Our Programs

Integrated interventions delivering resilience across the Triple Nexus

Integrated Programming for Systemic Change

DRA's programs are designed to address the interconnected challenges facing pastoralist communities in Kenya's ASALs. Rather than treating humanitarian needs, development gaps, and peace deficits as separate issues, we deliver integrated solutions that create lasting resilience.

Water Security & Climate Resilience

Building Climate-Smart Water Systems

The Challenge: Chronic water scarcity drives conflict, livestock loss, and displacement. Climate shocks are becoming more frequent and severe.

Our Solution: Installing climate-smart water infrastructure combined with real-time monitoring and community management.

Key Activities:
  • Boreholes and water pans with solar-powered systems
  • Real-time groundwater monitoring for anticipatory action
  • Rainwater harvesting and storage systems
  • Fodder banking and rangeland management
  • Emergency water trucking during drought
  • Community Water User Associations (WUAs)
Impact Indicators:
  • Reduced water fetching time by 60%+
  • Increased livestock survival during drought
  • Decreased water-related conflicts
  • Enhanced community preparedness for climate shocks
Water Security Program

Community Land Rights

Securing Collective Tenure for Pastoralist Communities

The Challenge: Pastoralist communities face land grabs, displacement, and insecurity despite constitutional protections for community land.

Our Solution: Legal advocacy, community mobilization, and implementation of the Community Land Act (2016).

Key Activities:
  • Community land registration and documentation
  • Establishment of Community Land Management Committees (CLMCs)
  • Participatory land use planning and mapping (GIS)
  • Legal defense against land grabs and dispossession
  • Capacity building on land rights and governance
  • Strategic litigation for policy precedents
Achievements:
  • High Court precedents for collective tenure
  • 30%+ of engaged communities secured land tenure
  • Thousands of families protected from displacement
  • Model CLMCs informing national implementation
Land Rights Program

Peacebuilding & Conflict Resolution

Resource Diplomacy for Peaceful Coexistence

The Challenge: Competition over shrinking water and pasture resources fuels inter-community violence, livestock raiding, and displacement.

Our Solution: Inter-community dialogues, shared resource management protocols, and peace infrastructure.

Key Activities:
  • Inter-community dialogue forums and peace committees
  • Shared water point and grazing land agreements
  • Early warning systems for conflict prevention
  • Youth engagement in peacebuilding initiatives
  • Traditional conflict resolution mechanisms
  • Cross-border peace accords (Kenya-Ethiopia corridor)
Impact Indicators:
  • 20% reduction in resource-based conflicts
  • Decreased livestock raiding incidents
  • Increased cross-border trade and mobility
  • Strengthened peace infrastructure at community level
Peacebuilding Program

Climate-Smart Livelihoods

Diversifying Income Beyond Pastoralism

The Challenge: Over-reliance on livestock makes communities vulnerable to climate shocks and market fluctuations.

Our Solution: Water-Energy-Food (WEF) systems that create diversified, climate-resilient income streams.

Key Activities:
  • Kitchen gardens and climate-smart agriculture
  • Beekeeping and honey value chains
  • Small ruminant fattening and market linkages
  • Solar energy entrepreneurship
  • Women-led savings and loan groups (VSLAs)
  • Youth employment in green energy and agriculture
Expected Outcomes:
  • Household income diversification (30%+ non-pastoral)
  • Enhanced food security and nutrition
  • Women's economic empowerment
  • Youth employment and retention in drylands
Livelihoods Program

Gender Equality & Social Inclusion

Amplifying Women's Voices in Decision-Making

The Challenge: Women are disproportionately affected by water scarcity, food insecurity, and conflict, yet excluded from resource governance.

Our Solution: Gender-transformative programming that ensures women's leadership in CLMCs, WUAs, and peace committees.

Key Activities:
  • Women's representation quotas in all governance structures
  • Gender-responsive land registration and inheritance
  • Women-led VSLAs and business cooperatives
  • Girls' education and mentorship programs
  • Protection from gender-based violence (GBV)
  • Women's participation in peace dialogues
Impact Indicators:
  • 50%+ women in community decision-making bodies
  • Increased women's land ownership and control
  • Enhanced women's economic independence
  • Reduced GBV through community awareness
Gender Equality Program

Cross-Cutting Themes in All Programs

Data-Driven M&E

Digital monitoring systems (KoboToolbox, GIS mapping) for real-time program adaptation and accountability.

Climate Adaptation

All interventions integrate climate resilience, anticipatory action, and nature-based solutions.

Community Ownership

Locally-led implementation through community structures ensures sustainability beyond project cycles.

Triple Nexus Integration

Every program addresses humanitarian needs, development gaps, and peace deficits simultaneously.

Where We Work

Primary Counties

  • Isiolo County - Headquarters and primary operations
  • Samburu County - Community land rights and water programs
  • Marsabit County - Peacebuilding and climate resilience

Expansion Areas

  • Laikipia County - Resource conflict zones
  • Baringo County - Inter-community peace corridors
  • Turkana County - Cross-border programming

DRA's deep presence in hard-to-reach ASAL corridors ensures effective implementation and community trust.

Support Our Programs

Partner with DRA to scale integrated resilience programs across Kenya's drylands.

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