Turkana DERF Project

Turkana DERF Project

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

Introduction

This was a drought response humanitarian intervention funded by Danish Emergency Response Fund (DERF). The drought response project is providing food and water to 1500 households and 21 schools with more than 8500 pupils due to prolonged drought associated with climate change.

FPFK Social Ministries

Innovative and responsive development programs aimed at alleviating poverty and all other forms of human suffering in Kenya

Project Achievements

  1. Increase survival rate of the vulnerable people in the communities:The project recorded children who were malnourished having rejuvenated and their health becoming better. It also witnessed zero death cases of targeted vulnerable persons
  2. Increased enrolment in schools: 12 schools out of 16 (75%) reported an increase in the number of children during the period of food supply.
  3. Reduction of absenteeism in schools: 14 schools out of the 16 schools (87.5%) reported the rate of absenteeism in schools having reduced and children were attending school regularly. Improved school performance.
  4. The headteachers explained that schools were chosen as National examination centers, apart from the candidates, the invigilators, security guards and teachers benefited from the food provided. The headteacher Kalapata primary also explained that food in school during that exam period contributed to 100% candidates sitting for exams, which impacted positively on performance of candidate
  5. Increased access and storage to clean, safe drinking water in Schools: Head teacher Nalemkais primary was very grateful for the water being piped to the school compound. He said that the children now accessed continuous safe and clean drinking water. Furthermore, they did not have to walk for long distance to fetch water at the community water point. As a result, they spent more time in class and were active because they would not be tired from walking to go fetch water.Nakaalei Chief explained that rehabilitation of the main water source, which was dilapidated had saved the whole village from lack of water since water from all the water points originated from there. Hence, the community had access to clean safe drinking water
  6. Diversification of livelihoods: The awareness training on alternative livelihoods was an eye opener to the community members who have adopted other methods of earning a living like starting small businesses, basketry, kitchen gardens and beading instead on depending on livestock which is prone to drought. For example, the target participants at Nakaalei village are now tapping into the available natural resources (land and water) and have started kitchen gardens for income, food and nutritional security. The project gave them different kinds of fast maturing seeds including Amaranthus, spinach, cowpeas and watermelon to plant in the kitchen gardens. These plants have matured, and the affected persons are using them to feed their families, hence reducing food insecurity and malnutrition. The excess farm produce is being sold to other members of the community. This has greatly improved the economic status of the target participants
  7. Increased hygiene standards: Head teacher Nalemkais primary school explained that since the water was in the school compound, the levels of hygiene in the school had improved. The clinical officer at Nakaalei dispensary agreed that by providing the dispensary with a 10,000-liter water tank and rehabilitating the water point, the hygiene standards in the hospital has improved. There was also access to clean water for the day-to-day running of the facility, hence making the life of the patients and the staff easy. The chairman Nakaalei water committee was grateful of the rehabilitation of the main water source and explained that now all the water points in the village had enough water and the hygiene standard in the village had improved. Kotooro water point committee member explained that since the rehabilitation of the water point, they were now getting clean water and water borne diseases had reduced.
  8. Water point committee members acquired knowledge and skills on water point management: The water point committee members from Nakaalei, Kotooro and Nalemkais agreed that learning was key to sustainability of the water points since they have basic skills and are confident to work on simple repairs.

Reduction of GBV: With the rehabilitation of water points in Nakaalei, Nalemkais and Kotooro villages, women and girls have reduced the time they spend fetching water, which puts them at risk of GBV. Teacher Nancy explained that the reusable sanitary towels had played a big role in shielding the girls from being target victims of GBV in the process of acquiring sanitary towels. Through the ended project, FPFK notes that the results achieved were only short term and there is a gap between the humanitarian situation and the transition to long term resilience to cushion the community against the recurrent climate change shocks.

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