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    Report on Approaches to Sustainable Security in The North Rift Region of Kenya
    (National Defence University-Kenya, 2024-12) National Defence University-Kenya
    The ASAL regions of the North Rift Region of Kenya have faced multifaceted security challenges. Successive government regimes have put in place various interventions but the insecurity in the region persists. This has led to underdevelopment, and loss of lives, property, and livelihoods. This research sought to analyse the security interventions in the North Rift region with the aim of proffering novel approaches for sustainable security. The study analysed the nature of conflict, causes of conflict, previous interventions employed by state and non-state actors and the resultant various levels of success. The research employed a mixed-method approach while testing theories and analysing data. The approach included qualitative methods such as focus groups discussions in six counties and interviews to key informants. Their responses were triangulated with the administration of questionnaires to local residents in the hotspot locations and sublocations along the conflict belt. The nature of conflicts between the warring communities of North Rift are largely similar: loss of human lives, destruction of property, stealing of livestock and displacement of populations. The study posits that the root causes of these conflicts and insecurity are founded in social, cultural, economic, political and historical factors. The outcome of this study attributes the failure of some of the interventions in ending the conflict to lack of commitment from the government and political goodwill in implementation of some of the interventions. The study unanimously found out that it will take full commitment and support of the government and political goodwill to bring insecurity to its conclusive end. Some of the approaches proposed include comprehensive disarmament, intelligence based operations, streamlining NPRs, enhancing law enforcement and tightening legal and criminal prosecution, as well as effective inventory management of ammunition. Other proposed interventions include politically driven interventions, socio- economic interventions, and technologically driven interventions. The study recommends an establishment of a Centralised Coordinating Body that will be dedicated to North Rift purposely to drive government efforts and all the NGOs/CBOs. Another option is an enhanced Whole of Government Approach to consolidate all lines of effort in the existing government interventions and be able to roll out a Marshall Plan to comprehensively address insecurity. In addition, winning the support of the local communities by the Security Agencies will be an indicator of effective response rather than seeking compensation for stolen animals.
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    African biodiversity genomics in the era of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: Ethical, Legal, and Social Perspectives
    (2024) Anne WT Muigai; Sally Mueni Katee; Marietjie Botes; Varsha Shetty; Emmanual Hala Kwon-Ndung; Girish Beedessee; Sadye Paez; Sizwe Innocent Ndlovu; Bouabid Badaoui; Justin E. Ideozu; ThankGod Echezona Ebenezer
    The African BioGenome Project (AfricaBP) is a Pan-African initiative which aims to improve food systems and conservation through genomics, and ensure data sharing and benefits. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) is one of the frameworks of the Convention on Biological Diversity which seeks to reduce threats to biodiversity, ensure sustainable use of biodiversity as well as equitable sharing of benefits. AfricaBP’s objectives and activities are closely aligned with the goals of the KMGBF. However, implementing genomic research in the African context presents unique ethical, legal and social challenges and benefits. Here, we explore the alignment between the AfricaBP and the KMGBF, focusing on the potentials for genomics to drive biodiversity conservation and food security across Africa. We critically examine the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) and related challenges associated with implementing the KMGBF. In response to these challenges, and to strengthen AfricaBP’s capacity to implement the KMGBF goals, we make specific recommendations such as, amongst others, the creation of clear policy and legal frameworks, implement transparent monitoring and reporting mechanisms, and ensure interoperability of key regulatory instruments in biodiversity conservation. We also discuss how AfricaBP integrates the theory of change in its activities to enhance the implementation of the KMGBF by strengthening biodiversity data infrastructure, creating awareness via communication and capacity-building whilst empowering local communities, promoting gender diversity in the African biodiversity genomics landscape, facilitating research and innovation by advancing ethical and legal frameworks, and understanding access and benefit-sharing and KMGBF through roundtable meetings, survey development and analysis.
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    Establishing African genomics and bioinformatics programs through annual regional workshops
    (2024) Anne WT Muigai; Abdoallah Sharaf; Lucky Tendani Nesengani; Ichrak Hayah; Josiah Ochieng Kuja; Sinebongo Mdyogolo; Taiwo Crossby Omotoriogun; Blessing Adanta Odogwu; Girish Beedessee; Rae Marvin Smith; Abdelhamid Barakat; Acclaim M. Moila; Adil El Hamouchi; Alia Benkahla; Amal Boukteb; Amine Elmouhtadi; Antoine Lusala Mafwila; et al
    The African BioGenome Project (AfricaBP) Open Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics aims to overcome barriers to capacity building through its distributed African regional workshops and prioritizes the exchange of grassroots knowledge and innovation in biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics. In 2023, we implemented 28 workshops on biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics, covering 11 African countries across the 5 African geographical regions. These regional workshops trained 408 African scientists in hands-on molecular biology, genomics and bioinformatics techniques as well as the ethical, legal and social issues associated with acquiring genetic resources. Here, we discuss the implementation of transformative strategies, such as expanding the regional workshop model of AfricaBP to involve multiple countries, institutions and partners, including the proposed creation of an African digital database with sequence information relating to both biodiversity and agriculture. This will ultimately help create a critical mass of skilled genomics and bioinformatics scientists across Africa.
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    Enabling Africa’s implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework through the African digital sequence information data bank
    (2024) Anne WT Muigai; Achraf El Allali; Julien Alban Nguinkal; Sally Mueni Katee; Girish Beedessee; Bouabid Badaoui; Marietjie Botes; Semir Bechir Suheil Gaouar; Ichrak Hayah; Justin Eze Ideozu; Sadik Muzemil; Denye Nathaniel Ogeh; Abdoallah Sharaf; Kassahun Tesfaye; ThankGod Echezona Ebenezer
    The African BioGenome Project (AfricaBP) is a Pan-African effort aimed at sequencing the genomes of 105,000 African endemic and indigenous species to support food systems, conservation, and ensure data-sharing and equitable benefits. This effort aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), which aims to prevent or mitigate biodiversity loss while facilitating equitable access and benefit-sharing from genetic resources and Digital Sequence Information (DSI) and securing adequate technical and scientific cooperations. The AfricaBP Open Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics (AfricaBP Open Institute) is the knowledge exchange programme of the AfricaBP which aims to overcome infrastructural barriers through the development of technology and infrastructure. A key component of AfricaBP Open Institute's vision is the establishment of the African Digital Sequence Information Data Bank for Biodiversity and Agriculture (African DSI Data Bank), a federated platform for storing, analyzing, visualizing and sharing DSI data across the African continent. The African DSI Data Bank will address the current fragmentation of DSI across African institutions by linking existing databases and resources while ensuring compliance with regional and global standards. It will use a federated model, leveraging existing (and new) infrastructures across Africa, that allow institutions and countries to retain data sovereignty while adhering to national, regional, and international access and benefit-sharing regulations. Through a proposed Global Access Point (GAP), researchers will be able to gain equitable access to sequence data and metadata via a decentralized network. Furthermore, to understand the current landscape of biodiversity and agricultural DSI databases, analyses, visualization, and data sharing platforms, AfricaBP Open Institute conducted a survey across Africa, and recorded 161 responses. Although the majority of these participants shared common challenges such as limited infrastructure, funding, and capacity building, the overwhelming indication was that they support an African-based DSI platform through an inclusive governance model. Consequently, we describe the proposed roadmap for the creation of an African DSI Data Bank that includes African DSI federated database, visualization, analysis, and sharing platforms, as well as the ethical, legal, social, KMGBF, and sustainability considerations associated with such an infrastructure.
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    Gender-Based Assessment of the Effects of Adoption of Alternative Livelihood Strategies on Pastoral Households in West Pokot County, Kenya
    (International Journal of Gender Studies, 2023-09) Kondoltiony, Emmanuel Psongol
    Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess, from a gender perspective, the effects of Alternative Livelihood Strategies (ALSs) on households in the pastoral community of West Pokot County. Methodology: This study applied both quantitative and qualitative research approaches and adopted a cross sectional survey research design. The target population was adult household members in West Pokot County. While multi-stage cluster sampling technique was employed to sample 371 household survey respondents, 15 participants for Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and nine Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), were purposively selected. Data was collected using questionnaires, KII schedule and FGD guide. Validity and reliability of the data collection instruments were achieved through triangulation method and pilot-testing in Baringo County. Quantitative data was then analyzed using descriptive statistics with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. The analyzed data was presented in tables and charts. Thematic analysis was employed for qualitative data that was presented in narrative and verbatim forms. Findings: The study results were that adoption of ALSs had three effects on the pastoral households. First, it blurred the boundaries that separated men and women in terms of household roles and socioeconomic status. Second, ALSs affected the way household members related to each other. The effects were both negative and positive, depending on type and level of ALSs adopted. Third, adoption of ALSs caused improvement in the socioeconomic status of most households. Overall, ALSs had more positive effects on households and had caused general improvement in living standards. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Structural Functionalism theory and the Harvard Analytical Framework may be used to emphasize the critical contribution of both men and women in the wellbeing of pastoral households, through equitable and inclusive adoption of ALSs. The findings of this study could enable development agencies to formulate concrete interventions and policies to curb the negative effects of adoption of ALSs on households while leveraging on the positive ones, from a gender perspective. This will enhance adoption of ALSs and the community’s well-being.