Kenya
Turkana is one of the poorest regions in Kenya, home to about one million people. Turkana has a hot climate, with temperatures between 24 and 46 °C all year round. In addition, the general drought and low rainfall in Northern Kenya make life particularly difficult. Due to the drought, livestock and livelihoods are at risk, and child malnutrition is common. Women’s responsibility in households is great, but there are few livelihoods available. This often leads to unsustainable solutions, such as selling firewood. However, felling trees puts even more strain on the environment. Climate change worsens the challenges: during the years 1967–2012, temperatures rose in the range of 2–3 °C. Poor infrastructure and dependence on natural resources make communities particularly vulnerable. The joint “Sustainable livelihood and better food security in Turkana” project of Caritas Finland and the local Caritas Lodwar helps communities and especially women to find answers to these challenges.
The project will receive development cooperation support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the years 2025-2028
What we do?
- We train and support women in various livelihoods, such as beekeeping and goat breeding.
- In the project, wells are built that work with solar energy. In addition, communities are helped to create systems to maintain them, e.g. to establish water management committees.
- The project informs about the effects of climate change and environmental protection. Cooperation with schools plays an important role.
- We help communities to organize and apply for support from the local government for problems caused by climate change.
This project
- Helping 240 women start new businesses or develop in the ones they already do.
- Bring clean water to 3,600 people and their livestock and crops.
- Increase 1200 people’s knowledge about climate change, adapting to it and controlling it.
- Takes particular account of the most vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, the disabled, single mothers and children living without guardians.
What results are we expecting?
- Women can do decent work and get a decent income to feed their families.
- Clean drinking and irrigation water, sustainable water supply.
- Communities learn to protect the environment, mitigate climate change and adapt to a changing climate.