Uhuru Market Center of Excellence - An Action Research Project
In early 2019, the Government of Kenya partnered with HEVA to conduct a research project and create a pilot centre of excellence which aims to enable micro, small and medium-size fashion and apparel producers and retailers within Nairobi’s Uhuru Market to address the particular constraints of the garment and textile value chains within the market ecosystem.
THE ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT TIMELINE
The Uhuru Market Action Research was developed to cycle through 3 phases:
Phase I: Observational Study: Data collection, analysis and theory generation;
Phase II: Implementation of Interventions;
Phase III: Monitoring and Evaluation: Impact analysis.
The project report covers Phase 1, which is the baseline observational cross-sectional study, as was carried out in September 2019.
Uhuru market is officially East Africa’s first open-air market to strategically tap into and operate in the digital space. Through uhurumarket.co.ke shoppers can now purchase goods from the market and have them delivered to their doorstep. The new and branded platform will enable over 1,000 micro, small and medium-sized fashion and apparel traders to expand their market reach beyond walk-in clientele. Development of the platform was informed by HEVA’s Action Research Project in collaboration with insights and inputs from the traders of Uhuru Market, and SME Advisory Unit, Executive Office of the President of Kenya.
On this Friday, representatives from HEVA,
SME Advisory Unit, EOP Kenya and the market leadership team were happy to be present as 30 textile and apparel traders from Uhuru Market received certification from TU-K for the successful completion of their Business Development and Entrepreneurship Training.
HEVA has contracted Realtime Technology to digitize Jormat SACCO from an analog system to a digital paperless system.
We expect that this will increase the SACCO’s capacity to grow and serve more members within Uhuru Market, as well as encourage new memberships.
During this 2 week program at the Technical University of Kenya, 22 participants are being taken through a business enterprise course focused on: Basics of Book-Keeping, Basics of Entrepreneurship, Cash Flow Management, Inventory Management. All learners have been tested for COVID-19 and COVID-19 safety regulations for learning all environments being observed 8 participants took part in this 4-week program which went into deeper concentration on the following topics: Garment Design and Construction, Bag Design and Construction, Basics of Quality Control. COVID-19 testing was conducted for all participants and safety regulations for learning environments were maintained for all learning environments
HEVA has contracted Vivo Activewear to build and manage the Uhuru Market e-commerce platform to provide access to market.
The platform will be ready to launch by November 2020. HEVA also has contracted Tripple C to manage the communications aspect of Uhuru Market’s Awareness Campaign. The market will receive a refreshed presence on social media as well as traditional media feature stories on the ongoing rehabilitation efforts. Development of the new brand identity and assets are being undertaken by Somboriot Kipchilat, a renowned brand creator and graphic designer who has also been contracted by HEVA.
The process of developing a technical skills-building curriculum for the traders of Uhuru Market was led by TUK and guided by the data from the baseline study. The modules developed have a focus on technical skills pertaining to small and medium scale textile manufacturing. The 3 day training covered garment design and construction, bag design and consutruction and the basics of quality control. Prior to the training, COVID-19 testing was conducted for all participants. A total of 19 participants were split into 3 sessions which each took a period of 3 days - reason being to limit the number of attendees in each class and ensure social distancing as well as compliance with health and safety protocols. HEVA has registered over 1000 traders into the KFCO through a group membership subscription. The market is already enjoying the benefits of this membership through increased opportunities such as the LPO for PPE production that KFCO received from Safaricom. Part of the HEVA team safely gathered for a social distanced outdoor meeting with the Executive Office of the President and State Department for Housing and Department Development following a site visit of Uhuru Market. We discussed the progress of the market project so far, developments on the ground, future plans and way forward. Open Business Africa undertook a one-day training to equip the market traders with digital business skills. This was delivered in direct response to the need for new marketing avenues demanded by traders as highlighted in the baseline report. The traders were able to pick up new digital skills particularly: new skills that would improve their businesses, using digital tools to manage business, and how to use online marketing to get more customers. The HEVA team met with the Uhuru Market Action Research Advisory Committee
at KICC to review the report, give an update on the project progress and discuss the way forward.
The session wrapped up with an agreement for the committee members to share their feedback on the exciting opportunities and tough challenges presented by the findings for incoporation into the report conclusion and summary. In line with an objective to improve working conditions at the market, and in conjunction with City Eye Clinic, the HEVA team conducted a free eye testing clinic for the traders of Uhuru Market, during which eye care solutions were made available at subsidised rates. Over a period of 6 working days, the HEVA team of enumerators conducted structured interviews with the traders, guided by the questionnaire developed for the project. With logistical support from HEVA, the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) conducted a registration drive of the traders at Uhuru Market, as part of the objective of securing trader livelihoods through existing government schemes. Enumerators undertaking surveys of the market traders underwent training on the particular scope and methodologies of the project. The HEVA team got an opportunity to brief the market traders about the research project, and answer questions on what the research results of the Uhuru Market ARP will further enable. The HEVA research team validated the Uhuru Market Action Research tools with the market leadership. Our team gathered with Uhuru Market stakeholders, learning institution partners, Nairobi County and experts from government and private sector to discuss the work plan at KICC. This meeting was hosted by the Executive Office of the President. A project partner briefing was conducted to brief several existing and prospective partners for the project. We were honoured to have in our midst representatives from the Office of the President’s SME Advisory, Nairobi County, Uhuru Market, DFID, the Danish Embassy, Evidence Action, the Ministry of Trade, the Kenya Chamber of Commerce, the Business Advocacy Fund, RTI and several independent sector experts. HEVA signed an MOU with the Government of Kenya to carry out research and create a pilot centre of excellence for the growth and development of Uhuru Market's fashion/apparel sector and its practitioners. In attendance at the signing were representatives from the Executive Office of the President, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, the County Government, market representatives as well as our Managing Partner, Mr. George Gachara.Report: Uhuru Market Case Study
HEVA Unveils Uhuru Market’s E-commerce Platform
Certification from Technical University of Kenya
Digitization of Jormat SACCO
Business Enterprise Beginners Course
Technical Skills Beginners Course
E-commerce and Awarness Campaign Contracting
Technical University Crash Course
Kenya Fashion Council Membership Subscription
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/523219f5e4b0d03caffa89f3/1597785921954-SJR6AVKEMZQQPY9LIHXA/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kFTEgwhRQcX9r3XtU0e50sUUqsxRUqqbr1mOJYKfIPR7LoDQ9mXPOjoJoqy81S2I8N_N4V1vUb5AoIIIbLZhVYxCRW4BPu10St3TBAUQYVKcW7uEhC96WQdj-SwE5EpM0lAopPba9ZX3O0oeNTVSRxdHAmtcci_6bmVLoSDQq_pb/KFC+Image.jpg?format=2500w")
Uhuru Market Site Visit with the Executive Office of the President
Digital Skills Building Workshop
Advisory Committee Meeting
Free Eye Clinic
Questionnaire Deployment
Government Service Delivery Day
Enumerator's Training
Public Participation Meeting
Market Leadership Validation Meeting
Stakeholders Work Plan Discussion Meeting
Project Partner Briefing
MOU signed with GOK to pilot a Center of Excellence at Nairobi’s Uhuru Market
FEATURED PROJECTS
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Uhuru Market Center of Excellence - An Action Research Project
In early 2019, the Government of Kenya partnered with HEVA to conduct a research project and create a pilot centre of excellence.
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Ota Business Strategy Workshops for Women in Creative Enterprise
Ota successfully ran its second series of Business Strategy Workshops for women in creative enterprise which took place in Kisumu City.
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Informality Study - HEVA Research
HEVA was selected to represent Kenya’s perspective in a research commission that seeks to explore the relationship between the informal economy and the cultural economy in the global south.
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