Advancing Water, Peace and Security: Field mission insights from Kenya
The Water, Peace and Security (WPS) partnership has demonstrated its continued commitment to addressing the challenges of water management, conflict resolution and sustainable development. At the end of November, WPS conducted a comprehensive field mission in Kenya, engaging online with key stakeholders in Turkana county and face-to-face with key stakeholders in Marsabit county. The mission concluded with a meeting with the Climate Prediction and Application Centre (ICPAC) to explore collaborative opportunities.
Transformative Engagement in Turkana County
WPS shared its advanced dashboard tool with stakeholders from the Water and Peace Directorates in Turkana County. This dashboard integrates water mapping, conflict mapping, ecosystems mapping, remote sensing, hydrological modelling of Lake Turkana, and agent-based modelling of the lake’s dynamics. Stakeholders highlighted its potential as a transformative resource for informed decision-making at the county level.
The dashboard’s features allow for a holistic understanding of the region’s water resources, conflict hotspots, and ecological systems, enabling a data-driven approach to governance. Moving forward, WPS will collaborate closely with the Water and Peace Directorate and other departments including the Kenya Maritime and Fisheries Institute, Kenya Wildlife Service and the Fisheries Department to ensure the effective use of the dashboard, aiming for water systems and enhanced peacebuilding efforts.
See the WPS dashboard for the Turkana Lake area
Building Foundations in Marsabit County
A few days later in Nairobi, WPS held an inaugural meeting with Marsabit county local stakeholders, presenting the work plan that will guide the partnership’s pilot activities in the region during 2025. This entry-level engagement brought together representatives from the peace sector and Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Sanitation along with local and international organizations.
The workshop fostered alignment on key initiatives, including:
- Conflict sensitivity training: Equipping stakeholders with skills to navigate water-related tensions.
- Dialogue processes: Creating platforms for collaborative discussions.
- Ecosystems mapping: Understanding environmental dynamics to inform interventions.
- Building stakeholder networks: Strengthening partnerships across sectors.
- Mapping small ephemeral streams: Mapping of water resources from Marsabit part of Lake Turkana including streams and catchments that do not drain into the lake to cover potential zones and locations for surface and sub-surface water storage.
These activities apply WPS’s integrated approach to water and peacebuilding.
Collaboration with ICPAC
The mission concluded on 29 November with a visit to the Climate Prediction and Application Centre (ICPAC), part of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in Eastern Africa. ICPAC plays a crucial role in climate information services, early warning systems, and capacity building, contributing to sustainable development and resilience in the IGAD countries (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda).
During the meeting, WPS - led by IHE Delft - presented ongoing work in Kenya, in particular in Turkana County, while ICPAC presented their advances on climate adaptation and short-term forecasts in Eastern Africa. Further a dialogue on potential synergies between the two organizations took place, looking at potential collaborations in organising short tailor-made courses for capacity building for water resources and modelling in support of climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Sustainable interventions
The field mission underscored the importance of tailored, locally informed approaches to water and peacebuilding. By leveraging advanced tools, fostering multi-stakeholder collaborations, and aligning efforts with regional institutions like ICPAC, WPS is laying the groundwork for impactful and sustainable interventions in Kenya and beyond.
These initiatives not only address immediate challenges but also contribute to broader goals of resilience, equity and peace in regions where water tensions can lead to conflict. As WPS continues its work, the lessons learned from Turkana and Marsabit counties will inform future efforts, reinforcing the partnership’s goal to use dialogue as a tool for peacebuilding in vulnerable water scarce regions.