ASAL Humanitarian Network (AHN)

Pillars That Anchor Our Collective Impact

Strategic Pillars

AHN’s strategic pillars define the core pathways through which the network delivers on its mandate. Each pillar reflects a commitment to locally led action, institutional resilience, and systems transformation across Kenya’s ASAL regions. From coordinated advocacy to organizational capacity, research, and climate-resilient programming, these pillars guide our efforts to advance sustainable solutions through an integrated humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding approach.

Winding road through arid desert hills.
Driving locally-led humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding action across Kenya’s ASAL regions.

Strategic Foundations for Resilient Communities

The ASAL Humanitarian Network’s work is guided by a set of interconnected strategic pillars that shape its vision for a resilient, equitable, and locally led humanitarian ecosystem. These pillars provide a framework for collective action across diverse contexts in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands, ensuring that member organizations are equipped to respond effectively to complex challenges while strengthening systems from the ground up. Each pillar reflects AHN’s commitment to reinforcing the leadership of local actors, amplifying community voices, and promoting inclusive, accountable, and transformative change.

Rooted in the realities of ASAL communities, these pillars encompass four critical domains: Advocacy and Accountability, Organizational Capacity Development, Research, Innovation and Learning, and the Climate-Resilient Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus. Together, they drive AHN’s efforts to localize aid, influence policy, and build enduring partnerships that centre the needs, knowledge, and priorities of the people most affected. Through this strategic foundation, AHN advances a model of humanitarian and development response that is sustainable, evidence-informed, and led from within.

1. Advocacy and Accountability

We drive policy influence and localization by amplifying community voices, promoting transparency, and strengthening accountability mechanisms across the humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding sectors in ASAL regions.

  • Policy Dialogue and Legislative Engagement
  • Community-Led Advocacy Platforms
  • Accountability and Transparency Mechanisms

2. Organizational Capacity Development (OCD)

We strengthen the capabilities of local organizations by investing in operational excellence, leadership skills, and sustainable systems that enable effective humanitarian, development, and peace interventions.

  • Institutional Strengthening and Governance Support
  • Humanitarian Leadership and Operational Readiness
  • Partnership Readiness and Due Diligence Systems

3. Research, Innovation, and Learning

We generate evidence, foster innovation, and advance learning to inform advocacy, strengthen programs, and ensure adaptive, data-driven solutions that respond to emerging needs in ASAL communities.

  • Evidence-Based Programming and Research Partnerships
  • Innovation for Climate and Conflict Resilience
  • Knowledge Exchange and Adaptive Learning Systems

4. Climate-Resilient HDP Nexus & Partnerships

We integrate humanitarian, development, and peace actions through climate-smart approaches, coordination platforms, and partnerships that build resilience and reduce vulnerabilities across ASAL regions.

  • Integrated Risk Reduction and Disaster Preparedness
  • Community-Led Climate Adaptation Initiatives
  • Multi-Sectoral Coordination and Nexus Programming