Greater Horn of Africa Rainwater Partnership : Activities

Somalia

Uganda

GHARP ACTIVITIES

Integrated Rainwater Harvesting & Management Systems and Complementary Technologies for Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Livelihoods in Semi-Arid Districts of Kenya

The European Commission (EC) funded project started in January 2008 and will be implemented in 8 semi-arid districts of Garbatulla, Isiolo, Koibatek, Laikipia East, Laikipia West, Narok North, Nyandarua North and Transmara over a period of 45 months. The overall project objective is to reduce poverty, improve food security and introduce alternative sustainable livelihoods through promotion of integrated rainwater harvesting and management (RHM) systems among disadvantaged pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in 8 semi-arid districts of Kenya. GHARP/KRA is the key project implementer in collaboration with community-based organizations (CBOs) within the target districts whereas Skillshare International (UK) plays a supervisory role (monitoring and evaluation) as well as financial management. Implementation will be carried out as follows: Narok North & Transmara districts (2008); Laikipia East, Laikipia West, Nyandarua North (2009); Isiolo & Garbatulla (2010) and Koibatek district (2011). The expected project activities include: stakeholders' project planning meetings; construction/rehabilitation of integrated RHM systems (5 water pans/earth dams, water regulation systems & auxiliary structures, 1 sand-dam and 90 farm ponds); construction of auxiliary facilities for water supply and sanitation for schools and communities (8 roof water catchment tanks & sanitation facilities in 8 schools, watershed management & conservation); introduction of complementary technologies and supplementary livelihood systems (150 low-cost drip/micro-irrigation systems, 8 tree & vegetable seedling nurseries, 5 fodder/pasture production & storage systems, draught animal technology, bee keeping & honey production and community sensitization); institutional strengthening and capacity building of GHARP/KRA and target groups and project monitoring & evaluation, information documentation and enhancing collaboration, networking and partnership.

Integrated Rainwater Harvesting & Management Systems and Complementary Technologies for Improving Water Supply, Food Security and Sustainable Livelihoods in Semi-Arid Districts of Kenya

Due to the successful implementation and positive impact of the USAID-OFDA and DED funded project, UNDP-SGP & DED funded a similar project in Cheptolil and Kailer communities of Koibatek and Baringo districts. The main goal of the project was to promote integrated rainwater harvesting & management (RHM) systems and complementary technologies for enhancing improved livelihood systems, socio-economic development and sustainable natural resources management for marginalized Kailer and Cheptolil communities in Baringo and Koibatek districts respectively.

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Promotion of Rainwater Management Technologies in the Horn of Africa: Multi Sectoral Approach Towards Sustainable Livelihoods of Pastoral Communities

One promising technology for rural farming systems is rainwater harvesting. This is the process of interception and concentration of rainwater and runoff and its subsequent storage in the soil profile or in artificial reservoirs for crop production, domestic/ livestock use. The USAID funded GHARP case studies project in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania revealed a number of promising and proven technologies.

This project was one of the follow-up activities to the GHARP project (Phase II), which was funded by USAID/OFDA and German Development Service (DED) and was administered by KRA/GHARP Secretariat. The main objective of this project was to demonstrate and test viable integrated RHM systems and dissemination approaches among rural communities in semi-arid districts. The project was implemented in Isinon, Kimalel and Wamani in Kajiado, Baringo and Laikipia districts respectively, in May 2004 to February 2006.

Strengthening Regional Rainwater Networking Mechanism: Promoting adaptive Strategies for Food Security

From January 2001 to July 2003, GHARP implemented a regional project funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Institutional Strengthening and Grant Management (ISGM) program administered by PACT/MWENGO with a budget of US$ 250,000. The overall objective of the project was to establish and strengthen a regional rainwater network to coordinate the identification and evaluation of RWH technologies with the aim of promoting best practices in rainwater management to enhance food security and water availability in the GHA.

The project results revealed that various promising rainwater harvesting (RWH) technologies are being practiced by different land-users in GHA. The potential of these technologies is enormous and therefore, follow-up projects should be initiated especially to disseminate, promote and up-scale the promising RWH technologies in the region. To enhance the dissemination of the project results, a book entitled “Rainwater harvesting for improved food security: Promising technologies in the Greater Horn of Africa” was published. The publication can be obtained from the KRA/GHARP Secretariat.

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For a Preface on the book