Consultancy - Addressing the Intersection of Climate, Conflict and Gender Equality in the Turkana-Omo Borderlands (Project Number: 2878-03/2023)

International Alert (Kenya and Horn of Africa) in partnership with Turkana Pastoralists Development Organization (TUPADO) and the Ethiopian Institute of Peace in Ethiopia (EIP) is implementing the project “Addressing the intersection of climate, conflict and gender equality in the Turkana-Omo borderlands.” The project funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) began implementation in August 2024 and will end in March 2027. The project seeks to strengthen gender-inclusive local institutions and governance mechanisms capable of effectively managing transboundary conflicts linked to climate risks. It does this through a combination of community engagement, institutional strengthening, women's leadership promotion, cross-border dialogue, and policy influencing. These integrated approaches are designed to strengthen trust, foster collaboration across borders, enhance local ownership of conflict management processes, and support evidence-based policy influence at county, national, and regional levels. Context and Background General Background In the Horn of Africa, protracted conflicts over natural resources, especially water and pasture in the dryland borderlands are exacerbated by climate shocks disproportionately affecting the politically and economically marginalised pastoralist communities. The Turkana-Omo transboundary area between northwestern Kenya (Turkana County) and southern Ethiopia (South Omo zone) are characterized by recurrent drought and floods, weak governance systems, and deep-seated gender inequalities which drive escalating resource-based tensions among the Turkana, Dassanech and Nyangatom communities. Declining fish stocks, combined with rising lake levels that displace landing sites and communities intensify competition for water and fisheries. Cross-border cattle raiding has become increasingly commercialised and violent, and authorities are often unable to halt attacks or recover stolen livestock. These overlapping pressures erode livelihoods, food security and social cohesion in the borderlands. Conflict and climate impacts are deeply gendered. Women face heightened vulnerability during raids and displacement, bear the burden of rebuilding homesteads, and turn to diverse income generating activities after livestock losses. Harmful masculinities link cattle raiding to rites of passage, manhood and bride price obligations. Despite their frontline roles, women are systematically excluded from male-dominated peacebuilding and climate adaptation mechanisms. The project operates in two transboundary corridors linking these communities, seeking to address the interconnected drivers of conflict, climate vulnerability and gender inequality.

Background to the Project

International Alert in partnership with Turkana Pastoralists Development Organization (TUPADO) and the Ethiopian Institute of Peace in Ethiopia (EIP) is implementing the project “Addressing the intersection of climate, conflict and gender equality in the Turkana-Omo borderlands.” The project funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) began implementation in August 2024 and will end in March 2027. The project seeks to strengthen gender-inclusive local institutions and governance mechanisms capable of effectively managing transboundary conflicts linked to climate risks. It does this through a combination of community engagement, institutional strengthening, women's leadership promotion, cross-border dialogue, and policy influencing. These integrated approaches are designed to strengthen trust, foster collaboration across borders, enhance local ownership of conflict management processes, and support evidence-based policy influence at county, national, and regional levels. The overall goal of the intervention is to reduce conflicts exacerbated by climate change and climatic shocks in the borderlands of the Horn of Africa through gender-responsive peacebuilding. The intended outcome is “Strengthened gender-inclusive formal and non-formal structures and actions to effectively manage transboundary conflict linked to climate risks affecting communities in the Omo-Turkana border area of Kenya and Ethiopia” To achieve this outcome, the intervention is structured around four output areas:

• Output 1 – Women, youth and other vulnerable groups are empowered to meaningfully participate in cross-border conflict management and climate adaptation formal and informal institutions
• Output 2 – Well coordinated Communities and local institutions structures established and capacities to manage conflict issues driven by climate change enhanced
• Output 3 – Local governance actors (formal and informal) empowered and coordinated to manage transboundary conflict and climatic shocks in a gender sensitive way
• Output 4 – Policymakers at the national and regional level (including government, multilaterals, and civil society) are integrating learning on the intersection of conflict, gender equality and climate action into policies and programmes.

Implementation is guided by several cross-cutting themes, namely gender equality and women’s empowerment, youth inclusion, conflict sensitivity, climate adaptation and resilience, social inclusion, and cross-border cooperation. Evaluation Purpose and Objectives Purpose of the Final Evaluation The purpose of this Final Evaluation is to provide an independent and evidence-based assessment of the project’s achievements and contribution to strengthening climate-resilient and gender-responsive peacebuilding systems in the Kenya-Ethiopia borderlands. The evaluation will support accountability to stakeholders and document challenges and lessons learned during implementation. It will provide practical recommendations to inform future programming at the intersection of climate change, conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and gender equality.

Objectives of the Final Evaluation

1.Assess the effectiveness of project interventions in achieving intended outcomes and contributing to immediate impacts at com