1. The URC e-bulletin
28th November 2016 - Circulation 014
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In an attempt to escape being enumerated as part of projects
that have gone under after withdrawal of funding and technical
support by donors, WASAPHE CBO, introduced an egg per child
per month strategy as an avenue for internal resource mobiliza-
tion for sustainable child development. WASAPHE become a
spread agent of the ‘an egg per child’ change idea after the
group they learned from had bought a public transport bus
worth USD 60,000 – as illustrated in a learning forum in 2013.
‘We started the egg per child program, where we also
ensured that all the 3009 children under WASAPHE CBO
have at least a chicken. The one egg per child per month
simply means every OVC has a responsibility to bring an
egg every month. We developed a mutual understanding
among the OVC to wait for generational off springs for
cost effective chicken distributed to all. This year, from
1100 households, 3776 OVC submit an average of 1200
eggs per month,’ said Christine Adhiambo Otieno,
WASAPHE CBO team leader.
Systematically, a child receives a chick, rears it to egg laying age,
and submits an egg to his /her caregiver who in turn takes it to
the CBO office for recording. Mirrored on a value-chain, the child
is groomed to understand and practice the basics of animal hus-
What the system probably teaches Kenyan pupils and stu-
dents is the food value of an egg; that with a 10th
of a dollar
one can get high-quality protein, vitamins B12 and D, phos-
phorus and riboflavin – this academic package assures
healthy eating, for the non-orphaned, orphaned and the vul-
nerable children.
In practice, from scrambled to sandwiches, eggs has proven to
be one of the easy-to-fix breakfast recipe by children; in es-
sence, through age appropriate executable decisions, an egg
(in addition to daily vegetables and starch) in the hands of a
child presents a blossoming factor for good health. Its seam-
less access thus remains critical not just for consumption but
as a fountain for initiating and developing a thriving economy
among the orphaned and vulnerable children – this is the
change idea adopted by WASAPHE Quality Improvement, sup-
ported by APHIAplus Western and USAID ASSIST.
With continued rise in need for shelter, protection, education
and good health by the orphaned and vulnerable children
(OVC) in Migori County, financial stability is a determinant in
prolonging quality life for the cohort. Specifically, OVC need to:
be enrolled retained and progress through education; live in a
safe, clean shelter and in a healthy family environment; live in
a safe community with free from all forms of abuse cushioned
with legal and protection services when needed; be food se-
cure and enjoy good and regular nutrition; and have reliable
access to preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative
health services. This holistic approach that ensures OVC have
adequate resources for normal growth and development re-
quires sustainable financing mechanism if making them (OVC)
responsible members of the society is a desired outcome.
3,776
...number of OVC in 2016
Retooling Minds from Breakfast to Banking Recipe:
Think One Egg Per Child Per Month
Christine takes her team through packages using new
computer bought by ‘an egg per child’ account.

2. The views in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinion and position of URC, USAID, or the MoH. For queries, comments and any other form of feedback, kindly communicate directly to bokaka@urc-chs.com
bandry through adopted ownership by providing care
and protection to the chick. Equally, using rudimentary
skills, the child goes through a project management
phase which exposes him/her to self-management on
matters of care and treatment, thus pushing their self-
discipline a notch higher; the child ensures the chicken
gets daily feeds and is vaccinated. The child equally
benefits from a one-on-one brief by the community
volunteer who monitors their wellbeing. For the CBO,
receiving an egg every month is additional evidence of
continued contact with child by community volunteer.
‘Despite the water tight strategy to ensure
every child submits an egg per month, we
have noted a fluctuation trend in specific
months. This related to periods when chicken
breed and are attacked by diseases. This situa-
tion has led to a record of 1400 as highest
harvested and 671 lowest,’ WASAPHE CBO
team leader explained.
After learning from a pile of crates that went bad due
to staleness at their office which doubles as a ware-
house, eggs are now submitted by 15th
of every month.
Honored by ready market and taking advantage of
their office location, traders are enticed to book in
good time and collect their crates from the CBOs
office; this has eliminated transportation costs to mar-
ket place. The books of account indicate up to USD 110
as highest and 60 lowest.
In addition, community volunteers who track children
on matters of shelter, protection, education and good
health, voluntarily give a 10th
of a dollar as their contri-
bution towards sustainable strengthening and coordi-
nation of OVC service delivery system.
In espousing the value-chain, sales made from eggs has
been ploughed into purchase of a new laptop, desktop
and printer in an attempt to digitize all OVC data. The
CBO has also paid school fees and levies to 45 OVC and
is having a customized greenhouse under construction
and has ensured enrollment and continued submission
of National Hospital Insurance Fund for caregivers. The
‘egg a month’ is currently covering office rent and elec-
tricity bills at USD 45 and 15 respectively.
With reference to Briton Omondi’s story (on the right)
the one egg per child per month is a building block for
Kenya’s Vision 2030 social pillar. It is encapsulated as a
verifiable indicator of sustainable community develop-
ment approaches; investing in the people of Kenya in
order to improve the quality of life for all Kenyans. ##
Written by: Bill Okaka (Knowledge Management and Communication Officer)
Contributors: Jane Sigu - Technical Specialist - OVC Services (APHIAplus
Western, Migori County), Millicent Oluoko - OVC Services Coordinator -
(APHIAplus Western, Migori County), and Jemimah Owande - Quality Im-
provement Advisor - OVC (USAID ASSIST - URC, Kenya).
One Egg Per Month Hatches a Bank Account
Born and bred in Migori and under the care of WASAPHE CBO, is a 16
year boy who becomes the first to open a bank account with savings
from the ‘egg per child per month’ change idea. Through his grand-
mother, Briton Omondi was introduced to WASAPHE CBO where he got
care and support after the demise of his father - he is grateful for part
of his school fees paid by ‘one egg per month.’ Diligently following the
teaching and practice of his caregiver, Briton has submitted his ‘one egg
per month’ for two years now. Through mentorship on rearing chicken,
Briton is a proud owner of a flock of which he sells and saves for his day
to day needs. With increase in sales, he opted for a banking system that
will provide an opportunity to save and invest in future – his choice, the
National Bank of Kenya, Migori Branch. Accompanying him was the
caretaker who felt actualized as her many trips have been fruitful. For
WASAPHE CBO this case is a motivator towards continuity in service
provision with hopes that other Britons will emerge. A short video of
Briton is online: https://youtu.be/eRZVTeEk6Go
Briton Omondi (center) receiving his bank pass from a
National Bank of Kenya Migori representative. On
looking is Briton’s caregiver Juliana Angila.
Briton having a good feeding
time with his flock