Melwa Community Development project is a programme based in Melwa location of Muhotetu division, Laikipia west sub-county in Laikipia County. The project is aimed at reducing pressure on Rumuruti and Marmanet forests by the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) settled in the location as well as poverty reduction. This will be achieved through introduction of innovative income generating activities on their small pieces of land, using sustainable land management while upholding good environmental management practices. Melwa location is rich with great natural resources. The location is a cosmopolitan area with about six (6) ethnic communities amongst them; Kalenjin, Turkana, Kikuyu, Kisii, Meru and the Samburu with a population of 17,846. A crucial part of this population is the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) that were located here by the government from Mau Forest in Rift Valley after the 2008 post election violence. They constitute about 450 households. The project wish to promote the idea of the 10% tree cover on private land, re-afforestation (in Rumuruti and Marmanet forests), capacity building and trainings on viable economic activities, introduce renewable energy, support initiation of kitchen gardens, facilitate access to water for small scale irrigation and sensitisation of the community on environmental friendly ways of utilizing the available natural resourcesThe group will train women in production of jewellery and baskets from waste paper and plastic. They will also conduct capacity building for this group and also use them to train Wanavima IDP women group