FINAL DRAFT
UN INTER-AGENCY DONOR
ALERT FOR THE DROUGHT IN
KENYA – 2001
Nairobi, 12 February 2001
TABLE OF CONTENT
Executive Summary …………………………………………………………………………….3
Table of Funds requested………………………………………………………………………5
1. YEAR IN REVIEW
1.1 Changes in the humanitarian situation………………………………………………6
1.2 Financial Overview…………………………………………………………………….7
1.3 Progress Made…………………………………………………………………………8
1.4 Lessons Learned...... …………………………………………. 8
2. HUMANITARIAN CONTEXT
2.1 Political, Economic, Security and Constraints Analysis………………………….10
2.2 Problem Analysis…………………………………………………………………….11
2.3 Prospects for Recovery……………………………………………………………..11
3. COMMON HUMANITARIAN ACTION PLAN (CHAP)
3.1 Scenarios…………………………………………………………………………….12
3.2 Competencies and Capacity Analysis…………………………………………….13
4. SECTOR ANALYSIS AND OBJECTIVES
4.1 Food Security………………………………………………………………………..14
4.2 Health and nutrition…………………………………………………………………15
4.3 Water and sanitation………………………………………………………………..17
4.4 Livestock……………………………………………………………………………..19
4.5 Seeds and agriculture………………………………………………………………21
4.6 Education…………………………………………………………………………….22
4.7 Logistics………………………………………………………………………………24
4.8 Support Services
A. Coordination……………………………………………………………………….25
B. Security…………………………………………………………………………….26
5. PROJECTS
Food Security…………………………………………………………………………………27
Health………………………………………………………………………………………….30
Water………………………………………………………………………………………..…36
Livestock…………………………………………………………………………………..….38
Agriculture and Seeds…………………………………………………………………..…..40
Education………………………………………………………………………………...……42
Logistics………………………………………………………………………………….……48
Support Services
A. Coordination………………………………………………………………………..……50
B. Security………………………………………………………………………………..…52
ANNEXES
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The current drought in Kenya, the worst in 60 years, is affecting over 4 million people. Humanitarian assistance remains a priority in the 22 worst affected districts and the focus may expand to include marginalized areas in a further 25 districts which have been identified by the Government of Kenya (GoK) as being in need of assistance. The most vulnerable population include the families of small-scale subsistence farmers, who are dependent on rain-fed crop production, as well as pastoralists and agro-pastoralists, who are dependent on the rains to provide water and pasture/browse for their livestock. In order to achieve its goal, the United Nations in Kenya is appealing for $ 122,630,146 to operate its 2001 emergency programme.
This is the fourth successive drought over a period of two years which has severely affected much of the country. A majority of the population in pastoral, agro-pastoral and marginal agricultural areas of the country have been reduced to a state of near destitution and dependency on food aid. This negative trend is likely to continue until reasonable rains and a normal harvest are forthcoming, thereby enabling communities to begin the road to recovery.
Insecurity, particularly in the north, however, continues to plague the country and be a considerable constraint to humanitarian operations. The drought has caused increasing intra and inter-ethnic clashes in northern districts as pastoral groups compete over scarce water and pasture resources. There has also been an escalation of highway robbery, cattle raiding and car-jackings. The insecurity has been worsened by pressure and cattle-raiding by pastoral groups from neighbouring countries, including Uganda, southern Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia.
The drought in Kenya has unfolded against a backdrop of long-term economic decline, which has affected every sector, especially food security and then health, water, education, roads and power utilities. In 1999, Kenya ranked as low as 136th, out of 174 countries according to UNDP’s Human Development Index. Poverty levels indicate that 48 percent of the rural population is living in absolute poverty, and 29 percent of the urban population. Kenya is also prone to natural disaster, particularly to the ravages of the weather, as exposed through a series of droughts in 1991/92, 1996/97, and a devastating flood in 1997/98. It is essential, therefore, to build solid foundations of self-reliance, and early warning for natural disasters, to prevent similar crises from recurring
To reflect the complexities of the problem, a multi-sectoral, multi-agency approach has been adopted to provide a comprehensive response. It follows the example of the WFP Emergency Operation started in Kenya in February 2000 (EMOP 6203), which was further supported in a regional appeal for the drought in the Horn of Africa in June.
The key objectives and interventions of the 2001 emergency programme are:
1. To save lives of the most acutely vulnerable populations and reduce malnutrition rates to an acceptable level, particularly amongst children. Key interventions include food security, health and nutrition, and water and sanitation.
2. To ensure the sustainable recovery of livelihoods and restore local coping mechanisms to enable populations to deal with the recurring problem of drought and other natural disasters. Key interventions include livestock projects and seed distribution, as well as education and health surveillance.
3. To strengthen and support mechanisms for preparedness against natural disasters and recurring drought. Key interventions include support to early warning mechanisms, coordination, education, and the development of local contingency plans in every sector.
Factored into programming is the need for flexibility in order to respond to climactic changes, or any kind of natural disaster. The most obvious factor in the next six months will be the rains - both the outcome of the short rains on crop production and livestock, and the coming of the long rains in June/July. In order have such a flexible response, a number of assessments will take place in January to analyse the success or failure of the short rains. This will be crucial for planning, particularly of the agricultural and livestock sector, in preparation for the long rains. It will also inform agencies of the food aid needs, as it will be crucial to support, not to undermine, the re-emergence of local markets. Subsequently further assessments will take place in July to review the success of the long rains. Through the establishment of such regular reviews the Appeal document itself will be updated as appropriate and will be available on the World Wide Web.
This Appeal is complementary to the GoK’s own efforts towards supporting the drought-affected populations and reflects the same concerns, as well as being designed in close collaboration with them. Similarly it remains closely integrated with regular development activities in Kenya.
The success of this Appeal will be determined by the continued support to UN agencies of all its partners, including the donor community, GoK, ICRC, IFRC, local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Their continued commitment and collaboration will be essential to assist in the alleviation of humanitarian misery caused by the worst affects of one of Kenya’s severest droughts.
.
Total Funding Requirements for
2001 Inter-Agency Appealfor the emergency response in Kenya
Sector / Requirements (US$)
Food security / 89,478,303
Health and nutrition / 5,690,800
Water and sanitation / 3,000,000
Livestock / 11,866,200
Agriculture and seeds / 5,155,500
Education / 3,892,900
Logistics / 2,316,471
Support services / 1,229,755
TOTAL / 122,630,146
Appealing Agency / Requirements (US$)
WFP / 91,794,991
WHO / 890,800
UNICEF / 10,000,000
UNFPA / 600,000
FAO / 17,021,700
OCHA / 451,655
UNDP/UN Security / 778,100
UNIFEM / 510,000
UNESCO / 582,900
TOTAL / 122,630,146
1. YEAR IN REVIEW
1.1 Changes in the humanitarian situation
The millennium saw Kenya gripped by one of the severest droughts in its history, the worst for over 60 years. The failure of the long in rains in March was the culmination of four successive poor harvests, leaving a significant proportion of the population food insecure.
The most affected were populations in pastoral and agro-pastoral districts, where for example the nutritional status of children under five deteriorated significantly. As water sources dried up, animals died in large numbers or migrated, leaving women, children and other vulnerable groups behind with severely limited access to food or alternative income. The failure of the harvest also affected populations in the marginal agricultural districts, where households, with already depleted household food stocks, lacked the purchasing power to buy adequate food on the market, and access health and education facilities.
As the situation deteriorated the international community, in partnership with the Government of Kenya (GoK), launched a major emergency response – EMOP – at the beginning of the year. This was supported in June by a Regional Drought Appeal, which further highlighted the unfolding natural disaster in Kenya and neighboring countries of the Horn of Africa.
By November over 3.2 million people in 22 districts of Kenya were receiving food assistance. Over 40% of these beneficiaries – both adults and children - were in the arid, pastoral districts. Other priority interventions included expanded school feeding and supplementary feeding programmes, health and nutrition projects, water and sanitation interventions, and livestock support and seed distributions.
The severity of the drought, not only in Kenya but also the Horn, has forced a major emergency response, which has been both flexible and broad in dealing with the number of concerns that have arisen. A coordinated, dedicated response to sustain these destitute populations has been essential.
1.2 Financial Overview
In June 2000, UN agencies launched an emergency appeal for $146 million to help alleviate the drought situation in Kenya. It was issued as part of an emergency appeal for the drought in the Horn of Africa, launched by the Office of the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator (ORHC).
The donor response was positive, with more than 91% of total requirements met. Particular successes included the Health and Nutrition sector (107.8%) and food security (87%). Similarly livestock and agricultural programmes received full funding, enabling extensive interventions for livestock off-take and seed distribution.
There were however some serious shortfalls, namely for logistics (0% received) and common services (12% received). The first seriously hampered both food and non-food sector operations as the poor state of roads prevented access to some of the marginal areas.
The challenge of the 2001 appeal will be to secure fresh funding not only for direct emergency operations, but to build a foundation for a recovery programme.
EMERGENCY APPEALJUNE – DECEMBER 2000
Sectors / Funds (US$)
Requested Received %
Food Aid / 131,858,259 114,811,897 87.07
Water and Sanitation / 3,460,000 2,057,710 59.47
Health and Nutrition / 3,347,000 3,610,095 107.86
Agriculture and Seeds * / 835,000 2,487,793 297.84
Livestock ** / 3,086,720 10,555,864 342.02
Logistics / 1,186,840 0
Coordination and Common Services / 2,500,000 300,000 12.00
TOTAL
/ 146,273,819 133,823,359 91.49Agencies / Funds (US$)
Requested Received %
World Food Programme / 133,045,099 114,811,897 86.29
United Nations Children’s Fund / 6,807,000 5,667,805 83.25
Food and Agriculture Organization / 3,921,720 13,043,657 332.64
Resident Coordinator System*** / 2,500,000 300,000 12.00
TOTAL
/ 146,273,819 133,823,359 91.49* A further appeal was made jointly by FAO and the GoK, requesting both appeals together US$ 1,105,000.
** A further appeal was made jointly by FAO and the GoK, requesting both appeals together US$ 10,570,000.
*** That includes US$ 2,000,000 for security purposes (completely unfunded) and US$ 500,000 for coordination purposes, 250,000 UNDP (90,000 received) and 250,000 UNOCHA (210,000 received).
1.3 Progress Made
The emergency programmes in response to the drought emergency provided life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable. The highlights below outline the main achievements of the humanitarian community by December 2000.
- Number of beneficiaries receiving general food relief rose from 2,2 million in August to 3.2 million in December.
- 1.1 million children were receiving food at school by December.
- 339,000 children and women have benefited from supplementary food
- 306,805 beneficiaries have been provided with access to potable water
- Over 1.1 million children under five were immunized against polio across the country (not drought-specific)
- Ebola, Kalazhar and cholera task forces were set-up and a surveillance system in place.
- 150 supplementary emergency health kits and 19 basic kits were distributed
Considerable progress was also made in strengthening the coordination mechanisms among all stakeholders, for both the food and non-food sector, enabling a more coherent response to the drought.
1.4 Lessons Learned
As the drought is still ongoing, a full appraisal of the emergency response has not been undertaken. Agencies will begin to make fuller assessments in 2001, as they prepare for the next long rains and attempt to move towards recovery programming. However, a few clear issues have become apparent:
- The response to the early warning signals was very poor. While the alarm rang as early as October 1999, neither donors nor implementing agencies were ready to react to prevent the disaster. Livestock in particular was affected, and no emergency measures were taken to prevent animals from dying or deteriorating into such poor condition. The recovery process will therefore be substantially difficult.
- Time lags in the shipment of food aid donations resulted in insufficient food stocks in the pipelines. While pledges were forthcoming there was a three to four month gap before the recommended food aid rations physically arrived to the targeted beneficiaries. If the trend continues, it will result in the hindrance of the acutely vulnerable population’s rate of recovery even if rains are good.
- The implementation of non-food sector projects did not occur simultaneously with the food aid sector, partly as a result of lack of funding and poorer coordination. The impact of both was therefore reduced. For example precautions were not taken in time to slaughter healthy animals to supplement food rations, instead their condition deteriorated to the extent that they were unproductive or died.
- Following assessment missions carried out in September, it was identified that the local committees charged with distributing the general food rations were having some difficulties targeting the beneficiaries
- The process needed to purchase ‘certified seeds’ has proven to be a long and laborious one, which has prevented timely distribution. A number of pilot trials however have shown that local seed sources are often of equally high quality and can be distributed more easily and economically. They should therefore be considered for future distribution.
A more general conclusion to be drawn about the emergency response is that greater attention needs to be paid to the long-term structural problems associated to natural disasters in Kenya, such as drought and flooding. After all, the year 2000 was exceptional for the severity of the drought, but the region has always been prone to it. Emergency interventions therefore need to pay greater attention to sustainable recovery programmes, which strengthen early warning systems, preparedness and mitigation.
A more positive achievement has been the strengthening of co-ordination mechanisms in response to the drought. These structures, comprising GoK, donors, UN agencies, ICRC, IFRC, local and international NGOs, have laid the important foundations for the strengthening and institutionalization of disaster management, including the development of early warning systems. As part of this process an urgent objective evaluation of the current emergency response is needed, in order to analyze the lessons learned.