For years, the Kenya–Ethiopia border has experienced conflicts and disputes between communities caused by various factors. At HODI, we realised the need for cross-border integration to promote regional development, peace, and cooperation. This is why we launched a new project; Integrating Peacebuilding, Development and Humanitarian Efforts Across the Kenya-Ethiopia cross border (IPDHE) on 30th March 2023 in Moyale.
The project is funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation and is implemented in partnership with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) and Centre for Development and Capacity Building (CDCB).
The launch was graced by the Deputy Governor of Marsabit County, H.E Solomon Gubo. Other leaders who attended the event are the Acting County Commissioner, David Saruni, HODI’s Board Vice Chairman, Mr. Said Jillo and VSO’s Country Lead, Catherine Mwangi.
A Dive into the Project
The IPDHE project is designed to promote peacebuilding, development, and resilience in cross-border communities in the Kenya-Ethiopia border region. Resource competition in this area has led to conflict, political tension, and ethnic divisions. Through cooperation and resource sharing, IPDHE seeks to reduce friction and bring greater prosperity to these communities.
The project will be implemented in the Moyale and Miyo districts of Ethiopia and Sololo and Moyale sub counties of Kenya. The project employs a triple nexus approach: peacebuilding, development and humanitarian assistance.
How will we get this done?
By involving primary actors in designing and implementing interventions, we can ensure that interventions are tailored to the specific needs and contexts of the communities involved.
Blended volunteering is a promising approach to promoting sustainable development and strengthening localization by leveraging the strengths and expertise of both local and international volunteers to address complex development challenges.
Local and national government engagement is critical for promoting effective governance, improving service delivery, and ensuring communities access essential services and infrastructure. By working together and building solid partnerships, local and national governments can achieve more together than they can alone.
Projects with adaptive features like regular monitoring and evaluation, participatory approaches, and iterative learning are better equipped to respond to crises and adapt to new challenges. A crisis modifier in the project will ensure that the project is equipped to respond to crises during the lifetime of the project.
The End Goal
Investing in people’s abilities, community service, peacemaking, and social harmony can mitigate the risks and effects of conflict and weak social cohesion. To this end, diversity and inclusion analysis, empowering youth volunteers and community champions, and connecting to welfare systems are some actions that will be taken to reduce vulnerabilities driven and resulting from conflict and weak social cohesion.
This would make decision-making processes more inclusive, address underlying causes of conflict and promote lasting peace and development. To do this, we will train governments in conflict responsiveness and disaster preparedness, support multi-stakeholder platforms, develop cross-border policies, and encourage policy dialogues and advocacy.
Empowering local organisations is key to addressing the vulnerabilities caused by conflict and weak social cohesion. To do this, we will enhance organisations’ capacity and authority, such as local institutions, peace and DRR committees, and local CSOs. These organisations must work together and identify the root causes of conflict, promoting sustainable peace and development. We will support community-led risk assessment action plans and collaboration between humanitarian, development, and peace-building systems.
The success of the IPDHE Project will require the commitment and collaboration of all stakeholders involved. Together, we can build a brighter future for border communities in Kenya and Ethiopia, fostering peace and prosperity.
Status update on the drought
Rains were received in the last week of March 2023. There has been rainfall almost near or below expected levels all over the county. Some parts have been flooded and poeple have lost the remaining livestock due to weak body conditions.
There has not been much change in terms of the need for food by people who have been affected by the drought. But water scarcity has been greatly reduced by the recent rains.
Building Resilient Households Project
Reconciliation of audit report and on monthly savings and loan repayments through branded books for 3 audited village groups was completed. 88 persons were able to benefit by having their data accurately captured in the groups records.This was made possible through the support from Corteva through GlobalGiving.
A workshop to enhance the capacity of group leadership is planned for the second week of May 2023. This will also allow them to hear from Government officials on legal requirements and what opportunities there could be for the members of the groups.
All 4 village groups conducted their monthly meetings according to their monthly meeting dates.During the meetings, monthly savings are collected and deposited into the groups account to increase savings in the account, loans are also repaid and new loans are issued to other members.
CURRENT DROUGHT UPDATE
The National Drought Management Authority states in their October 2022 drought bulletin that distribution of the October rains was poor both temporally and spatially across most parts of the County.
The Ministry of Education requested for support from HODI for 4 schools which were severely affected by water shortage. The 4 schools received 52,000L of water in total, each receiving 13,000L per school. The schools have now been able to retain their students in school through provision of lunch.
BUILDING RESILIENT HOUSEHOLDS
With immense support from Corteva through GlobalGiving, we have been able to support 93 women in 4 women groups, jointly called the Qusanno Groups. Qusanno is a local word which means saving together.
These women saved 93,900 shillings together over the months of October and November 2022. These funds are then deposited into an already existing pool from which each group’s members borrow loans to start or strengthen their small businesses, pay fees and medical bills.
With the donations received from Corteva and GlobalGiving, the groups have been able to plan and implement an audit of their finances through an external auditor. The audit is expected to provide a summary of each group’s finances and recommendations for any major weaknesses found during the course of the audit.
The audit will also provide accurate information on savings, loans and active membership status for each group. With lessons learned from these women, we hope to expand this initiative to other community members as a way of helping them to build sustainable and resilient communities.
We would like to thank you for your great support this year, and look forward to a properous new year wiith you. We wish you all Happy Holidays!
SECURITY SITUATION
At the start of May, the government of Kenya imposed a county-wide dusk to dawn curfew in Marsabit to deal with the security situation that had gotten out of hand, with rampant shootings and general insecurity in the county.
Since then, the curfew has been extended to cover the period of the elections and will lapse in mid August. In general, the curfew and concurrent security operation has reduced the number of incidents in Marsabit over the last three months and the situation has improved.
SHOOT TO SCORE
We distributed twenty-two footballs to three schools and fifteen football boots to one primary school.
The balls and boots will be used during football sessions at these schools, with the balls being high quality leather balls made locally in Kenya. The boots will help to prevent foot injuries and increase comfort during play.
EDUCATING GIRLS IN NORTHERN KENYA
We have, since our last report, made and distributed three hundred and fifty (350) reusable pads to seventy (70) girls in six partner schools. Each girl received a pack of 5 reusable pads that will allow them to continue attending school and reduce the financial cost of purchasing disposable pads.
Another 60 reusable pads to be distributed are ready for distribution once schools reopen after the Kenyan general elections on the 9th of August this year.
We have also conducted a workshop on breast health for 40 girls from 5 primary schools and collected measurements for sport bras. The workshop will help girls to understand more about their bodies and how sport bras make it easier to play football.
We thank all our donors for their support in achieving these results. We also look forward to your continued support.
SHOOT TO SCORE
Under this project, we were able to deliver the following life skills topics to 503 girls and boys in 5 primary schools:
The sessions were implemented between January and March 2022, before schools closed for holidays.
We have also distributed footballs to 603 children, among them 283 girls, through their schools. The balls will be used to play during their after school activities and lesson breaks.
EDUCATING GIRLS IN NORTHERN KENYA
Under this project, using funds received from GlobalGiving, we have achieved the following results:
We thank all our donors for their support in achieving these results. We also look forward to your continued support. We have attached a financial report for reference, along with images of some of our activities.
Dear Supporters of HODI,
We are writing to update you one last time before this year comes to a close. It has been a wonderful year full of great achievements, key among them being our work with schools and communities in Marsabit to spread peace and gender equality. This year, we have also continued strengthening our relationships with government departments. Recently, we donated 4 old sewing machines, 10 tape measures and 10 hammers to the Marsabit Prison to help their efforts to train inmates on industry skills that they can use when they eventually leave prison.
Through a partnership with Namene Solar, we received 168 solar lamps for distribution to deserving beneficiaries in Marsabit. Some of the girls we work with do not have regular power at home and insteasd use kerosene lamps to study at night. So far, 75 girls have received solar lamps that will definitely help them study better at night and eventually improve their grades in school.
Our relationships with schools has been as strong as ever. Over the last 2 months, we have processed 109 scholarship applications from parents for their girls in high schools. So far, 87 girls have been awarded scholarships with a total amount of 467,000 shillings being sent to schools for the education of these girls. We have a balance of about 283,000 shillings for this activity remaining to be disbursed and we will continue supporting girls in the new year. We are very grateful to GlobalGiving through their corporate partnership with Corteva and to all of our individual donors who have kept us going in 2021.
On behalf of all of the girls, boys, women and other community members we have worked with in 2021, we say a big thank you to all of our supporters!
We wish you all happy holidays and look forward to partnering with you all in 2022!
Project Reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
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