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Civil Society Participation
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strategic poverty alleviation systems
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Areas of expertise & Fields of activity:
Economic and Social
:
Extreme poverty
Geographic scope:
National
Country of activity:
Kenya
Mission statement:
When we started SPAS 10 years ago, the Kenyan poor and people living with HIV/AIDS or PLWHAS identified food/nutrition security, lack of medicines and environmental degradation as their major challenges. They were also concerned about HIV/AIDS pandemic which had by then been declared a disaster in Kenya. Then we were preparing for the first meeting focusing on the MDGs in 2000. As we listened to the poor, it occurred to us that a tool or technology was needed that was effective in addressing all the challenges simultaneously and one that communities could easily identify with. Organic Grain amaranth-a non grass cereal or pseudo-cereal- and a nutritional powerhouse appeared very seductive having been used by communities for eons as a source of food, feed, and medicines. We realized that it could also help communities in their long fight towards sustainable climate change adaptation and mitigation being pests, diseases and drought resistant, requiring a third of the water needed by other commonly used (but nutrients deficient) cereals like white maize and sorghum, and with an early maturity period of between 45-75 days in dry lands. Ever since SPAS has advocated for the protection of the poor through organic grain amaranth where SPAS has been able to demonstrate the strong convergence between nutrition, poverty, HIV/AIDS and a healthy environment for sustainable development. Where people are hungry and engage in unsustainable sources of livelihoods, poverty and HIV/AIDS are likely to proliferate, while short term and potentially self-destructive coping mechanisms such as engaging in risky commercial sex work during times of famines could not be overemphasized. Besides, organic grain amaranth limits the choices of foods to one essential for the poor and provides the critical link between nutrition, HIV/AIDS, health and ultimately poverty in changing climate. Indeed, Organic Grain Amaranth HIV/AIDS Initiative-OGAAI is an innovative approach which aims at prevention of intergenerational transmission of poverty for lasting social change. This model also supports HIV prevention among young girls through prevention of all manifestations of poverty including HIV/AIDS which increases violence against women and children and gender inequality both of which impacts negatively on educational outcomes among girls. Strategic Poverty Alleviation Systems-SPAS is a not for profit organization working with marginalized social groups and communities in promoting grain amaranth a non grass cereal or pseudo-cereal, and a nutritional powerhouse which also a medicinal crop to address the key challenges for intergeneration transmission of poverty which are poverty, malnutrition, poor education, HIV/AIDS to create lasting social change, besides addressing the economic and ecological effects of climate change and linking environmental concerns with poverty. SPAS began by attempting to answer the following key questions  What are the opportunities and hence options in organic grain amaranth relevant to addressing all manifestations of poverty for current and future generations and diverse communities needs  What are the major constraints to exploiting these opportunities  What are the strategic choices to be made by communities, as well as partners, in supporting actions taken by communities through organic grain amaranth based activities
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