PSAD-Turkana County

TURKANA

Lodwar, 12 November 2024 (Public Communications and Media Relations)

The USAID Nawiri program is expanding its reach in Turkana County to address critical malnutrition rates in Kakuma, Kalobeyei, and Lopur wards. This expansion will increase the number of wards covered by the program to 25.

The decision to expand was informed by a recent survey, which highlighted the urgent need for intervention in these areas. To ensure effective implementation, Nawiri is training local administrators on Community Integrated Assessment and Action Planning (CIAAP). This approach empowers communities to identify their specific needs and develop tailored solutions.

“The three newly added wards have been included in the training to intensify the focus on developing community-driven solutions to malnutrition,” said Gabriel Ekuwam, Director of USAID Nawiri’s Lodwar field office.

Turkana County officials have welcomed the expansion, recognizing the positive impact of Nawiri’s programs in addressing malnutrition and improving access to essential services.

“Our communities stand to gain immensely from Nawiri’s presence,” said David Maraka, the county’s Chief Officer for Administration and Disaster Risk Management.

USAID Nawiri aims to significantly improve the health and well-being of Turkana’s most vulnerable populations by expanding its reach and strengthening community engagement.

Big win for Turkana West as USAID Nawiri announce operations expansion to Kakuma, Kalobeyei and Lopur to Combat Malnutrition

The USAID Nawiri program has announced plans to expand its operations in Turkana County, adding Kakuma, Kalobeyei, and Lopur in Turkana West sub-county to its service areas.

This move will increase the number of wards covered by the program from 22 to 25, targeting areas with acute malnutrition rates requiring urgent intervention.

Director of USAID Nawiri's Lodwar field office, Gabriel Ekuwam, made the announcement during a training session for sub-county, ward, and village-level administrators on Community Integrated Assessment and Action Planning (CIAAP).

Ekuwam noted that the decision to expand was informed by data from a recent SMART Survey, which indicated high levels of global acute malnutrition (GAM) in the targeted wards, underscoring the need for focused, area-specific intervention.

In his statement, Ekuwam emphasized that the CIAAP training aims to facilitate a shift in Nawiri's approach from a ward-level focus to a more localized, village-level engagement, allowing the program to directly address specific community needs more effectively.

"The three newly added wards have been included in the training to intensify the focus on developing community-driven solutions to malnutrition" Ekuwam said.

Turkana’s Chief Officer for Administration and Disaster Risk Management, David Maraka, welcomed the expansion and advocated for future growth to all of Turkana’s 30 wards.

Maraka cited Nawiri’s impactful interventions in water, health, and nutrition, specifically in Longolemwar in Turkana North, as evidence of the program’s potential benefits.

"Our communities stand to gain immensely from Nawiri’s presence," he said, urging for continued support and expansion to all remaining wards.

Nawiri’s Director of Implementation, Patricia Murie, highlighted that the five-day training was designed to build a skilled network of local administrators capable of cascading CIAAP initiatives down to the village level.

This strategy will create a "critical mass" of trained personnel to engage communities directly, ensuring that Nawiri’s work aligns with best practices in community engagement.

The training covered key aspects of effective community interaction, including the stages of informing, consulting, involving, collaborating, and empowering community members.

The trained administrators are expected to accelerate Nawiri's village-focused planning, facilitating quicker and more sustainable access to health, nutrition, and other essential social services.

Residents of Turkana East attending Mashujaa day celebrations 2024 at Nakukulas.

County, USAID nawiri partner to combat malnutrition through staff training
Lodwar, May 30, 2024

County staff from the Departments of Public Service, Administration, and Disaster Management will benefit from specialized training aimed at enhancing the fight against malnutrition. This initiative is part of a new partnership between USAID NAWIRI and the County Public Service.

The partnership will be spearheaded by the Public Service unit of the Department of Public Service Administration and Disaster Management.

The announcement was made by Wangiros James, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Public Service, Administration, and Disaster Management, following a meeting with USAID NAWIRI officials led by Lodwar Field Office Coordinator, Gabriel Ekuwan.

“By building the capacity of staff, USAID NAWIRI’s efforts to combat persistent acute malnutrition are likely to yield positive results. Effective service delivery plays a crucial role in enhancing access to nutritious food for our local population,” said CECM Wangiros.

The executive emphasized that targeting staff for capacity building aligns with the county’s strategic goal of improving service delivery.

Ekuwan added that the training partnership would be extended to include officers from other departments who collaborate with administrators and disaster management personnel.

In attendance at the meeting were Moses Nawoton, Deputy Director of Disaster Management; Chris Losiru, Deputy Director of Inspectorate; Chris Chilo, Assistant Director of Disaster Management; Natapar Joseph, Assistant Director of Administration; and Nicholas Iris, Assistant Director of Disaster Management.

In the past, county departments have collaborated with USAID nawiri on disaster response, water infrastructure installation, ward development planning, and livelihood enhancement programs.

It is expected that the suggested training will be designed to facilitate the mainstreaming of nutrition sensitive approaches for the local population.

According to Ekuwan, the choice of public service to coordinate the training provides the best opportunity opportunity for equiping both headquarters and field officers with the necessary skills for addressing the malnutrition challenge.

photos during A meeting between field administrators and the County chief officer for Administration and disaster management

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