PROJECTS

Key Projects
  • Improving the quality of health services: Upgrading 42 health facilities with out sourced (and new) hospital health care, diagnostics and laboratory equipment (2006-2013)
  • Construction of Virembe Community Hospital (2009-2011)
  • Support the construction of and crowd funding for Esikoma Hospital to enhance access to healthcare (2023-2024).
  • Capacity-building programs for local healthcare providers, including workshops on preventive care and diagnostics (2008-2013).
  • Solar panels and electricity supply to Virhembe Healh Center (2011) and Kakamega Forest Dispensary (2007)
  • Reforestation and socioeconomic development in East Madagascar, in collaboration with the Malagasy NATIORA DEFENDERS developing the Endrigna project (2023-)
  • Development of a Climate Action Educational book (2024-2026)
  • Solar powered egg incubation initiative, Empowering Women in Rural Kenya in collaboration with Kanyan NGO OSIEPA and US NGO Emergency Energy (2024-) 

BasicD collaborates with Kenyan, Madagascan, and US NGOs, as well as international and Danish partners, e.g., Danish hospitals, clinics, and private contributors (e.g., shipping, transport, PR, clothes, computers, construction materials, tools, etc.) to secure vital medical equipment and resources. Together, we aim to strengthen healthcare systems and nurture healthier communities. Hartmann Fonden supported mosquito nets for hospital wards to avoid malaria from spreading, Merkur Fonden supported solar plants (Kenya) and tree nurseries (Madagascar), Danida, MS ActionAid, and Meask Line donated container transports.

Solar-Powered Community Incubators: Hatching Economic Growth and Sustainable Futures for families in Western Kenya

Installation of one test and additional Five Solar-Powered Egg Incubators in Western Kenya

Background: Poultry farming, especially chicken rearing, is a key source of income and well-being for many rural Kenyan households. It’s simple to manage and offers both productive and reproductive benefits. In many communities, poultry is traditionally seen as “women’s property,” meaning they have the autonomy to sell chickens whenever needed to meet household expenses. This makes poultry farming a strategic entry point for initiatives aimed at empowering women economically and enhancing community resilience through sustainable livestock production.

Project Goals: In 2024, the local Kenyan organization OSIEPA (Organisation for Sustained Inclusion, Empowerment, and Poverty Alleviation) together with Emergency Energy and BasicD, launched a project to boost poultry productivity for vulnerable women in rural Siaya and Kakamega Counties. The project introduced solar-powered egg incubators, allowing women to hatch more eggs at a high success rate and secure a reliable income.

Current impacts: The first solar-powered incubator, with a 90-egg capacity, has been used for six cycles with an impressive 93% hatch rate. In the first year, the project reached 30 vulnerable women, each receiving an average of 15 chicks per cycle. The women have used the income from selling chickens to pay for school fees, reinvest in poultry production, and address other household needs. These early results show that poultry farming helps women quickly improve their income, enhance their family’s well-being, and reduce household conflicts.

Proposed Expansion Plan: To reach more women and amplify the project’s impact, OSIEPA, Emergency Energy and BasicD, plan to:

  • Install five larger solar-powered incubators with a 1,000-egg capacity, located in various communities.
  • Upgrade feed production equipment by converting a gasoline-powered machine into a solar-powered system.
  • Train local community representatives in basic incubator maintenance.
  • Conduct participatory observations and interviews to document the project’s impact and learn from experience.

Projected Future Impacts: The expanded project is expected to benefit 1,000 additional vulnerable women. Each new incubator can produce about 930 chickens per month. If 15 women share one incubator’s output, each would receive around 60 chickens per cycle (considering 10% loss). Every three months, they could sell the chickens and earn approximately KES 64170 (DKK 3564; USD 500). 

In comparison an average household in the test village has living costs of about KES 200 per day (DKK 11) and KES 6000 per month. The chicken earnings can help women start small businesses, pay school fees, medical treatments, or improve household living standards. This initiative not only promotes economic independence but also advances environmental sustainability and strengthens community resilience.

One egg cost about 35 KES (2 DKK) and a chicken KES 1200 (66 DKK)

Rebuilding Madagascar’s forests: BasicD collaborates with the Madagascan-based NGO “Natiora Defenders” on the Endrigna project

The partnership serves as a model for how local and global stakeholders can work together to achieve meaningful change via community-driven restoration, backed by strategic investments and solid partnerships.

Together with two Madagascan NGOs we address pressing environmental and socioeconomic challenges in Madagascar. By combining local expertise and community engagement with BasicD’s experience in evidence-based sustainable development, the partnership strives to preserve the country’s unique biodiversity and improve the livelihoods of vulnerable populations. With financial backing from institutions like the Danish Merkur Fonden and private donors, this collaboration supports meaningful change on both local and global scales.

Local and Global Challenges: Madagascar faces one of the highest rates of deforestation worldwide, losing nearly 100,000 hectares of forest each year due to practices like slash-and-burn agriculture (tavy) and charcoal production. These activities not only threaten critical ecosystems but also exacerbate poverty, disrupt local food systems, and hinder educational opportunities in communities like Ampgangalatsary, where over 130 children remain out of school. At the same time, Madagascar’s forests play a vital role in the global climate effort by offsetting nearly 100 Mt CO2 annually, despite the country’s relatively low greenhouse gas emissions( 4 Mt CO2 from a population of 21 million). This means that Madagascar is contributing positively to the climate change crisis by having negative emissions. In comparison a global north country like Denmark emits approximately 33 Mt CO2 from a population of 5 million and with hardly any forest to offset the emissions. Protecting these forests and promoting sustainable development is essential to both local resilience and global climate stability.

Approach: reforestation, agroforestry, education and capacity-building, and community-driven initiatives. 

  • Restoring degraded landscapes and expanding protected areas to sustain vital ecosystems, including a small indri lemur population that serves as a powerful symbol of conservation success.
  • Integrating trees, crops, and livestock in innovative ways that enhance soil fertility, improve water cycles, and create sustainable livelihoods. This includes practices like forest farming, permaculture crop synergies, and honey production.
  • Investing in educational programs, especially for women and children, and forming farmers’ associations to support sustainable resource management. These efforts not only improve local income levels but also foster long-term environmental stewardship.
  • We use centralized data management systems, to track deforestation, measure carbon sequestration, and ensure that interventions remain effective and context sensitive.

Impacts: By improving local education, promoting alternative livelihoods, and preserving biodiversity, the Endrigna-BasicD collaboration addresses the root causes of deforestation and poverty. The project’s agroforestry initiatives, for example, not only provide economic stability but also contribute to climate resilience by enhancing water quality, reducing soil erosion, and maintaining the ecological balance necessary for thriving communities.

Tree Nurseries: Endrigna operates tree nurseries to grow and care for native species like Palisander, Raffia palms, and Vanilla orchids. The nurseries are vital to achieving the goal of planting a continuous forest corridor connecting fragmented habitats.

Community Integration: The project collaborates with local communities, employing them in nursery operations, forest guarding, and sustainable practices like permaculture and beekeeping, ensuring both biodiversity and livelihood improvements. And protecting the forest outskirts from cutting/deforestation.

Climate change mitigation via biodiversity protection: The reforestation will aid endemic species, including Madagascar’s iconic lemurs, by restoring habitats and creating migration pathways critical for their survival.

With 97% of the local population relying on charcoal for cooking, Endrigna introduces alternative income opportunities to reduce dependence on deforestation.

BasicD’s expertise in health and community projects complements Endrigna’s conservation focus. Together, with Merkur Fonden’s support, they are fostering sustainable practices, empowering local communities, and contributing to a greener future for Madagascar and the planet.

Transforming Health and Education in Kenya

BasicD has profoundly influenced healthcare and community development in Kenya through strategic partnerships and targeted initiatives. Working alongside Danish donors—hospitals, clinics, and private contributors—BasicD has donated critical medical and laboratory equipment to over 42 Kenyan healthcare facilities. These efforts have enhanced diagnostics, improved patient care, and strengthened local health infrastructure in underserved areas.

Key projects include:

  • Construction of Virembe Community Hospital (200m²), reducing distances to healthcare for rural communities.
  • Supporting Esikoma Hospital, providing critical medical services in border areas.
  • Outreach Treatment and Healthcare in communities and schools;
    •  Via local NGOs, Jigger Larvae Treatment Programs have been implemented aiming to improve academic performance among larvae infected schoolchildren and community members.
  • Virembe Community Health Self Help Group, is the key coordinator of treatments and education of other self-help groups and NGOs.

BasicD has shipped vital medical tools such as microscopes, hospital beds, ultrasound machines, and surgical instruments via donations from more than 100 Danish hospitals and companies. These donations fill resource gaps across Kenyan dispensaries, and health centers and hospitals, in Kakamega and Busia counties. For example, microscopes have enhanced malaria and typhoid diagnostics, improving treatment outcomes for vulnerable groups like children under five and pregnant women.

Partnerships and Strategic Planning: BasicD works closely with the Kenyan Ministry of Health and public and community healthcare facilities to ensure that the donated resources meet local resources needs. Partnerships with Danish logistics companies facilitate efficient delivery of donations.

Notable Projects:

  1. Medical Equipment Donations: Microscopes, autoclaves, hospital beds, and other critical tools have improved diagnostics and healthcare delivery.
  2. Jigger Larvae Treatment Programs: Address debilitating infections, enhancing health and education outcomes.
  3. Virembe Community Hospital Construction: Established to improve healthcare access in Kakamega County.
  4. Esikoma Hospital Support: Expanded access to medical care near the Ugandan border.

Impact

  • Improved Diagnostics: Microscopes and centrifuges enhance the accuracy of malaria and typhoid diagnoses.
  • Increased Accessibility: Facilities like Virembe and Esikoma Hospitals provide life-saving services to previously underserved communities.
  • Capacity Building: Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) programs for HIV, alongside healthcare workshops, strengthen local health systems.

Collaborative Partnerships as a foundation for success:

  • Danish Donors: Generous contributions from hospitals, clinics, and individuals enable impactful projects.
  • Local Stakeholders: Collaboration with Kenyan institutions, such as Kakamega County General Hospital, ensures sustainable development.
  • Community-Based Initiatives: Support for volunteer health worker initiatives strengthens family planning, sanitation advocacy, and nutrition programs.

Facilities Supported
BasicD has aided 42 healthcare facilities, including hospitals, health centers, and dispensaries. Key recipients include:

  • Virembe Community Nursing Home
  • Esikoma Hospital
  • Kakamega Provincial Hospital
  • Musembe Dispensary
  • Etc.

BasicD has provided:

 

More than 80 Hospital beds + mattresses
20 Bed tables
10-80 Drip stands
10-40 screens (separation screens)
150 Wheelchairs
2-5 Operation tables
2-15 Delivery beds
2-15 Delivery sets
2-15 MVA-Kids
Assorted Protection gear
4-10 respirators
2-4 Ultrasound machines
8-17 microscopes
2-10 centrifuges
Assorted laboratory equipment
50 Gluco metres
1-17 ENT-equipment
Baby incubators
Autoclaves
Potable lights
Fridge for lab
Uniforms, Linen/beds sheets,
Etc.

Microscopes

Saves lives and improves living conditions. Create proper diagnoses and the right treatment. Malaria and typhoid fever symptoms are similar and can therefore not be diagnosed clinically. Saves lives and creates trust and certainty among patients that they receive the right treatment.

Beds (with mosquito nets)

Better health care. Improved conditions for in-patients: One bed one patient. Not one bed two or three or a mattress on the floor. Decrease malaria infections between patients.

Wheelchairs

Better health care. Improved conditions for patients. They can be carried instead of walking.

Supporting VCTs

Preventing the spread of HIV.

Supporting the local civil society. Locate, advise, and help poor HIV-amputated families (if the parents are infected the whole family loses from economic income, food, and proper hygiene).

Future Focus
BasicD is committed to sustainable healthcare development, emphasizing capacity building, local knowledge integration, and community ownership. By leveraging partnerships, donations, and volunteer efforts, BasicD continues to improve health and empower local communities in Kenya.

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