In 2025, SASAL shifted from implementing separate projects to a holistic, community-led approach to climate resilience and gender equality for pastoral communities. Building on lessons from projects implemented between 2023 and 2024—such as land restoration, women’s empowerment, climate storytelling, and disaster response—SASAL recognized deeper, interconnected challenges related to climate vulnerability, gender inequality, and structural marginalization.

This led to the development of the Enkang’ Model for Climate Resilience and Gender Equality, inspired by the traditional Maasai village and grounded in observational learning and cultural practices. The model integrates water access, solar energy, women’s skills training, climate-resilient housing, sanitation, kitchen gardening, and land restoration, demonstrating that resilience and gender equality can be achieved without undermining cultural identity.

Research and storytelling also played a key role. A 2025 documentary and subsequent study on flooding in Kajiado County revealed significant psychosocial impacts of climate change, informing SASAL’s evidence-based advocacy on climate justice and the Loss and Damage agenda, particularly around non-economic losses such as mental health, dignity, culture, and social cohesion.

Alongside implementation, SASAL adapted its internal policies to align with community governance systems, strengthening trust, reducing conflict, and enhancing sustainability. Advocacy efforts were amplified through the Pastoralists Awake initiative and aligned climate storytelling. While no emergency responses were required in 2025, the year marked a strategic turning point toward a model-driven, research-informed, and community-governed approach to pastoralist climate resilience.

2024 was a year of dynamic growth and community impact for Spring of the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SASAL). Grounded in the principles of climate justice, gender equity, and cultural resilience, we worked hand-in-hand with communities across Kajiado, Narok, and Samburu counties. Through strategic partnerships, bold advocacy, and community-driven initiatives, we advanced local solutions to global challenges—especially the climate crisis and gender-based injustices. This report outlines our key interventions, successes, challenges, and future commitments as we continue building dignity and resilience in pastoralist communities.

In March–May 2024, Entasopia Village in Kajiado County, Kenya, faced devastating floods triggered by extreme rainfall and river overflow. Over 300 families were displaced, and critical infrastructure—including homes, a Level 3 healthcare centre, and the only rescue bridge—was destroyed. This report, compiled by Spring of the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SASAL), assesses the floods’ psychosocial toll using surveys, interviews, and field observations.

The floods disrupted education, severed social networks, and intensified emotional and spiritual distress. Destruction of worship centres further deepened psychological suffering. Assessments showed 55.6% of residents felt hopeless, 44.4% experienced heightened distress, and 99% exhibited moderate to severe PTSD symptoms. Depression levels were also significant, with 33.3% experiencing mild to severe symptoms.

Emotional withdrawal emerged as a common coping response, often worsening long-term recovery. The findings call for urgent, multi-sectoral action to address both immediate trauma and future resilience through mental health support, social cohesion, and disaster preparedness.

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Spring of the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SASAL) is a women- and youth-led, indigenous organization championing climate justice in Kenya’s pastoralist communities. Rooted in culture, SASAL blends traditional knowledge with modern advocacy—from Maasai climate songs to global policy influence.

In 2024, SASAL released Esipata Oloingange, a Maasai-language climate justice anthem, heard by 99.5% of the local population. The song sparked widespread awareness and community action. Through the Enkang’ Model, SASAL showcases sustainable living with solar homes, water harvesting, and women-led enterprises—making climate resilience a lived experience.

The organization also documents Non-Economic Loss and Damage (NELD), spotlighting the loss of culture, identity, and sacred land often excluded from climate dialogues. Indigenous-led films further amplify community voices.

Despite funding barriers, SASAL continues to lead from the grassroots to global stages, proving that those most affected by climate change are also its most powerful advocates

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This household survey was conducted by the Springs of the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SASAL) with the aim of establishing the challenges the pastoral community of Musenke Sub-Location in Kajiado County have undergone for the longest time. The purpose of this study was to carefully identify root causes of gender-based violence and closely associated themes, the extent of harm and level of response. Additionally, the study aimed to understand the community’s cultural practices, economic status and willingness to accept and welcome change.

According to findings, these challenges are directly and indirectly attributed to changes in weather pattern, under-development, marginalization, government neglect and harmful cultural/societal practices. Such causative factors have resulted to multiple other problems affecting health, gender equality, education, economic status and use of land.

The report recommends guidelines to actualize solution programs as well as help in tracking impact and sustainability of gender-based violence in the study locality. Download the report below to get the full information.

2023 has been a year full of learning, eye opening experiences & relationship building with the community for SASAL. Of it all, we gained the trust, love and support of the community. We established a partnership with the host county government through various departments. Making our work effortless & more impactful. SASAL’s work gained traction. In particular, our new model, “The Enkang’ model for gender equality & climate resilience” that aims to build a gender-equal & climate resilient pastoral village in the midst of patriarchal societies. It was featured in different media platforms for its innovativeness & holistic approach to the challenges facing pastoral communities. The model was registered as the newest youth-led commitment to advancing gender equality under the Generation Equality Feminist Action for Climate Justice Action Coalition of the UN Women. Our presence was felt in different national & international conferences such as the UN water conference, SB58, Africa Climate summit, COP28 among many others. Our work on advocacy; promoting the voices of the pastoralists in climate decision making expanded to 3 pastoral counties i.e. Kajiado, Samburu, Narok from which recommendations for COP28 were developed and presented in the same conference……

Download the Annual Report below to get more insight.

Climate change has emerged and evolved to become a major threat to livelihood and human life in arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya (ASAL). The ASAL regions are characterized with a background of extreme climatic conditions that have already exerted devastating effects to the environment and livelihoods of the communities within these regions. Moreover, the communities in the ASALs are often faced with the challenges of scarce resources in the setting of political and economic marginalization (1,2). Due to exacerbated climate change effects, the communities ‘continuity in the ASALs is at a breaking point as they can no longer endure the most extreme of these effects presented to them as a double-edged sword.

The consecutive occurrence of these extreme weather conditions has progressively suffocated communities globally, with the pastoral communities bearing the most burden in the setting of already depressed socioeconomic conditions. While these occur, the pastoral communities are in a “caught in the crossfire” situation in the war between industrialism vs global warming.

The 28th meeting of Conference of the Parties (COP) aims at mobilizing the most inclusive COP ever by prioritizing nature, people, lives, and livelihoods at the heart of climate action

The establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund (L&DF) is indeed commendable. This is so as it aims to address challenges and priorities of the vulnerable and marginalized communities confronted by unimaginable loss and damage incurred from climate change effects. More importantly, the recommendations to ensure equity, inclusivity, and the promotion of a learning environment within all the procedures in the L&DF is similarly crucial where the point of focus is the vulnerable and marginalized.

More so, the recommendations to embed the financial instrument within the proven philanthropic and humanitarian support systems to ensure grassroot accessibility and penetration is imperative.

Download the cop 28 report below ..