The vision of HIVA is a world where human beings will live in harmony with each other, environment and nature, with fulfilled needs. The mission of the Humanitarian International Voluntary Association is to improve humanity especially the less fortunate, the marginalized the deprived, the oppressed and suppressed worldwide, and construct the environment in which they live, through prevention, early intervention, education, networking, advocacy, empowerment and constructive dialogue.
Purpose and core activities of HIVA: HIVA has been undertaking climate change response research and advocacy, renewable energy, Health and Policy advocacy activities in Mandera County. In the year 2014, for example, HIVA undertook a situation analysis seeking to explore the impacts of climate change in identified sub-counties of Mandera County and make recommendations on sustainable solutions. The survey analysis was designed implemented using questionnaires for the key informants, focused group discussions and household interviews. This also was triangulated through well identified key informants who were chosen from the national and county government officers and programmes including the NDMA, SDSSP, Administration, Education offices, Clan Elders, women and youth organizations (CSOs), who provided more insightful information on the information needed.
Organizational approach for project implementation: There has been continuous consultations with the key stakeholders in the area of climate change adaptation and mitigation. As stated above HIVA has been undertaking fact-finding, field implementation of renewable energy programs as well as community capacity building for climate change adaptation and mitigation and policy advocacy. In this program, HIVA will undertake technical capacity building, stakeholders? consultations, technical installation of solar systems and training for sustainability.
Based on the success of the Kamora Liban water pumping system using solar, HIVA seeks to extent this project to Libehiya, with more sustainability strategies in place, to avoid own time of solar pump.
Length of existence and project management experience: HIVA has an experience for more than 11 years, since the year 2008. In the last six years, HIVA has been part of the wider climate change program at national and local levels, including coming up with the current climate change act 2016.
Organizational structure, governance and administrative framework:
The organization is managed by a board of Governors and has 5 staff led by the Executive Director. The organization has developed policies and procedures with the help of the consultant and is operational. The 8 member board is the supreme organ. The Executive Director is in charge of the daily running of the operation and legal representative. The project managers and program officers report to the ED. HIVA is managed by a board of directors and run by a competent Secretariat as shown below in our organogram. Currently HIVA has 6 paid staff members under different programs.
The legal status. HIVA is registered as an NGO since 2008.
Target population group: This program will target the Libehiya community bore hole, which serves about 3000 people with drinking water and water for livestock. The target groups will include women, youth and marginalized groups in Libehiya as well as Executives in the County government will be targeted. Civil society leaders for CSOs who work in Mandera East sub-county will also be targeted. A total of 137 community and County executive as well as HIVA staff will be reached during the trainings and capacity building. All the 3000 community members served by the Libehiya bore hole will benefit from this project, and therefore will be targets in this project; especially as they will use the pre-paid meter and get the water from this bore hole.
Previous relevant experience in climate change efforts: HIVA has over five years? experience in climate change research/fact-finding, renewable energy (solar), Policy work and capacity building in Mandera County, funded by different partners. We have worked mainly in Mandera County, since 2013-2017.
In the year 2014 HIVA undertook a situation analysis seeking to explore the impacts of climate change in identified sub-counties of Mandera County and make recommendations on sustainable solutions. The survey analysis was designed implemented using questionnaires for the key informants, focused group discussions and household interviews.
HIVA has recently successfully implemented two projects in Mandera County funded by ACT? through Embassy of Sweden and UkAid (DFID) in Kenya, through ACT! Changieni Rasilmali

The people in Mandera County knowledge and capacity to use renewable energy! In this regard it will mean that, in however small a %, they contribute to CO2 load by Kenya, and the economic implications are, cumulatively huge. This includes degradation of forests, hence environment and reduction of water sources. At the end of the day the youth, women, local men and persons with disabilities are tied in a web of poverty.
Therefore the only plan to save them from this poverty web will be to start taking advantage of the plenty of sun in Mandera County, capacity built the people on how to use it to bring them income and make it a business undertaking; or a business opportunity. Solar is truly an opportunity in Mandera County, where we have more than 11 hours of sunlight every day. This is why we need to invest in solar capacity building and technology initiatives in Mandera County. It will be an advantage to the people, the County government, national government and International community, when we use renewable energy as opportunities for water supply, since water is a constitutional right in Kenya. HIVA and other civil society organizations will mobilize the local communities and the County government planners to improve local income and livelihoods through investments in solar energy, and its use to support livelihoods improvement.
? The problem statement or challenge the project intends to address:
Mandera's climate is categorized as arid under the Köppen climate classification. Temperatures tend to be hot throughout the year. Daily temperatures are typically above 30 °C (86 °F), while at night, they can fall to 20 °C (68 °F). Precipitation is extremely low, with the area receiving very minimal amount of rain. Droughts are not unusual, often resulting in significant loss of livestock in rural areas where pastoralism is common.

From early 1960s, Kenya has been experiencing climate change impacts and the situation is worsening. In 2010, the meteorological department reported the lowest level of precipitation in the last 60 years in most ASAL regions where Mandera County lies.

Increasing poverty levels; impacts of climate change that include droughts, famine and flash floods have in the recent past led to deaths of animals and loss of pasture land and water resources. Community members are forced to travel long distances during the dry periods in search of water and pasture leading to disintegrated families and high rates of school dopouts. Livestock is the greatest wealth for the majority of people in the region, and therefore when these disasters wipe them away, many families are left in abject poverty, like the case in the recent droughts in 2010.
There is a gap in the community to enhance water harvesting, water conservation for livestock and farming, pasture/fodder production, soil conservation for better crop production, and appropriate farming methods like crop rotation and mulching which the project will address.
Low capacity in terms of staffing and reach of state and non-state actors to address these issues affects the ability of communities to respond to climate change impacts. In as much as there are in place policies, legislation, strategies and plans in regards to tackling the climate change challenge, enforcement has been weak and coupled with the aforementioned capacities of power holders making the county not to benefit from their enactment. In this regard, communities lack the necessary information to take appropriate actions and are unable to engage with on-going policy and legislative processes.
Due to prolonged dry seasons and high evaporation rates, extremely high temperatures have resulted in the drying of water sources and rivers faster than it was the case two decades ago. More recently, conflicts over water and pasture resources have increased, including conflicts between community over water and pasture.
Some of the causes of the existing capacity gaps among communities, state and non-state actors in Mandera include: Poor leadership due to clan supremacy and controlled interests in natural resources by the populous clans leading to unequal representation of the minorities thus denying them participation in the management, and governance of natural resources; Extreme droughts and flash floods resulting to massive loss of animals which destabilized the community socio economic structures. The community in this region has worsened environmental destruction through tree cutting for firewood both as a source of income and for domestic use which the project will address.
? The primary objective and specific objectives of the proposed project:
The primary objective of this poject is ?To improve livelihoods of Libehiya Ward through use of Renewable energy for enhanced water availability?.
The specific objectives of this project are:
Objective 1:To built the capacity of Libehiya ward community members around Libehiya bore hole to sustain the Libehiya Solar powered bore hole by March, 2021, and
Objective 2: To implement Renewable energy-based water pumping system in Libehia Ward Mandera East sub-county by March, 2021.
? The full description of the rationale (justification) for the project:
The GEF small grants target are that 750 million tons of CO2e will be mitigated (include both direct and indirect). In Kenya the target is to mitigate 83,682 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. This project will support uptake of renewable energy (RE) and/or energy efficiency (EE) technologies. In Libehiya location, of Mandera East, Mandera County, it is estimated that 5,600 tonnes of CO2 emissions will be mitigated.
Mandera County, in Kenya, enjoys one of the longest and hot direct sun lights in the world. Exploiting this opportunity of huge solar energy availability will only be possible when small and large towns, as well as many households understand the value and start using solar energy. This project therefore will begin, in a small but sure way to make small businesses start using solar energy and solar technologies as a business opportunity. Once many households and businesses start using solar, private sector and financial management and saving institutions will come in to supplement the gap of availability of solar services and equipment.
The county government, in its CIDP, seeks to avail energy to its people in several ways including renewable energy options. This will therefore support, and contribute, to such efforts, making them realistic at community level.
? The specific results or outcomes that the project will produce.
The outcomes of this project will be:
Outcome 1: The capacity of Libehiya ward community members around Libehiya bore hole to sustain the Libehiya Solar powered bore build.
Outcome 2: Renewable energy-based water pumping system in Libehia Ward Mandera East sub-county implemented.
The results will be:
o 3600 Tonnes of CO2 avoided by implementing Renewable Energy in Libehiya Location, Mandera County.
? Use of solar energy for water supply systems.
? Libehiya bore hole serving more than 3000 local pastoralists and households.
o Community members demonstrating or deploying low-GHG technologies
Kshs 3,300,000.00 or USD 33,178.00 equivalent of solar energy equipment provided for renewable energy initiative in Libehiya location, Mandera County.