Development Concern Initiative
Leaving No One Behind.
A Wajir-rooted Kenyan NGO empowering pastoralist and urban poor communities across eight Arid and Semi-Arid Land counties - through climate resilience, food security, governance, WASH and health programming.
Who We Are
Development Concern Initiative (DCI) is a registered Non-Governmental Organization and Public Benefit Organisation under Kenya's PBO Act of 2013. Headquartered in Wajir Town, we work to empower marginalised communities across Kenya's Arid and Semi-Arid Lands through innovative, value-driven approaches to sustainable development.
Founded by professional youth from Northern Kenya, DCI is rooted in the communities it serves and operationally aligned with international standards - Sphere, Core Humanitarian Standard, Do No Harm, and GESI mainstreaming. Our governance includes a committed Board of Directors and a diverse, skilled management team.
Our Reach
400,000+
People with improved water access
810+
Farmers trained
8
ASAL counties served
69%
Women in TransFARMing programme
11 / 17
SDGs directly contributed to
What We Do
Community-based early warning systems, ecosystem-based adaptation, disaster risk reduction, climate finance advocacy, and clean energy interventions to help communities adapt to intensifying droughts and floods.
Learn moreLivestock value chains, climate-smart agriculture, social protection, livelihood diversification, and nutrition-sensitive programming across Kenya's most food-insecure counties.
Learn morePeacebuilding, preventing violent extremism, civic engagement, access to justice, and social cohesion programming that bridges communities and institutions.
Learn moreClimate-resilient water infrastructure, community-led sanitation, hygiene behaviour change, and water resource governance across some of Kenya's most water-stressed counties.
Learn moreCommunity health services, reproductive and adolescent health, communicable disease prevention, mental health and psychosocial support, and SGBV response across underserved pastoralist populations.
Learn moreWhere We Work
DCI operates across eight Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) counties in Kenya - predominantly pastoralist communities defined by recurring drought, flash floods, water scarcity, and chronic underinvestment. Our deep roots, paired with strong relationships with local government, community leaders, and international partners, enable both rapid response in emergencies and sustained development engagement.
The eight counties: Wajir (home), Garissa, Mandera, Marsabit, Isiolo, Turkana, Tana River, and Lamu - all members of the Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC).
How We Work
DCI combines deep community rootedness with the operational systems and governance standards required to manage complex, multi-stakeholder programmes. Every shilling invested translates into measurable, sustainable impact.
Annual external audits, donor-specific financial reporting, transparent procurement, multi-currency grant management.
Baseline and end-line surveys, real-time data via KoboCollect/ODK, community scorecards, log-frame-aligned reporting.
Organisational safeguarding policy, community complaints mechanisms, protection mainstreaming, disability-inclusive programming.
Aligned with Sphere ·Core Humanitarian Standard ·Do No Harm ·GESI Mainstreaming
Learn more about how we workOur Partners
DCI's impact is delivered through strong partnerships with international organisations, government agencies, and development actors committed to transforming lives in Kenya's ASAL regions.
Recent humanitarian partnerships also include the Start Fund.
Whether you're funding development work, coordinating a humanitarian response, or seeking implementation expertise across Kenya's ASAL counties - we'd like to hear from you.
