Imagine a world where communities don't just dream of change —they orchestrate it.
This is the essence of the Maono Concept, a revolutionary framework that transforms how communities shape their destinies. At its heart lies a profound truth: communities aren’t waiting rooms for change but laboratories of possibility, where citizens become the architects of tomorrow.
What is the Maono Concept?
The Maono Concept (Maono meaning “Vision” in Kiswahili), designed by the Open Institute, is a groundbreaking framework for sustainable community development. It empowers communities to organise, collaborate, and lead transformation on their own terms.
In Kilifi County, Kenya, the Maono Concept has already catalysed unprecedented change. Local Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) have:
Turned data into action through a census of 21,500 businesses, transforming policymaking.
Revived long-stalled infrastructure projects, including classrooms and dispensaries.
Conducted accountability exercises to improve healthcare, mapping all medical facilities and influencing government decisions.
Sparked national dialogue on Muguka through the Story za Jaba initiative.
This isn’t just a local success—it’s a roadmap for global change.
The Five Pillars of the Maono Concept
Weaving Networks of Power
Maono creates ecosystems of collaboration, connecting CBOs, governments, and private sector actors to amplify impact.
Evidence as a Catalyst
Tools like Sabasi turn communities into active investigators of their realities, using data to advocate for and achieve actionable change.
Accountability as Life Force
Maono embeds accountability into every layer of action, transforming relationships between citizens and institutions.
Stories That Inspire
Local victories are amplified into national and regional change through storytelling initiatives like Story za Jaba.
Building Tomorrow’s Leaders
Intensive capacity building equips communities with strategic, financial, and governance skills to sustain long-term transformation
Why Maono Matters
The Maono Concept redefines development by:
Unlocking Community Potential: Organising grassroots efforts into cohesive and impactful movements.
Shifting Power Dynamics: Ensuring that communities lead transformation rather than relying on external interventions.
Creating Scalable Solutions: Offering principles that can adapt to diverse local contexts while delivering universal impact.
Scaling the Maono Concept
Maono’s success in Kilifi shows its potential to address global challenges, including governance, inequality, and sustainability. With its adaptable framework, Maono can be replicated across rural and urban settings, empowering communities to:
Build collaborative networks.
Leverage data to drive evidence-based advocacy.
Inspire collective action through storytelling.
Strengthen leadership for lasting impact.
Join the Movement
The Maono Concept is a call to action for changemakers, donors, and leaders to co-create a future where grassroots wisdom drives sustainable development.
A Future Built by Communities
The Maono Concept offers more than a framework—it presents a vision for a better world, where grassroots leadership reshapes sustainable development, governance flows from the ground up, and communities lead with strength, dignity, and resilience.
Let’s build this future, together.
