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Cash Assistance Empowering Women Affected by Flooding and Drought in Kenya
When disasters like floods and drought hit and people are forced to move, gender inequalities are often exacerbated. In their role as primary caregivers, women tend to bear the brunt of the impact, from searching for water and food, to ensuring the wellbeing of their families while on the move. A lack of access to shelter, food, healthcare, education, and other necessities, threatens the livelihoods of climate-change affected populations, particularly women.
Isiolo and Marsabit County are two counties in Kenya that were affected by recent extreme weather. In Isiolo County, March-April-May (MAM) floods devastated livelihoods and businesses, while the severe drought in Marsabit County killed off livestock belonging to the predominantly Nomadic communities.
Through IOM Kenya’s Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA), people affected and displaced by climate-induced disasters are enabled to take back control of their lives. The MPCA Programme supports vulnerable households with cash transfers over three tranches, this assistance not only helps families cope with urgent needs, such as healthcare and nutrition, it also gives them a sense of dignity and control over their lives, and a sense of hope and optimism.
Read the stories of women in Isiolo and Marsabit Counties, two counties in Kenya affected by floods and drought, being supported by with MPCA.
In Adadi Village, Marsabit County, Darme (a mother of 7) lost all her livestock due to drought. Her livestock were her only source of income. With the Cash Assistance received, Darme was able to send her children to school.
“I bought school uniforms and books for my children; my children are now back in school.” happily stated Darme.
Halima from Watiti Village, a single mother of three, was able to revive her grocery store business after it was destroyed by floods. In her newly opened store, Halima sells onions, tomatoes, cabbage, tea, chapati and groundnuts among other items. Halima makes a daily income sufficient to save and cater for her child in high school.
“Last year, I had a small shop selling water and soda, I had a refrigerator I used for my goods that was destroyed by the flooding in March. I had many losses. The cash gave me a second chance at running the business I loved, so, I re-opened my grocery store.”
Part of the nomadic community in Marsabit County, Marianne a resident of Watiti Village, shared: “I had camels, goats and cattle and they all perished due to drought.”
Marianne started a small business selling fried potato chips (‘viazi’) and with the cash she makes from the business she provides for her family and pays for her grandchild’s secondary education. With the extra profit made she pumps back to the business and has expanded to tea (‘chai’), with the purchase of a thermos flask.
“The assistance gave me freedom to invest in my business. Now I have many customers daily, lining up to buy my chips.”
Caroline has limited access to decision-making processes or business opportunities as she hails from a minority tribe in Isiolo County. With the cash, she opened a grocery store on the main road and can afford a balanced diet for herself and her daughter.
“With a balanced diet my life has turned around. I am making well-informed decisions. I used to be skinny and stressed.”
These testimonies highlight the profound difference cash assistance is making in communities and families. 87% and 78% of the identified beneficiaries in Marsabit and Isiolo County respectively, were households headed by women.
Multipurpose Cash Assistance to vulnerable climate affected communities in Kenya is supported by generous funding from the Republic of Korea and the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (UNCERF).
For more information contact Eva Sibanda, Media and Communications Officer, IOM Regional Office for the East, Horn and Southern Africa esibanda@iom.int
