(TLDP) Kenya 1999 - 2005 Turkana Livestock Development Program

General Context

TLDP is located in Turkana District, NW Kenya, which covers an area of 77.000 km2, with a population of about 443.000 (1999).
The area is characterised by a hot and dry climate, rainfall and quality of rangeland is somewhat higher in the periphery of the district. Annual rainfall averages is between 121 and 540mm. There are pockets of land where the soil is suitable for agriculture but the greatest part of the district is suitable for pastoralism only. The district has a number of seasonal rivers and watercourses. Only the Turkwell river flows almost year round.
The area is inhabited by the Turkana people, a Nilotic tribe, for whom livestock rearing in a nomadic setting, is the mainstay of the economy. Estimated livestock numbers are: cattle 200.000, Sheep 700.000, Goats 1.300.000, camels 120.000.
In the past large numbers of Turkana pastoralists were made destitute by drought, disease and war. The emphasis of the Government. Churches and Donor Agencies has been on the settlement of destitutes and development of fisheries and agriculture as alternative livelihoods. In 1979/80 Turkana suffered a severe drought and massive destruction of livestock due to disease. Turkana Rehabilitation Project (TRP) was established as a response. The alternative livelihoods presented to combat the effects of the drought, were never very successful and profits gained from these activities were invested in livestock to return to pastoralism when possible.

Specific constraints

In the past little emphasis was ever placed on development of the livestock sector because of concerns for overgrazing and overstocking in pastorals areas. These fears are now accepted to be unfounded and it is realised that promotion of settlements, as done in the past, was in fact the main reason for environmental degradation. To improve the results and impact of development activities in Turkana it is of crucial importance that the community itself is involved in all stages of the project cycle.
Through several studies it has become clear that there is potential in livestock development in Turkana District, it being the most appropriate livelihood in terms of cultural preference, economic sustainability and environmental considerations. During initial baseline surveys the Turkana community in the project area has listed the following constraints to their survival: Insecurity, Livestock diseases, Human diseases, Water scarcity, Lack of livestock markets. It needs to be said however that the order in which the constraints are listed is of course highly dependent on the presiding situation.

Objectives

Overal Objective

To improve the viability of pastoralists way of life improved i.e. to decrease vulnerabilities.

Specific Objectives

1. Improve animal health
2. Increase access to dry season grazing areas
3. Increase opportunities for marketing of livestock
4. Increase pastoralists’ involvement in their own development

Activities

Improved animal health

1. Community Based Animal Health Service functioning

• Community Dialogue Workshops
• Training Workshops for CAHWs
• Monitoring of CAHWs
• Post -Training Community Dialogue Workshops
• Refresher Courses for CAHWs

2. Drugs are accessible to pastoralists

• Install a logistical chain for timely provision of drugs
• Establish drugstores in Lodwar and in satellite locations
• Monitor the re-supplying opportunities for CAHWs

3. Integrate CBAHP into Government Policy

• Actively support on-going policy negotiations regarding Decentralised Animal Health Service Delivery and privatization
• Attend meetings regarding policy change
• Co-operate with Vet Department by providing information and assistance in organising vaccination campaigns

Increased access to dry season grazing areas

1. On-going peace negotiations within Turkana District

• Co-operate with other organisations striving for peace
• Facilitate workshops for pastoralists to develop peace-initiatives
• Lobby for Government support for peace initiatives

2. Increased availability of water in areas with pasture potential

• Community Dialogue Workshops to enhance community support
• Negotiations with community on cost sharing and labour supply
• Construction of sub-surface dams in potential grazing areas
• Training of local people as foremen of dam construction
• Training of 1 water development worker per users community on maintenance of the water supply

Increase opportunities for marketing of livestock

1. Increased knowledge on the marketing system

• Participate in Livestock Service Providers forum to develop a joint strategy on livestock marketing
• Community Dialogue Workshops to provide marketing knowledge to pastoralists
• Assist pastoralists in establishing a marketing system at adakar - district level.

2. Increased competition among traders

• Train local traders in business and marketing skills
• Monitor activities of traders

Increased pastoralists’ involvement in their own development

1. Increased beneficiary control and guidance over their own development

• Community Dialogues
• Promote creation of Action Plans and support them

2. Representation at decision-making level increased

• Institutionalise existing pastoral structures
• Assist in developing liaisons with decision-making bodies
• Encourage government officials to involve representatives of pastoralist associations in decision-making bodies

Technical project sheet

Technical project sheet TLDP (pdf - 68 KB)

This project is co-funded by the European Union