County government, humanitarian agencies, development partners and communities turn OND 2026 climate forecasts and Indigenous Knowledge into early action.
ASAL POST / OND RAINS / EL NIÑO
DADAAB, Garissa County – September 7, 2026 – The Garissa County Government has intensified preparations for the expected October–November–December (OND) 2026 rains, following the opening of a high-level Participatory Scenario Planning (PSP) workshop in Dadaab.
The four-day forum has brought together representatives from the county government, national government institutions, humanitarian organisations, development partners, technical agencies and local communities to assess the expected seasonal conditions and agree on preparedness and anticipatory actions.
The workshop provides a platform for stakeholders to examine the OND 2026 seasonal climate forecast, develop possible rainfall scenarios and translate the forecast into practical, sector-specific advisories and early actions ahead of the rainy season.
Indigenous Knowledge Integrated into Climate Planning
A key feature of the Dadaab workshop is the participation of Indigenous Knowledge representatives from local communities, whose observations and traditional understanding of seasonal patterns are being incorporated into the planning process.
Community representatives are providing observations and local indicators that can help complement scientific climate forecasts and provide a more locally grounded understanding of potential seasonal developments.
The integration of Indigenous Knowledge is intended to ensure that preparedness measures and advisories reflect not only scientific projections but also the experiences and observations of communities that live with climate variability on a daily basis.
From Climate Forecasts to Early Action
Participants are examining the probability, timing and distribution of rainfall during the OND 2026 season, while also considering uncertainties and climate drivers that could influence the forecast.
The PSP process allows stakeholders to develop a range of possible scenarios, including likely and worst-case situations, and use them to determine actions that can be implemented before potential impacts occur.
Rather than treating climate information simply as a forecast, the approach seeks to transform it into early decisions, preparedness measures and anticipatory actions across vulnerable sectors.
Key Sectors Assessed Ahead of the Rains
Stakeholders are assessing the potential implications of the different scenarios across critical sectors in Garissa County.
The discussions cover livestock and rangelands, water, agriculture, food security and markets, health, nutrition and WASH, alongside disaster risk management and peace and conflict considerations.
For Garissa, where livelihoods are heavily dependent on pastoralism and communities remain vulnerable to climate-related shocks, early access to reliable climate information is considered critical to reducing potential losses and protecting livelihoods.
The participation of government institutions, technical experts, humanitarian agencies, development partners and community representatives is also expected to strengthen coordination and ensure that different actors work from a common understanding of the anticipated risks.
Workshop to Develop Coordinated Preparedness Actions
The four-day engagement is expected to culminate in a coordinated anticipatory and preparedness action plan outlining priority interventions, responsible institutions, implementation timelines and resource requirements.
Participants will also identify coordination gaps and develop a communication and dissemination framework to ensure that advisories and preparedness messages reach relevant institutions and communities in a timely manner.
The proposed action plan will subsequently be presented for validation before the conclusion of the workshop.
The Dadaab PSP forum comes at a critical point ahead of the OND 2026 rainy season, providing stakeholders with an opportunity to identify emerging risks, agree on priorities and prepare interventions before the potential impacts of heavy or erratic rainfall are felt.
By bringing together scientific climate forecasts, technical expertise and Indigenous Knowledge, the process aims to strengthen locally informed preparedness and improve coordination in disaster risk management, food security, livelihoods, health and other critical sectors.
The outcome of the workshop is expected to provide a shared framework for early action and preparedness across Garissa County as stakeholders brace for the OND 2026 rains.
