KENYA - Strengthening Livestock Sector in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) Counties

The ASAL counties account for more than half of Kenya’s landmass (61%) with a population of about 5.53 million. Their inhabitants are mainly dependent on pastoral livestock production. The area is characterised by low, variable and unpredictable bimodal rainfall and rangelands are unsustainable for crop production. An estimated 60% of the population lives in extreme poverty conditions. Populations in this region do not effectively benefit from the mainstream national systems including access to competitive markets and formal financial services. These factors, coupled with frequent droughts linked to climate change and violent conflicts, have resulted in high food insecurity and displacement of populations. The long-standing fragility factors have recently been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the invasion of desert locusts since 2020. Women and minority groups are disproportionately affected by the various crises.

Switzerland supports pastoralist communities in this region since 2012, through different interventions in the water, rangelands management and livestock sector to enhance their resilience to droughts and improve their livelihoods. Building on the successes and lessons learnt from the first phase of this programme (2018-2022), the second four-year phase is planned to advance on the gains made. The programme contributes to the stability of Horn of Africa through resilience building, which is also the interest of Switzerland. 

1.     Livestock production and productivity in the FCDC region improved;

2.     Improved management of  rangeland resources across FCDC counties;     

3.     Enhanced coordination and advocacy on policy dialogue and emerging issues in the FCDC counties.

Resultados previstos:  

·       Effective and coordinated management of livestock disease outbreaks achieved.

·       Increased access and use of feed and fodder to supplement rangelands resources.

·       Inter and intra-county grazing plans developed and used, and community land registration promoted.

·        Enhanced coordination and advocacy on policy dialogue and pastoralist affecting issues in rangelands, livestock mobility and resource conflicts in the FCDC counties. 

Resultados de las fases anteriores:  

·       Over 1660 farmers (785 women) from 60 farming units and cooperatives and their extension officers have benefitted from improved skills, new technologies and modernized livestock systems and increased their production by upto 300%[1].

·       Capacities of five research and training institutions and laboratories were enhanced for improved livestock services delivery and for peaceful coexistence of communities. 

·       19 sector plans, rangelands management bills, spatial plans and disease control frameworks were developed and operationalised to support the larger population.

·       An estimated 1.5 million people reached through the radio broadcasts across four counties to provide livestock production and livestock marketing information.

·       Support to UNRCO through small action (7F-08700.04.06) strengthened the coordination of UN agencies delivery as one unit in Turkana County and provided expertise on cross-border programming.

[1] Final evaluation of LSS phase 1 (2021), model fodder farms supported and not representative of larger population.