The BORESHA-NABAD consortium, funded by the European Union, is intensifying efforts to build resilience within Kenya’s Mandera County through gender-responsive Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) planning. This initiative, targeting strategic hot spot centres spanning Mandera East, Mandera North, Lafey, and Banisa sub-counties, champions locally driven, inclusive approaches to addressing the county’s complex environmental and socio-political challenges.
Mandera County, part of the fragile borderland area of the Mandera Triangle where Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia converge, faces unique challenges, including cyclic droughts, inter-communal conflicts, and high competition for diminishing natural resources weakened by climate and human-induced stresses that have made resilience crucial for its communities.
To address these issues, the BORESHA-NABAD project has initiated interventions in borderland communities to foster the local population’s resilience and conflict mitigation strategies. Through RACIDA, the consortium recently launched a training programme targeting DRR committees and community members across six sub-counties, engaging DRR committees and community members in proactive disaster management strategies.
“This training has taught us to look at risks differently, especially how they impact women and children. We now see the importance of including everyone in our plans so that no one is left behind in times of crisis,” shares Mzee Koriow.
The consortium adopted a practical, hands-on approach and engaged participants in community hazard assessments, identifying vulnerabilities and understanding how various social groups experience these risks differently. This comprehensive approach ensured that DRR plans were technically sound, culturally relevant, and community-driven. Gender-inclusive DRR Committees were established in all seven target areas, with at least 40% female participation, ensuring that women’s voices informed the DRR process from the start.
The training sessions across seven strategic centres reached 123 community members, including local leaders, women, youth, and representatives of vulnerable groups, such as people with disabilities. These sessions provided DRR committee members with vital knowledge on disaster risks, climate impacts, and gender-sensitive planning, covering foundational knowledge of natural and human-induced hazards and the distinct vulnerabilities they create.
Women traditionally excluded from DRR decision-making are now integral to the process, bringing their perspectives to the table and enriching policy development with their lived experiences.
“I am happy that we are now at the forefront of this process. Women are often the most affected in any disaster, whether conflict or natural calamities like flooding, yet we were sidelined as men made decisions. Now, it’s a win-win as we can actively shape the process,” says Deka Abdi of Bur Abor.
Through this initiative, a systematic result chain was utilised to link training materials, resources, and human input, including facilitators and community leaders, to concrete outputs, such as the formation of DRR committees in high-risk areas, enhanced knowledge and skills, and strengthened local systems geared towards sustainability. Inclusivity extended to participants with disabilities, ensuring that every voice counted. Additionally, targeting centres across borders allowed participants to share experiences and unite around cross-border challenges, which is essential to addressing the borderlands’ complex dynamics.
“We are beginning to understand that the peace and safety of our communities are interconnected. Having women on these committees ensures that everyone’s voice is heard during decision-making,” adds Mohamed Suleiman, Elder, Fiqow.
This gender-responsive DRR planning is a crucial milestone toward BORESHA NABAD’s intervention to foster resilient communities equipped to navigate environmental and socio-political obstacles. The project sets the groundwork for sustainable peace and stability in Mandera and neighbouring areas, with continued support to drive these plans into lasting and systemic change by empowering marginalised voices.