ChildFund, Barnfonden, and Spowdi roll out regenerative agriculture for 470 Kenyan farms

A partnership between ChildFund International, Swedish children’s rights organization Barnfonden, and greentech company Spowdi is equipping 470 smallholder farms in Kenya with solar-powered irrigation systems and regenerative agriculture training. The initiative, described as the first scalable rollout of its kind, seeks to improve food security, restore degraded land, and build resilience in communities facing the harsh effects of climate change.

Responding to climate stress

Most of the participating farms are located in drought-affected regions, where water scarcity and declining crop yields threaten livelihoods. For many families, income insecurity and hunger are pressing concerns.

Chege Ngugi, Africa Regional Director for ChildFund International, underscored the urgency:
“We’re reaching farmers at a tipping point, struggling to feed their families and protect their land. With the right tools, they can shift from surviving to thriving. These 470 farms show how regenerative agriculture can improve food security, restore degraded land, and strengthen adaptation to environmental stressors.”

The partnership provides farmers with practical tools to grow more food using significantly less water, while reducing dependency on fossil fuels. By combining technology with training, the program places farmers at the center of Kenya’s shift toward sustainable agricultural practices.

Building an inclusive economy

Henrik Johansson, CEO of Spowdi, highlighted the broader significance:
“This implementation in Africa is a turning point. The farmers we work with are pioneers. They show that regenerative agriculture is not a distant future – it starts here and now. We firmly believe this investment will carry its own cost, thanks to increased yields, improved margins, and stronger local economies. And this business model is designed to be replicated across East Africa and beyond.”

Spowdi’s solar-powered irrigation systems allow farmers to reduce water use while improving productivity, an innovation that aligns with both local needs and global goals for climate-smart agriculture. The company stresses that sustainable farming models are critical not just for communities but also for the global food system, given that smallholders produce roughly one-third of the world’s output.

Industry engagement in food security

The rollout also draws private sector backing. SHL Medical, a leader in self-injection solutions, has contributed to the program, seeing strong parallels with its mission of enabling individuals to live more empowered lives.

Roger Samuelsson, Founder of SHL Medical, explained:
“From the very beginning, SHL Medical has been driven by a vision to enable individuals. Contributing to this initiative is a natural extension of our mission of helping people live more empowered lives, and we’re proud to be part of it.”

Ulrich Faessler, Chairman and CEO of SHL Medical, added:
“For several years, we’ve supported initiatives that advance opportunities for people. Our engagement with Spowdi over the past few years has been especially inspiring, as we’ve witnessed remarkable progress and impact. This new collaboration with ChildFund builds on our legacy and commitment to these types of initiatives – a long-standing source of pride for us.”

The involvement of SHL Medical illustrates how corporate partnerships can accelerate sustainable development. By aligning business strategy with community needs, companies are able to contribute to long-term social and environmental change.

Scaling beyond 470 farms

This initiative builds on a successful pilot of 50 solar irrigation systems. The 470 new farms act as “best practice hubs” that can inspire wider adoption. Each farm represents a micro-hub of change, combining innovation with training to create pathways for entrepreneurship and income generation.

Martina Hibell, Secretary General of Barnfonden, emphasized the impact on children:
“When a family can grow food and secure an income, children can focus on school and learning. This initiative goes beyond farming – it’s about building stability in children’s lives, while also caring for the environment. With reliable access to food and water, they are more likely to attend school and stay healthy. These 470 farms are just the beginning – a foundation for resilience and learning that can scale across borders.”

A model for regenerative futures

The collaboration highlights a new phase in addressing food insecurity in climate-stressed regions. By linking greentech innovation with community-centered training and private sector support, the project demonstrates how regenerative agriculture can be scaled.

For Kenya’s farmers, the partnership offers immediate relief in the face of water shortages and poor yields. For the global community, it signals a replicable model that blends sustainability, economic empowerment, and social resilience.