Rural Outreach Program (ROP) was registered in 1992 as a non-profit limited company by guarantee, to undertake development activities aimed at improving the livelihoods of the rural poor in Kenya , over 55% of whom live below the poverty line

The organization was preceded by a successful action research project, the Mumias Project, which was undertaken by Executive Director Prof. Ruth K. Oniang’o, then also a Professor of Food Science and Nutrition at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Nairobi, Kenya.

Experience from the action research energized ROP activities. One such experience was the realization of the immense human resource that exists in poor rural communities, which ROP has decided to utilize fully in its activities. Current ROP activities are being undertaken in a sugarcane growing, food deficit area which has registered increasing levels of child malnutrition since 1974 when the Mumias Sugarcane Company started operations in the area.

 
The program strives to create a healthy rural community able to live and enjoy an active dignified life, and to access and utilize both internal and external resources to the full, and willing to contribute fully to the development of families, communities, and the nation while upholding respect for others
 
ROP activities initially targeted one sub-location but have over time grown to cover the whole of Butere and adjoining divisions in Western Province of Kenya. For example, we have activities in Lurambi, Mumias and in Khwisero
 
ROP works in collaboration with key partners for maximum effect. The extension approach entails identification of community mobilizers, linking them with government extension agents for sharing of knowledge and serving the farmer as a team. ROP works through schools and community groups particularly women and youth groups. During these linkages, farmers share indigenous knowledge, and receive extension support and information from research. Farmers are encouraged to produce food for both home consumption and for sale
 

In terms of personnel strength, ROP keeps to a minimum the personnel that would require personal emoluments. Instead it uses government officers and facilitates them to provide technical support to groups and also utilizes scholars at institutions of higher learning who serve as resource persons and research associates. ROP activities offer scholars a unique research opportunity and in turn ROP benefits from their technical expertise without having to employ them on a full time basis, thus keeping overhead costs down and spending more resources on actual activities and interventions. ROP receives requests and accepts some within its capability for university student attachment.

As explained earlier, ROP is a multi-sectoral rural development organisation. Within this scheme, it takes on the development of rural western kenya in a holistic manner, as much of African development must be taken. Interns have the chance to witness first-hand ROP's strategies, struggles, failures, and lessons learned. Interns are free to recommend improvements for the program, receive feedback and mentoring on their recommendations, and see those improvements to fruition.
As a non-profit NGO, ROP delivers a multitude of proposals. The interns are encouraged to search for potential donors, and produce professional proposals that match the activities of the criteria of the donors.

 

ROP has a strong Board that comprises eight personalities from various backgrounds. Board members are encouraged to participate in ROP activities, thus enriching the knowledge base of ROP.
 
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