Better equipped for the future

Women from a nomadic community vulnerable to drought who have learned new ways of earning money - in this case, selling animal medicines. [Georgina Cranston]

CAFOD’s partners are now in a stronger position to help communities cope better with the inevitability of future droughts in East Africa

Many of the worst-hit communities in Kenya depend solely on their livestock and their land for the survival.

At the height of the 2006 drought, herds of animals were dying in vast numbers and severe water shortages left many people facing death.

The district in northern Kenya where Ogichoya Kimogol lives was left devastated by the drought - killing the farm animals on which her people, the Rendille, depend.

After two failed rains, 87 per cent of local people were short of food but, with help from CAFOD’s local partner, the Diocese of Marsabit, Ogichoya started a small business selling beads and other goods, to make her less dependent on the weather.

“Things are changing and women have taken a step,” says Ogichoya. “I use any profit I make to buy more stock as well as food and clothes for the family.

"If I can continue with my business I think it will really help us when drought comes again.”

She is amazed to hear that the support she receives is backed by donations from parishioners in the UK. “People who have never seen me and yet give help - that’s the grace of God,” she says.

Projects that help find alternative ways of making a living in areas subject to extreme climate conditions, is just part of a wider long-term programme that aims to help people prepare and know how to cope in the future.

Is drought a new problem?

Drought has always been a feature of life in many semi-arid areas of East Africa but research shows that, over the past 25 years, in some areas drought hits once every two to three years compared to once every seven to ten years in the previous century.

Okotu Boru, an 86 -year-old living in North Horr, Northern Kenya echoes the view of many of the elderly people in this region: “During my youth, life was worth living. Milk and meat were plenty in every home.

"Nobody lacked food as those without livestock were assisted and people shared food freely. Grazing for livestock was plentiful and water was easily accessible to both livestock and humans.”

Nik Bredholt, CAFOD’s regional humanitarian manager for East Africa and the Horn explains how people can take steps to help themselves.

“During the emergency programme, we gave some nutrition training to rural health workers. This will help in the future as those people will be able to recognise and respond to the early signs of malnutrition before the condition becomes life-threatening."

Working with communities

Nik has been meeting with partners to discuss how they can work with their particular communities to prepare for drought and minimise its effects in the future.

“Building grain and animal feed stores that the community can run was one of the ideas that came out,” he says.

“This way, people will have something saved for the dry season when food becomes scarce rather than selling it all at harvest time.

“We will also be supporting our partners to provide drought-resistant seeds and train farmers on how to improve irrigation and recognise signs of drought before it is too late.

"Many of our partners are already helping people find ways of earning a living which are more resistant to drought, such as the Diocese of Marsabit.

“We have to accept that the climate is changing in this region. By committing to three years of working with our partners and the affected communities the aim is that those people will never be so vulnerable by recognising that future droughts are inevitable.”

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