Stories
Everyone who works at and with nei has a unique story to tell and role to play – making us stronger, more resilient and better equipped for the future. Most team members were born, educated and now work in Tanzania and Uganda – with a deep connection to the region.
Team Members’ Stories
Fulgance Pius Ndowo
Lead Agronomist
I now supervise 6 agronomists, as well as working with our processing and curing partners and Tanzanian government – to make sure we’re all on the same page. We constantly adapt our approach to different climates, cultures and changing regulations.
Anna Mboya
Assistant Agronomist
I spend a lot of time out in the field, and on the road, visiting farms throughout the Kilimanjaro region. Over time, we’ve developed close relationships, and I try to provide advice and insights to help overcome any challenges.
Salvatory Mafuru
Engineering and R&D Lead
I focus on improving our production processes and developing new products – as well as our environmental policy, as nei grows, we need to balance the demands of ongoing operations with the need for flexibility and innovative long-term solutions.
Emmanuel Costa Ahia
Laboratory and R&D
Rigorous quality control is essential to ensure all nei products meet our stringent standards and customer expectations, as well as developing innovative flavour ingredients. My goal? Create sustainably sourced natural organic flavours that meet the needs of customers and chefs.
Heavenlight Kavishe
Extraction Operator
My different tasks range from operating the extractor lines to preparing materials for our cacao product line and contributing to R&D and QC improvement initiatives like optimising our sterilisation methods.
Maureen Kweka
Quality Control
A big part of my job is ensuring our production operations comply with internal and external standards like Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) and FSSC 22000. I enjoy working closely with my team (and other teams) to bring insightful ideas to the table to tackle different projects and challenges.
Farmers’ Stories
Reginald Munisi
Vanilla Farmer
Vanilla farming has helped me sustain my livelihood. One of the main advantages of working with nei is that we use organic farming methods, so we don’t rely on chemical pesticides – reducing costs and health risks.
Madina Urassa
Vanilla Farmer
I’ve gained valuable experience and achieved excellent results since joining nei, which has provided an opportunity to earn income and helped me pay school fees for my children, buy livestock and raise domestic animal.
Albert Uroki
Vanilla Farmer
Nei supported me from the outset by providing seedlings and training on planting and maintenance. Vanilla farming with nei have enabled me to pay school fees for my children and cover daily living expenses.
Queen Wilfred Urassa
Banana & Vanilla Farmer
I started growing vanilla with nei to sustain my family including covering medical expenses. Vanilla farming fits easily into my routine but can be challenging especially with the impact of climate change on crops.
Project Stories
To deliver shared value and supports with global sustainability frameworks, we work closely with different partners – including local and international organizations and communities. Through diverse initiatives, we have supported over 13,000 farmers, planted tens of thousands of trees, and distributed thousands of vanilla vines – helping strengthen agricultural value chains and promote environmental sustainability.
Hakuna Matata & DOB Project
Hakuna Matata & DOB Project: Distribute and plant native tree and fruit seedlings on the land cultivated by vanilla farmer outgrowers and develop the nei Agroforestry Manual.
Rikolto Project
Rikolto Project: Establish a Vanilla Centre of Excellence in Mbeya, plant 6,000 vines and empower 533 farmers by sharing sustainable cultivation techniques.
NM-AIST – Research Cooperation
NM-AIST Research Collaboration: Develop advanced vanilla flavours and explore product diversification with innovative extraction techniques for alternative raw materials such as cocoa and orange peel.
Longuo A Road Repair
Longuo A Road Repair: Improve road-access for 4,252 residents in Kilimanjaro, boosting transportation and economic activities.
