KHEA – Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture in East Africa

The Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture in East Africa (KHEA) is a regional initiative aimed at promoting organic and agroecological farming practices across five countries: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Madagascar. It is part of the continental Knowledge Centre for Organic Agriculture in Africa (KCOA), supported by GIZ and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Coordinated by Biovision Africa Trust (BvAT) in Kenya and co-hosted by PELUM Uganda, KHEA is designed to improve access to quality-assured knowledge on organic agriculture. It uses a unique Teams of Trainers of Trainers for Farmers (Teams ToToF) approach to deliver knowledge from the regional to grassroots level. Master Trainers trained by IFOAM – Organics International work with country-level partners and pass knowledge to Multipliers—facilitators who work directly with farmers and communities to ensure effective knowledge transfer. In Tanzania, the lead implementing agency is TOAM (Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement), in collaboration with associate partners: Mighty Society Against Poverty (MSOAPO), Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT), Njombe Southern Highlands Development Association (NSHDA), and Floresta Tanzania.

Project Components:

1. Collecting and Preparing Knowledge for Organic Agriculture

This component identifies, documents, and validates existing and emerging knowledge on organic farming. It compiles best practices, indigenous knowledge, research findings, and farmer innovations into formats that are accessible and practical for different users.

2. Disseminating Knowledge to Users

Using the ToToF approach, knowledge is repackaged and shared via workshops, demonstration farms, printed guides, videos, and digital tools. It reaches a broad audience including farmers, extension officers, agribusinesses, and institutions.

3. Networking with Agricultural Value Chains

This component fosters collaboration across the organic agriculture value chain—farmers, processors, marketers, service providers, and policymakers. It strengthens market links, boosts visibility of organic products, supports policy engagement, and builds experience-sharing platforms. Overall, KHEA plays a vital role in promoting sustainable farming by ensuring that knowledge flows effectively, reaches the right people, and results in tangible improvements in practice, productivity, and policy influence across East Africa.