MakerVillages
Catalysts for Economic Ecosystems
The Makervillage concept is a transformative, community-driven framework designed to bring sustainable employment and economic regeneration to rural West African communities. These centralized hubs integrate local resources, culture, and talent to create self-sustaining economic ecosystems.
The Challenge of Rural Economic Isolation
Rural West African communities face systemic challenges, including limited access to economic opportunities, high dependency on remittances, and inadequate market access for local products. These issues often hinder sustainable development and quality of life.
For instance, while remittances provide a vital safety net, they can perpetuate a cycle of economic dependency, diverting funds from productive investments in agriculture or entrepreneurship. Furthermore, poor infrastructure, like unpaved roads and limited transportation, cuts off local producers from broader markets, limiting their income potential.
Our Solution: A Holistic, Community Hub
Makervillages offer a holistic, community-led solution by fostering self-reliance and resilience. They serve as the heart of Askiya's work, providing the necessary infrastructure, resources, and services to support the entire value chain of local commodities and talent. This approach is rooted in two guiding principles:
Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD): Makervillages focus on identifying and building upon a community's existing strengths, skills, and resources—such as traditional craftsmanship and local agricultural products—rather than focusing on deficiencies.
Collective Impact (CI): The model brings together diverse stakeholders—community members, local businesses, government agencies, and non-profits—to align their efforts toward shared goals for long-term, sustainable impact.
Makervillages in Action:
Our Key Impact Areas Makervillages are multidimensional catalysts addressing critical socio-economic challenges.
1. Economic Empowerment and Job Creation
Makervillages transform traditional products, artisan crafts, and indigenous resources into market-ready goods. By establishing maker spaces, rural communities gain access to tools, resources, and training that enable them to start or expand businesses.
This shift promotes local entrepreneurship, creating sustainable income avenues and reducing reliance on external income sources and aid.
The establishment of value-added industries like food processing and textile production generates jobs, particularly for women and youth, stimulating the local economy and keeping wealth within the region.
2. Enhancing Market
Access Makervillages address limited market access by facilitating market linkages and connecting local producers to broader markets, both regional and international.
This is achieved through providing crucial infrastructure (e.g., storage, local processing centers) and leveraging partnerships to connect artisans and farmers with larger buyers, ensuring fair prices and increased revenues.
The collaborative environment encourages the development of new, high-quality products tailored to market demand.
3. Food Security and Sustainable Livelihoods
Makervillages integrate food sovereignty initiatives, empowering communities to control their food systems and enhance food security.
By supporting sustainable agricultural practices and local innovation, such as low-cost agrarian technologies, Makervillages improve food production efficiency and resilience against environmental shocks.
The focus on local food networks reduces dependence on imported food, promotes community trade, and preserves traditional farming knowledge.
We can only achieve a robust food sovereignty framework by working together.
Join Askiya in our commitment to empowering communities to govern their own food systems, strengthening their economies, ensuring food security, and improving the health and well-being of their people. Donate today to support our Makervillage and Food Sovereignty programs.
Multiply your impact
Our work is made possible by generous contributions—big and small—from people like you. Give today to help your neighbors care for their loved ones, go to a high-quality school, and pursue their dreams.