In the face of increasing climate uncertainty, pastoral communities in Isiolo County, Kenya are gradually reshaping how they survive and plan as droughts, floods, and unpredictable rainfall continue to disrupt livelihoods. For households that have traditionally depended on livestock, the growing access to timely climate information is changing decision-making from reactive coping to proactive planning, allowing families to prepare before shock strikes rather than respond after losses have already occurred.
As prolonged droughts, harsh climatic conditions, and incidents of livestock theft continue to erode pastoral livelihoods, many households are increasingly embracing farming as a complementary source of food and income. Supported by climate information and early warning systems, communities are making more informed decisions on crop selection, planting seasons, water management, and livestock production, helping them diversify their livelihoods and strengthen household resilience.
This shift is being driven through early warning systems supported under the COOPEN Initiative, implemented by ActionAid Kenya and funded by Fondazione Cariplo and Compagnia di San Paolo. The initiative is helping communities receive and use climate information more effectively through technology powered by TRIM, strengthening their ability to plan for droughts, floods, and seasonal changes while protecting both livestock and household food supplies. It is also supporting communities to integrate this information into everyday choices around grazing, farming, and water use.
The programme is being implemented through Pastoral Field Schools (PFS) in Burat and Oldonyiro in Isiolo County. Through these groups community members collectively access climate information, share experiences, and strengthen their capacity to adapt to changing climatic conditions.
For many farmers, the impact is already visible in how they plan their livelihoods. As one farmer, Rose Siboem, explains,
“Through early warning mechanisms, we are able to plan for our farming and water management. This includes growing food crops that can adapt to our current climatic conditions. Sweet potatoes have been performing well, as well as vegetables, which are important for nutrition.”
Her experience reflects a wider change across communities where climate information is increasingly shaping what people plant, when they plant, and how they manage scarce water resources.
Community leaders also emphasize how early warning systems are reducing uncertainty and helping families prepare in advance. As Rosemary Nasuru, a local community leader, notes,
“Climate information has become an important tool for our communities. Families are now able to prepare in advance, make better farming decisions, and reduce losses during periods of drought and extreme weather.”
This growing confidence in climate information is helping households reduce risks and improve food security outcomes.
The benefits are also being witnessed through Pastoral Field Schools, where communities are learning to interpret climate information and translate it into practical actions. According to Etungá Yoronimo Augostino, Facilitator, Epulet Pastoral Field School,
“Through the early warning information and working with group members, we have been able to empower group members with information on climatic conditions. In this way, they have been able to make informed choices on farming and pasture management for livestock.”
His experience highlights the critical role that community-based learning platforms play in helping pastoralists make timely and informed decisions that protect their livelihoods while adapting to changing environmental conditions.
At the heart of this effort is the enhanced 3Map digital platform, an integrated system that gathers, stores, analyzes, and visualizes ecosystem and climate-related data. It combines information from community and automated weather stations, satellite rainfall estimates, market price trends, government bulletins, and locally generated indicators such as pasture conditions, water availability, soil health, and livestock production. Through interactive dashboards, mobile data tools, an online knowledge archive, and a community discussion forum, the platform turns complex data into clear, actionable insights that communities and stakeholders can use for coordinated decision-making.
According to Cynthia Asafi, Project Coordinator, the strength of the initiative lies in how it connects information with action. She explains,
“The value of this work is not just in collecting climate data, but in making sure communities can understand it, trust it, and use it in their daily decisions. When pastoralists combine their local knowledge with digital tools like 3Map, they become stronger decision-makers in managing risk and protecting their livelihoods.”
Alongside climate information systems, the initiative is also strengthening economic resilience through Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), enabling households to pool resources, access savings, and invest in small businesses and livelihood diversification. These financial networks are helping families recover more quickly from shocks while building longer-term stability.
These interventions are creating a more connected resilience system where information, digital innovation, and community action reinforce one another. In Isiolo County, pastoral communities are demonstrating that when people have access to timely climate information, participatory digital tools, and collective support systems, they are not only better prepared for climate shocks but are also building more secure and sustainable livelihoods for the future.
Author: Ezra Kiriago ,Communications Coordinator ActionAid Kenya.