Involving men in the agenda of women empowerment
Community Safety Initiative realizes that the improvement of lives of women among pastoralist communities can only be achieved through involvement of men who have traditional roles in the society. In a typical traditional environment, women have little or no space to address social issues directly affecting them. These issues range from safety and health to hygiene, sanitation and retrogressive cultural practices e.g. FGM. CSI intends to recruit few local men as ambassadors for women empowerment at grass root level.
Advocating for inclusion of women in key decision making platforms
Majority of pastoralist women come from a background where they are socialized to respect men and to submit to their leadership. In this context, men are viewed to be superior to women. Subsequently, this affects participation of women in decision making even in matters directly touching on their lives. For example, the practice of FGM, forced and arranged marriages, early marriages , conflicts, poor governance,exclusion from inheriting land and property etc.
Advocating for implementation of the constitution is a crucial issue and a big concern of CSI. In particular, CSI will pursue implementation of government policy to ensure no gender takes up more than two thirds of positions in any public institution. This will enhance representation of women in public offices and in critical development committees.
Partnership, collaboration and forming synergy
The millennium sustainable goal No. 16 recognizes partnership as a key approach in achieving program’s desired goals and objectives. For several years now, CSI has continued to partner with government and civil society organisations in improving the safety of indigenous communities in Northern Kenya. For instance, CSI is partnering with the National Police Service in Peace and Security Agenda and have jointly established a Peace Resource Centre in Baragoi, Samburu County. It is in this Centre where a monument was constructed in honor of 42 gallant police officers who lost their lives during security operations in 2011. The names of these heroes are encrypted on the wall of the monument. A commemoration event is done annually bringing together members of the NPS, families of the deceased, CSO’s and the local communities. CSI is in the process of enlarging the Centre to be the leading community Peace Resource Centre in the Country.
Utilization of indigenous knowledge
Cultural issues require an in-depth understanding and appreciation of people’s values, beliefs and traditions. Solving social challenges among the pastoral communities must begin with convincing them that there is a need for change. No sooner people embrace the idea, than they start providing better solutions that can work for them. The success of Peace Caravans in Pastoralist Counties for instance is attributed to proper utilization of indigenous knowledge known as Traditional Dispute Resolution Mechanism.