Geno Community Development Initiative Trust
Est. 1995
Communities around Lake Victoria, leading their own change since 1995.
Kisumu, Homa Bay and Siaya Counties, Kenya
GCDI Trust works alongside women, children, young people and families on health, gender justice, water, livelihoods and climate resilience, because these challenges are connected and have to be solved together.
Poverty eradication, gender equality, climate resilience and good health are all connected, so our programmes are built to work together. Open any area for a summary, or visit Our Programmes for the full picture.
In the fishing communities around Lake Victoria, practices like "sex-for-fish" expose women and girls to exploitation, violence and HIV. In Nyakach and Rachuonyo North, we give boats directly to women at selected beaches so they can earn from fishing on their own terms.
Financial independence restores dignity, improves safety and reduces the risk of exploitation. We want to bring this model to more fishing communities.
A boat of her own means a woman no longer has to trade her safety for a day's catch.
Early pregnancy, new HIV infections and gender-based violence share the same roots, so we tackle them in one integrated response rather than three separate projects.
We have trained 150 boda boda operators as champions who work with us on HIV and GBV prevention, protecting young women and challenging harmful norms.
A household model that builds water, income, nutrition, soil and seed resilience on a single acre, through harvesting, solar irrigation, diverse crops, poultry and fish.
What our work looks like in the lives of the people we serve.
Women's groups in Rachuonyo North, including the Kendu Bay Women Group, now own boats donated through Boats of Freedom. Owning the boat means earning from fishing on their own terms, free from the exploitation of sex-for-fish.
See the handover photosA 150-metre borehole with pumping and sanitation facilities now brings clean water to families in Nyakach, for drinking, hygiene and farming.
About our water workOur Sports for health tournament brought young people together around football, with shirts provided by Borussia Dortmund.
About our youth workFrom our head office in Nairobi to fishing beaches and farms around Lake Victoria. Tap a county to see where we are active.
For companies, foundations and development partners looking for a trusted local partner with a record of results.
Working directly with communities in western Kenya since 1995, from a women's self-help group to a Charitable Trust.
22,493 people reached through integrated outreach, a 63% income increase for 94% of participating households, and 100% school retention for the young mothers we support.
Health, gender, livelihoods, water and climate are tackled together, so your investment works on more than one problem at once.
Communities identify the problems and shape the solutions with us, which keeps results going after a project ends.
Boats of Freedom, Triple Threat programming, Men As Partners and the One-Acre Smart Farm are proven, locally designed and ready to grow.
A Nairobi head office and a Kisumu regional office, with active programmes across Kisumu, Homa Bay and Siaya Counties.
The organisations standing with us and the communities we serve.
Your gift goes to a programme you choose, or where it is needed most. Give by M-Pesa Paybill 880100, bank transfer or PayPal.
DonateWe are looking for partners to scale proven models in GBV prevention, child protection, climate-smart farming and youth digital skills.
Send an inquiryThe Geno Community Development Initiative Trust is a Kenyan charitable organisation serving vulnerable and underserved people around Lake Victoria in Kisumu, Homa Bay and Siaya Counties.
Founded as a women's self-help group, meeting community needs through collective action and mutual support.
Transitioned into a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
Became a Charitable Trust to better address the evolving needs of the communities we work with.
Led a Participatory Assessment of Climate and Disaster Risks across Rachuonyo North, Gem and Nyakach.
A disease-free, food-secure society with the strength and capacity to navigate an ever-changing social, political and economic landscape.
To empower communities to achieve sustainable development and better health outcomes while strengthening their ability to adapt to emerging challenges.
Tap a county to see the sub-counties where we are active.
GCDI Trust is led by Chief Executive Officer Enosh Okoth Odera and governed by a Board chaired by Lawrine Odera.
Meet our teamOver thirty years working directly with communities in western Kenya has built lasting trust.
Health, gender, livelihoods, climate and social protection are treated as connected issues, not separate silos.
Communities identify the problems, design the solutions and carry out the work with us.
Women, children, young women, widows, fisherfolk, youth and other marginalised groups.
We understand the social, environmental and economic landscape of the Lake Victoria region from the inside.
Boats of Freedom, Triple Threat programming, Men As Partners, safe spaces and PACDR are all locally designed solutions.
Call, WhatsApp or email us. For partnership, volunteering or media requests, the inquiry form gets your message to the right person.
Lutheran Church Compound, opposite Mega City
Off Kisumu–Nairobi Highway, Kisumu
Kisumu, Homa Bay and Siaya Counties, along the shores of Lake Victoria, where our Resource Centre is a hub for community learning, agribusiness demonstrations and digital education.
Planning a visit to a programme site? Contact us first so we can arrange it with the community.
Choose an amount and where you want it to go. Every gift is put to work in communities around Lake Victoria.
to where it's needed most
After you give, letting us know helps us thank you and send a receipt.
Partnership proposals, volunteering, media requests, referrals or general questions. Tell us what you have in mind and we will get back to you.
We are looking for partners in these areas. Choose one to start an inquiry about it.
Nine connected areas of work, shaped by the communities we serve around Lake Victoria. Each one can be supported directly or through partnership.
Our Senior Management Team, Board and staff, working alongside hundreds of community champions, caregivers and young leaders.
The SMT leads the Trust's programmes, operations and partnerships day to day.
The Board provides governance and oversight, and guides the Trust's long-term direction.
The programme and support staff who carry our work in the communities.
Our work is community-led. Much of it is carried by local volunteers, groups and champions we train and support.
Boda boda operators trained to lead on HIV and GBV prevention and to protect young women.
Children taking an active part in their own protection and development.
Caregivers running small businesses that keep children safe at home and in school.
Run with adolescent girls and young women for counselling, training and peer support.
Trained in agribusiness and now building household income.
Community Action Teams, local leaders and savings groups across Kisumu, Homa Bay and Siaya.
Health workers, teachers, agronomists, digital trainers and communicators can all make a difference.
Ask about volunteeringWork with our team to scale proven, community-designed models.
Send a partnership inquiryUpcoming events, updates from our programmes and stories from the communities we work with.
In their own words: people from the communities we serve on what our work has changed for them.
Join the people behind our work. See current openings, or tell us how you would like to volunteer your time and skills.
Choose the areas where you would like to help, or tell us about another idea. We will get back to you about opportunities that fit.
Opportunities for suppliers and service providers to work with GCDI Trust. Each notice stays open until its closing date.
How to respond: follow the instructions in each tender notice. Unless a notice says otherwise, send your bid to info@geno-cdi.org with the tender reference in the subject line, before the closing date.
Moments from our work in communities around Lake Victoria.
