Background

Strategic Programme Areas

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Strategic Programme Areas

The programme supports the sustainable development and management of water resources and conservation and sustainable use of water resources in Kenya. It also adopts a human rights- based approach to water with the aim of empowering marginalized communities to understand their rights, roles and responsibility in relation to water management. The desired outcome is that the community will exercise their right and participate in planning, development and decision making and water governance processes. The Programme area further aims to promote sustainable local livelihoods through wise use of wetland resources, build climate resilient community and increase women’s participation in water management and good water governance.
While Gender and Women Empowerment is recognized globally as integral in the achievement of economic growth, human well-being and poverty reduction in all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5 and nationally in the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, this appreciation and recognition remains largely on paper. Women are the economic force and the main supporters of their families and water managers despite the challenges. They are the main suppliers of energy, water, food and medicinal plants to their families. However, understanding the critical nexus between women empowerment/gender and water resources management, still remain a mystery to many decision-and policy makers. The program aims at ensuring that national and county level water and environmental management policies are gender inclusive and that these are effectively implemented towards achievement of sustainable development

Climate change affects four dimensions of food security including food availability, food accessibility, food utilization and food systems stability. It has an impact on human health, livelihood assets, food production and natural resources availability. Climate change impacts will be both short term, resulting from more frequent and more intense extreme weather events, and long term, caused by changing temperatures and precipitation patterns. People who are already vulnerable and food insecure are likely to be the first affected. Agriculture-based livelihood systems that are already vulnerable to food insecurity face immediate risk of increased crop failure, new patterns of pests and diseases, lack of appropriate seeds and planting material, and loss of livestock.

The program seeks to build better agricultural practices and conflict resolution capacity by providing capacity building opportunities and policy interventions for interactive conflict resolutions and reconciliation in areas where there has been environmental threats such water scarcity, droughts, competition over land for grazing and farming and poverty.

Organizational development (OD) and knowledge management (KM) are two modern concepts employed by organizations to ensure their resources are used to improve efficiency and effectiveness of organizations performance. CESPAD undertakes continuous capacity development of its staff enhance fulfillment of its mission, objectives and strategies.

engage and influence policy and legislation processes in the water sector at county and national level

1. Forge partnership with other CSOs in the water resource sector to avoid replication

2. Engage policy and decisions makers on budget preparation and analysis, expenditure tracking, performance monitoring of service provisions

3. Build and strengthen the advocacy capacity of local communities to participate in policy dialogue and exert influence in key policy changes based on their own experience and needs

4. Lobby for development and implementation of water policies and legislation at county level

5. Strengthen the institutional capacity of the WRUA councils.