July 2011: ACTED launches an emergency call for donations, to support populations affected by the drought and famine in the Horn of Africa

Addressing emergency needs while promoting sustainable development amongst vulnerable rural communities of Kenya and Somalia

In 2010, ACTED’s mission in Kenya/Somalia sought to address the needs of pastoralist and farmer communities of North Central Kenya and South Somalia arising from multiple shocks such as adverse climatic conditions and disease outbreaks, through emergency food and non-food items distribution. In the wake of this emergency context, ACTED also promoted the adoption of sustainable community-based solutions, emphasizing livelihood strengthening and diversification, natural resource rehabilitation and management, good hygiene practices and access to sanitation facilities.

Reducing prevalence of waterborne diseases through improved access to sanitation and hygiene

Response to cholera outbreaks

Since the recent drought of 2008-2009, 2 cholera outbreaks occurred in the East Pokot District, leading to high mortality rates. The first outbreak was recorded in November 2009 and led to 26 deaths and over 200 infections. Again in March 2010 another outbreak hit the Pokot community with 2 deaths and 146 people infected. ACTED conducted a large-scale cholera response in Kenya throughout 2010. Activities focused on hygiene promotion and distribution of “cholera kits”. ACTED conducted large-scale training to women, who are the primary caregivers in Pokot communities and the most likely to be actors for change with regards to hygiene practices, which proved to be very successful. According to the beneficiaries, improved hygiene practices significantly contributed to reduce prevalence of waterborne diseases including cholera at household level.

Improving access to sanitation facilities

Latrine coverage in North Central Kenya is extremely low – about 6 % on average. Open defecation is a common practice, which results in high contamination of available water. In order to prevent children from contracting waterborne diseases, ACTED constructed 80 ventilated improved pit latrines in 10 schools in the Tangulbei Division; improving access to sanitation for 1,802 children.

Building rural communities’ resilience to the adverse effects of climate change

Ensuring year round access to water

Due to recurring prolonged dry spells in both North Central Kenya and South Somalia, pastoralist communities have initiated massive sedentarization towards areas where water is more available. As a result, water resources have been overused. Building resilience to water shortages was one of ACTED’s priorities in 2010. Approximately 20 water sources both in Kenya and Somalia were rehabilitated and protected through Cash for Work and Food for Work schemes; hence increasing year round water availability to the vulnerable rural populations.

Rehabilitating essential natural resources

Sedentarisation of pastoralist populations has induced the degradation of the rangelands around urban centers in East Pokot District of Kenya and unavailability of pasture during dry seasons. ACTED facilitated rangeland rehabilitation and capacity building in fodder production of 7 rangeland Community-Based Organizations with a view to ensure availability of fodder for milking animals during dry seasons. In addition, soil erosion, which results in farmers’ livelihoods depletion, was curbed through large-scale reforestation.

Promoting community-based solutions through capacity building

In both Kenya and Somalia, ACTED conducted capacity building of 20 community-based Water Management Committees to ensure sustainable and regulated access to water points. Likewise, more than 800 agricultural farmers receive training in conservation agriculture and various cropping methodologies to improve their preparedness to climatic shocks.

Towards a holistic geographical and methodological approach

ACTED is currently developing its programs in South Somalia, focusing on building capacity to respond to emergency outbreaks, as well as ensuring local populations are integrated into longer term projects aiming at improving their livelihoods. This is occurring in the form of food, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and livelihood support to vulnerable agro-pastoral and riverine communities.

In Kenya, ACTED is extending its programs to the entire East Pokot District and seeks to provide support to neighboring arid and semi-arid land areas where the challenges faced by the populations are similar to the ones experienced by the Pokot communities. ACTED leverages its successes in WASH activities and focus on a comprehensive long-term strategy aimed at ensuring district-wide access to water points, sanitation through the promotion of Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), improved hygiene practices and the development of income-generating activities oriented towards WASH services. ACTED also continues providing livelihood support to pastoralist communities; especially promoting community-based animal health services.

ACTED Kenya-Somalia is developing a regional scope in terms of cross-border interventions with Uganda, with the aim of improving cooperation between pastoralist communities that often come into conflict, and of building their resilience to climate shocks through improved preparedness and resource management.