building pastoralist resilience against drought
TRANSCRIPT
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BUILDING PASTORALIST
RESILIENCE AGAINST DROUGHT
The impact of the Regional Resilience Enhancement Against
Drought (RREAD) II project in the drought prone Mandera District
of Northern Kenya: Evidence of Change Testimonies
Documented by: Linda A Ogwell
Development Communications Specialist
Submitted to: CARE International in Kenya
Livestock Sector.
June 2010
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TABLE OF CONTENT
I Introduction
II About RREAD II
II The Impact
III Evidence of Change Stories
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SECTION I: INTRODUCTION
Drought, famine, floods, poor infrastructure, poverty are some of the catch words that
are normally used describe Northern Kenya.
From an outsider, the picture looks grim: Despite the availability of huge livestock
resources in these areas, the income derived from the sector and the benefits are
declining, drought seems more frequent and the previous coping strategies like:
mobility; keeping large herds and different species of animals, herd splitting during
crisis; among others seem to have weakened.
In addition, population pressure, high and widespread prevalence of livestock diseases,
and lack of marketing networks have lowered the resilience of the pastoralist
communities.
On the other hand, pastoralism remains a dynamic and productive way of life with the
herds providing diet staples of milk and meat and the sale of livestock enabling people
to feed and educate their children.
But still recent severe droughts and floods caused an enormous loss of livestock in the
whole Horn of Africa. This loss was a hard blow to the economies of the countries in the
region since pastoralism meets a significant proportion of their domestic meat and milk
requirements not forgetting the enormous export earnings from the trade of livestock
and hide.
International funding agencies and national governments have over the years
responded generously to these crises. One such response has been CARE
International’s Regional Resilience Enhancement Against Drought (RREAD) Project
funded by the European Commission Humanitarian Organization (ECHO).
Resilience is all about the ability to bounce back after a tragedy or injury. RREAD works
towards building the capacity of communities in areas that frequently experience
drought to protect and manage their natural resources and prepare for drought and
disasters through contingency planning. It also works with the communities to help them
utilize livestock and livestock products to enhance their livelihoods. This project targets
64,000 beneficiaries.
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SECTION II. ABOUT RREAD
The Regional Resilience Enhancement against Drought II (RREAD II)
CARE International (CARE) received financial support from DG ECHO to fund a cross
border (Southern Ethiopia and Northern Kenya) drought preparedness initiative, the
Regional Resilience Enhancement Against Drought (RREAD).
CARE International under the RREAD Programme recognizes the multi-faceted nature
of livestock livelihoods vulnerability and applies a systematic approach that promotes
drought risk reduction as a link between short term livelihood saving activities to long
term livelihood protection.
The overall aim of the Programme is to enable disaster risk reduction and
resilience models relevant to the livelihoods of pastoralists in drought prone
areas to be used and understood by local, national and international actors
working in and beyond RREAD areas of operation.
Expected Results
1. Community structures and local government authorities able to implement
appropriate drought (and other emergency) preparedness plans;
2. Local and national actors engaged to manage the natural resources to mitigate against drought and other forms of crisis;
3. Livestock based livelihoods supported to become more resilient to drought and other forms of crisis;
4. Lessons learnt captured to feed into improved policy change and practice for drought risk reduction at district, national and regional levels.
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CARE KENYA’S AREAS OF OPERATIONS IN MANDERA
Diagram courtesy of the CARE Kenya RREAD program.
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SECTION III: IMPACT
RREAD has been operating in Northern Kenya for over four years and the impact has
been greatly felt and appreciated from the Government level down to the grassroots.
“Before CARE came into this area, I had a difficult time with my scarce resources
and lean staff. There was no serious contingency plan in place in the whole
province; so far, over ten communities have been trained in disaster
preparedness and contingency planning” Donald Matumaini, District
Development Officer (DDO), Mandera Central,
RREAD has created awareness on the importance of Natural Resource Management.
It has worked closely with the government through the Ministry of Environment, the local
administration and the community elders to form Disaster Risks Reduction (DRR)
committees who have set aside areas of pasture for rehabilitation, established grazing
areas and rehabilitated water pans and boreholes.
“This is a move towards the right
direction, the communities are zoning
areas for rehabilitation and slowly the
concept of DRR is being institutionalized”
says Enock Oruko, RREAD Program
Manager, CARE Kenya.
The DRR committees were formed to
help with rangeland rehabilitation owing to
the severe environmental degradation
that has been going in the province.
CARE linked the committees to
Government forestry and environment
department and also helped them by-laws
that were endorsed by the local administration including the District Officer and the
chiefs.
“From now onwards, we won’t have to face the difficulty of migrating to far away
land to look for pasture and water during drought. We will stay right here with our
families and we won’t also loose so many animals to diseases or lack of pasture
and water. Last drought season I lost almost 25 animals and that makes me
really appreciate the rangeland rehabilitation and management initiative
introduced to us by CARE” Ibrahim Abdi, Ogore DRR Committee Member.
RREAD helped rehabilitate water pans. Photo: Linda
Ogwell/CARE
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In addition, as a result of the failed long rains in April, RREAD prepared communities for
drought by rehabilitating four boreholes and providing fuel and pump for 16 others.
The Livestock Marketing Groups (LMGs) formed by the pastoralists were also given
cash boosts to enable them buy more livestock from the farmers and their cost of
transport to the markets like the Kariobangi Livestock Market in Nairobi was also
subsidized. A total of 4000 animals were transported to Nairobi.
The LMGs are aimed to assist in destocking before the drought season especially in
areas with unavailable markets where the pastoralists normally have to walk for long
distances.
“Every division (about 6-8 in
total) now have access to a
market and livestock off-take can
be easily done by the groups.
RREAD has provided a basic
marketing system that if well
institutionalized will provide
market access to the
pastoralists” explains Oruko.
RREAD has also helped build
the capacity of various district
teams to respond to
emergencies. This training has
helped reduce the number of
livestock dying from drought. For
instance, during the last drought period, communities were more aware of signs of
drought before it happened and most of them migrated to Ethiopia.
In addition, the communities were introduced to the Savings and Loans Scheme to
encourage a saving culture amongst them. “In an area with very few financial
institutions and no access to loans, we thought it prudent to include the Savings and
Loans Concept without charging of interest on the loans not only to help those in need
access extra money but also provide a safety net for those who have emergencies”
says Bashir Osman Isaak, Field Officer, CARE Kenya.
The Milk and Meat Value addition activities were meant to balance the availability of
milk throughout the year. Milk and meat are the staple foods of the communities in
Northern Kenya and are in scarce during drought. Preserving them means that they are
Members of a Marketing Group carrying out a transaction. Photo: Linda
Ogwell/CARE
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available during the whole year. This activity also helped in giving the women a source
of income.
Challenges
Low literacy levels: The pastoralist communities are generally illiterate and this made
implementation of some activities for example the training in business development
skills like record keeping a big challenge. “Most of the groups rely on one person to
keep their books meaning that they operate on trust” explains Oruko.
The programme area is also very wide, diverse and sometime inaccessible making
monitoring a challenge. Some areas are also far apart and with very little population.
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SECTION IV: EVIDENCE OF CHANGE STORIES
Government Collaboration
Government involvement and opinion is important for the success of any project.
RREAD II allowed for close consultation and collaboration with key government officials
in the implementation of its activities. Below are some of their experiences and lessons
learnt while working with CARE International in Kenya (CARE Kenya) in the
implementation of the programme.
Working with CARE International in Kenya to Ensure that Pastoralists have
access clean water: In the Words of Derow Hillow Mahat , the District Water
Officer, Mandera Central District.
Recorded and written by Linda Ogwell
June 2010
“I work with CARE Kenya in my capacity as a water specialist and government
representative in charge of water issues in the district. We have constructed three water
pans in Elele, Elram and Dololo here in Mandera Central of Northern Kenya, and these
facilities have been operational since 2009.
We also rehabilitated an emergency borehole in Quram Mudow that now serves the
community well during drought seasons.
I applaud what CARE has done in my
district and more so for involving the
government in the implementation of its
programs. They have been good partners
and we have established a good working
relationship.
Impact
CARE’s work has brought some positive
changes in this district in connection to
water issues. Before we rehabilitated the
pans, during the drought season, water
would dry out within a month but now it’s
available for two months, meaning that we
now track water once for the community as
opposed to three times before.
Derrow Hillow Mahat, Distict Water Officer, Mandera
Centra. Photo: Linda Ogwell/CARE
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Let me also add that in areas where we have the emergency boreholes, we no longer
track water and this has reduced the burden on the government which is already short
of resources. In addition, the quality of water in the pans after rehabilitation has
improved leading to a reduction of water borne diseases in the area. CARE has helped
fill the gap the government could not.
My appeal to CARE is that they continue working with the pastoralist’s community
especially now that the drop-outs have decided to settle near the water pan sites,
meaning we will soon have additional trucking sites and yet our resources are very
scarce.”
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Working with the Government to build Pastoralists Resilience to Drought
Linda Ogwell
June 2010
Donald Matumaini is the District Development Officer (DDO) of Mandera Central. He
has worked closely with CARE International in Kenya to help the pastoralist
communities prepare for drought.
“We have worked with CARE to train these communities on disaster preparedness, we
also held joint planning sessions with the most vulnerable ones and after every three
months we do a contingency plan focusing on preparedness “ explains Matumaini.
“Before CARE came into this area, I had a difficult time with my scarce resources and
lean staff. There was not a single contingency plan in place in the whole province,” he
adds. So far, over ten communities have been trained in disaster preparedness and
contingency planning.
In addition CARE also worked with the District Livestock Officer (DLO) to establish and
train livestock marketing groups in order to avert the mass death of livestock during
drought. “I was involved in training of five pastoral producer groups and as a result we
managed to save over 3600 heads of livestock during the severe drought witnessed in
2009” explains Bernard Wanjoi, the District Livestock Officer.
Wanjoi also worked with CARE on issues of Natural Resource Management. “We have
worked together in issues of rangeland management and trained 16 communities on
grazing management. This is because we realized that the grazing patterns were
contributing a lot to the environmental degradation of this area” says Wanjoi. The
grazing committees consisted of community elders working together with CARE and the
local authorities.
Wanjohi is grateful to CARE for involving him in the efforts to improve the lives of the
communities he works with adding that government resources alone would not have
achieved much. “Without RREAD these communities would be worse off. CARE has
helped build their resilience to drought,” he adds “my office has a very small budget and
I am glad CARE took up some of these activities”
Future programming ideas
According to Wanjoi, CARE should think of coming up with ways to strengthen livestock
markets; this could involve establishing of a market in the region. “The nearest local
market absorbs only 30 goats a day and pastoralists have to travel for around 300kms
to get to the alternative one which is in Nairobi “concluded Wanjoi.
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Livestock Marketing Groups and Savings and Loans Groups
Buladana Livestock Marketing Group.
By Linda Ogwell
June 2010
Buladana is a small community near Elwak Town of Northern Kenya. It is inhabited by
drop- out pastoralists who mainly practice small scale retail trade to make a living. In
2006, twenty of these traders came together to form a self help group.
“Inadequate capital and lack of business skills made our businesses stagnant and
meaning we did not make enough to provide for our families - especially during drought
when most of us would close down after using all our profits plus the capital. We
therefore decided to come together and form a group as unity is strength” says Ibrahim
Mohamed, the Chairperson of the group. Each member of the group contributed Kshs
300 (About USD 4). “With this money we bought 87 goats and sold them within Elwak”
says 31 years old Mohamed.
In 2008, CARE International in Kenya under the ECHO funded Regional Resilience
Enhancement Against Drought (RREAD) II program, identified the group as a
beneficiary and the members received training in Business Development Skills which
included basic book keeping, profit and loss analysis, marketing practices and
veterinary policies. CARE also trained the group on how to run their group (group
dynamics).
“CARE targeted this group not only to help them improve their business operations but
also because their success would provide a ready livestock market for pastoralists in
this area so that they don’t have to walk for long distances especially during drought,”
explains Anne Daki, Livestock and Livelihoods Officer, CARE International in Kenya.
In addition, CARE also subsidized the transport cost for the group to take their produce
to Kariobangi market in Nairobi, one of the biggest goats and sheep (Shoats) market in
the region.
“CARE gave us a big boost. We started small by trading within our town, but now we
sell about two to three lorries (about 240 shoats) a month to Kariobangi, this is a big
achievement for us and we are truly grateful” adds Mohamed.
According to the group members the training by CARE has also helped them improve
their individual businesses. “Before the training, I kept no records and I would use up all
the profits I made without reinvesting back in the business, but now I know better” adds
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Mohammed “My Hotel business is now flourishing and I can now pay school fees for my
children.”
Members of Buladana Livestock Marketing Group. Photo by Linda Ogwell/CARE
Group and Savings Loan
The group also formed a savings and Loans scheme to help them put aside some
money as savings and also allow members to have access to loans. They named the
savings and loans scheme Al-Barak to give it identity and separate it from the livestock
trading venture.
“In our area we have no access to financial institutions that can give us loans unless we
travel to major towns like Garissa which are hundreds of kilometers always” explains
Mohamed.
According to Jane, the group was encouraged to form the savings and loans scheme
not only to provide financial access in form of interest free loans but also provide a
social safety network for those in need.
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“We trained the group on how to run a savings and loan schemes. The training included
how to set- up a social fund to help members in need especially during emergencies like
death and diseases “ adds Jane “ members were also encouraged to borrow from the
group in order to expand their individual retail business.”
In the beginning, each member paid a contribution of Kshs 300 (About 4 USD).
However every month the members pay Kshs 950 (USD 11) into savings kitty and about
Kshs 70 (about a dollar) for the social welfare kitty.
Members can access loans in turns and according to the seriousness of their situation,
and are given a maximum of three months to pay back. “We are very strict in ensuring
that our members pay back the loans and we have fines for those who renege” explains
Mohamed.
The group is full of praise for CARE. However they would like more training in business
management. “The training has helped us uplift our community because we passed on
the information we got to others who are not part of our group and we are looking
forward to many more so that we can grow stronger” concludes Mohammed.
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Being part of the Group has helped improve my life: A story in the words of
Mohamed Ali.
Recorded Written by Linda Ogwell
June 2010
Mohamed Ali from Buladana. Photo: Linda Ogwell/CARE
“My name is Mohamed Ali and I am 49 years old. I have two wives and 12 children
between the ages of two to 21. I am from Buladana village, near Elwak Town of
Mandera District in Northern Kenya. I am a small scale trader selling shoats, groceries,
soap, salt and cereals to help feed and educate my children.
I decided to settle into a sedentary lifestyle after I lost a lot of livestock to drought. I
realized that the water sources were becoming more scarce with every drought season
and this meant that I had to walk longer distances to find pasture and water for my
livestock not to mention the diseases and danger that I faced while on the road. I had to
look for an alternative way of survival.
Currently I have about 30 goats and four cows. When I saw how well my friends who
were part of the Buladana Marketing Group were doing, I decided to join them and that
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is one of the best decision I have ever made in my life. Working as a group has made
me part of a bigger venture that I would not have been able to afford. We now sell our
shoats to bigger markets like the Kariobangi Goat Market in Nairobi, which is one of the
biggest in this country.
I am grateful to CARE for the training in business skills and how to operate as a group
including how to run meetings and elect our leaders. I am also grateful to CARE for
introducing to us the idea of forming a savings and loans group to help us put aside
some savings.
I am now very knowledgeable in business management and I have applied this
knowledge in running my business. Even though am not highly educated, I can count
money, and now I can tell if I am making profits or losses, I also learnt not to spend all
my profits but reinvest into the business.
I took a loan from the group and paid for my children’s school fees, something I would
not have been able to do had I not been a part of the group. But the most memorable
help I got was when I was unwell and could not afford treatment, the group gave me
money to get treatment and to also feed my family while I was sick. This is something I
continue to be grateful for every day and now I know in my heart that when I have a
problem, I will get help.
I intend to borrow some money and use it to improve my business. Being a part of this
group has made renew my will to live; I am now full of hope.”
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I have learnt that working in a group is better than struggling alone: The story of
Ahmed Mohamed.
Recorded and Written by Linda Ogwell
June 2010
Ahmed Mohamed. Photo by Linda Ogwell/CARE
“My name is Ahmed Mohamed and I am 25 years old with a wife and two children. I live
in Buladana and I am a member of the Buladana Livestock Marketing Group and also of
Al-Barak savings and loans group.
I dropped out of pastoralism and I went to Mombasa to find work where I started selling
essential household goods in a tiny shack in one of the slums. However, the business
was taking me nowhere, so I decided to come back home, settle down and marry.
When I got here I started trading in traditional medicine that I got from the remote
bushes nearby. This was not enough for us to live on; I would only make Kshs 70 per
day (about USD 1).
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When I heard of the Livestock Marketing Group I decided to join them. I believe that
working in a group is far much effective than struggling on your own.
As a group we were trained in various skills by CARE International in Kenya: these
included business skills, how to work as a group and run our affairs effectively, issues of
licensing and taxation policies. The training I got opened my eyes. Before I would run
my business with no skills, I was just wading through, no wonder I made very little profit.
I now have five cows and 20 goats and can provide for my family. I also took a loan to
open a retail shop here in Buladaran. Being part of the Savings and Loans has also
helped many members grow their businesses and improve their livelihoods. The social
fund is also very useful in helping us offset emergency bills.
We have grown as a group and we are very grateful to CARE for all the help given to
us. For the first time we can now sell our shoats to the biggest market in the country - in
Kariobangi, Nairobi. CARE subsidized fuel costs for two trips to the market and we were
able to make business contacts.
Our request is for CARE to continue with the trainings especially on issues of animal
health, so that we know how to handle our sick animals. We would also like more
trainings in business skills since some of our members are not literate and it takes them
long to learn some of the concepts.
We hope to increase our savings to good proportions that will help us strengthen our
business and build our community. We cannot go back to being without hope, we
cannot turn back. Now we can only move forward.”
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MWANZA Livestock Marketing Group
By Linda Ogwell
June 2010
Mwanza Livestock Marketing Group was formed in 1996 with only five members each
contributing Kshs 3000 (USD 40) to trade in shoats and hide. The membership later
grew to 25 with each member paying a monthly subscription of Kshs 1500 (USD 20).
“We started as a small unit because most people didn’t realize that working in a group
would be better than struggling alone; as a group you have a bigger capital base” says
Ali Ibrahim, the 35 year old chairman of the group.
In 2009, CARE International in Kenya under its ECHO funded Regional Resilience
Enhancement Against Drought (RREAD) II program identified the group as a beneficiary
and trained its members who consist of 10 women and 15 men on business
development skills and group dynamics.
Some of the members of the Mwanza Livestock Marketing Group. Photo by Linda Ogwell/CARE
“CARE trained us on how to run our business, record keeping, and profit and loss
analysis and also how to run our group including setting meeting dates and agenda and
electing our leadership” explains Ibrahim.
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In addition to the training, CARE also paid for the group a percentage of the fuel cost to
transport the livestock to the Nairobi Kariobangi Market, one of the biggest livestock
market in the country. CARE did this two times.
The group’s business has improved and currently their assets are in the tune of Kshs
370,000 (About USD 3500). “CARE opened our eyes and we have improved even in
our own personal business ventures” says 28 year old Abdul Rashid, a member of the
group.
The women in the group are also appreciative of all the exposure and training they have
received. “As women we have benefitted because we have learnt a lot, we are now part
of a great venture that we would not have managed to start on our own as a lot of our
time is spent taking care of our families” explains 30 year old mother of seven, Fatuma
Adam.
Savings and Loans
CARE also encouraged the members of the group to form a savings and loans group to
assist them in times of need and give them access to financial services. “As Muslims we
cannot get loans from the commercial banks as they charge interest and that is against
our religion” says Ibrahim “the group members were therefore very open to forming the
savings and loans groups and all our members are part of it.”
The group decided that they would put aside part of the profits from the livestock trade
into the savings kitty. This fund has helped the members pay school fees for their
children and build up their individual business.
“I have really benefited from being part of this group, I recently took a loan of Kshs
100,000 (About USD1500) to expand my business, and I used it to move into a better
and bigger business premise and also to increase my stock. This is something I would
not have been able to do had I still been operating alone” says a happy Abdul Rashid
Mohammed.
The group has faced a few challenges including market price fluctuations, inaccessible
roads, livestock diseases and illiteracy amongst the members. However, the members
are very grateful to CARE for the trainings and introducing to them the savings and
loans concept. They hope that they will get more training in livestock diseases and also
literacy classes for some of their members.
“CARE woke up the giant in us to succeed and now there is no going back, we are
going to grow bigger and bigger and improve our community” concludes Ibrahim.
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I now have an alternative source of livelihood: The story of Fatuma Isak.
Recorded and Written by Linda Ogwell
June 2010
“My name is Fatuma Isak and I am a
50 years old mother of eight. I run a
butchery here in Elwak Town. I have
been doing this since we lost over
300 livestock to drought. This
business has been my source of
livelihood.
I joined Mwanza Livestock Marketing
group in 2007 to have an alternative
source of income. Furthermore, am
getting old now and not as active as I
used to be and so I thought it wise to
combine my effort with others so that
I can grow more.
As a butcher, there times when I
have no business, especially during
drought when most people lose the
animals to disease or migrate in
search of pasture and leaving me
with no business.
However being part of the group has helped me especially during this time since I can
access loans and at times shares of the profits.
As a sole provider for my family sometimes I have money related emergencies and
being part of a group has helped cushion me during these times. I have also been able
to educate my children with the help of the group’s savings and loans venture. For me
this has been the greatest achievement because I did not get an education but when I
look around all the successful people around me are those who got some education.
I vowed a long time ago that I would educate all my children because I want them to be
successful. My eldest son is almost done with his education and he has a business
mind so I hope that he will join me in running the business.
Fatuma Isak in her butchery. Photo: Linda Ogwell/CARE
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I am so grateful for the trainings by CARE International in Kenya. As much as am not
educated, I have learnt to tell whether my business is making a profit or loss and I
sometimes ask the other group members to help me with the book keeping.
Thank you CARE, you brought hope to our families and community and we hope that
this bond that we have formed will continue."
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From selling products on a table to my own shop: The story of Abdul Rashid
Mohammed.
Recorded and Written by Linda Ogwell
June 2010
Abdul Rashid at his new shop. Photo: Linda Ogwell/CARE
My name is Abdul Rashid Mohammed; I am 28 years old and a father of four children. I
run a retail shop in Elwak town and I am also a member of Mwanza livestock Marketing
group and its affiliate savings and loans group.
I joined the group three years ago and I can say that I have seen a lot of difference in
my life after joining the group. CARE International in Kenya trained us in business skills
and introduced us to the concept of saving and loans, and this was an eye opener for
me.
Before this I did not know how to handle my profits and so my business could not grow.
I kept no records and was not reinvesting back into the business. However after the
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training and exposure to business skills things have changed and I even opened a bank
account.
I have always wanted to expand my business and move from a small retail shop to a
fully grown business in a good respectable premise. But due to lack of financial access I
could not do this because as a Muslim I cannot borrow from the banks since Sharia
laws forbids me from charging or paying interest.
I was therefore very grateful with the idea of a savings and loans scheme and as soon
as I could, I borrowed Kshs. 100,000 (USD 1500) to help me expand my business. With
this money I moved into a bigger and better premise and also increased my stock. I am
now one of the biggest traders in El –Wak town and this is a dream come true for me.
As a group we are now planning to buy a lorry since hiring one is not so cost effective.
We are so grateful to CARE for the help and the opportunity they gave us to improve
our lives because otherwise I would still be selling my little produce in a small shack and
my children’s future would be grim. Thank you CARE for opening my eyes.”
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RAHA Savings and Loans Group
By Linda Ogwell
June 2010
Before 2009, El-Ram community members had no access to credit or financial services
as the nearest bank is over 70 kilometres in El Wak town of Northern Kenya and
secondly because their Islamic religion does not prescribe to the practice of charging
interest on loans, which is done by all commercial banks in Kenya.
However with the help of CARE International in Kenya under the ECHO funded
Regional Resilience Enhancement Against Drought (RREAD) II Project helped 12
members from the community (8 women and four men) form RAHA Savings and Loans
Group.
“We formed RAHA to help us overcome poverty and provide for our families” explains
54 years old Amina Ahmed, a member of the group. The group members each
contribute Kshs 200 (USD 2.5) monthly.
CARE trained the members on group dynamic and how to run a savings and loans
groups. “When we formed the group we thought that every month we would collect
money and give a member and they didn’t have to pay it back, we didn’t understand the
loaning concept” explains Amina.
The group was also trained on how to hold elections and how to set-up meetings.
Currently members can get as much as Kshs 8,000 (USD 100) and must refund it in
three months with a penalty of Kshs 250 (USD 3) for anyone who defaults. “So far we
have given two members of our group loans and four more have requested and will
soon be given” says Amina.
According to Amina, once the group’s savings have grown, they will be able to give
more money. This venture has been of great help to the group members especially
during drought.
“During drought we have to buy livestock feed and spend extra money on our food,
when in need we borrow money from the group” says 35 years old Ahmed Mohammed,
a member of the group and a small scale shoats trader.
The group is full of gratitude to CARE for introducing them to a concept that has given
them hope for the future.
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MAENDELEO Savings and Loans Group
By Linda Ogwell
June 2010
Maendeleo Savings and Loans Group was formed in 2008 by 10 members to collect
money and give to members who were in need. The members would each contribute
Kshs 400 (USD 5.5) every month and this money would then be given to a member
according to the seriousness of their situation or need.
“We would look at who needed the money most and give it to them, however the
member was not required to pay back this money” explains 40 years Ibrahim Isaak,
chairman of the group.
In 2009 CARE International in Kenya under the ECHO funded Regional Resilience
Enhancement Against Drought (RREAD) II program trained the group on the concept of
Savings and Loans, record keeping, basic accounting and group dynamics.
“As much as this group contributed money every month, they had no savings! We
helped them learn to save in order to put aside some money for emergencies like
drought” explains Jane Daki, CARE Kenya’s Livestock and Livelihoods Officer.
All the members of the groups received this training and soon afterwards they changed
the way they were operating. “First we split our money into savings and loans. Every
month we would decide on how much to put aside as savings and as money for loaning”
explains Isaak.
With the help of CARE, the group also set–up the dynamics of collecting and returning
the money. “We decided that by the 5th of every month the members should have paid
all their monthly contributions and the payback period a month” explains Isaak.
Members of the group can get as much as Kshs 10,000 (USD 150). “We have loaned
money to over 10 people to pay fees, hospital bills, buy food among other issues” he
adds “Currently we have a total of Kshs 90,000 (USD 1400) in savings.”
The members are grateful to CARE for all the assistance. “This is the most important
venture I have ever joined; this year I borrowed money to pay school fees for my son
who is in his final year, all this thanks to CARE” says 38 years old Musa Adan, a
member of the group.
Members are now more hopeful and are ready to face the next drought season. “We are
no longer scared of drought. We know that we can now borrow money and buy livestock
during this period when prices are low, fatten them and sell them when the prices
improve. Thank you very much CARE” concluded Isaak.
26
OGORE Livestock Marketing Group
By Linda Ogwell
June 2010
Ogore Livestock Group was formed in 2003 by 11 members, all from Ogore Village in
El-Ram town of Mandera district of Northern Kenya. This village consists mainly of drop
out pastoralists who ventured into small scale retail businesses to earn a living.
“Individual businesses were not bringing in good returns due to our small capital base,
but as a group, you put your resources together for a bigger capital base, that is why we
formed the marketing group” explains 59 years old Musa Adan, a member of the group.
In 2008, under the ECHO funded Regional Resilience Enhancement Against Drought
(RREAD) II Program, CARE International in Kenya identified the group as a beneficiary
and trained them on business skills development including basic accounting and record
keeping.
CARE also subsidized their fuel cost to transport two lorry loads (about 300) of shoats
to Kariobangi Market in Nairobi - one of the biggest shoats market in the country. “We
used to sell 50 shoats a day but our number has increased to a full lorry of about 130
shoats and we do this two times a month ; all this thanks to the assistance from CARE”
says Adan with appreciation.
The sales of the group have increased especially during drought. “We provide a ready
market for pastoralist around our communities to sell off their excess stock during
drought” explains Adan.
Initially member of the group would contribute Kshs 300 (USD 4.5); this increased to
Kshs 500 (USD 7). The group
shares profits once in a while to
encourage the members continue
investing into the group.
“We pay something small to our
members once in a while when we
make good profits. Last month we
gave them each Kshs 500 for them
to feel like their sweat is paying off”
explains Adan.
Members of Ogore Livestock Marketing Group. Photo: Linda Ogwell/CARE
27
The group’s leadership consists of a Chairman, Secretary, Treasure and three
committee members. They meet after every sale to discuss how to utilize the profits and
currently they have Kshs 200,000 (USD 2500) as savings.
Some of the challenges the group faces include high fuel costs due to poor road
infrastructure and fluctuating market prices. “We have challenges but we are at a much
better place than before and thank you very much CARE, we hope that one day we will
receive more training in other business ventures like bee-keeping” concludes Adan.
28
Wargadud Livestock Traders
By Linda Ogwell
June 2010
Wargadud Livestock traders group started out by selling hides and tree gum to the
neighbouring town of El-Wak located in Mandera district of Northern Kenya.
“We would get gum and hides from our village and take to El-Wak, however we had
to stop when the rains destroyed the gum and the hides became rare” explains 44 years
old Habiba Osman, a mother of ten children and a member of the group.
The group was formed in 2006 with a membership of ten; four women, six men. Each
member had to contribute a registration fee of Kshs 2500 (USD 30). In 2009 CARE
International in Kenya under its ECHO funded program, Regional Resilience
Enhancement Against Drought (RREAD) II trained the group members in business
development skills and how to work as a group (group dynamics).
“Before CARE we kept no financial records and had no leadership structure, we were
operating haphazardly” explains 68 years old Muhammad Ali, the Chairman of the
group.
CARE also subsidized the fuel cost to enable the trader transport their livestock two
times to Nairobi’s Kariobangi Market, one of the biggest shoats market in the region.
“The fuel subsidy from CARE was a big boost to our group since high transport costs
and unstable fuel prices are some of our biggest challenges” says Ali.
The group meets after every major sale and elects their leaders comprising of a
chairman, secretary and treasurer every year. They stock from the community
members. “During drought we provide an accessible and ready shoats market and so
the pastoralists don’t have to travel for long distances and lose the livestock in return”
says Ali.
Sometimes when the sales are good, the group divided shares of the profits amongst
the members as a bonus. “When we make good sales we share this with the members.
So far we have done this two times, each time a member getting Kshs 5000 (USD60)
and the members were elated” explains a beaming Ali.
The group is very grateful for all the help CARE has given them. “Before I had very little
knowledge on running a business, after the training, my small retail business has
improved and last year I made enough profit to help pay school fees for my son who is
29
in his final year of education” admits Habiba Mohamed, a member of the group and a
mother of seven.
Some members of Wargadud Livestock Marketing Group. Photo by Linda Ogwell/CARE
The group has put aside a total of Kshs 450,000 (USD 5500) which they hope to use to
expand their business and start trading in camel and cows too. Things have certainly
been going well for this group and now all they are requesting for is more training in
business skills and sponsorship for learning visits to more established groups in the
region.
30
Shimbir Fatuma Livestock Traders: In the words of Guracha Adan, Chairman of
the Group
By Linda Ogwell
June 2010
“My name is Guracha Adan, I am 40 years
old and the chairman of Shimbir Fatuma
Livestock traders. We formed this group in
2003 and by then we were only ten, but now
our membership has increased to 20.
We started this group to provide us with an
alternative means of income to help improve
our livelihoods. To start us off, we all paid a
registration fee of Kshs 1000 (USD 12) and
a monthly fee of Kshs 300 (USD4).
Our activities include selling goats and
sometimes camels and cows. We take our
stock to the terminal markets in Moyale,
Wajir, Burache in Somali and Nairobi. In a
month we sell four lorries of shoats and two
lorries of cows. A lot of this stock we buy
from pastoralists here in Shimbir and
sometimes from the surrounding
communities.
In 2009, CARE approached us and trained our group members in business skills to help
us improve our business. They also trained us on how to run our group, elect new
leaders, keep records and took a few of us for a learning trip to Mombasa, where we
met one of the largest livestock group traders in this country – we were motivated and
inspired by this trip.
Our group has been of great benefit to the community since we provide them with an
accessible market during drought and therefore reduce their losses from diseases and
death of animals during drought or while transporting them to far away markets. We
also encourage them to sell off some of their animals during drought (destock to avoid
losses).
Guracha Adan, Chairman of Shimbir Fatuma Livestock
Group. Photo: Linda Ogwell/CARE
31
As a group we also have a savings and loans scheme that helps our members when in
need. Infact we recently gave Kshs 15,000 (USD 200) to a member whose wife had
been hospitalized. When we loan the money we don’t charge any interest and we give
the members one month to pay it back.
We also meet once a month to asses our performance, all this as a result of the training
we received from CARE. Currently our business is worth Kshs. 800,000 (USD 10,000).
We also own 30 cows.
Our greatest challenge is the bad road network leading unstable fuel prices and this
sometimes sees us running at losses.
We are grateful to CARE for helping our community. We only hope that they can give us
more training, because as they say you can never have too much of a good thing.
Thank you CARE!”
32
Looking for markets beyond our borders: Burduras Livestock Association
By Linda Ogwell
June 2010
Burduras Livestock Association is one of the few groups involved in cross border
livestock trade between Kenya and Ethiopia. This is because it is located about five
kilometers from the Kenya-Ethiopia Border.
“Every month we take over 300 shoats over to Moyale in Ethiopia where each animal
brings in a profit of Kshs 500 (USD 5.5)” says 65 years old Okash Ibrahim, the chairman
of the group.
The group was formed in 2008 and has a membership of 19. Every member contributed
Kshs 11,500 (USD 140) as start-up capital. The group buys livestock from pastoralists
in the village and surrounding communities and sells them to terminal markets in
Moyale in Ethiopia and Burache in Somalia.
Members of the Burduras Livestock Marketing Group. Photo: Linda Ogwell/CARE
33
“We mainly buy stock from our community although sometimes we also reach out to our
neighbours especially during drought; we provide a ready and accessible market for our
fellow pastoralist who would otherwise be forced to walk long distances and probably
lose some of their animals to diseases and wild animals” explains Ibrahim.
In 2009, CARE International in Kenya under the ECHO funded Regional Resilience
Enhancement Against Drought (RREAD) II program trained the group in business
development skills including book keeping and profit and loss analysis. Members of the
group were also taken for a learning trip to Mombasa where they interacted with other
well established trading groups and also to the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC)
headquarters in Nairobi, where they established business contacts.
“While visiting KMC, we got an order of 320 shoats which is about two lorries of shoats,
this is a great achievement for us” says a happy Ibrahim.
The group was also introduced to the terminal shoats market in Kariobangi in Nairobi,
which is one of the biggest in the country. “We used to hear of the Nairobi market but
we had not yet explored it. CARE subsidized our fuel cost for two trips and we made
some good profit from these sales” explains Ibrahim.
The group gathers market information by sending members to the markets. “We
frequent markets to know the market prices and make more networks” explains Ibrahim.
So far Burduras has not experience any major challenges in regard to the cross border
trading. Whenever they take their produce to Ethiopia, they are treated as any other
trader and its one of the markets that fetches them good prices. “So long as we paid the
expected taxes, no one bothers us” explains Ibrahim.
They meet every month and have by-laws that help in the efficient running of the group.
During the meetings they discuss the performance of the business and identify new
markets.
“After the training from CARE we have been motivated to engage into bigger and bigger
ventures since the knowledge we now have has given us more confidence, we are
growing each and every day” says Ali Isaak, a member of the group.
The group is currently worth Kshs 310,000 (USD 3900) and about 120 goats. Once in a
while they share out the profits depending on how well the business is going. However
the members who actively take part in the running of the group get an allowance.
34
For Ali being a member of the group has also helped him streamline his individual
business. “I have applied some of the techniques in business skills that I learnt from the
CARE training into my personal business and I am proud to say that things have
improved and I am now recording some profit as opposed to before” says Ali.
As much as the group has a lot going on for them, they still face some challenges like
poor infrastructure and unstable fuel prices. They also have to deal with various
diseases, an issue that really affected them early this year when the government placed
quarantine on animals from the area after an outbreak of a livestock disease.
In future, members of the group hope that they will one day form a cooperative society
so that they can engage more in other areas of livestock marketing. “We thank CARE
for the support and for opening our eyes. We now look beyond our borders,” concludes
Ibrahim.
35
Women Groups (Milk and Meat Value addition)
The Story of LMD Womens Group-Elwak
By Linda Ogwell
June 2010
Fifty three years old Zainabu Ahmed Adan is the chairperson of LMD Women’s Group
(not an acronym), a group that was formed in 1997 and has a membership of 17, all
from Bulla-Dana village, close to Elwa-Town of Mandera district in Northern Kenya.
“Initially we were 30 members but because of drought some of our members migrated
to other areas” says Zainabu.
The women formed the group to have a source of livelihood. “We got together because
most of us were heading families, with no source of income; we had lost our livestock to
drought and diseases and had no source of income. Coming together would help us
make some money to help feed our families” explains Zainabu.
Each member contributed a
registration fee of Kshs 200. This
money was used to purchase
goats which they would slaughter
and sell the meat to the locals,
they also sold fresh milk.
Although they managed to make
some money, this was not
enough. “As much as we were
doing business, we kept no
records and sometimes the
fluctuating market prices of the
goats would really affect us,
especially during drought
seasons when there were very few goats in the markets” explains Zainabu.
CARE International in Kenya under its ECHO funded Regional Resilience Enhancement
Against Drought (RREAD) II program identified the group as a beneficiary and trained
the on milk handling hygiene, value addition to both milk and meat products to make
them last longer, business development skills and group dynamics.
“We also decided to train the women on value addition processes like milk condensing
and meat preservations to enable them have these products even during the drought
season when they are scarce, this would give them an upper hand and enable them
Zainab Ahmed, the chairperson of LMD group with other members.
Photo: Linda Ogwell/CARE
36
make some money since milk and meat are the staple foods of region “explains Jane
Daki, Livestock Livelihoods Officer at CARE Kenya.
After the training, the group started making condensed camel milk stays usable for
almost six months and also preserving meat known as Nyirinyiri in Somali – this stays
edible for a whole year. “It is important to note that these products - the condensed milk
and traditionally preserved meat do not lose their nutritional value” adds Ms Daki.
During drought the group sells two litres of their condensed milk at Kshs 250 (almost
USD3) and they can sell up to eight litres in a day. The traditionally preserved meat
sells for Kshs 400 a kilo (about USD 5 dollars) and can sell almost up to 12 kilos a day
during drought season.
Other than the training, CARE also gave the group 25 goats, 400 litres of milk and oil all
totaling to about Kshs 80,000 (USD 1000). “This help was a great boost to our kitty and
it gave us confidence and motivation to go on” says a happy Zainabu.
Currently the group does not share out the profits but invests back into the business.
However with the help of CARE they set up a savings and loan scheme that has been
of great help to the members. “From the savings and loan scheme, we have been able
to borrow money to educate our children, provide food for our families and also help
other unfortunate members of the community” explains 60 years old Owlia Aden
Garaye, the treasurer of the group.
According to Zainabu, the women now have fewer worries during drought. “The savings
help us in buying livestock feed and water during drought and we use some of the milk
and meat to feed our families during the drought season.”
The group gives a maximum of Kshs 5000 (about USD70) as loans and this should be
return within a period of three weeks. Currently they have a total of Kshs 20,000 (USD
250) in savings and assets worth Kshs 100,000 (USD 1500). “We grow day by day and
we are grateful to CARE for that. One day we hope to venture into large scale livestock
trading like the men once we have made enough money!” concludes a hopeful Zainabu.
Condensed milk made by the group.
Photo: Linda Ogwell/CARE
Nyirinyiri-Preserved meat that lasts for 6
months. Photo: Linda Ogwell/CARE
37
OGORE Development Women’s Group
By Linda Ogwell
June 2010
Some members of Ogore displaying some of their products. Photo: Linda Ogwell/CARE
In 2003, Fourteen small scale business women and drop-out pastoralists from the
village of Ogore, El-Ram in Mandera Central District of Northern Kenya came together
to form a self help group.
“We started by selling milk and fresh goat meat to people in our communities to make
some money so that we could provide for our families and educate our children”
explains Fatuma Madei, the chairperson of the group. The women each contributed
Kshs 300 (USD 4.5 dollars) as base capital for their group.
In 2008, CARE International in Kenya identified the group as a beneficiary under its
ECHO funded Regional Resilience Enhancement Against Drought (RREAD) II project
and encouraged them to tap into their indigenous knowledge of making condensed milk
and preserved meat (traditionally known as Nyirinyiri in Somali language).
38
“This ensures that the community has food and milk during drought as condensed milk
can stay for as long as three months and the preserved meat for over six months,”
explains Jane Daki, CARE Kenya’s Livelihoods and Livestock Officer.
In addition the group was also trained on Business Development Skills (BDS) like book
keeping, profit and loss analysis, how to work as a group, elect leaders and arrange for
meetings.
“CARE also boosted out capital base by buying for us 17 goats, ten litres of oil for
making Nyirinyiri, 310 litres of milk and coolers for short term storage of our milk all
totaling to Kshs 80,000 (USD 1000) ” adds Fatuma.
According to the members, the training by CARE has left a big impact on all the
members. “Not only did we gain knowledge but we are now a market force in this area.
We supply the town with our produce and people now recognize us and our product”
says Zahara Maalim Mohamed, a member of the group.
CARE also encouraged the group to form a savings and loans group to provide them
with some savings for the future especially during drought. “We contribute 300 shillings
(USD 4) and a further Kshs 30 (USD .5) as social fund every month” says Fatuma.
This money is put aside so that members can access loans to improve their personal
businesses, pay fees and also during emergencies like sicknesses, since most of the
pastoralist communities have little no access to credit and financial facilities and when
they do they are charge an interest which goes against their Islamic religion.
The group hopes to receive more training business skills since some members were a
bit slow in catching up because of high illiteracy levels. They also hope to open up their
own shoats butchery.
Currently the group has a total of Kshs 74,000 (About USD 900) in savings and is
grateful to CARE for this achievement.
“CARE has made us grow not only as a group but also in our personal ventures. We
can now borrow money and invest in our small businesses, educate our children and
even for emergencies like illnesses and death” concludes Fatuma.
39
Other than making money we now have no food worries during drought: The
story of Sotowa-Oro Women’s Group
By Linda Ogwell
June 26, 2010
For two years now, the Women of Sotowa-Oro Group have been selling milk and goat
meat to earn a living and improve their livelihoods. The women who are mostly drop –
out pastoralists want a good future for themselves and their children.
“We formed this group to put our capital together and run a bigger business than our
individual small scale ones which were bringing in little returns” says 70 years old
Habiba Ismail, a member of the group.
The group operates in Wargadud town, a few kilometers off El-Wak town of Northern
Kenya and has a membership of 15 women who each contributed Kshs 3000 as start-
up capital.
In 2009, CARE International in Kenya under its ECHO funded Regional Resilience
Enhancement Against Drought (RREAD) II program trained the women in business
skills like record keeping and basic accounting. They were also given practical lessons
on how to add value to their milk and meat products so that they can last longer.
“ CARE taught us how to clean our milk
containers, what kind of packaging
material to use for our products and also
how to make condensed milk and Nyirinyiri
– a traditional Somali word for meat that
has been preserved in oil and can stay
edible for over a year” explains Habiba.
According to Jane Daki, CARE Kenya’s
Livelihoods and Livestock Officer, the
women were trained in value addition so
that they could have some milk and meat
during drought seasons. “We wanted these
women to tap into their indigenous
knowledge and be able to cope with the
shortage of milk and meat during drought,”
explains Anne.
Habiba Ismail, the oldest member of the Sotowa -Oro group.
Picture: Linda Ogwell/CARE
40
CARE also gave the group packaging materials, a few litres of oil, 17 goats and 400 of
litres of milk all valued at Kshs 80,000 (USD 1000) to boost their business. “CARE has
been so good to us, the materials they gave us has given out business a huge boost
and will help improve our sales” says Habiba.
The group also operates as a Savings and Loans Scheme for the women and some of
their profit is set aside as savings. “While undergoing the CARE training, we were also
taught how to operate as a group and encouraged to form a savings and loans group to
help us support each other during hard times” says Habiba.
The group loans out up to Kshs 7000 (USD 95) to its members and the return period is
upto three months. “This money has helped some of us a lot. A few months ago I
borrowed money to pay for my children’s school fees” explains Habiba.
Currently the group’s assets are valued at Kshs 200,000 (USD 2300) and the members
are very appreciative of CARE’s assistance to the group. “Thank you so much CARE for
choosing our group as one of your beneficiaries, we are now more focused and have
improved our livelihoods” concluded Habiba.
41
The story of AL-FATAH Women’s Group in the words of Rehema Maalim
Mohamed, the secretary of the group
By Linda Ogwell
June 2010
“My name is Rehema Maalim Mahmud; I am 36 years old, a single parent and mother of
seven children. We started Al-Fatah Womens group 12 years ago with a membership
of 20.
We formed this group because we realized
that with little capital it is hard to make have
earnings from small scale businesses like
selling milk, salt and soap so we decided to
put our resources together so that we could
have a bigger capital base. We all contributed
Kshs 200 per month as start-up fee.
We started off by trading in fresh milk and
meat. However during drought we would have
no produce to sell due to reduction of these
products. In 2009, CARE Kenya came in and
trained to us on how add value to the meat
and milk products for them to last longer and
be available during drought.
We were taught to make condensed milk
which can stay up to three months and
Nyirinyiri –meat preserved in oil that can last to six months. We were also trained on
milk handling hygiene and business development skills including how to handle our
profits.
In addition, CARE gave us 16 goats, 20 litres of cooking oil, packaging materials and a
few litres of milk all totaling to Kshs 80,000 (USD1000). This was a great boost to our
group and we are so grateful!
We sell most of our products in various markets in the area. We meet once a month to
analyze our accounts and agree on how to invest the profits. Currently our assets add
up to Kshs 130,000 (USD 1600). We also have 50 goats.
Rehema Maalim Mahmud. Photo by Linda Ogwell/CARE
42
Being a member of this group has been good to me. I gathered skills on how to run my
small retail business and how to handle the profits and now my business is slowly
growing. I have also been able to pay school fees for my 16 years old son.
As single mother, it can be quite a challenge to provide for my family, however the
group has been supportive and it’s not only me, all the 20 women have gained much
from being members of this group. We are all very grateful for CARE for all the help
they have given us. They have helped us greatly!”
43
The Story of Tokuma Women’s Group
By Linda Ogwell
June 26, 2010
Tokuma Women’s Group is only two years old but the women have made a lot of
progress that has had a great impact in their lives. The membership consists mainly of
drop–out pastoralist women with no alternative sources of livelihood and so forming the
self help group provided them with a means to feed and educate their children.
“Although we didn’t have much, we sacrificed and each of us contributed Kshs 300
(USD4 4) as start-up capital because we believed that this was an opportunity to
develop” says 25 years old Zainab Hassan, a mother of six children and a member of
the group.
The groups started by buying goats, slaughtering them and selling the meat to the
community members. They would also sell fresh milk and make mats during drought.
“Our sales would go down during drought and so we would make mats as an alternative
way of making money” 75 years old Fatuma Isaak, the chairperson of the group.
In 2009, CARE International in Kenya under its ECHO funded Regional Resilience
Enhancement Against Drought (RREAD) II program trained the group on business
development skills like basic accounting and book keeping and profit and lost analysis.
They were also trained on milk hygiene and proper packaging and how to operate as a
group - election of leaders and setting of meeting days.
CARE also taught them how to add value to their milk and meat to produce products
that would last even during the drought season. “CARE helped us diversify our milk and
meat business by teaching us to make condensed milk and preserved meat known as
Nyirinyiri in Somali” Fatuma adds “This products can last for as long as six months.”
Group members skinning a goat. Photo: Linda Ogwell/CARE Meat ready for sale. Photo: Linda Ogwell/CARE
44
In addition to the training CARE also gave the group a few litres of oil, milk and goats all
valued at Kshs 80,000 (USD 1000). The group sells its products to as far as the
Ethiopian border which is only about five kilometers away from their village and
currently their total savings stand at Kshs 260,000 (USD 3200).
Savings and Loans Scheme
The group also decided to be putting aside part of the profits as savings which they can
give to members in need. “As you know it is hard for pastoralists to access financial
services but it’s even harder for the women and so CARE gave us the idea of forming a
group that would make it possible for us to access some money whenever we are in
need” explains Fatuma.
Although it is still a novel idea, a few women have already taken loans to help them pay
school fees for their children and other emergencies.
The group also shared their experienced of working as a group with their neighbours
from Ature village in Ethiopia and they recently started a similar group. “CARE did a lot
for us and our lives are slowly improving, we are grateful to them for this and that’s the
reason we shared this important knowledge with our sisters from Ethiopia. Thank you
very much CARE and may Allah continue to bless you as you continue to give us
assistance in other areas” concluded Fatuma.
45
We believe that Unity is Strength : The Story of Rural Integrated Development
Group
By Linda Ogwell
June 2010
Members of Rural Integrated Group, Dandu. Photo: Linda Ogwell
Rural Integrated Development Women’s Group was formed in 2004 by a group of 15
small scale retailers from Dandu village of Mandera District in Northern Kenya.
“We formed this group after realizing that as a group we had a bigger capital base that
would bring in more profits since as individuals our businesses were stagnant” explains
25 years old Halima Gedi.
Each member contributed an initial fee of Kshs 500 (USD 5.5). They now pay a monthly
fee of Kshs 200 (USD 3). This money was used to buy goats which they would in turn
slaughter and sell the meat at a profit. They also traded in fresh milk.
46
In 2009, CARE International in Kenya under the ECHO funded Regional Resilience
Enhancement Against Drought (RREAD) II Project trained the group in business
management skills of record keeping and basic accounting. They were also trained in
how to operate as a group, choose their leaders and when and how to hold meetings.
In addition, the group was also trained on value addition to their products like making of
condensed milk and preserved meat known in Somali as Nyirinyiri - products that can
last for more than six months “CARE gave our group a big boost, not only did they train
us but they also gave us goats, oil for making Nyirinyiri, packaging materials and
several litres of milk” explains Halima.
The group meets once every month to get an update on how the business is running.
They sell their products in their communities and to other markets that are as far as 50
kilometers away. “We have expanded our reach and now we even sell our products in
the bigger towns like Takaba” adds Halima.
The group appreciates all the training they received from CARE. “Members like me who
have retail businesses now keep records and perform profit and loss analysis” adds
Halima “the condensed milk and Nyirinyiri makes it possible for our community
members to have a good supply of these products during drought when they are
normally scarce.”
Currently the group’s assets total to Kshs 100,000 (USD 1500). Late last year they
shared out their year’s earnings and every member got Kshs 1000 (USD 12). “We now
have hope for the future and we will continue to grow. Thank you very much CARE”
concludes Halima.
47
The Experience of Takaba Milk Sellers in the words of Zahra Mukhtar
By Linda Ogwell
June, 2010
Zahra Muktar, chairladu of Takaba milk sellers. Photo: Linda Ogwell/CARE
“My name is Zahra Mukhtar, I am twenty five years old, and a single parent of five
children. I am currently the chairlady of Takaba Milk Sellers, a women’s self help group
with a membership a membership of 20 members.
We decided to form this group after we saw how well other women from neighbouring
communities were doing. They could feed and educate their children, something that
most of us were struggling with. We then decided to each be contributing a monthly
contribution of Kshs 1000 (USD 12). We started off by selling fresh milk and meat here
in Takaba, a small town in Mandera East of Northern Kenya.
In 2009 CARE trained us how to add value to our milk and meat and produce longer
lasting products. We also learnt about food hygiene and business development skills
since we did not keep records or monitor our business performance.
48
This training has seen the number of our customers increasing because we now have
cleaner products and also we have a variety of products like the condensed milk and
the preserved meat known as Nyirinyiri in Somali.
CARE also gave us a capital boost when they bought us 17 goats, some litres of
cooking oil for making Nyirinyiri, several litres of milk all totaling to Kshs 80,000
(USD1000).
I cannot even begin to thank CARE enough for what they have done to us. I used to
make mats to provide for my children after my husband who was the breadwinner left
me a few years ago. Sometimes I would have nothing, especially when the business
was so low, but now I have an alternative source of income. I can buy food and books
for my children and send them to school.
My business has also grown since I now know how to handle business matters and I
have diversified to selling groceries. As a group we now have Kshs 50,000 in savings
and we are also operating a milk bar. These are achievements we would not have had
without the help of CARE. Thank you so much for empowering the women of Takaba.
We are now a business force in our town and will soon start transporting our products to
other areas.”
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Natural Resource Management: Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
Committees.
EL-RAM DRR Committee
By Linda Ogwell
June 2010
An elder makes a point during the El-Ram DRR Committee Meeting. Photo: Linda Ogwell/CARE
For years El-Ram communities members would migrate far and wide in search of
pasture and water for their livestock during drought. This is because during the rainy
seasons they used up all the available pasture without giving thought to the coming
drought season.
“We would use up all our pasture and migrate during drought, meaning that a lot of our
livestock died from diseases and lack of water and pasture” says Mohamed Abdulahi,
the 60 year old chairman of the El-Ram Disaster Risk Reduction Committee (DRR).
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In 2008, CARE International in Kenya under the ECHO funded Regional Resilience
Enhancement Against Drought (RREAD) II program helped them form a committee that
would help the community prepare for drought.
“CARE brought to us the idea of setting aside part of our rangeland for rehabilitation and
use during drought seasons” explains Abdulahi.
CARE also helped the group identify which plant species were important and should be
conserved and how to manage their water resources without waste and also how to
manage some livestock diseases.
“We set aside huge area that can feed 3700 camels, 6300 cows and over 40,000 goats
over a three month period” adds Abdulahi “we demarcated the area using trees.”
The elders informed the community of the area under rehabilitation through the village
barazas (meetings). Anyone found grazing their animals in these areas would be
penalized.
“Anyone caught feeding their animals in the reserved areas is given a warning if they
are first time offenders, and if caught again they pay a fine of Kshs 2000” says Abdulahi.
The community members take turns in keeping watch of the demarcated rangelands
and members of the community helped with maintenance including looking out
unwanted poisonous plants and trees that might be harmful to livestock.
The community is very grateful to CARE for their help and guidance. “CARE has shown
us how to survive drought in an easy way and by ourselves. Thank you CARE and we
hope to have more collaboration in future” concluded Abdulahi.
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Making drought bearable: The story of Ogore Rangeland Committee, in the words
of Ibrahim Abdi.
By Linda Ogwell
June 2010.
“My name is Ibrahim Abdi and I am 50 years old,
with two wives and 15 children. I am a member of
Ogore Rangeland Management Committee that has
a membership of 29 elders and serves the Arlwale,
Lele and Ogore communities.
As a committee, we work to conserve nature which
is God’s property. CARE International in Kenya
taught us how to divide our land and use it in turns
to feed our livestock so that it can rejuvenate. At the
moment we have set aside an area of a radius of 8
kilometres.
Immediately after training we called a baraza
(community meeting) to inform the community of
the area set aside for rehabilitation purposes. We
also informed the communities of the measures that
would be taken if they didn’t comply. This we did in
the presence of the local authorities and other community leaders.
Anyone who grazes his livestock in the area set aside will have to pay a fine of Kshs
1000 (USD) and get a warning from the chief (local government administrator).
From now onwards, we won’t have to face the difficulty of migrating to far away land to
look for pasture and water during drought. We will stay right here with our families and
we won’t also loose so many animals to diseases or lack of pasture and water. Last
drought season I lost almost 25 animals and that makes me really appreciate the
rangeland rehabilitation and management initiative introduced to us by CARE.
We have three women in our committee because they will also benefit during drought
as they won’t have to walk for long distances in search of water. Thank you CARE, you
have made drought bearable for us.”
Ibrahim Abdi, Member of Ogore DRR
Committee. Photo: Linda Ogwell/CARE
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The Story of Shimbir Disaster Risk Reduction Committee
By Linda Ogwell
June 2010
The Disaster Risk Reduction Committee (DRR)
in Shimbir village, near El-Walk Town of
Northern Kenya was formed in early 2009 after
a brief meeting between the village elder and
CARE International in Kenya.
“CARE called us for a meeting in El-Wak town
and told us of their concerns about the
environmental degradation in our area leading
to loss of pasture, something we had noticed
but was not doing anything about , we had left
it all to Allah!” explain Mohammed Ahmed, 45
years old secretary of the committee.
The elders came back home and formed a
committee to help conserve the natural
resources in their community. “We enclosed an
area of 10 kilometres radius that is normally
used for pasture and asked the village
leadership to informed the whole community why it was important to do so” explains
Ahmed
The committee was also trained on group dynamics like when to call meetings, how to
elect their leaders among other things. This activities were part of CARE International in
Kenya’s ECHO funded Regional Resilience Enhancement Against Drought (RREAD) II
program.
The committee members act as volunteer “guards” for the enclosed areas to ensure that
no one uses the rehabilitating grounds. “Every day we send out five elders and two
strong young men to patrol the enclosure to make sure that no one feeds their livestock
there. We are keeping this for drought seasons” emphasizes Ahmed.
Already the group has started seeing some changes in the enclosed area. “The pasture
in the enclosed area looks healthy and already we have sighted a few wild animals like
Impalas and Dik Diks and this has made us proud of our work” says Ahmed.
Mohammed Ahmed, Secretary if Shimbir DRR
Committee. Photo: Linda Ogwell/CARE
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Part of the enclosed area slowly rejuvenating. Photo: Linda Ogwell/CARE
The committee believes that these enclosed areas will help the pastoralists in the area
who normally have to walk for over 30 kilometres in search of pasture and water during
drought. “Everyone in the village has realized the importance of this enclosure because
they know it will help them during drought. Thank you CARE, now we have one less
worry during drought!” concludes Ahmed.
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Burduras Disaster Risk Reduction Community :Working Across Border to Survive
Drought
By Linda Ogwell
June 26, 2010
Border communities share their pasture and water during drought and this has been the
case for a long time between the Burduras Community on the Kenyan side and the
Ature Community on the Ethiopian side.
Members of the Burduras DRR. Photo:Linda Ogwell
It is for this reason, when CARE International in Kenya introduced the concept of the
Rangeland Management to Burduras they decided to work together with their
neighbours in Ethiopia and encouraged them to also form a committee of their own - the
Ature DRR Committee.
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“For us the concept of rangeland management was new but the Ethiopians have been
doing this for years; they just didn’t have was the formal committee which we helped
them form” explains 46 years old Noordin Adan, the chairman of Burduras Committee.
With funding from ECHO under the Regional Resilience Enhancement Against Drought
(RREAD) II program, CARE brought the two groups together and trained them on how
to manage and control the usage of pasture and water resources in order to have
preserves during drought season, and also on the dynamics of running a group.
“CARE brought us all together and trained us on how to run the committees we had
formed and the whole concept of rangeland management,” explains Adan.
The Burduras Committee has 20 members while Ature has 15 members. Their activities
include controlling grazing areas and water usage. “We decided that during drought
seasons the members of the two communities have to feed their animals 35 kilometres
away from the villages in order to conserve the area for drought season” adds Adan.
The committees also settle inter community pasture and water conflicts.
Both groups have come up with by-laws and anyone who violates them pays a fine of
Kshs 1000 (USD 12). The community used village meetings known as barazas to tell
the communities of the preserved areas and the by –laws created. In case of cross
border offenders, the elders consult with each other in what measures to take.
“We work together and collaborate a lot on this issue and it is of great advantage that
this is something the Ethiopians have been doing over the years” say Adan.
According to Ibrahim Keiye, the 57 years old elder from Ethiopia, they were very
surprised that the Kenyan pastoralists did not have this practice before the CARE
training.
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Members of Ature (Ethiopia) DRR Committee: Photo: Linda Ogwell/CARE
“For a long time, our pastoralist’s communities in Ethiopia have been setting aside parts
of our pasture land to rehabilitate and we are glad this is knowledge we can share with
our Kenyan counterparts” explains Keiye.
Keiye is also appreciative of the training from CARE as they got knowledge on how to
identify risks and prevent diseases in both livestock and people. “Sharing of information
is an important thing and now the bond between our two communities has been
strengthened” says Keiye.
The communities continue to work together and share knowledge on how to be
prepared for disasters and are grateful to CARE for introducing them to the concept of
disaster preparedness.