Green Kakuma Vegetable Farming (GKVF): Growing Resilience in Kakuma Refugee Camp.

Introduction

Agriculture remains one of the most important livelihood activities in Kakuma Refugee Camp. For many refugee families—especially women—vegetable farming is not just a source of food, but a pathway to dignity, income, and self-reliance. However, persistent challenges such as water scarcity, limited resources, and low access to agricultural education continue to threaten farming livelihoods.

The Green Kakuma Vegetable Farming (GKVF) project was developed to respond to these challenges by strengthening water access, improving farming skills, and building sustainable market linkages for refugee farmers.

Background and Problem Statement

Kakuma Refugee Camp experiences severe water shortages, particularly during the dry season from March to June. Most smallholder farmers lack water tanks and irrigation systems, making it extremely difficult to sustain crops throughout the year.

As a result:

Crops fail before harvest
Farmers abandon their farms
Household food insecurity increases
Income opportunities are lost

For instance, Tia Koi Farm, one of the 95 active farms in Kakuma, has experienced complete crop loss due to the absence of water storage facilities. This situation is not unique—many farms across the camp face similar constraints. Combined with limited farming knowledge and inadequate educational support, these challenges significantly reduce productivity and resilience.

The GKVF project seeks to turn this situation around by introducing reliable water solutions, climate-smart agriculture, and practical livelihood education.

Project Goal and Objectives

Overall Goal

To enhance food security, improve farmer livelihoods, and promote sustainable vegetable farming in Kakuma Refugee Camp through improved water access, farming skills, and market linkages.

Specific Objectives

Promote sustainable farming practices through training on crop rotation, composting, organic pest control, and water conservation
Increase farm productivity by providing quality seeds, water tanks, drip irrigation systems, and ongoing technical guidance
Improve access to markets through partnerships with retailers, cooperatives, and local buyers
Strengthen farmers’ financial literacy to support income management, savings, and reinvestment

Target Participants

Direct Beneficiaries

200 single mothers (ages 25–45): Training in vegetable farming, water management, and financial literacy
95 active farmers: Provision of water tanks, farming inputs, and mentorship

Indirect Beneficiaries

200 school-dropout mothers (over two years): Gaining new livelihood skills
100 parents and guardians: Training on farming, water conservation, and household food security
15 community leaders: Capacity building in conflict resolution and peacebuilding around shared resources
15 teachers and educators: Equipped to deliver inclusive farming education and risk management

Project Description and Implementation Plan

The GKVF project builds on previous farming training initiatives that supported more than 50 farmers, including persons with disabilities. This new phase expands the work while directly addressing the critical challenge of water scarcity.

Stage 1: Community Inclusion and Needs Assessment

Community meetings with farmers, parents, and leaders
Identification of water challenges and training gaps
Mapping of the 95 farms requiring water tanks and irrigation support

Stage 2: Resource Allocation and Program Design

Development of literacy, sustainable farming, and financial education modules
Distribution of water tanks, drip irrigation systems, and farming tools
Construction and renovation of learning spaces for training activities

Stage 3: Research, Pilot, and Adaptation

Pilot implementation in selected farms in Kakuma Zone 3
Continuous feedback collection and learning
Promotion of climate-smart and adaptive farming techniques

Stage 4: Evaluation and Scale-Up

Measurement of crop yields, participation levels, and water efficiency
Expansion of successful approaches to remaining farms
Strengthening partnerships for long-term water access solutions

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)

Key Performance Indicators

Farmer attendance and participation in training sessions
Increase in crop yields and overall farm productivity
Number of functional water tanks installed
Reduction in farming dropout rates

M&E Activities

Baseline survey prior to project implementation
Weekly monitoring by project staff and educators
Monthly progress reports documenting achievements and challenges
Mid-term and final evaluations against baseline data
Final learning report with recommendations for scale-up

Organizational Capacity

Voice for Equity brings strong experience in community development, farming education, mentorship, and program management.

Project Team

Project Manager: Overall coordination and partnerships
Educational Specialists: Deliver training in farming, literacy, and water management
Community Outreach Coordinators: Community mobilization and feedback collection
M&E Team: Data collection, analysis, and reporting

Accountability and Transparency

Robust financial management systems
Regular donor and stakeholder reporting
Tracking of all resources distributed to farmers

Stakeholder Engagement

Regular meetings with farmers, parents, community leaders, and partners
Collaboration with RLOs, CBOs, NGOs, and market actors
Feedback channels through suggestion boxes, WhatsApp groups, and community forums
Community events and awareness workshops on sustainable farming

Sustainability Strategy

To ensure long-term impact, the project will:

Build partnerships with educational institutions and farmer groups
Establish durable water systems (tanks and irrigation)
Create peer-to-peer learning and ongoing farmer workshops
Form a Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee to manage shared resources
Continue mentorship and follow-up beyond the project period

Two-Year Target Reach:

200 farmers
100 parents
15 community leaders
15 teachers

Safeguarding and Protection

Voice for Equity upholds strong safeguarding standards to protect all participants:

Clear safeguarding and protection policies
Mandatory safeguarding training for staff
Enforced code of conduct
Confidential reporting mechanisms
Safe recruitment procedures with background checks

Farmers’ dignity, safety, and rights remain central to all project activities.

Conclusion

The Green Kakuma Vegetable Farming (GKVF) project offers a transformative pathway toward food security, women’s empowerment, and sustainable livelihoods in Kakuma Refugee Camp. By combining water access, climate-smart agriculture, education, and strong community partnerships, the initiative aims to build resilient farming communities that can thrive despite challenging conditions.

Through this project, farming becomes more than survival—it becomes a foundation for long-term stability and hope.