The Community Initiatives Facilitation and Assistance organisation alongside PACIDA have jointly launched a peace project in Marsabit County.
Dubbed Humanitarian Development Peacebuilding Nexus project, it will strengthen conflict resolution mechanisms and improve resource management planning and leadership.
Speaking during the launch of the program in Marsabit, CIFA Kenya boss Salad Liban said the new project will support community-led socioeconomic development.
This is by strengthening systems and capacity for sustainable conflict prevention and management and increasing conflict-sensitive reconciliation at the community level.
"The two years project will focus on strengthening the leadership, agencies and adaptive capacity of marginalized communities to peacefully address and adopt natural resource challenges in borderland regions," he said.
He said they were keen on working with decision-makers for a holistic policy that will address the root causes of vulnerability, fragility and conflict.
The CEO of CIFA said the preeminent challenge for the borderlands region is the harsh weather that is characterized by semi-arid lands and perennial water shortages.
"Given the various drivers of fragility in the borderlands, there is an urgent need to invest in the systematic resilience to enhance their capacities to prepare for and respond effectively to stresses and achieve development goals," he said
He said through the project, local institutions will be strengthened to boost collaborative border management and capacity for conflict management.
He reiterates that understanding of context and history of the borderlands community is key to crafting better-targeted policies that can present pathways to socioeconomic progress for residents.
According to PACIDA Boss MPatrick Katelo, the new project will strengthen the capacity of local structures and government institutions to sustainably address conflicts along the border and improve development.
"The project aims to improve food and nutrition of marginalized border communities and increase economic development," he said
He said they will enhance human capability and social assets to reduce vulnerability resulting from climate change, conflicts and weak social cohesion.
He promised that they will enhance the peace process around the borders and focus on a pragmatic approach to the socioeconomic challenges faced by the community.
Katelo said the objectives of the project are to create economic opportunities, strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities and improve governance and conflict prevention.
"The two years border project will build trust and engagement between community and border authorities for improved border management and improve cross-border natural resource management through a community-based participatory approach," he said.
He added that the project would create foundations for peaceful coexistence in targeted border communities, promotes dialogue and build grassroots structures that enhance social cohesion.
He said PACIDA would implement its program in south Ethiopia by targeting Dasanach, Nyangatom and Hamar communities while CIFA will target Lowereng, Illiret and Dasanach in Marsabit and Turkana counties.
He said apart from holding community dialogue, the project would collaborate with key stakeholders to build synergies to resolve issues that could give rise to conflicts.
