RESEARCH PROPOSAL TOPIC:

Information, Communication and Technology

for

HIV/AIDS MANAGEMENT IN KENYA

A Case of Kisumu East District, Nyanza Province

PRESENTED TO:

UNITED STATES AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION (USADF)

RESEARCH TEAM:

1. Assoc. Prof (Dr.) Grace Mbagaya

2. Assoc. Prof. (Dr.) Vitalice Kalecha Oduol
3. Ms. Marcella M. Mainye
4. Mr. Christopher Okoth

NOVEMBER, 2009
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 Executive Summary...................................................................................................2
2.0 Background and Literature Review...........................................................................5
2.1 Effect of climate change on project and problems related to water.......................6
2.2 Information Communication Technology for Water Resource Management.......8
3.0 The proposal.............................................................................................................10
3.1 Problem statement................................................................................................10
3.2 Rationale / Justification .......................................................................................11
3.3 Overall objective .................................................................................................12
4.0 Methodologies and activities ..................................................................................13
4.1 Target water resources ........................................................................................13
4.3 Technology demonstrations ................................................................................14
4.4 Establishing a master farmer and water resource program .................................14
5.0 Collaboration ...........................................................................................................16
5.1. Moi University....................................................................................................16
• Department of communication studies (Juliet Macharia, Florence Nekesa, Marcella
Mainye)......................................................................................................................16
6.0 Target beneficiaries .................................................................................................16
8.0 Expected Impact ......................................................................................................17
8.2 Empowerment of both men and women as farmers ............................................18
8.3 Poverty reduction ................................................................................................18
8.4 Improved access to information ..........................................................................18
8.5 Technology transfer ............................................................................................18
8.6 Improved grassroots collaboration ......................................................................18
9.0 Work Plan and Activities ........................................................................................19
10.0 Monitoring and Evaluation....................................................................................20
11.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................21
12.0 Research Team Information...................................................................................22
13.0 Budget (Kshs.) ......................................................................................................23
13.1 Budget items......................................................................................................23
13.2 Budget notes ......................................................................................................23
13.3 Procurement procedures ....................................................................................25

COMMUNICATING USING NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR ENHANCED

PRODUCTION OF TRADITIONAL FOOD CROPS IN NORTH – RIFT KENYA

1.0 Executive Summary

The study proposed shall demonstrate the positive role of Information Communication
and Technology (ICT) in research in water resource management and food security in
specific region in the Rift Valley province. In this study, the region comprises of Moi’s
Bridge and Kipkelion in Trans-Nzoia and Kericho districts respectively.
Water related-disaster, food insecurity and poverty prevail in this region. The incessant
food insecurity and rampant poverty urgently and aggressively need to be addressed. As
a result, no surpluses are realized and the crops appear not to be of any economic value in
generating wealth for the people. Thus the incumbents are hardly making effort to do
better quality farming.

The research proposed shall focus on educating the incumbents of modern and
appropriate water usage and preservation technologies as well as effective food
production and storage modes. The study contends that for the people of the Rift Valley
to produce enough food crops and maximize and sustain food production to ensure food
security, they need to actively use ICT in water resources and food security aspects.
Further, their involvement will only be possible through engaging them in dialects(s) they
understand best. The study seeks to explore water resources and water related disasters
and current farming practices which the researchers believe could be enhanced though
ICT, then find out the people’s awareness on the significant role of ICT. Depending on
the gaps identified, the research team will establish a strategy to inject ICT into the daily
operations of the farmers. The process would start by identifying a cluster, whom they
shall educate/train on more appropriate farming practices while deploying ICT techniques
and finally engage them in improved farming practices. This will be followed with
appropriate documentation and dissemination to the rest of the small scale farmers in the
region.

The implementation would be achieved in two phases. The first phase, for the first year,
will focus on the use of ICT to deliver information on how to improve farming
experiences. The second phase would involve using ICT in the actual conservation and
farming. This proposal focuses on the first phase.

The project involves a partnership of information, communication and resource

management specialists working in collaboration with local NGOs extension agencies.
The project will establish simple water resources and farm trials and field demonstrations
of the areas identified, conduct field days, and disseminate information materials. To
facilitate dissemination, the research team shall identify five local offices which shall act
as information resource centers. The team shall make arrangements to have university
students attached to the project to manage the dissemination exercise. The students, who
will also collect relevant project information, will assist in improving extension services
in liaison with local NGOs and extension departments with support from Moi University,
and Rural Water and Sanitation Programs. Trial activities will be implemented in 10
administrative locations randomly selected from the districts with highest incidences of
related disasters in the region. 50 master farmers and water specialists will be trained in
the ten locations, who will be expected to diffuse this knowledge to other farmers and
water users.

The exercise will start with a planning meeting of all stakeholders, including the project
team, farmers and relevant members of the community. The purpose will be to lay out a
strategy and action plans. Baseline surveys and farmer surveys will be conducted using
participatory approaches with respondents randomly selected in order to characterize
current cropping practices, communication approaches and challenges. Later on the
impact of introducing and promoting new improved practices in the 10 administrative
locations will be analyzed after data is collected. Activities will be guided by the
monitoring and evaluation plan using the logical framework included in this proposal. A
final stakeholder and evaluation meeting will be held at a later stage of the project, which
will evaluate the project, assemble a report and communicate the findings to the sponsors.

Data from the project will be analyzed and published as reports, scientific papers in
scholarly journals and as features in national television, radio and water resource. The
project should result in improved access to new information and technologies for farmers
and water users in the region enhanced with better communication methods. This will
contribute to water resource management, improved food production and security,
economic welfare for the inhabitants. When appropriately adopted, it’s expected that
poverty levels should reduce. Women farmers and housewives will be greatly empowered
as new opportunities for income generation through production and marketing of
sustained vegetables and other crops to local markets. The farmers will be exposed to
new knowledge as well as effective communication technologies while grassroots
collaboration among researchers, extension agents, development organizations and agro-
dealers will be realized. A final technical and financial report will be submitted to the
Commission for Higher Education in Kenya (CHE). The project requires KShs. 3 million
to implement in 12 months.
2.0 Background and Literature Review

The study proposed shall demonstrate the role of ICT for community participation in
research and water resource management in order to reduce water – related disasters and
improve sustainability of food security in Rift Valley Province of Kenya. In this study,
the region comprises Kipkelion and Trans-Nzoia Districts. Water related disasters and
food insecurity prevail in the study sites. The term ‘water’ is difficult to define because of
its multidimensional biological nature. CEO Dictionary (2001) for example defines water
in a clear liquid that falls as rain and is in rivers, seas and lakes. Terget et al (1990)
defines water in terms of biological (or scientific use) nature as a compound made up of
Hydrogen and Oxygen (H + O2 = H2O). The combination of these compounds takes place
in the atmosphere as clouds reach condensation stage. Yahia (1993) characterizes ‘water’
as a resource to the society as the rest of the resources and in fact a very important
resource, for life sustainability to human beings, animals and plants.

Preamble to the European Union Water Framework Directive (2000) comments that
water is not a commercial product like any other but, rather, a heritage which must be
protected, defended and treated as such.

Water being a resource can be considered as a scarce and finite resource with no
substitute and upon which the very existence of life on earth depends. For that reason, the
challenges facing water resources are daunting. During the last century, water related
disasters have affected so many people. Urbanization, industrialization and
environmental degradation are compounding the challenges. The United Nations World
Water Development Report (2003) presented a gloomy picture; about 2 billion people in
over 40 countries are affected by water shortages and floods, more that 1 billion lack
sufficient and safe drinking water and 2.4 billion have no provisions for sanitation.

World Bank has not been left out in issues related to water. Similarly, the World Bank
Operational policy on water Resources Management underscores the importance of water
legislation and confirms the Banks readiness to assist its borrowers in establishing a
strong legal and regulatory framework for water Resource Management. The Millennium
Development Goals aim, inter alia, at developing multidisciplinary programs and models
that forecast and control water related disasters. Although the progress thus far is not
encouraging, it’s hoped that necessary actions will be taken to achieve this goal during
the remaining period. Such actions include financial, institutional and legal measures.

The Dublin statement on Water and Sustainable Development (1992) model outlines
guiding principles on proper water use. In this conference, the participants urged all
governments to study carefully the specific activities and means of implementations
recommended in the conference report, and to translate those recommendations into
urgent action programs for water and sustainable development. The guiding principles are
as follows:
Concerted action is needed to reverse the present trends of over consumption, pollution
and rising threats from draught to floods. The conference report sets out recommendation
for action at local, national and international levels, based on four guiding principles.

Principle one -Fresh water a finite and vulnerable resource essential to sustain life,
development and the environment.

Because water sustains life, effective management of water resources demands a holistic
approach, linking social and economic development with protection of natural ecosystem.
Effective management links land use and water use across the whole of a catchments area
or ground water aquifer.

Principle two –Water development and management should be based on a participatory

approach, involving users, planners and policy makers at all levels.

The participatory approach involves raising awareness of the importance of water among
policy makers and the general public. It means that decision makers are taken at the
lowest appropriate level, with full public consultation and involvement of users in the
planning and implementation of water projects.

Principle three –Women play a central part in the provision, management and
safeguarding water.
This pivotal role of women as providers and users of water and guardians of the living
environment has seldom been reflected in institutional arrangements for the development
and management of water resources. Acceptance and implementation of these principles
requires positive policies to address women’s specific needs and to equip and empower
women to participate at all levels in water resources programs, including decision making
and implementation in ways defined by them.

Principle four –Water has an economic value in all its competing uses and should be
recognized as an economic good.
Within this principle, it is to recognize first, the basic rights of all human beings to have
access to clean water and sanitation at an affordable price. Past failures to recognize the
economic value of water has led to wasteful and environmentally damaging uses of the
resource. Managing water as an economic good is an important way of achieving
efficient and equitable use and of encouraging conservation and protection of water
resources.

2.1 Effect of climate change on project and problems related to water.

In a normal situation, climatic conditions seem to be the same throughout some given
years. But, when there are abrupt and abnormal changes, the whole ecosystem is
disrupted. That is to say water resources are the ones affected most and due to that, they
affect the ecosystem.
People at any given region tend to know their weather patterns and are able to plan
accordingly. Agriculture in most cases is the one affected adversely by climatic changes.
when temperatures rise above a norm, crops are affected animals and the whole
environment suffer. At other times, it gets too rainy causing floods and the waterways are
unable to hold the excess water. These radical weather changes frustrate individuals when
planning their projects. This calls for proactively in planning the water resources.

Tegart et al (1990) claims that changes in climatic conditions due to increasing

atmospheric concentrations of radioactively active trace gasses will probably alter land
and water resources, their distribution in space and time, the hydrologic cycle of water
bodies, water quality and water supply systems and requirements for water resources in
different regions. Quantitative estimates of the hydrologic effects of climate change are
essential for problems associated with domestic water use, industry, power generation,
agriculture, transportation, future water resources, systems planning and management and
protection of the natural environment.

The declaration and resolutions of the many different forums and conferences that have
addressed the challenges of the water sector urged the states, inter alia, to adopt water
legislation. They call for water legislation that lays down clear and comprehensive rules
but that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate future challenges and unpredicted
changes in priorities and perspectives.

Ogola et al (1997) comment that when the sea surface temperature rise abnormally, the
weather pattern changes. The changes in weather patterns can either cause draught or too
much rain. This is exactly what happened in October 1997. The sea surface temperature
begun to rise and nobody knew it was ELNINO, which means “CHRIST CHILD”. To
some places like Angola, it was draught and famine. In Kenya however, the effect was
negative and will be felt even for some years to come, since few were prepared for the
calamity which then affected them negatively. This abnormal effect affected many
people ranging from farmers, business people, transporters, schooling institutions to
health facilities, from high cadre to the lower cadre workers. Many farming projects were
affected and diseases, deaths and displacements of people took place.

Damage caused by one disaster, either regional or local, will in all likelihood renders
affected communities more vulnerable to recurrence of disasters of the same or of
different kinds. Similar response after one kind of disaster can very easily add to or create
vulnerability to another kind (Lewis, 1999).

In such areas, small dams and water conduits constructed in response to perpetual draught
are among the first to sustain damage by floods, tremors, exacerbating an already fragile
survival viability. Squatter settlements are invariably vulnerable to flash-flooding, wind
and landslide, as well as earthquakes due to their occupation of the only accessible land
in ravines, dry river beds, steep slopes, valleys and river margins, otherwise un-owned or
unused.
The interrelationships between damaging events, argues Lewis (1999) are as significant
to the assessment of vulnerability as is the nature and likelihood of each one.
Vulnerability assessments therefore, are a necessary combination of research in scientific,
technological and sociological data, where available. Vulnerability is a morphological,
cumulative and collective condition. It is not one which results only from each isolated
damaging possibility as it becomes apparent or manifest. Lewis (1986) comments that
historical analysis further exposes the interrelationship of one set of conditions with
another in the making of vulnerability.

The conventional linkage between disasters and development starts with a natural disaster
and considers what needs to be done so that subsequent disasters are less severe. There is
nothing particularly wrong with this in itself except that, while this disaster-centric and
disaster-specific process is continuing, other projects may be undertaken which are not
part of these post-disaster initiatives. While disaster- specific initiatives are designed to
make things better next time and in the longer term, other activities undertaken at the
same time could inadvertently subscribe to making things worse.

Lewis (1990) concludes that natural disasters have become compounded on the one hand
by a more sophisticated understanding of their causes and on the other, by pressure of
events. Complex disasters now reflect a realism of interactions on the ground between
environmental hazards, political instability, conflict and population displacement.
Disasters are at least the ‘monitors of development’ or at most lack of prevention (in the
past) is the debt of development and disasters are unpaid bills.

Washington Declaration (1998) agrees that there is indeed a need for an active
international platform to initiate the commitment strength of purpose, resources, expertise
and energy to merge palliative with preventive purpose into the next centaury thus a need
or call for ICT for water resources management.

2.2 Information Communication Technology for Water Resource

Management
The relationship between natural disasters and management is a recurring issue. On the
one hand, management (with regard to development) is regarded as deterministic and a
major cause of vulnerability and the disasters it exacerbates; on the other hand, it is
regarded (so far with less articulation) as the necessarily inevitable vehicle for
vulnerability and disaster reduction.

The application of ICT in agriculture is increasingly important, the main phases of the
agriculture industry are: Crop cultivation, Water management, Fertilizer application, ,
Pest management, Harvesting, Post harvest handling, Transporting of food/food products,
Packaging, Food preservation, Food processing/value addition, Food quality
management, Food safety, Food storage, Food marketing. All stakeholders of agriculture
industry need information and knowledge about these phases to manage them efficiently.
Any system applied for getting information and knowledge for making decisions in any
industry should deliver accurate, complete, concise information in time or on time. The
information provided by the system must be in user-friendly form, easy to access, cost-
effective and well protected from unauthorized accesses.

ICT can play a significant role in maintaining the above mentioned properties of
information as it consists of three main technologies. They are: Computer Technology,
Communication Technology and Information Management Technology. These
technologies are applied for processing, exchanging and managing data, information and
knowledge. The tools provided by ICT are having ability to:

• Record text, drawings, photographs, audio, video, process descriptions, and other
information in digital formats,
• Produce exact duplicates of such information at significantly lower cost,
• Transfer information and knowledge rapidly over large distances through
communications networks.
• Develop standardized algorithms to large quantities of information relatively
rapidly.
• Achieve greater interactivity in communicating, evaluating, producing and
sharing useful information and knowledge.

Lewis (1993) argues that vulnerability accrues as a result of processes of change and
therefore is a potential product of all activities and undertakings of society. Vulnerability
reduction therefore requires a multi-sectoral and pervasive responsibility that can
comprehend and identify those activities and undertakings that implement the redirection.
Such modifications to processes of change are a necessary component to management
and development, hence with relation to information technology for water resources
management.

That is why Word Bank Policy Research Report (2001) puts is that the primary objective
of water Resource management’s information and documentation program is to advance
water resource research and development through the identification, acquisition,
processing and dissemination of information. The audience is wide – including water
resource researchers, trainers, policy makers and development agents.

This means that disasters cannot be regarded as discrete events, because by doing so, they
become externalized from the activities and processes that create their context. Disasters
are more usefully regarded as extensions of a pervasive normal hazardousness because
normal hazardousness is a comprehensible part of normal contexts and need
communication.

Natural hazards are those phenomenon in nature that have the potentials for causing
damage, where that damage is caused to human populations and their settlements,
disasters ensued research to demonstrate that good water resource management could
reduce the risk of disasters in those places. Over strategies, inclusive of all sectors across
the development spectrum are required as a matter of policy by all government and
development agencies for the identification, programming and local implementation of
development for vulnerability reduction within such strategies will be exercised;
 - Program objectives
- Project identification
- Macro and micro vulnerability assessments
- Project planning and programming by all sectors
- Co-ordination
- Ante-post evaluation
- Post disaster and post conflict analyses and they will assess all development
inputs, projects and programs with regard to their effect upon equitability and
vulnerability.

Lewis (1996) argues that multiple and multi-sectoral small-scale micro-projects will
better achieve successful local integration and appropriate infrastructure will be selected
for its potential for socio-economic regeneration. These could include for example,

- Transportation and marketing; the provision of bridges, roads and pathways,

boat and light plane landing facilities essential for commercial and marketing
activities (for improved quality of life and well- being the essential
prerequisite for recovery)
- Socio-economic activities during floods- the construction of bridges, sluices
and culverts
- Small industries; rural energy generation and electrification
- Agriculture; projects for subsistence agriculture and small-scale irrigation
- Health and education; clinics and health centers; primary schools and other
learning institutions.

The modern technological information world calls for protection of water resources.
The protection agenda can be disseminated to the end users of this water.
Commitment will need to be backed by substantial and immediate investment public
awareness campaigns, legislative and institutional changes, technological
development and capacity building programs.

Use of water call out signals like culvert signs, fliers, bill-boards, water charts showing
protective methods, brochures and journals on environmental materials among others
should be encouraged to deliver or drive the message home.

3.0 The proposal

3.1 Problem statement
The incessant insecurity and rampant water-related disasters in the two potential farming
areas in the Rift Valley need to be urgently addressed. Although all parts of the study
area, namely, Moi’s Bridge and Kipkelion are the bread basket of Kenya, some of their
inhabitants are poor small scale farmers. These communities survive on untreated,
running water with seasonal floods and droughts. They practice mixed crops-livestock
farming, have high population densities, small land sizes, face serious water-related
disasters like floods, soil erosion leading to soil fertility degradation and experience
rampant food insecurity and poverty. To keep up with the water challenge, they resort to
traditional way of conserving it and when it runs out, they travel long ways to fetch some
more. In addition, the water - related disasters are becoming rampant and food security is
not guaranteed. Thus, they invest heavily but the water - related disasters destroy all that.

ICTs for water resource management and food security now exist. When the information
is disseminated to the communities affected, they cannot only reduce water-related
disasters but also ensure the small scale farmers’ food security and hence alleviate
poverty. These techniques need to be effectively communicated and the practice
implemented among community members of Moi’s Bridge and Kipkelion regions in Rift
Valley of Kenya. The research proposed shall focus on communicating modern water
resource management technologies and agricultural practice of producing sustainable
food through community participation in the project. The study contends that people of
the above areas can use ICTs to reduce water-related disasters and ensure sustainable
food production and security. Further, their involvement will only be possible through
engaging in their native dialects. The study seeks to accomplish the following:

• Identify the water reservoirs

• Establish what techniques are used for farming
• find out the people’s awareness about effective water conservation and effective
farming techniques
• Train and educate the incumbents the effective techniques for conserving water
and farming, by demonstrating using demonstration farms.
• Finally create appropriate documentation that can be disseminated to the rest of
the region on the lessons learnt and actions that need to taken to improve on water
conservation and farming

The small scale farmers and water specialists will participate in all stages including the
documentation and disseminate to the rest of the community.

3.2 Rationale / Justification

The study is motivated by the fact that the community is not informed on how to farm
effectively and also manage the water resources they have.

The modes of communicating the best practices have generally been through barazas and
local authority meetings. ICT can be used to disseminate the necessary information and
knowledge on how to effectively deal with the challenges as well as farm using best
practices. The knowledge could work better if there is research and investment in
effectively communicate the new technologies and improved modes of sustaining food
production. Existing knowledge of water resource management should also be harnessed,
preserved, improved, packaged and effectively disseminated.
In addition, the inquiry is prompted by studies dealing with the transfer of knowledge,
which have conclude that University and tertiary graduates working as extension agents
fail to effectively communicate to the ordinary rural Kenyans the new technologies they
have acquired. This is primarily because they learn the technologies in English in their
institutions and cannot effectively communicate in the native dialect (Republic of Kenya,
1981, 1999, Thomson, 2001). The significance of using the target community’s language
has been recognized by international organizations like the GTZ. Since 1996, the GTZ
has been conducting an adult education project in 16 districts where teaching and
harnessing of indigenous known large publications in Kiswahili and local languages are
done (Thomson, 2001). These adult learners constitute the bulk of the rural small scale
framers who could implement knowledge on information technologies and improved
food production and security if they access it in the language they understand best.

The study will help expose the extent to which the problem of communicating new
technologies of water resource management has resulted in continued to water-related
disasters and food insecurity reduced in the rural Rift Valley of Kenya. Thereby this will
create adequate information on which to stage informed responses to the challenges of
communicating water resource information technologies.

Policy makers in the Kenya government would benefit a great deal from the inquiry’s
findings in their continued efforts to seek and integrate lasting solutions to the problem of
water-related disasters and food security in the study area. Indeed findings of the
investigations will also challenge relevant authorities and stakeholders to come up with
sustainable long term solutions to the problem. These will include ensuring effective
communication of new technologies water resource management, improved modes of
food production and security and involvement of the rural people in income generating
activities through water resource management and improved sustainable methods of food
production.

3.3 Overall objective

Use of ICT for water resource management to control water related disasters hence
reducing risks and maximizing food production in Kipkelion and Moi’s Bridge Divisions.

3.4 Specific Objectives

1. Show the impact of water resource in relation to water-related disasters (risks) and
food production (security).
2. Document the current issues on water, food security, processing and collective
storage of water and food.
3. To determine and document the difficulties encountered in communicating
appropriate water resource management and improved methods of food
production.
4. Identify current levels of awareness, access to information on conservation of
water and effective food production techniques
5. To develop and test multi-disciplinary programs for conserving water resources
and improve farming practices.
 6. To assemble literature on management, water, agriculture and collective storage
and marketing for the farmers to use in the development of their own libraries.
7. Suggest effective communication approaches deliver new techniques for water
resource management and improved food security in the region.
8. To establish whether the residents use the available ICTs to share messages on
water management and food security.

4.0 Methodologies and activities

This study will be undertaken among rural communities and rural small scale farmers in
two districts of Rift Valley province of Kenya namely, Kericho and Tans Nzoia.

The research will employ participatory methods in identifying project sites, technologies
and water resources of interest to communities in the region as well as an appropriate
project monitoring and evaluation strategy. This process will involve participation of
local communities to increase acceptance chances. Researchers will use transect walks,
water resources and plot land-use mapping to establish the current water and farming
practices. The community members will be engaged in Joint Focus Groups, in
stakeholder consultative meetings and individual discussions. These participatory
meetings will be used to identify current practices and needs in the communication of
technologies and the water management, food production processing and storage.
Stakeholders will include farmers, extension agents, agro-traders, water specialists,
farmers’ cooperatives, provincial administration, researchers and development agents
including NGOs, churches and community groups operating in the area.

These meetings will also involve structured interviews that will be guided by interview
schedules. Two separate and structured questionnaires will be designed, tested, refined
and administered. One of the questionnaires will target farmers and the other will target
local development organizations and agents. The questionnaires will be used to collect
information on current water resources, farming practices, access to information about
effective modern techniques and any barriers to effective communication of information
technologies. In addition, the surveys will be used to evaluate the deployment of
appropriate ICTs and the potential impact of their introduction besides the
multidisciplinary programs for water resources and food production to the communities.

4.1 Target water resources

The project will facilitate the revival of water resources, terracing and improving water
dams and course ways. Community members will have access to more dependable clean
water and food produced can be maximized and sustained and water-related disasters
identified and mitigated.

4.2 Baseline survey and sampling design

A baseline survey of the study areas will be conducted in order to derive relevant
information on current water resources and related disasters as well as food production
needs as regards access to and application of multi disciplinary programs. The research
will concentrate on five divisions that have been purposively selected due to incidences
of water-related disasters. For each division, 2 administrative locations will be randomly
selected to form the first stage of the sample. 20 villages will be randomly selected from
each location. With the assistance of local extension agents and ministry of agriculture
records, one farmer will be randomly selected from each village for the interviews and
administration of the questionnaires. A total of 400 respondents will be studied in this
project. The questionnaires and interview scheduled will be developed and tested in
collaboration with farmer representatives and other project partners in a participatory
process. Quantitative data collected will be compiled, analyzed and descriptive statistics
and correlations among variables derived. The survey results will be reinforced with data
colleted from secondary sources including population census and water related disaster
studies. The results will be presented in tables, charts and graphs. A scientific paper will
be published from the findings of study.

4.3 Technology demonstrations

The project will identify one farm in each location that will be used for the purpose of
technology demonstrations and simple adoptive research activities. Several field trails
and tests involving water use will be established to demonstrate to the farming
community the improved food production methods during field days. Groups of farmers
and other members of the community will be organized to visit these sites, undergo
training in various topics and collect information materials. Farmers visiting the
demonstration plots will be interviewed on current farming practices and constraints in
communicating new technologies to them.

4.4 Establishing a master farmer and water resource program

The key to solving farmer’s problems rests not in the response of outside parties to
confounded production constraints, but rather the farmer’s own ability to diagnose and
correct problems as they arise. Community members interact with, and seek assistance
from water specialists and this situation provides an entry point for rural development.
The project will formalize Mater Water resource Program by conducting training of
trainers (ToTs) for water users; this will be conducted in order to establish a critical mass
of trained farmers who will undertake farmer-to-farmer training and adaptive research
activities. A total of 50 expert framers and water specialists within each location will be
identified and provided with information and tools necessary to instruct others in
different farm activities and enterprises. Training for these farmers will be organized by
the extension agents and performed at the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources,
District Farmer Training Center and the School of Agriculture and Biotechnology; the
School of Human Resource Development and The school of Environmental Studies at
Moi University. The topics covered within the training will be identified by the farmer
groups, but are likely to include water resources, food storage and processing, pests and
diseases control, marketing, post-harvest handling and initiation of local extension agents
and university students.

4.5 Project meetings

The project plans to hold a planning meeting, stakeholder meeting and evaluation
workshop. A planning meeting will be held at the beginning of the project. It will bring
together major project partners to plan project activities and distribute funds. Research
methods, reporting procedures and field activities will also be discussed.

4.6 Stakeholder workshop

A stakeholder workshop will be conducted to educate local farmers and development
organizations on latest technologies and water resource management, identify
opportunities for improving technology transfer and initiate linkages between research,
extension, development organizations and the farming and business community. The
workshop will be attended by 60 participants from the farming, agro-business, extension
and policy research and community development agencies. The workshop will be
conducted using oral presentations, various components of ICTs, exhibitions, group and
panel discussions and live contests on the latest technologies of farming, communication
and sustainable food production. The workshop will be conducted using local native
dialects, Kiswahili and English. A final 3 day workshop will be held to disseminate
research findings.

4.7 Access to ICT for Water Resource Management and Food Security
The widespread need for better water resource and food production information emerges
during discussions with farmers. Addressing this need will be one of the major goals of
the project. Most farming communities lack access to the standard East African reference
texts and trade journals on water resource management, food production and marketing.
The project will develop a “call for information” strategy for all project partners to
determine which information is needed. This will be part of the needs assessment
activity. This will be followed by a collection of literature for use by the various farmer
groups in the project areas. A system of cataloguing incoming and borrowed documents
and publications will also be developed, allowing for each farmer’s groups to initiate its
own documentation library. This activity will be conducted throughout the project and
result in launching farmers’ libraries at its end. The project will compile information into
video presentation that will be broadcasted on national and local radios as audio and
televisions as a documentary and also distributed to information resource centers and
various development partners. These videos will comprise various topics on water
resource and water-related disasters and food production and storage. The project will
also try to see the possibility of establishing information centers in the two districts.

4.8 Expanding Extension services

Part of the smallholder’s product constraints rests in their poor access to reliable
extension information and advice. Rather than criticize current extension services, or
await its reform, this project seeks to attach university students to each of the 10
locations. This attachment will assist farmers to better document their constraints, as a
result the research team will be able to prescribe proper strategies for the farmers by
directing their extension activities. Each student will liaise with experts within the
Ministry of Water as need arises for support and information. Each student will be
responsible for equipping an information center with necessary information and material
within which the locations and ensure that the information reaches local farmers. The
students will be supervised by experts from Moi University who will relay new useful
information to them and to direct an adaptive on-farm research program in collaboration
with existing NGO networks and water specialists. The project will conduct a total of 30
field days with 3 activities in each of the 10 locations.

5.0 Collaboration
The project will be implemented by multi-disciplinary team comprising of
communication and information technologists, agricultural and water resource
economists, research specialists and extension specialists. Curriculum vitae of lead
investigators are presented in Appendix.

5.1. Moi University

• Department of communication studies (Juliet Macharia, Florence

Nekesa, Marcella Mainye)
The department will lead the investigation. In addition, they will assist in developing and
refining information materials, preparing survey instruments and in preparation of
scientific publications for the project sites. They will also be involved in utilization of
ICTs in dissemination of water technologies especially in the equipping the information
centers at project sites.

• School of Environmental Studies (Peter Isaboke Omboto)

The school will develop the data collection instruments and tools and analyze the water-
related disasters faced by farmers. The school will also assess the diffusion of
information regarding appropriate technologies in water conservation and managing
water related risks.

During the project, the school will also be involved in utilization of ICTs in
dissemination of information and technologies especially in the equipping of the
information centers at project sites.

• School of Agriculture & Biotechnology (Dr. Grace Mbagaya)

The school will provide information on how to use and conserve water efficiently,
besides providing information on effective methods for food production. The school will
also be resourceful in conduct trainings and participating in project evaluation.

5.2 Local NGOs & CBOs

The NGOs working in the area are largely the development wings of the Roman Catholic
Church and Finlay Ltd. Another group working in the area is the community
Development Projects. The project team will liaise with these NGOs and CBOs in
establishing on-water and farm activities surveys and project evaluation.

6.0 Target beneficiaries

The main beneficiaries of this project are the poor small hold farmers and water users in
general in the two regions of the Rift Valley of Kenya. They will benefit through
improved programs of water, extension support and agricultural information are realize
sustainable food security. Local agro-traders and retail outlets will also benefit from
improved levels of water resources and crop production. The research and agricultural
and water extension services by both the government ministries and non-governmental
organizations will benefit from new information extension and communication. The
higher learning institutions will have access to water resource management, new farming
technologies and information. Local schools and middle level institutions located in
project sites will access information centers that will be established besides realizing
better access to clean water and sustained food production.

7.0 Expected results

7.1 Inventory of water recourses

The project will compile and publish information on water resource management and
water – related disasters and trend in the specified regions of the Rift Valley province.

7.2 Water conservation for farmers

Control of water and water resource management methods will be introduced and
popularized to the farmers and all water users in the region.

7.3 New and effective communication methods

The project will refine approaches used in communicating new technologies to farmers &
water users in a way that they are able to adopt them.

7.4 New information in the information centers

The documentation introduced at the information centers at location level will improve
target population access to information on water and food production using.

7.5 Wealth creation

Farmers and water conservationists learning new conservation and production
technologies, cultivating crops will realize surpluses and sustained food security for
consumption and for local markets to generate income.

8.0 Expected Impact

8.1 Food Security

Using ICT to communicate improved food production techniques, the small scale farmers
will produce enough food that will end incessant food insecurities (shortages) water-
related disasters like migration and deaths due to floods in their households and the
region in general.
8.2 Empowerment of both men and women as farmers
The improvement of water resources and food production will provide a major
opportunity to improve the status and income of the women fraternity. This will enhance
their contribution to household affairs and their position in the family.

8.3 Poverty reduction

Using ICTs to communicate modern farming technologies and water resource
management, the incumbents are likely to realize an improvement in food production and
food security which should lead to surplus for sale hence generating wealth. This will
have a positive impact on their socio-economic well being and thereby alleviate water-
related disasters and food risks leading to poverty.

8.4 Improved access to information

Community members in these regions face constrained access to water resource and
agricultural information which the project seeks to improve through establishment of
information centers, attachment of university students to project sites, publication and
distribution of extension materials and broadcasting on various technologies such as
television, radio and print media. Emphasis will be laid on availing the information in
local languages.

8.5 Technology transfer

The community will learn and adopt better farming and water conservation techniques,
promoted through the project. Insight from the surveys and interactions with the
community members and other stakeholders will contribute to refining approaches of
technology transfer.

8.6 Improved grassroots collaboration

The project brings together various specialists and stakeholders. This will enhance
linkages that have been lacking between the communities and among different actors in
the water resource sector and agricultural sector. Other groups which will benefit from
the collaboration include researchers, extension agents, policy makers and NGOs who
will exchange information and technologies.
9.0 Work Plan and Activities

2007 • Receive and distribute funds.

October – December • Conduct planning meeting to refine annual activity schedule.
• Finalize interview schedules and questioners.
• Identify demonstration plots.
• Select various water resources and technologies with community members.
• Conduct initial training of 25 Master farmers and others.
• Distribute equipments of improved water technology
• Establish short-rains field trails and demonstrations.
• Conduct farm visits to farmers participating in the project.
• Assemble water and agricultural literature.
• Quarterly reports review
2008 • Selection of community members for interview.
January-March • Administer interviews and questionnaire.
• Survey data compilation and analysis.
• Preparation of manuscript for journal publication.
• Attach students to project sites.
• Establish rural water resource information centers in project sites.
• Conduct water resource conservatives.
• Conduct training of water resource managers.
• Student attachment assessment and reports
• Broadcast documentary on national television and radio.
• Distribute materials and resources for water resources management.
• Quarterly reports review.
• Conduct water sites and farm visits to farmers and others participating in the
project.
• Assemble water and agricultural literature.
April-June • Monitor students activities at project sites
• Improve rural water resource and agricultural information centers in project
sites
• Conduct field days and farm visits.
• Broadcast documentary on national television and radio.
• Conduct water resource and farm visits and workshops.
• Report writing
• Quarterly reports from students and NGOs.
July-September • Conduct field days and demonstration activities.
• Student attachment assessment and reports.
• External evaluation of the project.
• Stakeholder and Evaluation workshop for stakeholders.
• Broadcast documentary on national television and radio.
• Quarterly reports from students and NGOs.
• Dissemination of findings workshop
• Submission and publication of paper in referred journal
• Conduct final field surveys.
• Final technical and financial report submission.
10.0 Monitoring and Evaluation
The project will conduct continuous internal monitoring and arrange a final external
evaluation. Continuous internal monitoring will be the responsibility of the Principal
investors. Monitoring will be accomplished through on-site visits, assigning regular
written reports by cooperates and through the compilation and interpretation of formal,
closed-open-ended surveys. The final external evaluation will be arranged and conducted
by an external evaluator from Moi University Departments of communication studies. An
evaluation workshop involving a cross-section of stakeholders will be conducted at the
last quarter of the project to assess performance and impacts of the project in reducing
risks and maximizing food security in the project areas. Researchers will present their
findings, farmers present their observations, development organizations share their
interpretations and the group will refine approaches to effectively deliver information
technologies to the inhabitants.

A logical framework has been developed as a summary description of the project (Table
2). The logical framework will guide project implementation and evaluation of its
performance. The framework will be refined further during the project planning meeting
scheduled at the beginning of the project. The external evaluation team, stakeholders and
other project partners will use the logical framework to evaluate the project. The
evaluation team will prepare an independent report that will be submitted along with the
projects report. The continuous internal monitoring and external evaluation will be
reported through a published end of project Technical Report and Financial Statement.
11.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Okoth J.S. Abira, M.A. and Awuor, V.O (1977); Potential Impacts of Climatic Change in
Kenya works of a health environment-climate Network Africa – CAN, Nairobi.

Okoth Ogendo H.W.O. and Ojwang J.B. (1995); a Climate change, the IPCC Impacts,
Assessment World Meteorological Organization, United Nations Environment Program,
Australia.

Lewis James (1999); development in Disaster- Prone Places; Studies of Vulnerability;

Intermediate Technology Publication, UK.

Salman, M.A. SALMAN and Daniel, D.B (2006); Regulatory frameworks for Water
Resources Management; A Comparative study, The Word Bank Washington D.C.

Preamble to the European Union Water Framework Directive (2000).

Engendering Development; through gender Equality in Rights, Resource and Voice-A

Word Bank Policy Research Report, Oxford University Press USA (2001).

The Impact of Climate change; UNEP/GEMS Environment Library No. 10, Words and
publications Oxfords England (1993).

Maskrey Andrew (1989); Disaster Mitigating, A community based Approach,

development Guidelines, No. 3, Oxfam, Garamond.

Franco, Eduardo (1955) El Desastre natural en Piura, in Desastre y sociadad en America

Latina Grupo Editora Latnoamvica Buenos Aires.

Aysan yasemin (1984); Community Vulnerability in rural areas, Gediz Turkey, C/B/W
73 Conference India.
ICRAF: Agro-forestry for sustainable land use Nairobi ICRAF, 2 pp.

ICRAF, Fact sheet for dissemination programs English, French and Spanish version
Nairobi ICRAF, 2PP.
12.0 Research Team Information
Juliet W. MAcharia, Moi University ( Principal Researcher)
Ms Juliet Macharia is almost PhD in Communication Technology at Moi University
(Completed course work and submitted thesis for examination). She is a Senior lecturer
and Head of Department at Moi University in the School of Human Resources
Development and Communication Studies. She has widely researched and published in
Information Communication Technologies and Community Empowerment. E-mail –
juliemach@yahoo.com; tele. 0202030163 and 0721-213408

Dr. Grace Mbagaya, Moi University (Researcher 1)

Dr. Grace Mbagaya holds a PhD in Family Science and Consumer Technology, Moi
University. She is a senior lecturer in School of Agriculture and Biotechnology. She has
widely researched in foods security and development. Tel. 0724- 231495

Florence Nekesa Simiyu, Moi University (Researcher 2)

Ms. Florence Nekesa Simiyu is pursuing M.Phil in Communication Studies. She is a
senior administrative officer in Moi University. She has widely researched in community
development, social cultural profiles and administration. E-mail flonekesta@yahoo.com;
tel. 0724238810

Peter Isaboke Omboto, Moi University. (Researcher 3)

Mr. P.I. Omboto is a PhD candidate in Environmental Studies at Moi University. He is a
Lecturer in the School of Human Resource Development. He has researched widely in
forestry, wetlands and food security. E-mail - isaboke59@yahoo.com; tel 0724 154 131

Marcella Moraa Mainye, Moi University (Researcher 4)

Ms. M. M. Mainye is pursuing M.Phil in Communication Studies from Moi University.
She is a part-time lecturer in Moi University Satellite Campus. She has widely researched
in communication, community-based projects and Community empowerment. E-mail –
mainyemarcella@yahoo.com; tel. 0721- 339749

Water Resource and Sanitation Programs.

Rural water development and water conservation specialists, in the study area.

NGOs and CBOs

Small Scale Farmers

Local Leaders
13.0 Budget (Kshs.)
13.1 Budget items
Item Total
Surveys 869,000.00
Communication Expenses – Moi 254,000.00
Filed Expenses 272,000.00
Training 240,000.00
Meetings and workshops 575,000.00
Information and Communication Technology 290,000.00
Monitoring, evaluation and reports. 209,000.00
Total 2,619,000.00
CHE Administrative Costs 290,000.00
Grand Total 2,909,000.00

13.2 Budget notes

Baseline and community surveys (Moi University)

Item Num Days Rate Amount

Research Team
Principal Researcher 1 30 4300 129,000.00
Researcher 1 1 30 3900 107000.00
Researcher 2 1 30 3300 99000.00
Researcher 3 1 30 3300 99000.00
Researcher 4 1 30 2500 75000.00
Research Assistants 2 20 1,500 60,000.00
Vehicles on hire 2 30 5,000 300,000.00
Sub Total 869,000.00

Communication expenses (Moi University)

Item Number Months Rate Amount

Postage, phone, internet, photocopying 1 12 10,000 120,000.00
Computer laptop 1 1 65,000. 65,000.00
Digital camera 1 1 35,000. 35,000.00
Printer 1 1 8000 8000.00
Cartridges 6 12 6000 36000.00
Radio, 1 10’000.00
DVD Player, VCDs, CDs 10,000.00
Sub-Total 284,000.00

Field Expenses (Water and Sanitation)

Item Number Days Rate Amount
Field Travel: 3 project staff, 12 months, 3 days a month 3 3 1,500.00 162,000.00
Material Expenses: 50 farmers, 2 seasons 50 1 500.00 50,000.00
Demonstration Dams: 10 sites for 12 months 10 1 500.00 60,000.00

Sub -Total 272,000.00

Training (Moi University)

Item Number Freq Rate Amount
Field days: 10 sites, 2 events 20 4 2,000 160,000.00
Adaptive research farmers 50 1 500.00 25,000.00.00
Facilitators ( specialists) 4 2 4000 32,000.00
Demonstration Materials,(CDs, Tapes, & DVDs, brochures) 10,000.00
Stationery 5000.00
Hire of Hall @ 4000 1 2 8000.00
Sub -Total 240,000.00

Meetings and workshops

Item Number Freq Rate Amount
Planning meeting: 20 participants 20 1 2,500.00 50,000.00
Stakeholder evaluation workshop: 50 participants 50 1 2,500.00 125,000.00
Workshop for Dissemination of Findings 3days 200 1 2000 400,000.00
Sub -Total 575,000.00

Information and Communication Technology

Item Months Count Rate Amount
Supplies 9 5 1,000.00 45,000.00
Hire Equipment : P.A, water testing equipment, 10 6,000.00 60,000.00
Literature Acquisition 1 5 25,000.00 125,000.00
Television Documentary 1 1 30,000.00 30,000.00
Radio Programmes 3 3 20,000.00 60,000.00
Sub-Total 290,000.00

Monitoring and Evaluation Reports (Moi University)

Item Number Months Rate Amount
Analysis and Report Writing 1 27,000.00 27,000.00
Final Report printing 100 150.00 15,000.00
Consultants’ Fee 3 10,000.00 30,000.00
External evaluation: 5 days 5 1 15,000.00 75,000.00
Contingencies 32,000.00
Sub -Total 179,000.00
GRAND TOTAL 2,909,000.00
13.3 Procurement procedures
The acquisition of all durable items for this project will follow the public procurement
procedures through the Moi university purchasing officer. At the end of the project, the
items shall become the property of the Department of Community studies at Moi
University. For the external evaluation, competitive bidding will be initiated through
publication of a request and submission of the Expressions of Interest from various
researchers and development specialists. The lower bidder with best expertise will be
selected by the joint committee of the researchers from RWDAS program and Moi
University to undertake the evaluation, purchase of all project suppliers and use of funds
will be subject to Moi University and RWDAS procedures and also subject to audit by
both the University and RWDAS auditors.
 Table 2. Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: the Logical Framework
Overall Objective
Use ICTs for water resource
management to control water-related
disasters hence reducing risks and
maximizing food production in
Kipkelion and Moi’s Bridge divisions.
Purpose
To facilitate the better access of
farmers to new and improved
information technologies of water
resource management in the two areas
of Rift Valley Region of Kenya.
Expected Results
Inventory of water resources.
Compile and publish information on
water resources practices and trends in
the Rift Valley Region.
ICTs for community. New and
improved information methods
introduced and popularized to
community in the region.
New and effective communication
methods. Refine approaches used in
communicating new technologies to
farmers in a way that they are able to
adopt them. University students learn
Objectively verifiable indicators
400 Members in 2 districts accessed ICTs
for improved foods production, wealth
creation and poverty reduction.
Effective extension operations
Established within ten locations in five
administrative divisions and two districts
of the Rift Valley, Kenya.
New and higher yielding varieties of
traditional crops are distributed in 10
locations of the Rift Valley.
400 farmers and others secure improved
profitability through control of water-
related disasters and collective storage
operations.
ICTs for water resource practices
characterized in the Rift Valley Region of
Kenya.
Water dams and reservoirs identified and
promoted through adaptive, on-water farm
research and fields demonstrations.
10-20 University students attached to
provide extension support in two districts
of the Rift Valley region.
50 master farmers commissioned in crop
and agricultural resource management.
Means of verification
Provincial and district water resource
production and marketing statistics
Publications in internationally
recognized journals
External evaluation reports
NGOs, church and project reports
Reports by external evaluators.
Reports by District Water resource
programs officers in project areas.
Inventories of literature in rural
information centers established by
project.
Project reports
Water resource magazines
National television and radio.
Publications in scholarly journals.
Reports of District Water resource
Officers.
Inventories of literature in rural
information centers established by
project.
Assumptions
Community members are willing
to adopt the use of new varieties
of water resources and food
production.
Current agricultural extension is
weak and remains so over the
project duration.
New crop varieties can be
purchased, repacked and
distributed to farmers through
the formal extension system.
Farmers have skills to cultivate
new traditional crop varieties.
External opportunities for seed
supply and marketing remain
unchanged during the project
duration.
University students are able to
acquire complex extension skills
and remain in project areas
during the project duration.
Most-skilled farmers are willing
to instruct others on new
technologies.
new communication approaches.
New information centers. Enhancing
local public offices to act as libraries
and documentation centers at location
levels to improve farmers’ access to
information on water and food
production using modern
communication technology.
Wealth creation. Community
sustained production technologies,
implement water resources; realize
surpluses for local markets to generate
income.
Activities
1. Baseline survey and sampling
design
2. Technology demonstrations.
3. Establishing a Waster Water
Program
4. Project Planning meeting.
5. Stakeholder workshop
6. Upgrading Information Access
through ICT.
7. Expanding Extension
Services.
8. Linking Community to Water
Resource management.
9. Adaptive Research Process
and Goals
5000 extension booklets distributed to 400
community members in 10 demonstrative
locations.
5 information centers/libraries established
in five districts to improve access to
agricultural information.
A paper on improving access to new
traditional crop varieties published in a
scholarly journal.
Articles and features in national magazines
on agriculture.
1. Five information centers
operational in five districts
2. 20 open and field training
exercises conducted in 10
locations in the two regions.
3. 10 University students recruited,
attached and prepare fieldwork
plans.
4. 50 community members
commissioned.
5. Water-related equipment and
materials purchased and
distributed to the 10 locations.
6. Food surpluses marketed to local
markets.
7. 50 on-farm trails conducted in
five divisions over 9 months.
University students produce lists of
literature and borrowing records.
Training reports and lists of
participants. Extension annual reports
compiled and distributed.
Database of community members and
their activities maintained and
summarized in project reports.
Copies of delivery records maintained
by the attached students and
summarized in project reports.
Fields protocols developed and farmer
field days held.
Booklets are written in a
language and style
understandable to rank and file
local people.
On-farm adaptive research is
able to pioneer and promote new
farming technologies.
Target administrative locations
do not have master farmer
programs.
Target project sites do not have
information centers.
Moi University is willing to
attach students to project sites.
Water resource access is limited.
Community members are willing
to acquire and cultivate
improved varieties of traditional
crops.