| dc.description.abstract | Food is a critical resource. Therefore, reaching beneficiaries who would otherwise suffer the effects of malnutrition and hunger, in a timely manner and in an appropriate form is especially important for the effectiveness of food aid distribution. If done right, food aid can contribute effectively to development strategy, by safeguarding the most valuable asset of the poor who are embroiled in food deficits due to famine and drought. For a long time food aid has been a reserve of most humanitarian organizations. This is perceived to have created a lacunae that demonstrates that they can work at their pace; thus crushing the reason and mandate of saving lives in times of crisis or disasters such as famine.
The study examined the determinants of effective food aid distribution among Turkana pastoral women in Kerio division: case of World Vision Kenya. The purpose of the research study was to evaluate the determinants of effective food aid distribution among Turkana pastoral women in Kerio division. It was pursued by examining socio-cultural, political factors, humanitarian logistics and stakeholder engagement. Recommendations that determine effective food aid distribution among Turkana pastoral women in Kerio division are provided.
The systems theory was found to be relevant to the study because of the actions of interaction and cooperation that is required amongst humanitarian agencies, states, private sectors and communities as they carry out interventions related to food aid distribution. The research adopted a descriptive survey design that enabled the description of the variables that determine food aid distribution. The sampled population consisted of 55households that were systematically sampled using the Probability Proportional to Size (PPS) in the study due to their relative small number. An interview schedule for staff engaged in food aid distribution and a questionnaire targeting women at household level were administered.
The data was collected, coded and analyzed quantitatively with the help of statistical package for Social sciences (SPSS) version 12 and qualitatively through content, and theme analysis. The findings of the study revealed that social-cultural (63.79%), political 42(72.41%), humanitarian logistics 33(86.84%) and stakeholder engagement 52(89.66%) factors had a direct influence on effective food aid distribution among pastoral women in Kerio division of Turkana district. In conclusion, the study found out that four factors namely; humanitarian logistics, stakeholder engagement, social-cultural and political factors influence effective food aid distribution among pastoral women in Kerio division of Turkana district.
Women (supported by 78.95% respondents) should- play an active role in food aid distribution because they are the primary care-givers of the household in African context. Time (agreed by 87.93% of the respondents) should be highly considered by humanitarians as they execute their logistics. Food aid distribution should be depoliticized (agreed by 89.47% respondents) and stakeholder engagement upheld (agreed by 89.66% respondents) so as to realize efficacy in food aid distribution. The study recommends that the community needs to be involved in the distribution of food aid to increase the level of community involvement and ownership of the food aid distribution program to enhance its effectiveness.
It also recommends that food aid distribution program needs to be de-politicized as much as possible; and that the government should take the lead in mobilizing its resources and those from humanitarians to improve efficacy in food aid distribution. Suggestions for future research include carrying out studies in areas that experience food deficits because of other catastrophes such as floods, consider food aid programs that supply food to men or to the whole community and carry out research in the larger Turkana County to compare findings and be able to draw a broader scale of understanding in food aid distribution. | en_US |
