Rabo Partnerships x Co-opBank Soko (KE)

Empowering Small-Scale Kenyan Farmers: Co-opBank Soko
SoapboxSA partnered with Rabobank’s Agriculture Exchange Project to support the Co-opBank Soko initiative in Kenya. Our role was to enhance the last-mile delivery of marketing materials for field agents, cooperatives, and farmers—ensuring clear communication and engagement at every level.

Understanding the Farmers’ Journey
To develop an effective marketing strategy, we conducted field research in Kitale the maize crop region in Kenya, engaging with:
– Cooperatives – Understanding how farmers store and sell their produce
– Farmer agents – Learning their role in connecting farmers with markets
– Farmers – Identifying their challenges, needs, and motivations

Through interviews, behavioural experiments, journey mapping, and real-world observations, we gained crucial insights into the daily realities of Kenyan small-scale farmers. Giving us the the right input to develop the brand Co-opBank Soko.

Developing Tailored Marketing Toolkits
Based on the desk and field research, we designed customized marketing toolkits for:
– Field Agents – Training materials, onboarding guides, and branded gear for visibility
– Cooperatives – Signage, brochures, and financial literacy resources
– Farmers – Easy-to-understand materials on storage, pricing, and financial tools

Additionally, we leveraged social media, radio broadcasts, and local farmer WhatsApp groups to extend outreach in a scalable way.

Driving Impact in Kenya’s Agricultural Sector
This project strengthened the connection between farmers, cooperatives, and financial services—ensuring that smallholder farmers gain better market access, fairer prices, and financial inclusion. By equipping stakeholders with the right tools, Co-opBank Soko is transforming Kenya’s agricultural landscape—one harvest at a time.

COP27 Video
At the end of 2022, Ruben Hazelzet developed an impact video for Rabo Partnerships to be showcased during COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.