Integration and Resilience

Following on from her article in the Autumn 2021 issue of Develop, Violet Ruria once again shares about The Salvation Army’s clean water, sanitation and hygiene project in Kenya, this time highlighting the food security aspect of this integrated project.

In 2009, The Salvation Army Kenya East Territory implemented the first phase of its clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) project located in rural parts of eastern and central Kenya. This initial phase was focused on 40 rural primary schools and resulted in over 15,000 children gaining access to safe water and improved sanitation facilities as well as hygiene knowledge and skills for behaviour change.

The second phase took place in the three counties of Kitui, Machakos and Makueni, and nutrition, community health, agriculture, gender justice and human rights were introduced as key components of the project.

During these first two phases more than 100,000 people were reached with improved access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene facilities. Yet whilst the project recorded impressive results, the gains made were gradually being wiped away by the increasingly severe impacts of climate change.

The Salvation Army in Kenya recognised that the complexities and uncertainties of climate change meant it was unsustainable to continue using traditional approaches to community development. They therefore adjusted their approach to community development, shifting to a resilience approach, empowering local communities to embrace a preparedness mindset.

Therefore, ten years since the project was first implemented, a third phase began, and its name was altered to reflect the changed approach – MSETO Resilience Project. The word ‘MSETO’ is a Kiswahili word used in this context to mean integrated. The third phase is ongoing and focuses mainly on preparing and building the capacity of communities to absorb the shocks and adapt to the stressors of climate change and transform their lives in the face of related complexities and challenges. Poverty and the impacts of climate change affect all aspects of people’s lives, and so it only makes sense for projects to be integrated in their approach.

In the Autumn 2021 edition of Develop I wrote about the hygiene element of this project and its impact on children’s education. As outlined above, integration is key to ensuring this project is a success. Improved hygiene in schools is essential, and supporting people to become food secure is also a necessity.

Following years of steady decline, since 2014 the number of people experiencing hunger around the world is increasing, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened this trend. According to the 2021 multi-agency report The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, while the pandemic’s impact has yet to be fully mapped, it is estimated that up to 811 million people were undernourished during 2020. It is also understood that hunger is significantly worse in countries with agricultural systems that are highly sensitive to variations in rainfall and temperature and severe drought, and where the livelihood of a high proportion of the population depends on agriculture.

Extreme climate conditions such as droughts and floods in Kenya are exacerbating people’s vulnerability to food insecurity in rural areas. This phase of the project is therefore placing increased emphasis on taking communities through a preparedness process to minimise the adverse effects of these weather events – for example, by encouraging the preservation of some grazing fields to be used during droughts as well as utilising rainwater harvesting structures for use when there is water scarcity.

The food security aspect of this project involves increasing agricultural productivity through the introduction of farming solutions such as conservation agriculture. Farmers have also been encouraged to form groups of up to 25 to support one another in compost manure making and peer training. Additionally, kitchen gardens have been encouraged to help supplement families’ diets. The project also aims to improve knowledge and practices on good nutrition by providing training on nutrition and proper food handling and mobilising families to support school feeding programmes.

One of the women who has been part of the project is Rose Mumbua. Rose is a member of Ilalambyu community which is located in the eastern part of Kenya and often drought stricken. Rose lives with her husband, two sons and grandmother and is responsible for ensuring they have enough food to eat.

Rose first heard about The Salvation Army’s project through her children’s school. As a result she became a member of Pamoja Women Group, an investment group which was set up as part of the project.

Rose participated in an exchange visit to The Salvation Army’s Thika Resilience Centre for training, focused on the establishment and management of kitchen gardens using different technologies. She also attended training held at her children’s school on good nutrition, that was especially created for caregivers and community health volunteers.

After being equipped with the knowledge on kitchen gardens, Rose established her simple kitchen garden using the vertical garden technology. She said:

‘I was lucky enough to get a chance to attend the training organised at the Thika Resilience Centre by the MSETO project. I learnt about the various kitchen garden technologies that can be used at the household level. Among the technologies learnt, I chose to adopt the vertical garden technology while using common sacks that are readily available. When the production is good, I am assured of getting nutritious vegetables for my family. I even get some surplus that I have been able to sell and get cash to cater for some household bills and even pay school fees for my kids.’

Rose has also introduced two of her neighbours to kitchen gardening and they are in the process of establishing their own gardens. Rose added, ‘I’m grateful to the Salvation Army project for giving me the opportunity to learn such important skills and empowering me as a member of an investor group and as an individual.’

The pandemic has undoubtedly impacted this project. Imposed restrictions including school closures have caused delays and disruption to the roll-out of certain project activities. However, as restrictions have gradually been lifted, the team have been able to continue working with communities and have seen increased engagement.

By Violet Ruria