Promoting School Gardening for Sustainable Food Production in Isiolo County

Hunger among school-going children in Isiolo County is a pressing issue that affects their overall well-being and academic performance. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), in 2019, 37% of children under the age of 18 experienced moderate or severe food insecurity, with many going to school hungry every day in the County. Many children have become reliant on the government funded one meal a day programme, which is still not enough to cover their daily food and nutrition requirements. It’s on this basis MID-P through the support of Johanniter International Assistance initiated the establishment of school gardening project in 7 schools of Isiolo County. Integration of sustainable agricultural practices into school gardens is an opportunity for school-going children to learn new, climate smart and innovative farming methods, and to grow more diverse and nutritious food. The food produced can supplement the existing school meals, add variety to the school menu, improve the nutritional status and cognitive performance of the children, and contribute to their growth. As access to diverse fresh fruits and vegetables is often limited in ASAL regions due to limited availability, high prices and long distances to markets, having organic school gardens can play a vital role in improving children’s nutrition. This is because by…

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Read more about the article Taking the Bull by the Horns: Community-Led Flood Mitigation in Merti, Isiolo County
Figure 1Ewaso Nyiro River at Gotu Bridge

Taking the Bull by the Horns: Community-Led Flood Mitigation in Merti, Isiolo County

The Ewaso Nyiro River, flowing from the central highlands of Kenya from Mount Kenya, and the Aberdare Ranges, breathes life across 210,000 square kilometre (km²) of arid and semi-arid lands. For the Waso Boran communities of Merti Sub-County in Isiolo, the river is sacred — a nurturing mother, provider of water for people, livestock, smallholder farming, and biodiversity. But she has become volatile. In recent years, severe land degradation, invasive species like Prosopis juliflora, and climate change have turned the once-gentle river into a raging flood threat. As deforestation and erosion worsen, so does the river’s fury.   From April 2024, the Ewaso Nyiro River overflowed its banks at Godh Rupa and Malka Funan, leaving 763 households displaced in Merti Sub-County, with Merti town particularly hard hit, seeing 570 families rendered homeless. Sericho and parts of Garbatula at Malka Daka-Gafarsa area were also cut off as the river changed its course, and several boreholes and schools were severely affected. The entire village of Iresaboru had to be relocated to a new area, while Badana village remains inaccessible and marooned. These repeated natural disasters, characterized by submerged bridges, cut-off communities, destroyed homes, and loss of livelihoods, have instilled a profound sense of fear and urgency among the people of Merti. Rather…

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Readvertisement: Developing a Dashboard for the Isiolo County Department of Tourism

MID-P is looking for a consultancy service for the development of a user-friendly Dashboard for Isiolo County Department of Tourism.  The dashboard will consolidate data from various sources, providing real-time analytics and insights to enhance decision-making through policy legislation and allocation of the funds to improve the services, refine marketing strategies by knowing the visitors’ nationality and existing linkages or interest with the park, and operational management through collection of feedback from the guests. Find more information from the link below: TOR for Consultancy - Development of Tourism Dashboard  

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SoH_MID-P Baseline Survey Final Report

The "Promoting Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Livelihoods" project, implemented by Sign of Hope (SoH) in partnership with Merti Integrated Development Programme (MID-P), aims to improve the living conditions of communities in Isiolo County, Kenya. The project targets seven wards—Chari, Cherab, Sericho, Garbatulla, Kinna, Burat, and Oldonyiro—focusing on food security, social cohesion, and sustainable land use. Isiolo County, primarily arid and semi-arid, faces challenges such as recurrent droughts, resource degradation, and conflicts over land and water, necessitating urgent climate adaptation measures. The project seeks to enhance climate-resilient livelihoods, establish sustainable land and natural resource management systems, and strengthen local governance structures. It aims to empower marginalized groups, particularly women and youth, while ensuring conflict-sensitive interventions that promote social cohesion and peaceful co-existence. Below is a report for the Baseline Survey conducted: SoH_MIDP Baseline Survey Final Report March 2025 (1)  

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MID-P is requesting for quotation for the following tender items and services

MID-P is implementing a three-year That aims to improve the living conditions of the target group in the areas of food security, social cohesion and safety in Isiolo County. The project operates in Seven Wards (Burat, Chari, Cherab, Garbatulla, Kinna, Oldonyiro and Sericho). One of the components of the project is to: provide both crop farmers and livestock farmers in the cooperatives with PPEs and train them on safety measures. The cooperative can lend the PPEs to members and other farmers at a fee as Income Generating Activities (IGAs) and also To establish value addition center for honey, food and Gum and Resins. In additions MID-p is also requesting services for the development of tourism dashboard and MID-P Knowledge Management Strategy. Interested suppliers and service providers can find more information about the tenders and services form the links below: MID-P - TOR for consultancy - Development of Tourism Dashboard (3) Terms of Reference for the consultancy service - Review of MID-P KM Strategy (1) MID-P RFQ for honey and food processing tools and equipment (1) MID-P RFQ for provision of PPEs for Cooperatives-Crop and Livestock (2)

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Gotu Sub-Catchment Management Plan (SCMP)

The Gotu Sub-Catchment Management Plan (SCMP) has been reviewed and enhanced to structure and guide the management of the Gotu sub-catchment area, located within the ENNBA River Basin and stretching from Kachuru town to Gotu town. The SCMP was developed through a participatory process involving Gotu WRUA members and representatives from its stakeholders both internal and external. The Water Resources Authority (WRA) guided the process and was funded by USAID STAWI Mashinani Activity and the Mercy Corps-led RANGE Program. The SCMP will be implemented by Gotu WRUA in collaboration with other stakeholders under the supervision of the WRA and administered through its Sub Basin Office, Middle Ewaso North Sub Basin with its office in Isiolo town, Isiolo County. Find the full document below: GOTU_SCMP-FINAL BOOKLET LR  

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TENDER FOR SUPPLY OF FARM INPUT, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT AND FENCING MATERIALS

MID-P is looking for an eligible vendor who can supply farm tools and equipment materials in Isiolo County. This tender is open to all companies that can provide the requested service and have the capacity to deliver in the county, or through an authorized representative. Get more information on the tender from the link below: MID-P Tender - RFQ FOR FARM INPUTS (1)

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TENDER FOR THE SUPPLY OF AGROFORESTRY TREES SEEDLINGS

As part of its implementation, MID-P is inviting eligible vendors to supply tree seedlings in Laikipia County. This tender is open only to legally registered companies based in Laikipia County that have the capacity to provide the required service and are authorized to operate in Kenya, either directly or through an authorized representative Get more information about the tender in the link below: MID-P Agroforestry Tender RFQ- Laikipia County  

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