Summary
IDEWES is working in Kibera, the largest slum in Nairobi. This programme, called 'Mazingira bora maisha yetu - The best environment for our lives' is meant to reduce the number of waterborne diseases due to poor sanitation, lack of garbage collection and dropping points, and a poor piping system. IDEWES decided that, together with key stakeholders, they would involve schools in environmental education and the formation of environmental clubs. Moreover, community awareness was raised through forums and dialogues, and also environmental debates, sport events and art. Grassroots organisations dealing with solid waste management received training and a Kibera Environmental Day was organised.
Problem analysis
Kibera is the largest slum in Nairobi and the biggest slum in Africa with an estimated population of approximately 250.000. There are lots of problems within Kibera including the following:
- Waterborne diseases due to poor sanitation, lack of garbage collection and dropping points, and poor piping systems.
- Poor waste management and lack of safety gears during waste collection within the households.
- Inadequate knowledge to conserve resources in the schools and in the community.
- Poverty has increased the use of non-renewable energy such as wood fuel, which has led to the destruction of the nearby indigenous Ngong forest.
- Inadequate awareness and advocacy on environmental interventions within Kibera slums.
Solution analysis
Through Mazingira Bora Maisha Yetu project, IDEWES aims to achieve the following:
- Reduction of diseases caused by poor sanitation.
- Increased knowledge and skills on protecting and conserving the environment to achieve sustainable development goals.
- Poverty reduction through food security in rearing pigs and formation of savings groups (karatasi ni pesa - 'paper is money').
- Increased number of beneficiaries understand their environmental rights.
- Enhanced problem solving and decision making in environmental matters as society and key duty bearers are engaged.
- Increased public awareness and knowledge of environmental impact and mitigation measures.
- Empowerment of children on environmental art as source of income within their clubs.
- Enhanced participation of children, youth and women on the importance of environmental sustainability.
Stakeholder analysis
Which stakeholders (NGO’s, government, private sector) did you identify as allies and how did you involve them?
Kenya Inter-University Environmental Students Association (KIUESA), Power 254 and Action Change Transform Kenya. They were met through meetings and letter invitations. Also: JICA (Japan International Co-operation Agency), UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme), ACT Kenya (Action Change Transform), NEMA (National Environmental Management Authority) and NYS (National Youth Service).
Which stakeholders did you identify as opponents and why were they opposed?
The local vendors, street boys, uneducated village elders and peers, organisations which are not in the environmental sector.
How did you involve your beneficiaries in the stakeholder analysis/campaign?
Through questionnaires, dialogues, focus group discussion, community and school forums.
Short description of the organisation implementing the action/campaign
IDEWES is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) that was founded and registered in 2001. The organisation was founded with the aim of mobilising the community and providing available resources and technical capacity in addressing the multitude of problems in Kibera. Since its inception, the organisation has been active in providing interventions through an established support centre. The organisation runs numerous programmes mainly on Home Based Care (HBC), Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) care and support, reproductive health awareness, HIV/AIDS awareness and education, economic empowerment, environment, human rights programmes, civic engagement, peace building and advocacy. IDEWES provides possible solutions and sustainable programmes that promote good health, clean environment and better livelihood for the vulnerable communities. The programme integration allows the organisation to easily complement with the needs of the society and be able to incorporate new projects depending on the needs arising in the community.
Action period
July 2016- July 2018
Objectives
Mazingira Bora Maisha Yetu aims to:
- Improve livelihoods and increase knowledge of the community on environmental sustainability development.
- Empower and transform the community on the importance of environmental sustainability development through education, awareness, advocacy and research to improve their livelihoods.
- Promote public participation and involvement on environmental interventions.
Action results
- There has been an increased knowledge and skills on protecting and conserving the environment to achieve sustainable development goals.
- Increased public awareness on environmental policies and its implementation.
- Enhanced problem solving and decision making in the environmental matters as the targeted community and the key duty bearers are engaged.
Description of preparatory activities
Preparation included the following activities:
1. Meeting with key stakeholders.
2. Environmental education and formation of environmental clubs.
3. Community awareness through forums and dialogues.
4. Conducting environmental debates, sport and art events.
5. Training grassroots organisations that are dealing with solid waste management.
6. Organisation of Kibera Environment Day.
Description of implementation
1. Meetings with key stakeholders were held, partnerships were formed.
2. Trainings were conducted in schools, in partnership with key stakeholders; environmental clubs were formed.
3. Public outreaches in the community were organised, dialogues with the key beneficiaries were held.
4. Inter school environmental debates and sporting events took place, i.e. bicycle riding and art activities.
5. Trainings to grassroots organisations on proper solid waste management were organised.
6. Kibera Environmental Day event was held.
Description of time investmen
1. One month.
2. On a weekly basis.
3. On a monthly basis.
4. After every 3 months.
5. Twice a month.
6. One day.
Costs
|
Description
|
Costs in Kshs
|
|
Planning meetings
|
95 000
|
|
Meetings with key stakeholders and partners
|
92 000
|
|
Community forums and dialogues
|
200 000
|
|
School programmes on environmental issues
|
297 000
|
|
Formation of environmental clubs
|
145 000
|
|
Claim making on environmental advocacy and environmental development sustainability
|
110 000
|
|
Environmental debates and weekend challenge
|
205 000
|
|
Trainings on environmental SDGs and proper solid waste management
|
236 000
|
|
Monitoring and evaluation
|
135 000
|
|
Environmental research and diagnosis
|
105 000
|
|
Administration
|
180 000
|
|
Total
|
1 800 000
|
Follow up
The following activities need a follow up:
- Follow up on forming a partnership between IDEWES and KIUESA.
- Follow up on the letters sent to schools; so far 10 schools have acknowledged the receipt and are willing to be part and parcel of the project.
- Follow up on the local grassroots to be part of the planning committee (currently, only four local grassroots organisations are part of the planning committee).
