MOTHERLAND

learning from the MOTHERLAND

Once you truly think and feel through the Metacrisis—the deep underlying drivers of the Polycrisis we are facing—it becomes clear that there are two likely attractor basins where this transformation might lead us. In both scenarios, we will be better off living in local, self-sufficient, and self-reliant communities. These communities, grounded in mutual support and interdependence, will offer resilience in the face of global instability, while fostering deeper connections to each other and the ecosystems that sustain us. This local focus, however, doesn’t mean isolation—it means thriving within a web of regenerative relationships that nurture both human life and the natural world.

More often than not, action follows need. In Germany, for instance—at least five years ago—the need to start reorganizing life into small, self-sufficient, and self-reliant communities wasn’t as apparent. Since then, however, we’ve begun to see a shift, as the pressures of climate, energy, and economic instability have become more pronounced.

In contrast, across much of Africa, the need for such reorganization has been undeniable for quite some time. Many communities already face significant challenges related to resource scarcity, climate change, and fragile infrastructures, making the transition to localized, self-sustaining systems not just a desirable future option, but an urgent necessity. This difference in context highlights the global diversity of urgency, but also reveals an opportunity for mutual learning—where experiences from regions facing acute need can inspire transformative action elsewhere.

Recognizing that the cradle of humanity may hold invaluable wisdom we can’t easily see in other parts of the world led us to believe that we should begin learning from Africa about how to live and thrive in self-sufficient, self-reliant communities. This perspective shift inspired us to take action. We set out to facilitate conversations, conferences, and workshops across the continent, engaging with hundreds of people from diverse regions and backgrounds. Our aim was to learn directly from African communities—understanding what is truly needed to help them move toward greater self-sufficiency and resilience, and exploring the ways we might support and uplift this transition. Through this, we hoped to gather insights that could not only empower local communities but also offer lessons that could inspire transformative change globally.

The first thing we learned was humbling: we were not needed. We were told that Africa already has everything she needs, and this has proven true time and again. From that moment, our approach shifted to one of deep humility and learning. Rather than coming in with solutions, we recognized the importance of listening and understanding. We were incredibly grateful to be welcomed despite the immense pain caused by the ongoing colonial exploitation of Africa, both past and present. This realization has shaped our stance ever since—approaching every interaction with respect, gratitude, and a willingness to learn from the vast wisdom that already exists across the continent.

It quickly became clear that the root of a thriving community is the land that feeds it. As we continued learning, we saw how this land has been, and continues to be, exploited—under growing pressure from climate disruptions. What surprised us most, however, was the realization that increasing farming activity or optimizing farming practices wasn’t actually the most urgent need.

What is truly missing is a way to prevent the enormous post-harvest losses, which range from 40 to 80%. This staggering waste happens after crops are grown and harvested, meaning that vast amounts of food never reach the people who need it. Addressing these post-harvest losses—not just improving yields—became clear as a critical area where we could focus our efforts to help communities strengthen their self-sufficiency and food security.

We found that the main reasons for these immense post-harvest losses are consistent across the entire continent:

• Lack of storage: Inadequate facilities to properly store harvested crops, leading to spoilage.

• Inappropriate logistics: Inefficient or unreliable transportation systems, making it difficult to move produce from farms to markets in time.

• Lack of market access and knowledge: Farmers often struggle to connect with buyers or understand market demands, leading to wasted produce.

• Lack of refinement and processing capacity: Limited infrastructure to process or refine raw crops, which could otherwise extend their shelf life or increase their market value.

Addressing these critical gaps became our focus as we saw how solving these issues could drastically improve food security and support the growth of self-sufficient, thriving communities across Africa.

We took action by empowering a local team from Siaya County in Kenya to work with 800 farmers, helping them coordinate and collaborate to address these four key issues. Whenever there was a gap that hindered local solutions—whether in storage, logistics, market access, or processing—the team invited Kenyan solutions, often from local startups, to fill these gaps. By focusing on community-led coordination and utilizing homegrown innovations, we aimed to strengthen the resilience and self-sufficiency of the farming communities, while supporting Kenya’s own entrepreneurial ecosystem in the process. This approach emphasized local empowerment, fostering solutions that are both sustainable and deeply rooted in the needs and capacities of the region.

Now, after nearly two years of running this pilot program, we can confidently say that this approach works. Despite the fact that the last three harvests have been devastated by climate disruptions, the farmers of MOTHERLAND and their families are experiencing better food security than comparable communities. By addressing the core issues of storage, logistics, market access, and processing—through coordination and local solutions—the community has become more resilient, even in the face of increasingly harsh climate challenges. This model of empowering local farmers and fostering collaboration within their ecosystem has proven to be a powerful tool for strengthening self-reliance and ensuring that communities can thrive, even under difficult circumstances.

As the MOTHERLAND team consolidates their learnings and processes into a book aimed at helping other communities replicate the model, both the government and the World Bank have started to take notice. They’ve begun inviting the team to help facilitate the replication of this model across the region. This vision of scaling the model has always been MOTHERLAND’s north star, and seeing it come to fruition is a source of deep gratitude and joy beyond words. It reaffirms the belief that local, community-driven solutions can inspire and catalyze larger systemic change, impacting not just a single community, but potentially entire regions and beyond.