Drought stricken arid lands, which are ranked among the poorest counties in Kenya, are currently experiencing delayed rains leaving local communities to grapple with low access to water for household and animal use, lack of food and grazing land for their livestock and at risk of contagious diseases. This emergency situation risks destabilising the market systems and further eroding resilience, which the arid lands pastoral communities heavily depend on for their livelihood.
Oxfam (lead agency), Concern Worldwide and Transparency international (Accountability partner), through funding from the EU humanitarian aid are supporting the affected communities in mitigating and preventing the effects of the on-going state of emergency situation using the Hunger Safety Net Programme E-wallet approach. Oxfam has partnered with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Equity bank to provide this much needed rapid emergency response to the affected communities in Turkana, Wajir and Marsabit. The beneficiaries with the e-wallet cards, receive water vouchers and vaccines and medicines for their animals which they redeem at selected points of sale in their local communities using the equity e-wallet voucher/card.
Oxfam and EU humanitarian aid invite you to cover and advocate for the E-wallet innovation as an effective and sustainable mechanism in the provision of rapid emergency response to vulnerable populations using a variety of market based modalities.
- International reporters interested in covering this are invited to send an expression of interest to Oxfam’s Communication Advisor jkabue@oxfam.org.uk by Friday 10th March to allow enough time for planning and briefing
- The media visit is scheduled for 25th to 29th March 2017
- Oxfam will cater for transport, meals and accommodation from Nairobi to the field sites for the interested journalist.