PEACE BUILDING AND GOVERNANCE
Conflict is one of the most pressing issues affecting populations throughout northern Kenya. It is primarily resource-based, stemming from environmental degradation and depletion of water and land resources, and decreases in livelihoods and food security for local populations. Conflict in Turkana County itself is especially challenging because the region is bordered by a variety of ethnic groups from other regions of Kenya, as well as from the border countries of South Sudan, Uganda and Ethiopia. Violence among many of these communities has been ongoing for decades, having only intensified in the recent past due to outbreaks of civil wars, availability of illegal small arms, and the increased degradation of natural and economic resources.
Since its inception, APaD is one of the most vibrant, trusted and active local organizations in peace building especially across borders with the Pokot, Karamojong of Uganda and Toposa of South Sudan. The organization implemented the USAID funded PEACE I (2008-2009), PEACE II (2012-2014) and PEACE III (2015-19)
Another project that aims to end conflictd in the Turkana region is the KESSUGET project that is funded by the European Union (EU). The project aims at strengthening the Civil Society in Turkana County” project.
The main aims of the project are to:
Strengthen the capacity and collective voice of civil society actors (CSOs) in Turkana County to address conflict dynamics around land and natural resources.
Advance constructive engagement between civil society actors, community structures, the private sector and national and county governments to improve land and natural resource governance in order to prevent tensions and conflicts.
This project is undertaken within the ambit of a consortium led by DRC/DDG in partnership with Turkana Pastoralist Development Organization (TUPADO), Agency for Pastoralist Development (APAD) and the Turkana Natural Resource Governance Hub (Hub).