Pastoral communities in Kenya suffer from consequences of drought and isolation from access to humanitarian aid. A new consortium of six international and Kenyan NGOs join forces to address needs for economic growth and resilience in five northern counties.
Danish Refugee Council is a member of the USAID funded consortium now embarking on a multi-facetted assistance programme estimated to benefit about 30,000 people in northern Kenya. The consortium will work in five northern counties of Kenya over the next five years through a programme combining research, governance, capacity building and private sector expansion. The five main result areas focus on assistance related to improved livelihoods, value chain addition, conflict management, drought management and nutrition.
Tension between clans and different ethnic groups is part of centuries of history of pastoralists in Northern Kenya – a rural area largely isolated from access to humanitarian assistance and development aid. Preliminary statistics indicate the presence of 19 prominent conflicts across the five counties, namely Turkana, Marsabit, Isiolo, Wajir and Garissa County.
Danish Refugee Council’s main focus during the five-year programme will be on improved conflict management among the pastoral communities.
"We will bring together established authorities and leaders of County and District Peace Committees, of women’s groups, youth organisations, business owners and civic-minded civil society organisations to voice their concerns as well as their recommendations to necessary reforms," says Peter Klansoe, Regional Director, Danish Refugee Council Horn of Africa & Yemen.
Besides conflicts over land and natural resources, pastoral communities in Northern Kenya suffer from climate induced shocks such as the drought that hit the Horn of Africa in 2011. Today, around 40 per cent of the population are estimated to live below the poverty line.
Drought–stricken northern Kenya has over the years witnessed recurrence of cattle rustling as pastoralists try to restock herds annihilated by prolonged drought. This conflict has resulted in deaths and a rise in economic losses in the region where the main livelihood and source of income is pastoralism.
‘The NGO consortium for northern Kenya will promote improved living standards and help pastoralists to cope with drought as well as access livestock services. We will work to ensure that groups and clans involved in conflict are brought together to air their grievances. Finally, the project will involve the strengthening of the Kenyan government and civil society, for peace in the region,’ says David Kang’ethe, Country Director of Danish Refugee Council’s Kenya programme.
Besides Danish Refugee Council, Sida Africa Ltd., Vétérinaires Sans Frontières-Suisse (VSF-S), the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and Co2 balance are members of the consortium headed by the African Development Solution (Adeso), a Kenyan-based NGO.
For more information, contact Danish Refugee Council Horn of Africa & Yemen:
Communications Adviser alexandra.strand.holm@drc.dk or +254 71 77 22 351
Alexandra Strand Holm
Regional Information & Communication
Horn of Africa & Yemen
P.O. Box 14762 00800 Westlands Nairobi, Kenya
Tel:+254 (20) 418 0403/4/5
Fax: +254 (20) 418 0406
Cell: +254 (0) 71 77 22 351
alexandra.strand.holm@drc.dk
www.drc.dk