The Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) of Northern Kenya, being the driest suffer highly variable rainfall patterns, low fertility soils, low population density, poor quality and low access to basic services, poor infrastructure and a history of political and economic marginalisation. The consequences of climate change are largely felt in these regions that suffer recurrent drought and extreme climatic conditions which are devastating to lives, environment and community livelihoods, leading to aggravated humanitarian emergencies.
The 2010/2011-food crisis that hit the country brought together different stakeholders to provide emergency support to the ASAL communities. This resulted in the establishment of ‘The Consortium’ (formerly La Nina Consortium) in February 2011 by five 1INGOs with a collective purpose of providing emergency support to the people living in the ASALs.
In July 2012, the consortium programme shifted from a year emergency support cycle to that of enhancing the resilience of the ASAL population. The resilience programme included a flexible funding mechanism: “the emergency envelope” which aimed at responding quickly to early warnings (48 to 72 hours), preventing people from losing their livelihoods and potentially their lives.
In phase 5, 2015-2016, six emergency interventions were undertaken: Foot and Mouth animal disease in Marsabit County targeting 20,000 animals, cholera outbreak in Wajir County benefitting 28,570 households and emergency food assistance provided to 900 IDP households in Mandera County. Additionally, three of the six responses were undertaken as no regrets preparedness interventions for the forecasted El Nino phenomenon:
The emergency response mechanism allows timely emergency response to the government led efforts to emerging local crises.