Dimitra Clubs Approach Launched in Kenya
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with Action Aid Kenya launched the Kenya chapter of the Three Strategic Dimitra club approach in Kilifi County.
FAO uses the Dimitra Clubs approach in support of its strategic objectives, especially concerning poverty reduction, including supporting empowerment of rural communities, strengthening formal and informal farmer organizations, as well as local governance. In Kenya, these clubs will be implemented in collaboration with Action Aid in Kenya, where clusters of Dimitra Clubs will be created in 20 villages of Malindi and Magarini sub-counties.
According to the FAO report on the state of food security and nutrition in the world 2020, nearly one out of every nine people worldwide, suffer from undernourishment. Sub-Saharan Africa ranks as the region where the prevalence of undernourishment is highest, with an alarming 23.2 percent of the population subject to malnutrition, with slightly higher rates for women.
In the sub region, women produce up to 80 percent of foodstuffs for home consumption and take care of dietary diversity and child health. Yet, the African women still face the constant challenge posed by discriminatory socio-cultural norms that restrict their access to assets, products and services.
In his welcome remarks, Jimmy Mweri, program Officer, FAO highlighted the need for a development approach for any intervention seeking to combat hunger and malnutrition while considering the gender differences. “The Dimitra Clubs’ approach has proved its effectiveness in engaging both men and women to improve livelihoods of rural communities, empowerment of rural people, especially women in relation with the food systems”, he said.
“Because it promotes improved resilience, social cohesion, and peace through the facilitation of dialogue, knowledge, collective action, and participation in local governance, the Dimitra club approach aligns with the FAO strategic framework for sustainable development, contributing to better production, nutrition, the environment, and a better life.” Added Mweri.
Approach towards community empowerment
The Dimitra Clubs approach supports rural communities in becoming agents of change to transform their own lives and environment, achieved by strengthening rural people’s individual and collective agency, with a strong emphasis on the inclusion of women, youth and the most excluded within communities.
The Clubs are informal groups of rural women and men of all ages who discuss their challenges and take collective action to overcome them using their own resources. For more than a decade, FAO has pioneered the Dimitra Clubs as a community engagement and a gender transformative approach in over 50 development and humanitarian assistance programmes.
By 2021, more than 6,500 Dimitra Clubs exist in sub-Saharan Africa, with 195, 000 members (60 percent are women). Their actions are estimated to have benefited more than six million rural people.
The implementation of the Dimitra clubs will facilitate dialogue, knowledge exchange, problem solving and collective action, supporting participants to voice their needs and participate in decision-making and local governance. The process stimulates improved resilience, social cohesion as well as behavioral changes, including regarding gender discriminatory social norms. It also promotes networking among villages and actors through improved communication and the use of information and communication technologies.
CECM Culture, Gender, Sports, Youth and Social Services, Kilifi County Dr. Anisa Omar expressed gratitude towards FAO and other partners implementing projects in health, social services, social protection and agriculture in Kilifi. “We are currently focusing on sustainability of the programs through community engagement regardless of their social status to ensure that the communities fully embrace the concepts even after project completion to promote development”, she said.
FAO has been working with the National Government, County Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and other partners in Kilifi County to implement food and nutrition security projects as well as interventions on drought and floods. These interventions have played a significant role in building resilience and food security.
For further information, please contact:
Pauline Akolo
Communications Specialist
FAO Kenya
Email: [email protected]