Food Security & livelihood (Kenya)

Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL)

Food security and livelihood is a key area of focus for WASDA as it aims to improve the livelihood situation of the vulnerable communities. The organization uses multiple approaches like economic empowerment, cash for work, skills development as well as value chain support for agricultural and livestock sub-sectors that secure sustainable livelihoods.

In Kenya and Somalia, WASDA implements a wide range of food security and livelihood support projects such as cash for work to prevent loss of assets, emergency food voucher, capacity development in agricultural sector through good agricultural practices, providing agricultural inputs like seeds and farm tools and improving the livestock sector value chain as strategies to promote, protect and strengthen vulnerable communities’ abilities to recover and bounce back from shocks and stresses as well as become resilient. In addition, the organization supports capital assets and economic recovery initiatives like business skills training, provision of business grants and start-up kits, and literacy training support to women and girls owned VSLAs groups.

WASDA targets the most vulnerable community members especially women, girls, PWDs, IDPs, returnees, minority groups among others. We work with the communities, respective government ministries to design and implement sustainable solutions that improve the resilience of the communities.

Current projects

  1. Livestock Market Systems
    Is a three-year project funded by USAID Feed the Future (FtF) Livestock Market Systems Development Activity for northern Kenya through ACDIVOCA. WASDA is a sub recipient of the award implementing in partnership with Mercy Corps in Wajir South.
    This project is in line with USAID’s Feed the Future Initiative and specifically will improve households’ income, productive assets and resilience to drought and other shocks. Specific areas of focus include: strengthened and sustained rangeland and water management; strengthened drought risk management; strengthened conflict management; improved and sustained health, nutrition, and hygiene practices; improved literacy, numeracy, and life skills; and collaborative action and learning for community empowerment.

  1. WASH, Protection and Livelihoods support to drought and conflict affected population in Lower Juba Region, Somalia
    The project is drought recovery imitative funded by funded by the Global Affairs Canadian through CARE and implemented by WASDA. It is goal is to restore the lost livelihood and improve the resilience of the communities in Lower Juba whose livelihoods are affected by drought. The project targets livelihood, WASH and protection. It is implemented in Afmadhow and Badhadhe districts of Lower Juba, Somalia. The project delivers conditional and un-conditional cash transfer for 800 vulnerable households in the target area, as well restocking for 300 pastorals households’ who lost their livestock.

  1. Protection, sustainable livelihoods and improved hygiene for IDP Kismayo
    The project targets vulnerable women and girls especially from IDPs and reduces their exposure to GBV. The project empowers the women and girls and contributes to the economic wellbeing of their families through provision of startup funds for women with skills of making Shampoo and soap. Donkey carts are also provided to the vulnerable IDP households to generate income and improve their wellbeing.

  1. Empowering Somali youth to meaningfully contribute to the wellbeing of Somalia people
    The goal of this project is empower Somali youth and harness their full potential in order to meaningfully contribute to the peace building process, alternative livelihood opportunities as well as the general wellbeing of Somalia people. This project is implemented in Dhobley, Lower Juba region of Somalia.
    The project trains youth on different vocational skills such as mechanics, tailoring, metal work, electrical as well as computer application. A total 240 students graduate from the institution annually and are given startup kits to enable them start their own business.