Integrating Peacebuilding, Development and Humanitarian Efforts on the Kenya/Ethiopia border

One and a half billion people worldwide live in fragile states and regions affected by conflict and violence and this includes the Kenyan-Ethiopia border. The region is also prone to extreme weather, which is being exacerbated by climate change.

Periods of prolonged droughts followed by heavy rains and flash floods are occurring more frequently. Climate-induced disasters are fuelling instability in the region, where many families rely on farming for their livelihood.

Drought kills crops and pasture, leading to a loss of livestock as the animals have no food. Extreme rainfall then comes and sweeps away the remaining animals. All this leads to hunger and different ethnic groups and clans fighting over finite resources.  

Owing to a lack of opportunity in the region, some young people are lured into banditry, cattle raiding or join armed groups, which once again fuels the conflicts. In addition to local disputes, there is also spillover from the ongoing clashes between different armed groups in Ethiopia.

Owing to the porous border, it’s easy for citizens of both nations to move freely between countries, lie low and hide. With some roads damaged by extreme weather, it can be hard for people to escape, with many trapped during periods of conflict. 

At a national level, the Kenya and Ethiopia governments share an architecture for peace, disaster risk reduction and cross border initiatives. However, mediation efforts between the warring groups are a challenge, given that the two governments involved (Kenya and Ethiopia) have different systems. At a local level, there is a need to strengthen coordination and cooperation.   

This project aims to build on the existing foundations and systems for peaceful settlement by:

The project begins by identifying the most marginalised communities. A ‘risk vulnerability assessment’ is then conducted that enables communities to identify  factors which are causing vulnerability to conflict and climate impacts and to identify solutions.

These community action plans help mobilise stakeholders and resources from within the community and local government to participate in peace and climate actions. Sharing the plans between communities also supports collaboration and joint actions to reduce conflict and build climate resilience across the border.

This process is led by local volunteers so that the program is well rooted in society and is done with many different groups to ensure a range of perspectives are heard. As a result of these conversations, the following approaches have been agreed on. 

Helping communities survive and adapt to the climate crisis 

With more extreme weather, VSO volunteers are delivering pasture harvesting training to families. Here they learn about the importance of preserving hay. Hay can last up to three years without getting spoilt. This means that next time a drought strikes, they will have food for their livestock.

Families can also sell the hay to other communities to make money. VSO has been provided sickles to help them cut the hay.

VSO is giving goats to families who have lost their livestock. Goats need less food than cows, and they can give birth twice a year, so they can multiply quicker.  

VSO is also providing 10,000 litre water tanks to communities that currently walk for hours a day just to find sources of water. These tanks serve whole communities helping to improve the lives of many. 

Volunteers are also helping communities better respond in times of extreme rainfall. They’re equipping them with knowledge on how to monitor, identify, and respond to floods through the creation of 21 Disaster Risk Reduction Committees. In the case of any disaster, such as drought or floods, these committees bring together stakeholders to ensure that the situation is either stabilised or a solution is sought.

They also raise awareness about environmental management, such as preventing the community from cutting trees and encouraging them to plant more trees. Next to this, they work together with the peace committees to reduce conflict.

VSO has created 20 peace committees in the border region to bring local people together to raise problems, discuss the importance of peace and reach solutions.

Encouraging dialogue and collaboration between diverse groups promotes mutual understanding and reconciliation. In fact, because of the peace committees, many people have become friends with people from different tribes that they once feared.

Our volunteering for development approach

Community volunteers are at the heart of the project. These volunteers come from the local community, ensuring that the knowledge, skills and experience they learn remain within the community itself.  

They work closely with national volunteers to implement interventions and analyse and share project challenges and achievements. They also help to enhance the understanding of our local partners and community members on the best ways to help communities living in fragile contexts. 

Youth volunteerism and leadership and active citizenship is promoted throughout the project.

This project is implemented in collaboration with our partners, Horn of Africa Development Initiative (HODI) | Kenya, The Center for Development and Capacity Building (CDCB) | Ethiopia and with funding from the Austrian Development Cooperation.