Kenya: Research Terms of Reference - 2026 Multi-Sectoral Needs Assessment, KEN2601 (May 2026, 01)

Country: Kenya Source: REACH Initiative Please refer to the attached file. 2. Rationale 2.1 Background The arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) of northern Kenya, particularly the counties of Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Turkana, and Garissa, continue to experience multidimensional humanitarian needs driven by the intersection of climatic shocks, chronic vulnerability, and socio-economic marginalization. Over recent years, these counties have experienced climate variabilities that have severely disrupted livelihoods, reduced livestock productivity, damaged infrastructure, displaced households, and weakened already fragile coping capacities.1 While drought conditions have historically shaped humanitarian response planning in the ASAL regions, the increasing overlap between drought recovery periods and recurrent flooding events has created more multidimensional vulnerabilities affecting various populations. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, food insecurity remains a defining feature of vulnerability across ASAL counties. As of 2025, approximately 3.3 million people in Kenya were classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse, with around 400,000 in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency).2 REACH Initiative revealed widespread needs across key sectors, including water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), health, nutrition, shelter, and protection.3 In this context, the humanitarian situation in northern Kenya has become increasingly dynamic due to the overlapping impacts of drought and flooding. While early 2026 was characterized by worsening drought conditions across several ASAL counties, the onset of the March–May 2026 long rains led to flooding that reportedly affected tens of thousands of households, disrupting livelihoods, damaging infrastructure, contaminating w...

Original source: Relief Web