Adongo, A.

Keya, George A.

Mbuvi, D.

Muga, M.

Ngutu, M.

Okoti, M.

Shibia, M.

Wayua, F.

English

University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky UKnowledge International Grassland Congress Proceedings XXI International Grassland Congress / VIII International Rangeland Congress A Participatory Assessment of the Development Needs of Semi‐Sedentary Pastoralists in Kenya George A. Keya Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Kenya M. Muga Kenya Forestry Research Institute, Kenya M. Okoti Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Kenya A. Adongo Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Kenya M. Ngutu Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Kenya See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc  Part of the Plant Sciences Commons, and the Soil Science Commons This document is available at https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/21/23-1/21 The XXI International Grassland Congress / VIII International Rangeland Congress took place in Hohhot, China from June 29 through July 5, 2008. Proceedings edited by Organizing Committee of 2008 IGC/IRC Conference Published by Guangdong People's Publishing House This Event is brought to you for free and open access by the Plant and Soil Sciences at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in International Grassland Congress Proceedings by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact UKnowledge@lsv.uky.edu. Presenter Information George A. Keya, M. Muga, M. Okoti, A. Adongo, M. Ngutu, D. Mbuvi, F. Wayua, and M. Shibia This event is available at UKnowledge: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/21/23-1/21 　 Multifunctional Grasslands in a Changing World 　 Volume Ⅱ 　 瞯 ]1105　 瞯Grasslands/Rangelands People and Policies——— Innovation Systems in Grasslands/Rangelands through Education and PracticeA participatory assessment of the development needs of semi‐sedentary Pastoralists in KenyaKeya1 , G .A . , Muga2 , M . , Okoti 1 , M . , A dongo1 , A . , N gutu1 , M . , Mbuv i1 D . , W ayua1 , F and Shibia1 , M1 Kenya A gricultural Research Institute ( K A RI) , P .O Box 57811‐00200 Nairobi , K enya2 Kenya Forestry Research Institute ( K EFRI) , P .O Box 20412 Nairobi , K enyaE‐mail : gakeya＠ kari .org or azengakeya＠ yahoo .comKey words : participatory , appraisal , development , pastoralists , KenyaIntroduction Development interventions in African drylands have met with limited success partly due to little attention paid tothe felt needs of target populations ( Scoones , １９９６ ) . However , donors are now looking for appropriate entry points to fasttrack development in these areas ( McPeak et .al ２００６ ) . The Acacia Operation Project was a pilot activity implemented from２００４‐２００６ with the aim of mitigating land degradation and poverty in northern Kenya through novel methods of waterharvesting and promotion of appropriate agri‐silvo‐pastoral practices such as gums and resins production in combination withdrought tolerant crops . A critical output was elaboration of the development needs of the target population . This paper reportson results of the development needs assessment of the communities in the project area .Materials and methods Participatory Rural Appraisals ( PRAs) were conducted in six project sites namely : Sereolipi , Merille ,Laisamis , Logologo , Loiyangalani and North Horr . These areas are inhabited by a partly settled nomadic population whosemain source of livelihood is livestock rearing . The landscape is shaped by low and highly variable rainfall (２５０‐５００mmm/ year) ;frequent droughts and increasing degradation and poverty . A total of ３０８ individuals from an array of interest groupsparticipated in the meetings . Data gathering tools used included resource maps , institutional analyses , and resource access andcontrol profiles . Data analysis tools included problem and resource bag , problem ranking and opportunity analysis . Finallycommunity action plans ( CAPs) were elaborated .Results and discussion Results showed that communities are well informed of their problems which include but not limited topoverty , limited water , human diseases , high illiteracy , insecurity , frequent droughts , desertification , limited markets , poorleadership and underdeveloped infrastructure . They also identified local resources that should be mobilized to realize theirdevelopment needs . These are livestock and livestock products , plant and plant products , physical land resources , schools ,knowledge and information , solar and wind energy . Access and control profiles revealed that although all family members hadaccess to all key resources , men generally , retained control over livestock . Women on the other hand , retain control overlivestock products especially milk and hides . In general , control of other productive resources varied from one community toanother . The implication is that development interventions must be sensitive and take cognizance of gender roles in decisionmaking as far as management of different resources is concerned . The communities were in accord that in trying to address thechallenges they face , there is need to adopt an integrated approach . Technological aspects of production and processing shouldbe linked to markets while livelihoods diversification should be promoted to ensure sustainability of development interventions .Institutional analysis showed a fairly high presence of community based collective action groups that could be used in projectactivities . Key features of CAPs were water management , land rehabilitation , income generating activities , capacity building ,and support to groups ; business planning , marketing and provision of micro‐credit .Conclusions Success of development interventions in African dry lands can be enhanced through a process of participatoryassessment of felt needs of target populations and mobilization of local resources in an integrated approach that links producersto markets .ReferencesMcPeak , J . , Doss , C . , Barrett , C . , ２００６ . Development Priorities in the Rangelands of Northern Kenya and SouthernEthiopia : Results of a Ranking Exercise Among Pastoralists . Research Brie f ０６‐０９‐PARIMA .Scoones , I . , ( ed .) １９９５ . Living with Uncertainty : New Directions in Pastoral Development in Africa . London : Intermediatetechnology publications limited .

A Participatory Assessment of the Development Needs of Semi‐Sedentary Pastoralists in Kenya

https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3923&context=igc

A Participatory Assessment of the Development Needs of Semi‐Sedentary Pastoralists in Kenya

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