ASAL Humanitarian Network (AHN)

PROMOTING PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE AND LIVELIHOOD RECOVERY

Samburu County

Empowering communities to thrive through peace, resilience, and inclusion

OVERVIEW

Samburu County lies in Kenya’s northern region, characterized by rugged hills, dry plains, and a predominantly pastoralist population. Its communities depend on livestock and seasonal grazing, adapting continually to the challenges of drought, conflict, and limited infrastructure. Despite frequent shocks, Samburu remains a model of local resilience, where community organizations lead in fostering peace and sustainable livelihoods.

Through the ASAL Humanitarian Network (AHN), member organizations in Samburu strengthen community institutions, promote gender equality, and implement climate-smart livelihood initiatives. Their work supports peaceful coexistence among pastoralist groups while advancing long-term development and local leadership in humanitarian response. Through the ASAL Humanitarian Network (AHN), local member organizations are strengthening community resilience, improving access to basic services, and supporting peacebuilding across Mandera’s six sub-counties. They combine humanitarian assistance with long-term development and governance initiatives, ensuring that local leadership remains at the centre of all interventions.

Garissa has long played a central role in Kenya’s humanitarian landscape — hosting large refugee populations, supporting resilience programming, and serving as a coordination hub for ASAL response initiatives. Through the ASAL Humanitarian Network (AHN), member organizations in Garissa are driving locally led action that links emergency response to peacebuilding, governance, and inclusive development.

Organization

  • Strategies for Northern Development (SND)
  • Pastoralist Community Initiative Development and Assistance (PACIDA)
  • Caritas Maralal
  • Samburu Women Trust (SWT)
  • Beyond Now Organisation

Areas of Focus

  • Peacebuilding and social cohesion across pastoralist communities.
  • Livelihood diversification through value chain development and microenterprise support.
  • Climate change adaptation and community-based natural resource management.
  • Women’s empowerment, education, and advocacy for gender inclusion.
  • Early warning, humanitarian preparedness, and community-based disaster response.

IMPACT AND CHANGE

AHN members in Samburu have advanced innovative community approaches that merge peacebuilding, livelihood recovery, and gender equality. Their locally led programmes have helped restore stability in conflict-prone areas while enhancing economic opportunities and self-reliance.

These initiatives have:

  • Facilitated inter-communal peace dialogues reducing conflict incidents in key grazing corridors.
  • Supported women-led savings and livelihood groups that improve household income and decision-making power.
  • Expanded access to clean water and drought-resilient infrastructure in remote villages.
  • Enabled inclusive participation of local organizations in policy and humanitarian coordination platforms.