Margaret hopes her science can help to better the lives of women in Kenya. “In some communities of Kenya, women are not allowed to under-take any economic activity, and/or even to own a cow! They are only allowed to keep goats, normally termed as “poor woman’s cow.” I would like to pursue research addressing commercialization of livestock technologies with regards to women and children,” she says.
By Ricki Watkins, LCC CRSP
Quick Points:
- LCC CRSP fellow receives approval for three-year research project
- Pitched project proposal to Egerton University’s Board of Examiners
- Project focused on promoting drought-tolerant feed in Kenya
- Project will also look at climate change affects on gender groups
- Future trips planned out
LCC CRSP fellow Margaret Syomiti received approval from Egerton University for her three-year research project proposal, which she pitched to the University’s Department of Natural Resources Board of Examiners on Aug. 16, 2012.
Syomiti’s research project is focused on helping pastoral communities and livestock systems in the marginal areas of Kenya adapt to climate change by promoting drought-tolerant feed resources. Her research will also focus on documenting how climate change is affecting gender groups.
Syomiti’s research meets the qualifications for LCC CRSP’s Graduate Student Fellowship Program, which provides partial support for graduate student research. Fellows must conduct research in one or more of LCC CRSP’s focus countries, which includes Kenya, and research must relate to livestock adaption to climate change.
The Board of Examiners stressed the importance of a Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound (SMART) approach to the project, which led many of the suggested changes made to Syomiti’s proposal.
“Such meetings are very important to students because the work gets thoroughly checked from the side of the donor and the host institution,” Syomiti said.
Once the required project proposal changes have been made and initial research funds from the University fully processed, Syomiti can begin her research. She already has trip reports planned through October. During this time she hopes to get to know the study area, as well as the test crops in the area; gain approval and permission from the local communities to work together; and hold planning meetings with stakeholders.
By the end of the study, Syomiti will have completed her Ph.D. thesis, collected important gender analysis data, provided a ration-balancing feed technology package and aided LCC CRSP in national and institutional capacity building.
Visit Syomiti’s LCC CRSP page to learn more about her previous and on-going research.