By Adan Mohamed - Reporter
June 04,2026 - The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) Mandera Branch has conducted a coordination and project exit meeting for the Economic Security (EcoSec) Project implemented with support from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The meeting brought together county and sub-county government officials, community leaders, beneficiaries, and development partners to review project achievements and establish sustainability mechanisms for continued support to beneficiary households.
The Economic Security Project was designed to strengthen household resilience and restore livelihoods among vulnerable communities affected by recurrent drought, insecurity, and economic shocks in Mandera South Sub-County.
Through the intervention, 200 households received Income Generating Activity (IGA) grants of KES 50,000 each, representing a total investment of KES 10 million aimed at supporting household economic recovery and self-reliance.
Beneficiaries invested the grants in a range of small-scale businesses, including grocery shops, milk vending enterprises, kiosks, barber shops, tailoring services, food vending, and other income-generating ventures tailored to local market opportunities.
The businesses have contributed to improving household incomes, increasing access to essential services, and strengthening the economic resilience of vulnerable families.
In addition to financial support, KRCS and ICRC provided capacity-building initiatives to equip beneficiaries with the skills needed to manage and sustain their businesses.
The training focused on entrepreneurship development, business planning, financial literacy, record-keeping, budgeting, customer relations, marketing, savings culture, and business growth strategies.
The project also facilitated financial linkages by connecting beneficiaries with community savings groups, financial service providers, and relevant government departments.
These linkages are expected to improve access to financial services, encourage savings and investment, and support the long-term sustainability of beneficiary enterprises beyond the project period.
Speaking during the meeting, stakeholders commended the positive impact of the project on household livelihoods and acknowledged the role played by KRCS and ICRC in promoting economic recovery and community resilience.
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Participants noted that many beneficiary households had diversified income sources, improved food security, increased savings, and strengthened their ability to cope with future shocks.
The exit coordination meeting also served as a platform for sharing project outcomes, lessons learned, and sustainability plans.
Discussions focused on strengthening collaboration among government departments, community structures, and development actors to ensure continued technical support and monitoring of beneficiary businesses after project closure.
County and sub-county government representatives reaffirmed their commitment to integrating beneficiary groups into ongoing government livelihood programmes, enterprise development initiatives, and financial inclusion opportunities.
Community leaders also pledged to continue mentoring and supporting beneficiaries to strengthen business performance and sustainability.
The meeting emphasized that a coordinated and dignified exit process is essential in safeguarding project gains and ensuring beneficiaries continue to thrive independently.
Stakeholders agreed that continued collaboration and local ownership will be critical in sustaining the positive outcomes achieved through the project.
As the project concludes, KRCS Mandera Branch and ICRC expressed appreciation to beneficiaries, community leaders, government authorities, and partners whose commitment and participation contributed to the success of the intervention.
The organizations reaffirmed their dedication to supporting vulnerable communities through sustainable and resilient livelihood programming.
The successful implementation of the Economic Security Project demonstrates the impact of combining financial assistance, capacity strengthening, stakeholder engagement, and community ownership in building resilient livelihoods and empowering households toward lasting economic self-reliance.