Lodwar, 14th June 2024 (Public Communication and Media Relations)

The Turkana County Department of Livestock Development, in partnership with the national government, has rolled out Building Resilience for Food and Nutrition Security (BREFONS) project, aimed at enhancing food and nutrition security for pastoralist communities.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is funding this five-year initiative, currently in its second phase under the Drought Resilience and Sustainable Livelihoods Program (DRSLP).

This is designed to improve living conditions and bolster resilience against drought in Turkana and the broader Horn of Africa.

Currently, a joint team is conducting an assessment for project site identification and engagement of the community to seek for their permission to utilize the land for project’s interventions by contractors.

County Chief Officer for Agriculture Janerose Tioko emphasized the critical role of strategic partnerships in addressing investment gaps and leveraging resources to boost the adaptive capacity of pastoralists.

The Chief Officer added that the BREFONS project will integrate water provision, nutrition support, and infrastructure development interventions to enhance livelihoods and reduce food insecurity in Turkana.

National Coordinator for BREFONS, Kennedy Makudiuh, stressed the importance of considering local community dynamics and ensuring that the project meets their needs.

The Coordinator called for harmonized efforts between contractors and supervisors from both county and national governments to ensure successful implementation.

The rollout and subsequent community engagement over project sites were attended by Assistant Director for Agriculture Paul Njuguna, Deputy Director Pauline Emase, and Senior Agricultural Officer Acham Erukudi.

Venues so far visited for site assessment and community engagement include Lorengkippi, Letea, and Kakong’u. Plans are underway to visit more project sites.