Drylands Learning and Capacity Building Initiative (DLCI)- www.dlci-hoa.org was registered as a national Non-Governmental Organization in Kenya in 2016. It initially began as an inter-agency advocacy platform in 2008 by a consortium of international NGOs that was working in the Horn of Africa region. It was later established as a Regional Learning and Advocacy Programme (REGLAP) in 2014. DLCI is recognized for actively promoting drylands friendly policies and has accumulated extensive knowledge of the indigenous people of Kenya. DLCI is the secretariat of the Pastoralist Parliamentary Group (PPG) since 2016 and provides technical support and policy advisory services to members of the national parliament from 15 Counties. DLCI is the only kind with special skills and competencies of working in policy formulation transactions to a satisfactory conclusion and it is perceived by others as a successful, powerful organization close to the state power and policy making. This is one of the most significant value propositions that sets it apart from other actors in the CSO sector in Kenya. What we do DLCI supports marginalized communities to advocate for their rights using the law and shaping policy practice. Work closely with policymakers and government institutions to improve policy environment and practice on the community land rights, promote gender inclusivity, and conflict sensitivity and support a case for correction of environmental justice in the context of drylands. We amplify the voices of the dryland communities, especially the pastoralist people who greatly suffer the most damage from climate change impacts but contribute the very least to global climate injustice. DLCI facilitates and supports pastoralist communities to be and remain at the centre of development interventions, participate in the global dialogue, join the indigenous peoples’ movement, influence the actions that enable them to be resilient communities, constantly adapting to climate change, improving their lives, protecting pastoralism livelihoods and community natural resource heritage. The nature of DLCI work deals with many stakeholders with varied interests and needs. DLCI stakeholders include individuals or groups or institutions who live and operate in the drylands in the Horn of Africa. The local pastoralist communities, individuals with special needs, formal and informal representatives of the people, leadership at national and local government authorities, the national and county level politicians, the religious leaders, civil society organizations and groups with special interests, the academic community, private sector investors who are interested in making a profit from the products found in the drylands area or other businesses ventures in the landscape. DLCI exist to empower the communities to engage with a diverse stake that each of the different individuals or groups have in the dryland environment. DLCI provides services that include coordinating the complexities of interests from diverse stakeholders and remaining focused on enhancing community participation. DLCI constantly conduct deep analysis and understanding of the degree to which each stakeholder is engaged and their work affected the community and environment drylands’ wellbeing. Therefore, the type of engagement and the degree to which a stakeholder has an interest and/or influence is required to ensure a successful and sustainable environment. DLCI niche and policy intervention space is in facilitation, convening of both large gatherings and small meetings to bring together stakeholders, CSO actors and policymakers and community voice amplifiers.

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The project is aimed at achieving   the following objectives:

1. Facilitate safe, inclusive spaces for grantees and Voice rightsholders to share experiences/ to learn together on their projects, to explore empowerment and influencing approaches and to enhance the grantees’ capacity to be inclusive.
2. Amplify the voices of the rightsholder groups, including Voice grantees and put their ideas and identities in the public space.