ActionAid International Kenya has published a report analysing community-led early warning systems and their use in relation to protracted crises and making recommendations for others working with early-warning systems.
The report is based on field work in West Pokot County in Kenya, but has lessons and insights that many other Federation members can relate to, especially those experiencing drought and flooding. The report is free to download below.
The report’s production is funded by the EU Aid Volunteers Initiative (EUAVI) and is a part of AA Denmark’s Gender Sensitive Humanitarian Aid Volunteering (GESHAVO) project.
The publication assesses and documents the current early-warning information, systems and practices utilised by communities in Kenya, and in particular by women and other vulnerable groups, in areas facing protracted drought and other humanitarian crises. It therefore provides insight to help inform Early Warning Early Action (EWEA) interventions and will be of use to any Federation member working in this field. It presents knowledge on early-warning and early action practices (e.g. early warning tools and services, dissemination and communication, early response, limitations) at both county and community levels. It also makes a series of policy and programme recommendations for organisations working on early-warning systems to better inform Disaster Risk Reduction and resilience building for vulnerable communities in areas facing protracted humanitarian crises.
The study was informed through document reviews, household questionnaires, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, observation, and photography. Respondents were drawn from thirteen villages in Pokot North and Pokot West sub-counties.
The EUAVI is a long-term volunteering initiative for citizens and residents of EU countries to volunteer overseas to support humanitarian work. The programme provides practical support to humanitarian aid projects and contributes to strengthening the local capacity and resilience of disaster-affected communities. It was launched in 2015 and has since sent nearly 400 volunteers to countries throughout Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America for periods between one and 18 months. Volunteers are hosted by a local organisation in country during their placement.
For more information on the project, please email Nick Ockenden.