Stories
Stories
For African farmers looking to escape poverty, honey brings sweet success
Yusuf Keshavjee (OPM 17, 1991) helps African farmers and their families escape poverty through beekeeping. He cofounded Honey Care Africa (HCA), a private-sector enterprise in Kenya that partners with local NGOs and international development and financial institutions to manufacture hives and offer beekeeping demonstrations and training. It purchases honey at fair-trade prices and also processes, packages, and distributes the honey to markets.
HCA’s business model, which is being replicated in other African countries, places an emphasis on generating economic, social, and environmental value. To date, HCA has helped more than 9,000 small-scale beekeepers (nearly half are female), and is aiming to impact one million people by 2020. The social enterprise is now embarking on a massive investment with equity partners and scaling up its activities.
Honored in 2005 by the president of Kenya for exemplary service, Keshavjee says, “I’d like to play my small part in reducing the inequalities of income on this new-frontier continent. I’d like to inspire youthful entrepreneurs and the creation of social enterprises.”
Keshavjee also is a trustee on the board of the Aga Khan University, which has a presence in eight countries where its mission is “to prepare individuals for constructive and exemplary leadership roles, and shape public and private policies, through strength in research and excellence in education, all dedicated to providing meaningful contributions to society.”
(Published April 2014)
Support the next generation of leaders Make a gift nowPost a Comment
Related Stories
-
- 13 Dec 2022
- The First Five Years
The First Five Years: Christine Keung and Reggie Smith
Re: Christine Keung (MBA 2020); Reginald Smith (MBA 2020); Alicia Dadlani (MBA 2003) -
- 04 Sep 2019
- HBS Alumni Bulletin
A Measured Approach
Re: Paul Wang (MBA 2011); Esther Wang (MBA 2009); By: Lisa Scanlon Mogolov -
- 27 Oct 2016
- HBS Alumni News
Paying It Forward
Re: Malay Kundu (MBA 2003); By: Margie Kelley -
- 11 Jan 2016
- Harvard Business Review
The Future of Cities Depends on Innovative Financing
Re: John D. Macomber (Senior Lecturer of Business Administration)
Stories Featuring Yusuf Keshavjee
-
- 19 Aug 2013
- Alumni Stories
Bees Make a Sweet Deal for African Farmers
Re: Yusuf Keshavjee (OPM 17)