1.1 Preamble
The “Enhancing the Capacity of Refugee Host Communities for Climate Resilience and Livelihood Improvement (ECHCR-CRELI)” project facilitates capacity strengthening of refugee host communities in Kenya’s Turkana County for improved climate resilience and livelihoods. The project aims to build skills in Turkana County and to allow its people to mitigate climate change, promote environmental sustainability, and foster communities’ own development. The project offers targeted training to Trainers of Trainers (ToTs) and community mobilizers to build a network of community mobilizers and grassroots change agents who can serve as community agents of promoting climate-smart practices and economic resilience within their communities.
1.2 Overall Goal
The overall goal of the In-Country project is to increase climate resilience and improve the livelihoods of refugee host communities in Turkana County through the provision of practical training, capacity building, and promotion of sustainable agricultural and entrepreneurial practices. The idea of this goal comes from the idea that local ownership, community empowerment, and knowledge transfer are key to addressing the combined challenges of poverty, food insecurity, and climate vulnerability.
1.3 Key Activities
a) Scoping Visit to Turkana County
A scoping visit was made to Turkana County in order to understand the environmental, agricultural, and social context of the local area and to inform the design and delivery of the training programs. In this visit, the Turkana County Department of Agriculture was involved in collaboration with county leaders, administrators, and community groups. The findings allowed for appropriate locations to be selected for training and demonstration activities and provided a guide for the selection of participants.
b) Selection of Participants at Turkana County
The selection of participants for the training programs was based on the set criteria of leadership, influence, and commitment to community development. JKUAT and Turkana County Department of Agriculture led the selection process that involved including a diverse group: agricultural volunteers, chiefs, sub chiefs, youth, kraal leaders, irrigation scheme members, water user associations, ward development members and reformed warriors. They have been selected for their capacity to cascade training outcomes to the wider community and initiate a movement for sustainable practices.
c) Training of Trainers (30 ToTs) at JKUAT
From 10th to 22nd February 2025, Thirty Trainers of Trainers (ToTs) drawn from Turkana West, Loima and Turkana Central sub counties were trained on intensive training at JKUAT main campus. The training comprised of key topics, and which were deemed effective in addressing the livelihood needs of residents of Turkana County. The methodology assumed interactive lectures, group work, practical exercises and visits to demonstration farms.
d) Training of 50 Community Mobilizers in Turkana Central, Lodwar
From 13th to 19th March 2025, 50 community mobilizers from Turkana Central had a second round of training in St. Teresa Pastoral Centre in Lodwar. Modules on drought tolerant agronomic practices, kitchen gardening, rural enterprise development, the post-harvest handling and value addition were among the modules that the training included. Participation also included the introduction of other livelihood practices, such as mushroom and dragon fruit production, water conservation and making of homemade beauty products. Focuses were given on training being practical, relevant and transferable to the community setting.
e) Sensitization of Over 100 Farmers During the Setting Up of the Demonstration Farm at Naoros, Turkana
During the establishment of a demonstration farm at Naoros in Turkana, more than 100 farmers were sensitized as part of community outreach and technology transfer. It demonstrated ways to solve practical climate issues and methods such as greenhouse vegetable production, composting and soil and water conservation. The training programs and the demonstration site strengthened one another as a centre of peer to peer learning.
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