Honey Care Africa

Honey Care Africa, established in 2000, is a social enterprise based in Kenya. Its mission is to improve the income of small-scale farmers by assisting them in honey production through modern beekeeping practices. Honey Care guides farmers through the entire process: it sells modern hives, ensures their proper maintenance, buys the honey produced, and resells it in urban markets. The company's business model combines social objectives—increasing farmers' income by selling hives and supporting honey production—with financial goals, generating revenue from honey sales to sustain its operations.

Initially, Honey Care experienced substantial growth and acclaim. However, a leadership change in 2004 led to a strategic shift that deprioritized the social mission, causing a decline in farmer relationships, hive sales, and ultimately honey production. Then Madison Ayer, who became CEO in 2010, refocused the company on its primary mission, enhancing field operations to rebuild trust with farmers and boost honey yield. Despite these efforts, a significant challenge remained: small-scale farmers struggled to afford the hives, vital for both social and financial goals. Many farmers could not afford the upfront cost of US$60 per hive, which impeded both hive sales and future honey revenue.

In response, Alex Bezborodov, Head of Field Operations, explored partnerships with microfinance institutions and NGOs but found these methods ineffective. In 2012, he turned to Kiva for loans that offered favorable terms to farmers. While this new financing mechanism showed promise, it also brought uncertainty, as the success hinged on farmers repaying loans and generating sufficient supplemental income without compromising the company's financial stability.