Project Description
Livelihoods and Agriculture
This programme was initiated in 1997 by the diocese in order to address issues relating to women. Most women lost their household livestock because of droughts and raids. They came to town and moved into the peri –urbarn areas to support themselves and their families.
Capacity building activities were activated and practical skills were imparted to help these women adapt to their surroundings and so support themselves and. their families. These activities were carried out at parish level and were supported for five years (2002-2006) by Missio Austria.
In 2007 the programme received its first funding from Bridderlech Deelen which has since changed its name to Partage.lu Foundation Luxembourg. To date, this programme is still being funded by the same partner. Other partners that support different components of the progamme include Aidlink –Ireland and Friends of Turkana (FOT) USA. The programme networks with the County and National Governments for the technical expertise relevant to the different components within the programme.
The following are the main components implemented by the programme:
LOBBY AND ADVOCACY:
Lobbying and Advocacy while a component in itself, features within the other four components of the programme due to the issues being addressed, specifically that of food security and the sustainability of the Turkana community. This component aims to align Turkana County and National policies with those of the Livelihoods and Agriculture.Programme. Communities are actively encouraged to participate in decision making, in the formulation of the County Intergrated Development Plan and establish community platforms for social Audit.
MICRO-FINANCE –INCOME GENERATING ACTIVITY:
This component is geared towards empowering women, men and youth with business skills for self- employment. The Saving Internal Leading Communities (SILC) model was introduced to build the capacity of these groups to grow financially.
AGRICULTURE:
The agriculture component tries to address this issue of food security through training communities in technologies relevant to semi-arid farming. Other activities included in the component are the sinking of shallow-wells and construction of solar powered pumps along the Turkwel river for assisting in food production,
LIVESTOCK:
This component introduced a new breed of goat the Toggenburg, into the county, This was for breed improvement and to increase milk production. The programme trains communities in the use of animal drugs and it facilitated the introduction of the new breed with its particular needs, into the pastoralist communities The programme staff monitor the cross breeding of the Toggenburg goats with the local goats. During a drought the programme provides supplementary animal feeds into badly affected areas where the Toggenburg are found.
FISHERIES:
The programme supports groups of fisher folk along Lake Turkana in the two main areas of Lokipetot and Apokorit. The main activities concentrate on safe fishing techniques, marketing and, adding value to the catch. Beach Management Units (BMUs) are formed and linked to the Fisheries Department in the County Government. The programme also supports fisher folk with fishing gear and with on-site follow-up meetings.
