Laisamis Sub-County Food & Nutrition Security And Resilience

Enhancement Project (FONSAREP)

Training of ToTs on Disaster Risk Management

26th – 29th April 2016

Laisamis DRM team at Nabosu hotel (Picture by Victor Kamadi)

PROJECT GOAL

Implemented by

Contribute to improved food and nutrition security and enhanced resilience

to droughts in Laisamis Sub- County by 2017

Objective 1.0: To improve food and nutrition security and income for 700 households in Laisamis Sub- County by 2017

Objective 2.0: Improved nutrition status of children under five and pregnant & lactating mothers (PLM)

Facilitators

Training was facilitated and supported by:

Oyoko Omondi - National DRM Coordinator

Charles Komolleh - Project Officer, Sanitation & Hygiene / MHM Project

Introduction

Marsabit County in Northern Kenya, an ASAL, region, has over the recent past adversely

affected by the disasters such as drought, famine, 2011, being the recent past, and

subsequent poor distribution of short rains, with a significant deterioration in the

nutrition status of children (GoK). There is, therefore, need for interventions to address the deteriorating nutrition status of the people in such hard to reach areas. Laisamis

Sub-County Food & Nutrition Security And Resilience Enhancement Project

(FONSAREP), is working with communities in the pastoral setup on interventions

targeting food and nutrition security. This is through implementation of activities in

partnership with local institutions. Dissemination of key messages on dietary diversity,

smart food choices, sanitation and hygiene, child care practices, food safety and

healthcare uptake is key focus. Food and Security interventions are targeting Mother To

Mother Support groups, who are majorly Women Under Reproductive Age (WRA).

Disasters hurt the poor and vulnerable the most. Training on DRM to the community is

an impetus to enable them identify with their environmental set up, derive copying

mechanism and local solutions to local problems. DRM training is aimed at as setting

clear benchmarks for monitoring intervention performance, to help determine awareness how conversant people are with disasters within their context.

A total of 45 participants were trained on DRM. These comprised of Lead Mothers from

the 35 Mother To Mother Support Groups, youth, local leaders and Sub-County

Administration. Participants came from three wards within Laisamis and Korr divisions. 9

sites were represented from which the 35 Mother Support Groups are located. These

site include: Laisamis, Logologo, Merille, Lontolio, Ngurnit. Lependera, Korr, Namarey

and Kamboe

Lead Mothers

Youth Men-Elders

Chiefs D.O CHWs Government partners

20 5 2 2 1 13 2

DRR participants

list.xlsx

Within the participants, there were members from Environmental Management

Committee (EMC), Community Health Community (CHC), Community Health Workers

(CHW), Community Milk Assistants (CMA),

Training methodology

Powerpoint presentations

Group discussion

Group presentation

Pictorials and diagrams

Goal of the DRM training

This training was meant to increase the ability of WVK Staff & Partners to facilitate

Disaster Risk Reduction process to enable communities effectively participate in and

contribute to their community’s resilience

Objectives of the training

i. To have a common understanding of Disaster Risk Management terminologies,

concepts, principles and practices of DRR

ii. Draw lessons from the CMDRR process and conceptualize the relationship between

disaster and development

iii. To develop understanding of facilitating and sustaining CMDRR in a community

iv. To demonstrate the use of selected tools in facilitating participatory disaster risk

assessment (hazard, vulnerability and capacity assessment) and participatory

planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning

v. To identify action points applicable in our (WVK) working areas

vi. To Increased knowledge, skills and attitude on disaster risk reduction,

preparedness and response

In pursuit of the foregoing, this training was designed to address, among others, the

following key issues:

i. Conceptualization skills to enable participants explain, compare and/or interrelate

key terminologies used in DRR/DM

ii. Ability to differentiate between hazard and disaster and elaborate on the

differences of disaster response management (DRM) and disaster risk reduction

(DRR)

iii. Facilitation skills for a CMDRR process and its importance in disaster risk

reduction

iv. Skills for community risk assessment & planning

Expectations

Participants were tasked to share their expectations during the training. These included:

a) Learn D.R.M and go to train

b) Gain knowledge & skills on DRM

c) Learn how to protect from risks

d) Causes of the disaster

e) Gaps between CMC, EMC and CHWs

f) Knowledge hygiene and sanitation

g) How disaster committees will support them

h) Learning how to disseminate knowledge from DRM to the community

Roles of lead mothers

Women groups is one of the project target beneficiaries. Women participation in DRM is

key, for they are the ones tasked with household chores and family issues. Within the

groups are lead mothers whose roles were discussed as below.

1. Leading the group and calling of meetings

2. Disseminating information to members

3. Taking a leading role in resource mobilization within the group

4. Ensuring the group is registered

5. Minutes taker/ records keeping

6. Environment collection and way of living

7. Role model in behavior and attitude change

8. Conflict resolution

Disaster management

Definition of disaster and hazard were elaborated using pictorial approach to enable

better understanding and ease of distinguishing between the two.

Hazard

Was defined as something that can cause danger/ an occurrence that cause a disaster

Disaster

An event that has happened and it has caused loss of life, loss of livestock and cannot

depend on themselves but people from outside

Participants were involved in identification of disasters, based on the definition.

Examples of Disasters

1. Drought(Limited Rainfall)

Diseases

Reduced Pasture

Death

Food insecurity

Conflict

2. Floods

The best time to resolve conflict is before it happens

The rain should be beneficial

People should respond to warnings

Others stay to get benefits from Government, NGO’s

3. Diseases

Cholera

Malaria

Diarrhea

4. Structural disaster

- People are greedy of money they build uncomplete structure

- Poor roads

5. Industrial and Urban Fires

Sachagwan- about 140 people died

Nakumatt Moi avenue- not serious in safety management

Pipeline Embakasi- leaked pipeline

6. Conflict(Refugees/IDPs)

As result of wars- Dadaab and Kakuma

Post-election violence in Kenya

7. Terrorism

Kikambala terrorism in Uganda

Westgate in Kenya- killed around 67

8. Unplanned Settlements

Kibera, Mathare, Korogocho, Mukuru kwa Njenga, Kisumu ndogo

They stay close to river to get water for cooking, washing, drinking

9. Environmental Degradation

Fetching firewood

KEY NOTES

Our work is reduce these threats to be beneficial to the community

If there is drought there is shortage of water, if people have not died it is

emergency

If animals died there is shortage of food. We start to borrow food from outside

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Terms below were define:

1. Mapping areas of hazards-deforestation, disserted open holes.

2. Risks and vulnerability- A condition or set of conditions that reduces people’s

ability to prepare for, withstand or respond to a hazard

3. Mitigation- activities that we do to prevent our weaknesses from hazards

4. Capacity-Ability that someone has to do something

- Community tools, resources, skills and knowledge that can be mobilized to

respond to and mitigate emergency situations

6. Early warning-The provision of timely and effective information

7. Prevention- To guide yourself against disasters

8. Preparedness-Being ready to deal with hazards

9. Response/relief- The provision of assistance or intervention during or

immediately after a disaster to meet the life preservation

10. Resilience-To return to your normal life after a disaster has happened

Participants were tasked to define DRM terms in their own words. Below is what they

came up with:

1. Disaster- Death, poverty, destruction of property, Diseases

2. Early warning- Radios e.g. Rendille FM, children hear from school, Barazas e.g.

DC, D.O, chiefs, ward administrators/Onyo la Mapema

3. Hazard- Danger/Hatari

4. Mitigation- Ways to reduce disaster

- Plan ahead/Punguza

5. Preparedness- Being ready/Matayarisho

6. Prevention- Kuzuia

7. Response- To say yes. You must have a plan/Kuitikia

8. Resilience-To return to normal life/spring

9. Risk-level of loss that we can get/Kiwango cha hasara

10. Vulnerability-weakness/Udhaifu

11. Capacity- Strength/Uwezo

DISASTER MANAGEMENT CYCLE

Local solutions are within the community to handle local problems. Participants were

encouraged to understand that NGOs and Government are just stakeholders and only

give some solutions to certain problems. Power of resolving community issues lies with

the community, since that is there environmental and they have been copying up with it

all along.

IDENTIFICATION OF DISASTERS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY

Participants were tasked to identify disasters within their context, and below is a table

of what they had to say.

Name of Disaster/Hazard

When did it happen Who/What was affected

How did it affect us?

• EMERGENCY• RECOVERY

• MITIGATION• PREPAREDNESS

Normal

County development

Contingency planning

Capacity (Development)

Infrastructure

Alert Stage

Stockpiling

Rehabilitation (Boreholes)

Destocking

Animal and Human Health

Response

Animal health interventions (vaccinations)

Emergency water supply

Supplementary foods

Restocking

Dams rehabilitation

Capacity building

Infrastructure development

Food for work, cash for work, cash for asset

Drought/Famine 1986,1991,1994,1996, 2005/2006

Human, livestock, wildlife

Loss of life, loss of livestock

Floods(Lmoguar, Lodidike)

1997 Livestock, Humans Loss of livestock, loss of life, diseases(Rift valley fever, malaria, poverty

Rift valley fever (Livestock disease)

1997/1998 Livestock Loss of livestock, low production, food shortage

Cholera 2009 Human (all cohorts) Loss of human life (29 deaths)

Voting was conducted on the issues identified to determine priority areas. 6 critical

issues were identified that have been predisposing them to vulnerabilities these

included Drought, Flood, Rift valley fever, Cholera, Famine/hunger, and Cultural

Practices. Each of the six issues was written on a separate piece of paper. Each

participant picked 6 small stones that were place on each of the paper written on the

issue at hand. Votes were counted and ranked as shown below.

LAISAMIS Issues Count Rank

1. Drought 44 2

2 .Flood 16 5

3. Rift valley fever 6 6

4 .Cholera 24 4

5. Famine/hunger 29 3

5. Cultural Practices 62 1

From the above graph cultural issues are a major problem in Laisamis- this directly translates to priority areas identified in our DPA process. This are child protection issues (FGM, Raids, Early marriages and Beading). Famine and hunger closely follows which are escalated by frequent long spell droughts. Livestock diseases and human diseases are quite a nuisance.

Mrs. Wangare Nolaso, a ToT from Beersheba Mother Support Group, voting

1

Drought 44

Flood 16

Rift Valley Fever 6

Cholera 24

Famine/Hunger 29

Cultural Practices 62

44

16

6

2429

62

DISASTERS IN LAISAMIS

Drought

Flood

Rift Valley Fever

Cholera

Famine/Hunger

Cultural Practices

Linear (Drought)

GROUP DISCUSSION AND PRESENTATION DISASTER RISK ASSESSMENT Four areas were discussed by the groups on disaster risk assessment. The following

areas were handled.

i. Hazard Assessment - Identifies the most likely natural or human-made hazard or threat to the community, and seeks to understand its nature and behavior.

ii. Vulnerability Assessment - Identifies what elements are at risk because of the exposure of their location to the hazard.

iii. Capacity Assessment - Identifies the status of people’s coping strategies which refer to the resources available for preparedness, mitigation and emergency response, as well as to who has access and control over these resources.

iv. Disaster Risk Analysis – The process of consolidating the findings of hazard, vulnerability and capacity assessments and draw conclusions and recommendations for disaster risk reduction.

4 groups were formed of at least 10 people. Each group was given one of the disasters they had identified to discuss and finally present to the rest.

GROUP 1

CHOLERA

Cause(origin) -Contaminated water and food -Lack of toilets

Direct Impact -Both children and adults -In the year 2009 over 200 people affected and 29 people died - Recently in 2016 over 60 people were affected and 2 people died at Koya - Loss of life

Intensity( High/medium/low) -High in 2009 -Medium in 2016

Warning signs -When it is detected to have cholera

Seasonality(Period of occurance) -Untimely

Frequency( How many times in a year) -Unpredicted

Location(Where) 2009-Laisamis 2016-Koya

Speed of Onset( Sudden/low) Sudden

Duration One month-2009 2 weeks-2016

GROUP 2

CULTURAL PRACTICES

Cause(Origin) -No girl should be allowed to be pregnant -Young girl have no freedom to defend themselves -Elder still insist girls circumcision practice

Direct Impacts -Mothers and young girls(under 18 years) -Death of many girls during abortion -Abortion lead to barren and birth complication

Intensity(High, medium and low) -Still high

Warning sites -Beading of young girls -Special gift girl mother during delivery -Presence of circumcisers at manyatta -Prayer of elders and women milk gathering

Period of occurrence -During rainy seasons -After circumcision- beading start -Abortion happens day or night- away from home

How many times in a year -4 times in a year-marriage - Any other month, when there is moonlight

Location(where) -Early marriage-manyatta -Beading-Manyatta - Abortion- Away from home

Speed of onset -Beading and marriage at the pace of the community -Abortion-a day to a week

Duration -Continues

GROUP 3

DROUGHT

Cause(Origin) -Overgrazing -Deforestation -Conflict/overgrazing/lack of rainfall -Charcoal burning

Direct Impact -Male, women, boys and girls -Livestock - Brings death of human and livestock

Intensity(High, medium and low) -High

Warning signs -Bird predicting weather e.g. pelican bird -Drying of wells -Low pastures

Seasonality(Period of occurance) -Once

Frequency(How many time in a year)

-Once in a year

Location Marsabit south

Duration 6 months

Group discussion during DRM training

Group 4

FAMINE

Causes(Origin) -Prolonged drought -God-Belief -Human-Deforestation, overgrazing, migration

Direct Impacts -Women- Lmetili, lmooli and lkuroro -Morans-Lmetili and some lmooli -Elderly-Lkimaniki, lmekuru and some lkishili -Children-under 5 years -Humans, livestock and wildlife -Loss of life, loss of livestock, poverty, food shortage, inadequate pasture

Intensity(High, medium, low) High

Warning sites -Animals weaken -Food shortage

-Water shortage -Pasture shortage -Temperature rises -Trees dries

Seasonality(Period of occurance) -During April and December when we receive rains

Frequency(How many times in a year) 8 months

Location Marsabit County

Speed of onset Slowly

Duration -One year 2005-2006 (3-6 months)

FARMER MANAGED NATURAL REGENERATION

Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) is an effective approach to restoring and

improving agricultural, forested and pasture lands. It is a rapid, low cost and easily

replicated approach. FMNR is based on encouraging the systematic re-growth of

existing trees or self-sown seeds. It can be used wherever there are living tree stumps

with the ability to coppice (re-sprout) or seeds in the soil that can germinate. It’s a

system easily managed by farmers hence Farmer Managed.

Many trees have special ability to sprout after they are cut. Time and space should be

given to the trees to enable them sprout.

Continuous grazing (uncontrolled, overstocking), cutting of firewood and clearing and

burning of land for cultivation leads to deforestation. This is a common trend in the

pastoralist set up. Many of the pastoralists fell trees for construction of livestock bomas

and Manyattas, once the place is exhausted with tree cover they migrate and apply the

same practice to the new place.

FMNR STEPS

i. Protect and allow plants and tree stumps to grow on your farm

ii. Check your farm and decide best five stems to prune

iii. Tag selected stems with a coloured rag or paint and protect them

iv. Prune unwanted stems- Use sharp implements such as saw, axe, machete,

harvesting knife

v. Always cut upwards carefully to avoid bruising and stripping of bark

NOTE: Protect trees from livestock and fire

FMNR Contributes directly to:

i. Plenty of firewood and improved welfare of women and children

ii. Fodder for animals and fruits for human consumption

iii. Improved crop yield through soil enrichment

iv. Improved local economy through sale of harvest and non-timber forest products

v. Improve quality of by providing shade and beauty, reducing wind speeds, dust

and high temperatures

vi. Improve water infiltration

Rapid, cost effective and large scale land reclamation and forest regeneration

Bio-diversity with the return of wildlife, rare plant species and natural pest predators

Group work on vulnerability assessment

Vulnerability refers to “a set of prevailing or consequential conditions, which adversely affect the community’s ability to prevent, mitigate, prepare for or respond to hazard events. Such include physical, economic, social, behavioral and environmental some of which were identified by the groups. The 4 groups were maintained and each group was tasked to perform a vulnerability assessment

Group 1: CHOLERA

Asset System Network System

- Household - Livestock - Children - Education/Health

How are they affected 1.Household-When one(main household provider dies, therefore all the household assets are destroyed 2. Livestock- They can be sold during the payment of hospital bills -They can be destroyed/killed by wild animals when the main security provider is dead or can be taken by others hence loss of animals 3. Children- When the parents are dead due to children are weakened due to lack of parental care/love(Orphans) - They can also be discriminated from the community - They can also die from cholera

Why are they Vulnerable 1. Lack of enough health centers 2. Lack of good infrastructure/Roads 3.Poverty 4. Lack of good communication network 5. Distance from the scene to the health center 6. Lack of toilets around the villages

Times they are affected -Unpredictable-During the times cholera is affecting people

Group 2: CULTURAL PRACTICES

Hazard Bad cultural practices

Assets Livestock , finance, boys & girls

Systems Education, health facilities, family

Networks Mother to mother support, excommunication of Morans, un-united family

Why are they vulnerable Morans are undermined during meals Elders the custodian of everything No gender balance Lack of capacity

Why are thy affected Deny ownership of property Abortion can kill/cause barrenness Increase of school dropouts Retarded growth

When are they affected During school closing, ceremonies. Beading, pregnancies

Group 3: Drought

Hazard Drought

Which assets, systems, networks are affected

Livestock, wildlife, food, vegetation and crops

How are they affected -Animals are weakened hence fetch little when sold -Disease crop up -Migration

Why are they vulnerable -Lack of enough pastures -Lack of water -Shortage in a household

When are they affected, times -One year to 2 years

Group 4: FAMINE

Hazard Famine

WHICH (assets, system, network and others are at risk)

Livestock, pasture, wildlife, forests, education and health

HOW (are they affected (would they be destroyed by hazard or weakened or sold or undermined)

Livestock weak/death Inadequate pasture Education drop out due to lack of food Women-a lot of chores, leave some important chores Health –people are weak, prone to diseases/malnutrition Shortage of food-transportation, people travel long distances looking for food

WHY are they vulnerable (what are the characteristics of those people’s HH assets base or the availability of assets within the community that make them vulnerable)

Scarcity of pastures and water for livestock High temperatures Migration –education, health Shortage of food

WHEN (are they affected times that these assets get vulnerable)

3-6 months (May-Oct)

Gabriel Lekulate (Community Milk Assistant-Ntumo) conducting a presentation

ASSESSMENT

CAPACITY ADDRESSING VULNERABILTY

Capacities refers to individual and collective strength and resources that can be enhanced, mobilized and accessed, to allow individuals and communities to shape their future by reducing disaster risk .In their respective groups, participants to identify the capacities needed to prevent or mitigate the hazard and to reduce or eliminate vulnerability. This was in line with the disasters they had prioritized. The identified capacities, will go a long way in helping build the community’s resiliency.

GROUP 1: CHOLERA

Element at Risk Time Element

Existing Required

Gaps

Individual Survivability consider Age and gender

During the hazard

-Elites youths -Professionals -Parents

-More elites youths -Adequate trained personnel

-Illiteracy -Cultural influence -Youths without vision

-More sensitization -High standard of hygiene -Use of disinfection

-Lack of knowledge -Shortage of clean water -Inaccessibility to disinfection

Before the hazard

-Proper use of latrines -Domestic hygiene -Sensitization

Community Readiness

During the event

-Partner other stakeholders e.g. World Vision, FHI -Civil leaders -Paramedics

-Good transport system -Well equipped health centers -Community empowerment for self-preservation

-Community conformity to wrong cultures -Language barrier -Convenience to the health facility

Before the hazard

-Creation of awareness -Professional and paramedics -Free medical camps -Proper hygiene

-More facilities -Community empowerment -gradual change of lifestyle

-Rigidity to changes

Secure Assets which are protected during or quickly recovered after the hazard (including coping strategies)

Family members such as children, children and youth

Copying Strategies 1.Early warnings through civil leaders, churches, Faith based organizations 2. Creating awareness 3. Education 4. equipping of Health centers

GROUP 2: FAMINE

Element at Risk Individual Survivability

Time Element During

Existing -Livestock -Crops

Required Pasture and water

Gaps -No individual preserve pasture

-Destocking -Seeds and tools -Water and fertilizers

-Get idea about agricultural products

Before

-Market -Livestock -Land

Community During -Land -Casual labour -Resources such as sand and mineral

-Environmental management committees(EMC)

Before -Livestock markets -Cash groups -Selling of resources -Land

-Land committees -Irrigation

-Title deeds -Capacity building

Secure Assets and copying Strategies

-Crops -Livestock

Copying Strategies -Destocking -Use of drought tolerance crops

GROUP 3: CULTURAL PRACTICES

Element at Risk Individual survivability

Time element

Existing

Required

Gaps

During

-To be a role model - To report harmful acts to the police -Mobilize through training on dangers of FGM, early marriages

-Create awareness -Report cases to the chief

-The father not involved - Girls not empowered -Stigmatization -High level of illiteracy

Before -The girl is not assertive -The girl is depressed and stressed -Morans have pride

-The girl must be empowered -Ensure guiding and counselling e.g. Rescue -Encourage to accept change

-Not aware of their rights -Encourage to attend post-natal care -Behaviour change

During -Community living together -Council of elders still existing -Community policy

-Each family to remain cohesive -Create awareness on good and bad cultural practices and make good decision -Increase the capacity of the

-Enhance family live together -Elders still hold on old traditions - It is a new concept to the community -High level of literacy

community to use community policy Initiative

Before -Creation of awareness through chiefs -Maintain council of elders -Behaviour change, education to morans

-Chiefs, TOTs, -Encourage inclusive meetings -To have role models for girls -Encourage boys and girls to be educated

-Lack of inclusive meetings -Girls and women not assertive -Still more girls and boys are not in school

Secure Assets and copying strategies

-Livestock -Human resource -Schools -Hospitals -Good road network -Home -Security-Police

Copying strategies -Communal contribution -Assisting each other by donating -Revolving loans of live animals -Girls who survive death from abortion still continue with life -Morans go raid

-Some involved income generating activities

Cultural practices have over years proved a stumbling block for community

transformation. Pastoralist set is not an exception on this issue. Not only are they

harmful practices, but avenues of conflict breeding.

Gaps and required action

Psychosocial support to women (lose of loved ones) and girls

Positive adaptation mechanisms –knowledge and specialized skills

Practice alternative livelihoods (Climate Smart Agriculture) and protect assets

Gender participation and inclusion in DRM (child-led activity participation through

theatre arts, environmental clubs)

Government policy implementation and formulation-engaging leaders and

administration (through CBOs, Youth, FBOs and Women groups)

Improve culture and safety at individual, HH and community –knowledge and

attitude

What worked well?

There was good attendance of participants,

There was gender balance

Age distribution across the age line, old to young was representative

Facilitator for translation was conversant with DRM, hence a huge boost during

training

Presence of local leaders, the Sub-County administration head an impact on

community perception of the training as being all inclusive

Training methodology and approach began with photographs as opposed to

definitions and terms, due to low literacy levels of most of the women, this

boosted conceptualization of DRM

What didn’t work?

Training session began slightly late

Slow training session as a result of translation

Women were much suppressed in terms of participation due to male presence

What need to be done?

Responses from DPA process should be compared with the outcome of DRM to

identify priorities

Equal representation of the government partners/administration to be observed

for sustainable implementation

Need to identify from the government partners the ministry departments to give

us adequate support for DRM implementation

Local staffs (from ADP) to be involved as facilitators and also to support

monitoring later- to avoid ‘external view of sourcing problem solving’

Sitting arrangement to be organized where there is all interaction to avoid,

isolation sitting between leaders and community members.

Report written by:

Victor Kamadi Bill

Project Officer-Food Security

Laisamis ADP-Marsabit Cluster

World Vision Kenya