PENHA

Pastoral and Environmental Network in the Horn of Africa (“PENHA”), works with pastoralist communities in rural areas across the Horn of Africa. PENHA-Somaliland started in 2001, and has put gender equality at the center of its work since its formation. PENHA is involved in a range of programming including capacity building for government, environmental management, humanitarian interventions, as well as support for local women’s groups and cooperatives.

One of PENHA’s primary programs is the promotion of MSMEs and job creation for women, which involves supporting honey value chains. The project aims to diversify pastoralists’ livelihoods in order to generate an alternative income stream. PENHA issues and manages lending capital to women's groups in Somaliland. With the help of Shuraako-facilitated capital, women in the program have been able to procure supplementary apiculture equipment, such as bee suits and gloves, and package and label their products for the first time.