Donor: Irish Aid

Implementing partners

• INGOs: Oxfam, ACTED
• AHN member organisations: Arid Lands Development Focus Kenya (ALDEF) and Wajir South Development Organisation (WASDA)

County: Wajir - Burmayo and Tutatula locations in Eldas and Tarbaj Sub County

Project duration: September 2022 to May 2023

Total Funding: Euro 214,286

Target Households: 1,266 individuals directly and 2,280 indirectly - a total of 3,546 people (814 women, 782 men, 995 girls, 956 boys)

Issue/Background

The Kenya Drought Management Authority report for August 2022 (just before the start of this intervention), classified Wajir county under the IPC 3 (Alarm phase) with pockets under IPC 4 (Emergency Phase) of the drought. The Meteorological Department had equally predicted poor rainfall in the October short rains of the same year therefore adversely affecting the populations liveihoods that mainly focussed on pastoralism. In July, the proportion of children below the age of five at risk of moderate malnutrition stood at 27.5% in Wajir County.

The 2022 drought led to major livestock loss among the Wajir residents resulting in compromised food security

Water sources (water pans, dams shallow wells) which communities have relied on for years have dried up. Return distance to water points has also increased and stood at 7.8km in July. Access to water, sanitation and hygiene services has been severely impacted by the drought. Sanitation and hygiene practices were found to be poor, with 51.5% of households having no relieving points while hand washing at four critical times with soap and water stood at 38.8% and 35.6% respectively.

The sharp increase in the prices of basic food commodities such as maize, rice, cooking oil, pulses and vegetables has affected the household purchasing power, leading to increased food consumption gaps.  More than 26.7% of the households in the Pastoral Livelihood Zone of Wajir county registered a poor food consumption score while 63% and 6% percent of the households employed stressed and crisis coping mechanisms respectively.

Interventions:

• Distribution of Multi-purpose Cash assistance (MPCA) of approximately KES 9797 (€85) per month for four months to 406 identified households
• Provision of dignity kits to 200 adolescent girls
• Distribution of WASH NFIs (Non-Food Items) like water storage and water treatment kits to 50 households and the promotion of proper hygiene and sanitation among the local communities
• Community dialogues to address Sexual Gender-based violence (SGBV) and dissemination of information on available referral pathways and SGBV services available in the area.

Provision of water treatment kits makes it possible for households to consume clean and safe water and reduce their incidence to waterborne diseases

Results of intervention

 (i) Increased food security and protection of 406 households in Wajir County through multipurpose cash assistance (MPCA)

“ When I received the money, it helped me in paying school fees, buying food, getting medical treatment for family members and I also bought these two goats. I also have a boy who is differently abled and I have paid for his treatments and fees.The floods have displaced a lot of people. I am currently hosting a family of four that were displaced” 

Barey, MPCA beneficiary in Tulatula village 

 

(ii) Improved beneficiaries’ health, hygiene, and reduction of disease outbreak through the provision of water storage jerrycans and water treatment kits to 50 households.  

(iii) Training and facilitation of 10 local Community Health Volunteers to provide health information and support households in the target location

(iv) Improved personal hygiene for 200 adolescent girls and reduced school absenteeism during their menses enabled through provision of dignity kits

 (v) Improved knowledge within the communities on Gender and protection, services, and referral pathways available for support through community dialogues on protection and gender and

(vi) Enhanced emergency response collaboration and coordination amongst different stakeholders (local organisations, community representatives and the local county government) during the response.

With access to menstrual products, Adolescent girls can comfortably attend school and participate in household chores