Transforming lives in rural Kenya
Standard Bank Offshore is committed to Africa’s growth, and its partnership with Ripple Effect strengthens the community systems that make that growth possible.
Protecting what matters most
On the slopes of Mount Elgon, an ancient extinct volcano on the Kenya–Uganda border, daily life is shaped by distance, terrain, and limited access to infrastructure.
Here, a donkey is far more than an animal. It carries water from distant streams, transports crops to market, hauls building materials, and, in emergencies, becomes a means of getting someone to care.
For many families, it is the difference between coping and falling behind.
Protecting what matters most
When a donkey falls ill, the impact is immediate. Households can lose their ability to fetch water, generate income, and sustain daily life. In this context, progress doesn’t begin with new resources — it begins with protecting the critical assets families already depend on.
This is where partnership matters.
Through its work with Ripple Effect, Standard Bank Offshore supports programmes that focus on practical, community-led solutions. One such initiative, Thriving with Donkeys, equips families with the skills, training, and veterinary support needed to care for their animals and safeguard their livelihoods.
From vulnerability to resilience
During a recent visit to the region, Anna-Marie Egre, Project Lead in Corporate Social Investment at Standard Bank Offshore, saw first-hand how these interventions are changing lives.
“What stood out to me was how these changes being implemented by Ripple Effect are making massive differences in the community. Previously, many families lived below the poverty line, choosing between buying food or paying school fees. Malnutrition was high and donkeys used to be abandoned in the market when unwell because families couldn’t afford to treat them.
Today, with knowledge and access to local veterinary support, those donkeys are healthy. Seeing that connection between humans and animals and how closely their wellbeing is linked was very moving.”
The shift is tangible. Healthier animals mean more reliable transport, more consistent income, and more time — time that can be reinvested into farming, education, and building more stable households.
Building stronger systems for the future
The impact of the partnership extends beyond livestock care. Communities are supported with training in climate-smart agriculture, soil health, water management, and nutrition. These interventions help families grow more diverse crops, improve food security, and adapt to changing environmental conditions.
“The results are visible everywhere,” Anna-Marie explains. “Families who once struggled to grow enough are now producing a wider range of crops year-round. They have stronger soils, better water systems and more sustainable ways of farming, even as the wet seasons become shorter and droughts longer.”
Enabling opportunity through inclusion
A key outcome of the programme has been the increased participation and empowerment of women.
Many women who previously depended on others for income and decision-making are now trained as Peer Farmer Trainers, earning their own livelihoods and contributing more actively within their households and communities.
This shift has helped to strengthen family dynamics, reduce conflict, and create more stable environments for future generations.
The value of partnership
What makes this work effective is not only what is delivered, but how it is delivered.
Ripple Effect’s community-led approach ensures that knowledge stays within the community, creating long-term resilience rather than short-term relief. Standard Bank Offshore’s role is to support and scale these efforts — enabling sustainable impact that continues well beyond the initial intervention.
Together, this partnership is helping communities move from vulnerability to stability, and from stability to opportunity.
A shared commitment to Africa’s growth
At Standard Bank Offshore, supporting Africa’s growth means investing in the systems that enable people to thrive.
By working alongside partners like Ripple Effect, we are contributing to stronger, more resilient communities — where progress is built not only through financial solutions, but through practical, lasting change.
Following our latest visit, Standard Bank Offshore are running a fundraising campaign until the end of September 2026. If you would like to donate to this great cause, please click on the link below to our KindLink fundraising page. All funds raised will be matched by Standard Bank Offshore, up to the value of £10,000 - KindLink - Ripple Effect Fundraising 2026 campaign