Implementing Agency:
Department For International Development (PAND)

Managing Institute:
Actionaid UK

Contractor:
Actionaid - Kenya

Project Code: 031-680-076	Start Date: 01/04/1995	End Date: 31/03/1998
Commitment: £392,194	Status: Awaiting Confirmation of Completion	Type of Funding: Bilateral - JFS

Project Background:
Kapsokwony Development Area (DA) is located in western Kenya on the slopes of Mount Elgon, near the border with Uganda. It is in Mount Elgon district, which consists of four separate locations: Namorio, Elgon, Chemoge and Kaptama, and 80 villages. The DA is about eight hours drive from Nairobi.

A visitor's first impression of Kapsokwony is that of an area with an extremely stable resource base. Unlike AAK other DAs, the area has high agricultural potential and plenty of water. It has rich, fertile, volcanic soils, and receives an annual rainfall of between 1400-1800mm. However, there is a serious lack of awareness among community members of how to exploit these resources fully to their advantage.

The main problem facing the population of the area is inadequate food production. An average of six bags of maize per acre is being produced in an area where the yield could be as high as 25 bags. This is caused by a number of factors, among them poor crop husbandry techniques and soil erosion. Soil erosion is caused by the steep topography of the area coupled with a high annual rainfall. Animal tracking and pulling of logs along the roads also exacerbate the problem. Due to the absence of good government extension services, farmers have not been exposed to modern/ alternative farming methods limiting their skills and knowledge in improved crop husbandry, crop diversification, farm planning, utilisation of locally available resources (manures, crop remains, etc.) and soil conservation. Many traditional methods are still in use which are clearly detrimental.

There is an over-dependence on beans and maize, though a wide variety of crops could be grown to supplement the diet and generate additional income. Though shrinking land holdings do account for a certain amount of low productivity, even among those with large farms, yields are stunted by the lack of appropriate farming implements that would assist in increasing the amount of land under cultivation and the size of the yield. The majority of DA farmers use hand hoes, and lack access to good quality seed. All of this contributes to low incomes which fail to meet family needs, and to malnutrition and poor health.

Project Objectives:
The project includes strategies for increasing food security, provision of savings and credit facilities, enhancing health, water quality and environmental sanitation, education, community institution building.

The overall aim of the project is to develop communities' knowledge, skills and practices that will enhance self-reliance and improve standards of living.

Intended Outputs:
By the end of year two, 6,600 residents of 17 villages will be able to control soil erosion both on their farms and along the roads.

By the end of year one, 180 farmers in 12 villages will have adopted intensive farming techniques to enhance productivity.

By the end of year one, 180 farmers in 12 villages will have acquired skills/knowledge to enable them to practise improved crop management.

By the end of year one, 2,223 households in 28 villages will be practising improved sanitary practices and environmental and water management, to reduce the prevalance of three main diseases (malaria, diarrhoea/vomiting and pneumonia).

By the end of year two, the nine MCH/FP co-ordination committees will have received training to manage the six MCH mobile centres.

By the end of year one, 56 representatives from 56 VDCs will have acquired the skills to incorporate appropriately community-based rehablitation (CBR) cases into the community development process.

By the end of year one, 85 people with disabilities will have acquired appropriate orthopaedic appliances (50) and surgery (35).

By the end of year three, 200 identified disabled people will have benefitted from appropriate intervention and will be integrated into community life.

By the end of year three, community members in 80 villages will have participated in HIV/AIDS awareness activities and will be taking the necessary precautions.

By the end of year one, 4,442 people in 19 villages will be drawing drinking water from proven safe sources only.

By the end of year two, 23 water committees will be trained and efficiently managing the operation and maintenance of village water supply systems.

By the end of year two, at least 1,212 households will be practising controlled waste disposal measures.

By the end of year one, 29 head teachers and 29 deputies from 29 primary schools will have acquired leadership and institutional management skills to enable them to manage effectively their institutions.

To enable 75% of the (772) children enrolled in 19 NFE centres to achieve level III of the minimum learning outcomes in Kiswahili, English and Mathematics by the end of year one.

By the end of year one, 75% of the 556 adult learners enrolled in 24 FAL centres will have acquired literacy and numeracy skills and will sit the government proficiency test.

By the end of year one, the DA wll have extended credit to members of at least 43 poverty focussed groups to assist them in their micro enterprises to satisfy their family income needs.

By the end of year one, the DA will have built the capacity of the members of at least 43 poverty focussed groups to manage effectively and efficiently their micro and small scale enterprises.

By the end of year three, 56 VDCs will be able to initiate, plan and manage their own development programmes.

By the end of year three, at least 6,912 residents in nine villages of Namorio/Elgon micro-region will have improved economic activities through improved road networks.