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Enhancing the Resilience and Adaptive Capacity of refugees and host communities in Turkana County (CP WASH)

The CP WASH project enhances access to sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in Turkana County, empowering refugees and host communities to become more resilient, economically self-reliant, and climate- adaptive. Through private-sector-led, market-based solutions, the project transforms WASH challenges into economic opportunities by integrating entrepreneurship, scalable business models, and circular economy approaches.

 
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Turkana County
3.3122477
35.5657862
Kenya
Project duration
2025 - 2026
Financed by
  • Danish International Development Agency DANIDA
  • Grundfos Foundation
PRoject partners
  • Plan International Kenya
  • Water Mission

By integrating climate adaptability, the project directly responds to the extreme drought conditions affecting the region, while empowering local entrepreneurs—especially women—to build businesses in water access, sanitation, and menstrual hygiene. This approach not only strengthens economic opportunities but also enhances public health and community resilience in fragile contexts.

Turkana County, located in northwestern Kenya, is an arid and semi-arid region facing severe water scarcity, climate shocks, and growing pressure from an increasing refugee population. Home to over 250,000 refugees in Kakuma camp and Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement, the region lacks adequate water infrastructure, forcing residents—especially women and girls—to walk long distances to fetch unsafe water, exposing them to health and security risks. Poor sanitation and hygiene conditions have further exacerbated waterborne diseases, putting additional strain on already limited public health services and hindering economic opportunities.

The Project

Swisscontact, Plan International Kenya, and Water Mission, organizations with a proven track record in difficult contexts and strong technical expertise are implementing the Climate Proofing WASH Services (CP WASH) Project.

The project is leveraging private sector collaboration, market-based solutions, and public-private partnerships to enhance climate resilience and ensure sustainable access to safe drinking water for both refugees and host communities. This initiative prioritizes innovative, commercially viable business models that drive long-term impact, shifting away from donor dependency and positioning fragile regions like Turkana as investment-ready markets for WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) solutions.

Implementation Phase 2025 - 2026 - Planned Intervention Areas:

  1. Fecal waste-to-value Business models: Partnering with private sector companies to introduce eco-friendly toilets and innovative waste management solutions that convert fecal waste into valuable products like fertilizer and briquettes driving job creation and contributing to a thriving local economy.
  2. Business models for Menstrual Hygiene: In partnership with leading private sector companies, supporting the development of business models for local entrepreneurs to participate in the production, marketing, and distribution of reusable and biodegradable sanitary pads, fostering women-led businesses while enhancing access to menstrual hygiene solutions

Swisscontact has 60 years of experience in market-based solutions, working closely with businesses to drive sustainable impact. With 14 years of deep regional engagement through the Skills for Life project in Turkana County. This extensive engagement has provided Swisscontact with a nuanced understanding of Turkana’s economic and social dynamics, enabling the design of tailored, sustainable solutions.

By unlocking investment, strengthening local business ecosystems, and collaborating with the government to create an enabling legal environment, Swisscontact supports job creation, particularly for women and youth, while driving long-term economic growth in fragile contexts. This approach also fosters the generation of a new, skilled workforce, prepared to address deep-rooted social and economic challenges.

Project Goals

  • Improve economic self-reliance through market-based skills development and employment opportunities
  • Provide sustainable WASH services that contribute to local job opportunities and healthy lives
  • Promote gender equality and social inclusion through a transformative approach
  • Enhance the resilience and adaptive capacity of refugees and host communities in Turkana County
  • Support locally led development and foster community empowerment
  • Align with and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 1, 5, 6, 8, 13, and 17)

Expected Results

  • Market-led business models addressing sanitation and menstrual health challenges are established, fostering job creation, decent income, and improved economic opportunities for refugees and host communities.
  • Sustainable WASH services are developed, creating employment opportunities and promoting healthier living conditions.
  • Resilience and climate adaptation capacity among target groups are enhanced.
  • Gender-related barriers are addressed, ensuring more inclusive and equitable outcomes.
  • Local leadership and community participation in development efforts are strengthened.
  • Contributions are made to the Kalobeyei Integrated Socio-Economic Development Plan (KISEDP), aligning with relevant SDGs.

The project is financed by Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and Grundfos Foundation