Context:
In the Northern Kenyan districts of Marsabit, Turkana and Baringo, large areas of rangelands and the catchment area around Lake Baringo are suffering from the impacts of climate change, overgrazing, deforestation and soil erosion. More frequent droughts and heavy rainfall are having a negative impact on livestock production and agriculture, reducing income from these activities and jeopardising food security. Scarce resources such as land and water are also exacerbating conflicts between nomadic pastoralists and smallholder farmers.
Objective:
The population in the districts of Turkana, Marsabit and Baringo is more resilient to economic, environmental and social challenges resulting from climate change.
Approach:
The project strengthens climate change resilience among nomadic pastoralists and smallholder communities in Northern Kenya.The project operates in four intervention areas:
1. It improves the incomes of nomadic pastoralists and smallholder farming households – particularly women. It advises them on how to optimise production, market their products more effectively and develop climate-adapted value chains.
2. It supports community-based organisations in conflict-sensitive resource management by training them in approaches to communal land use that better coordinate the utilisation of rangelands and farmlands.
3. It works with the Government to implement climate adaptation in a gender-sensitive manner. It enables local council representatives to get involved in planning and decision-making processes. The project also advises the districts on improving coordination.
4. It promotes environmental protection in the Lake Baringo region through reforestation and by training communities in soil and water conservation practices. In Baringo, the project receives additional funding from the European Union.