Over 80% of Kenya’s total land area is classified as Arid and Semi-arid Lands (ASAL). The ASAL counties are dominated by about 10 million pastoralists and the area is characterized by low human development (e.g. high poverty, low literacy), low population density (but a high growth rate) and poor infrastructure. The population in the ASALs are predominantly livestock keepers. RAPID+ target counties of Garissa, Wajir and Isiolo which border Somalia to the East and share long boarders that facilitate trade and sharing of transboundary resources. Marsabit and Turkana counties border Ethiopia to the North. Instability in Somalia and Ethiopia affect these counties.

RAPID+ counties face challenges of water scarcity and degraded rangelands that negatively impact their livelihoods as well contributing to inter-communal conflicts. Climate change exacerbate the situation and often result into droughts and further deterioration of the natural resource base of  communities.

A total of 200,000 persons (50% female) in 5 counties. That is, 150,000 will benefit from water for multiple use (domestic, small scale irrigation and for livestock) and 50,000 pastoralists will benefit from improved rangeland for their livestock.

Other target groups:

-    400 county governments staff

-    11 Water Resources Users Associations

-    45 Water Management Committees

-    26 Transboundary Rangelands Management Committees.

-    50 Women’s and youth groups ( 20 members each on average)

-    Small and medium enterprises dealing with water and rangeland products

1.    Pastoralist communities have increased access to sustainable and safe water for multiple uses benefiting men, women and youth.

2.    Pastoralist communities have improved access to safe and ecologically healthy rangeland resources that promotes greater integrity, social cohesion and gender equity.

Erwartete Resultate:  

1.    Capacities of public and community institutions to deliver water services are strengthened.

2.    Additional and existing water infrastructures are well maintained and operational.

3.    Integrated Water Resource Management and Recharge, Retention, and Reuse practices improved.

4.    Increased household livelihood diversification as a result of multiple use of water technologies.

5.    Capacities of public and community institutions to manage rangeland resources are strengthened.

6.    Appropriate technologies, applications and innovations for sustainable rangeland management strengthened to increase biodiversity.

7.    Improved livestock management through increased adoption of fodder and seed production practices by pastoral communities.

Resultate von früheren Phasen:  

1.    Improved access to clean water for 462,133 people in five counties.

2.    Over 17,000 children were reached with clean water, improved sanitation and nutrition.

3.    Five Water Policies and four Water Acts were successfully developed and are now at different stages of operationalization.

4.    94% of County officials supported by the program demonstrated increased knowledge and practice of WASH and livestock.

5.    Community feedback mechanisms was very successful with over 280,000 people utilizing the developed complaint mechanisms through the county governments.

6.    About 1.7mio $ was leveraged from private and public institutions to support private sector innovations in water sector.

7.    About 0.6mio $ revenue was generated by Small and Medium Enterprises in the water sector.

8.    RAPID+ reached 6,663 small holder farmers with improved management practices or technologies for small scale crop production. This has improved household food security and incomes.

Lessons learnt: Root cause analysis of food insecurity and vulnerabilities of pastoralist communities has shown that interventions on rangelands health management will not only address land degradation and improve growth of pasture but also will reduce conflicts emerging from reduced access of forage for livestock. It is important to consider the nexus between water and rangelands since they form the most crucial inputs for livestock production. An intervention that combines the two will possibly have better results for (agro) pastoral communities. 

Millennium Water Alliance (MWA) USA. Secretariat of MWA is the contract holder.

MWA Members (implementing partners) are: Catholic Relief Services, Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, World Vison and Food for The Hungry.