Business Organization and Project Support

RFL offers a range of expertise for the public, commercial and community institutions in relation to various areas that include: Business and investment planning, Regulatory compliance, Stakeholder mapping, Social and livelihood surveys, Program design and preparation, Human resource development, Project cycle management, Monitoring and evaluation. All this expertise are closely linked to RFL’s Business incubation strategies and Technological innovations capacity.

Business Incubation

RFL has expertise in business development and has immensely contributed to the creation of various businesses separate from the company. Rural Focus has been contracted under private operator contracts to run several piped water projects. Services provided include water treatment and distribution, repairs and maintenance, revenue collection, procurement, accounting, customer care, billing, business planning, regulatory compliance, infrastructure improvements, and monitoring and reporting. RFL has successfully introduced M-PESA payment systems.

RFL has been a key implementing partner in the Maji ni Maisha program which has enabled approximately 50 community-owned water projects to provide water services through a package of technical and financial investments delivered through a blend of community equity, commercial loans and output-based aid. RFL has provided technical services covering water resource and environmental assessments, project design, business planning, regulatory compliance, procurement, construction supervision, and operational and management capacity building.

Innovations and Technology

RFL has developed its Billing Management Software which is successfully used in more than 20 water projects. This software has been integrated with a mobile Water Meter Reading application that automatically updates water meter reading in the field.

In collaboration with Oxford University, Rural Focus has successfully piloted a mobile-based Smart Hand pump project in Mwingi County and Kwale County which monitors hand pump usage in near-real time and delivers a rapid and reliable maintenance service. Repair time has changed from an average of 40 days to 3 days.