Education and healthcare are critical components of resilience, particularly in remote pastoralist areas where access to basic services is limited. Pillar 3 focuses on improving educational outcomes and healthcare access in pastoralist communities, with a particular emphasis on marginalized groups such as women and children.

Objectives of Pillar 3:

• Improve access to quality education for pastoralist children, particularly girls and marginalized groups.
• Enhance healthcare services for pastoralist communities, focusing on maternal and child health.
• Build community awareness on health and hygiene practices to reduce the burden of preventable diseases.
• Promote nutrition programs and hygiene practices to improve the overall health and well-being of pastoralist communities, addressing common challenges such as malnutrition and waterborne diseases.

Key Strategies:

1. Pastoralist-Friendly Education Models: PAREDI supports the development of education models that are tailored to the unique needs of pastoralist communities. This includes mobile schools, boarding schools, and flexible learning schedules that accommodate the seasonal movements of pastoralist families. PAREDI also advocates for policies that support inclusive education for girls and children with disabilities.
2. Scholarship Programs: To increase access to education for pastoralist children, PAREDI provides scholarships for students from low-income families. These scholarships cover tuition fees, uniforms, and school supplies, helping to remove financial barriers to education. PAREDI also works with local governments to ensure that pastoralist children have access to quality educational facilities and well-trained teachers.
3. Community Health Services: PAREDI collaborates with government health services and local clinics to improve access to healthcare in remote pastoralist areas. This includes providing support for mobile health clinics, which deliver services such as immunizations, antenatal care, and treatment for common illnesses. PAREDI also promotes the training of community health workers who can provide basic healthcare services at the community level.
4. Maternal and Child Health: Given the high rates of maternal and child mortality in pastoralist areas, PAREDI prioritizes initiatives that improve maternal and child health outcomes. This includes promoting safe delivery practices, improving access to antenatal and postnatal care, and supporting nutrition programs for children and pregnant women. By working with local health authorities and community health volunteers, PAREDI helps ensure that mothers and children receive the care they need, even in remote areas.
5. Health Education and Disease Prevention: Disease outbreaks such as cholera, malaria, and COVID-19 have a disproportionate impact on pastoralist communities due to limited access to healthcare and information. PAREDI promotes community health education programs that focus on hygiene, sanitation, and disease prevention. These programs, delivered through local leaders and community health workers, help improve health outcomes and increase resilience to public health crises.

Expected Outcomes:

• Increased enrollment and retention of pastoralist children in schools, particularly girls.
• Improved maternal and child health indicators in pastoralist communities.
• Greater community awareness of health practices and disease prevention.