↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier →

INSPIRED PASTORALIST INITIATIVES
— · EIN · pisp.org
profile · synthesized from sources

Pastoralist Integrated Support Programme (PISP) is a Kenyan nonprofit founded in 1996 that strengthens resilience among nomadic and agro-pastoralist communities in arid northern Kenya. The organization works across climate action, drought response, water access, peacebuilding, and livelihood diversification. PISP implements programs in disaster risk reduction, community governance, and sustainable development, with a focus on women’s empowerment and climate adaptation.

named programs · 6 · from sources

what they call their work

Climate Action, Drought Management, Livelihoods & Resilience
Implements drought response, livestock restocking, destocking, cash transfers, and supports self-help groups with revolving credit and enterprise training to diversify pastoralist livelihoods.
Leadership, Governance & Development
Promotes citizen participation in devolved governance, supports public expenditure monitoring, and advocates for pro-poor policies with a focus on women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
Pastoralist Field Schools (PFS)
Provides training on livestock management, disease surveillance, and climate-smart pastoralism practices to improve herd health and resilience.
Security, Peace Building, Conflict Prevention and Recovery
Facilitates inter-community dialogues, supports peace committees, and implements shared resource programs like 'water for peace' to reduce resource-based and ethnic conflicts.
Village Community Banking (VICOBA)
Supports community savings and loan groups to build financial resilience and enable small business development among pastoralist women and mixed groups.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
Builds and maintains rainwater harvesting structures including underground tanks, sand dams, and rock catchments; strengthens water user associations and promotes hygiene in arid regions of northern Kenya.
activities · 6 groups

what they do

  • Community Advocacy & Stakeholder Engagement 1 activity
    • Advocacy and governance partnerships
      Engaged in governance and advocacy activities in partnership with HelpAge International and Forum SYD, including implementation of an 18-month program focused on women and girls in Moyale, Saku, and Laisamis sub-counties from January 2019 to June 2020.
  • Emergency Response and Relief Operations 1 activity
    • Emergency response and disaster risk reduction
      Responded to drought emergencies in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2022 through activities including destocking, restocking, cash and food vouchers, water ferrying, borehole rehabilitation, and strengthening Water Users Associations.
  • Livestock Distribution & Management 1 activity
    • Livestock redistribution for drought and conflict-affected communities
      Distributed 7,028 sheep and goats, 460 female camels, 575 load camels, and 224 cattle since 2015 to support recovery and resilience among pastoralist communities affected by droughts and conflicts.
  • Community-Led Peacebuilding & Conflict Mediation 1 activity
    • Peacebuilding and conflict resolution programming
      Conducted peacebuilding initiatives targeting 6 ethnic communities and 25 conflict hotspot sites, including 55 dialogue meetings and trainings, establishment of 8 school-based rights clubs, and support for women, youth, and persons with disabilities groups to strengthen community cohesion.
  • Solar-Powered Infrastructure Installation 1 activity
    • Solar-powered wildlife-proof fencing
      Initiated procurement process for the construction of a 1.2km solar-powered wildlife-proof electric fence to protect community land and infrastructure.
  • Uncategorized 5 activities
    • Capacity building for peace and community resilience
      Supported 6 women's groups, 4 youth groups, and 2 groups for persons with disabilities in peacebuilding and community cohesion efforts, strengthening local institutions and social resilience.
    • Construction of water and sanitation infrastructure
      Built rain-harvesting water structures including 42 underground tanks, 9 earth pans, 55 above-ground tanks for schools, 5 rock catchments, 56 sand dams, 3 water distribution systems, 205 improved shallow wells, and pit latrines in areas lacking reliable water sources, in collaboration with development partners.
    • Education access and infrastructure development
      Established 15 Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, 5 Alternative Basic Education (ABE) centres, and 2 schools; provided 254 scholarships and enrolled 2,425 pupils through a back-to-school campaign to improve educational access in underserved pastoralist communities.
    • Livelihoods and economic resilience programming
      Implemented livelihood initiatives in Laisamis and North Horr Sub-Counties through the Marsabit Program for Enhanced Action on Resilience (MEAR), including Village Community Banking (VICOBA), Pastoralist Field Schools (PFS), Pastoralist Disease Surveillance (PDS), and Community Disaster Management Committees (CDMCs) capacity building; supported 42 women and mixed groups to diversify income sources since 2005, with beneficiaries managing approximately 13 million Kenya Shillings in revolving credit funds.
    • Recognition for water and sanitation innovation
      Received the Equator Initiative award in 2004 for innovative water and sanitation programs among pastoralist nomads in Northern Kenya.
relationships · 35

who they work with

  • ARAHA Funder — Provided funding for disaster response.
  • CORDAID Funder — Provided emergency funds for various emergency related activities.
  • Caritas Austria Funder — Provided emergency funds for various emergency related activities and funding for disaster response.
  • Caritas Austria Partner — Collaborated on building rain-harvesting water structures in Northern Kenya.
  • Concern World Wide Partner — Collaborated on building rain-harvesting water structures in Northern Kenya.
  • Concern Worldwide Funder — Provided funding for disaster response.
  • Constituency Development Funds Partner — Collaborated on building rain-harvesting water structures in Northern Kenya.
  • DFID/Maji na Ufanisi Partner — Collaborated on building rain-harvesting water structures in Northern Kenya.
  • ECHO Funder — Provided emergency funds for various emergency related activities.
  • ECHO/CORDAID Partner — Collaborated on building rain-harvesting water structures in Northern Kenya.
  • EU - Water facility Partner — Partnered through a consortium to support water management and sanitation in target communities.
  • Forum SYD Partner — Partnered with PISP on governance and advocacy activities.
  • HelpAge Funder — Provided funding for disaster response.
  • HelpAge International Partner — Partnered with PISP on governance and advocacy activities.
  • ICDR Government — One of the international bodies that awarded PISP the Equator Initiative prize in 2004.
  • IDRC Government — One of the international bodies that awarded PISP the Equator Initiative prize in 2004.
  • IUCN Government — One of the international bodies that awarded PISP the Equator Initiative prize in 2004.
  • Japanese Embassy Partner — Collaborated on building rain-harvesting water structures in Northern Kenya.
  • MISEREOR Partner — Partnered with PISP to support water, sanitation, and hygiene initiatives in target communities.
  • NGO Coordination Board Government — Registered with the NGO Coordination Board in Kenya.
  • Nature Conservancy Government — One of the international bodies that awarded PISP the Equator Initiative prize in 2004.
  • Oxfam GB Funder — Provided assistance for livestock distribution.
  • Saferworld Partner — Partnered with PISP on peacebuilding and conflict prevention activities.
  • Shurr Conservancy Partner — Collaborating on construction of a solar-powered wildlife-proof electric fence
  • Sign of Hope Funder — Provided funding for disaster response.
  • Sign of Hope Partner — Partnered with PISP on peacebuilding and conflict prevention activities.
  • Solidarites International Partner — Member of a consortium with PISP and VSF - Germany funded by EU - Water facility.
  • The Christensen Fund Funder — Donor supporting PISP’s peacebuilding and conflict prevention activities.
  • UNDP Government — One of the international bodies that awarded PISP the Equator Initiative prize in 2004.
  • UNDP Partner — Partnered with PISP on peacebuilding and conflict prevention activities.
+ 5 more