Research Uptake Objectives

Research Uptake is an on-going process. In the next year, there are several stakeholders that the study findings should be communicated to through different media. The stakeholders include:

• Ministry of Education officials at the county and national levels
• Ministry of Health officials at the county and national levels
• Local administrators (chiefs and assistant chiefs)
• Local communities including households, livestock farmers, livestock traders, village elders and school-going children, among others
• Veterinary department officials within Baringo County
• Institutions working within Baringo county and whose mandates relate to climate change and ecohydrological systems e.g. the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA), Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI), National Drought Management Authority (NDMA)

The study findings will be communicated through various means, among them: scientific journals, local scientific conferences, public barazas (meetings), primary school visits, local media, stakeholder dissemination meetings, fliers, posters, social media and the VBD website.

There have already been a number of positive outcomes from the study

1. In the three testing exercises for the parasitology component, evidence of pupils infected with malaria was provided to the department of health. The department responded by providing malaria medicines to all infected children.
2. Analysis of all rainfall and temperature data from the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) showed inconsistencies in data capture and entry. The feedback was given to the institution and corrective actions taken.
3. Through focus group discussions on malaria, participants had an opportunity to learn about the cause of malaria and good practice in malaria management through peer-based correction.

Research uptake includes community engagement

The project engages actively with the Baringo county residents at the following three levels. The first level of engagements is with the Baringo County government Ministries of Education, Health, Livestock and Fisheries and the Department of Veterinary Services. The second level of engagement is with the public administration, mainly chiefs, assistant chiefs and village elders who serve as community gatekeepers. The third level of engagement is with community members who participate in the various research activities.