accept M-PESA; 18 new agents onboarded
Product Diversification	Over 40 product categories identified—from perishables to durable goods
Training & Capacity Building	Five workshops held on pricing, branding, and customer service
Market Infrastructure	Three pilot stalls upgraded with signage, shade, and display tables
Revenue Growth	Average daily income rose by 22% among trained vendors
Youth Engagement	14 youth apprentices placed in metalwork and tailoring clusters

 

Strategic Learnings

• Informality ≠ Lack of Professionalism: Many women operate with discipline, inventory systems, and customer retention strategies.
• Mobile Money as a Gateway: M-PESA is not just a payment tool—it enables access to credit, savings, and digital records.
• Local Innovation Is Scalable: Repurposed cooking tools and handmade crafts show potential for design support and market expansion.
• Visibility Drives Value: Vendors with signage and structured displays attract more customers and command better prices.

 

Challenges

• Capital Constraints: Limited access to affordable credit or seed capital for bulk purchasing.
• Weather Vulnerability: Open-air stalls suffer losses during rains; modular shelter solutions are needed.
• Market Saturation: High competition in produce stalls calls for product differentiation and niche targeting.
• Limited Branding: Few vendors use packaging, signage, or storytelling to elevate their products.

 Next Steps

Action	Timeline
Launch WBH Microgrant Fund (Ksh 5,000–20,000 per vendor)	December 2025
Develop Vendor Branding Kits (signage, packaging, digital ID)	January 2026
Pilot Revolving Capital Scheme with 30 vendors	February 2026
Host TOA Market Showcase & Buyer Forum	March 2026
Expand training to include e-commerce and bulk procurement	Ongoing

---

🤝 Partnership Opportunities

WBH invites donors, foundations, and private sector partners to co-invest in:

• The Microgrant Fund and Revolving Capital Scheme
• Branding and packaging innovation for informal vendors
• Market access pathways through retail, export, and institutional procurement
• Infrastructure upgrades including modular stalls and storage units

📣 Voices from the Market

“Before WBH, I sold tomatoes from the ground. Now I have a table, a sign, and customers who pay via M-PESA.”
— Achieng, Tomato Vendor

“We make stoves from scrap metal. With training, we could sell to hotels or even abroad.”
— Odhiambo, Youth Artisan