Rooted in the drylands, driven by the people who call them home.
Pastoralist Community Initiative and Development Assistance — an indigenous, non-sectarian organisation empowering pastoralist communities across Marsabit County, Northern Kenya and Southern Ethiopia since 2008.
A generation of local leadership
PACIDA was founded in 2008 by a group of local scholars and development practitioners who had grown up in the drylands and refused to accept that recurrent drought, poverty and conflict were simply the way things had to be.
Established as an indigenous, non-sectarian, non-profit organisation and registered under Kenya’s NGO Coordination Act, PACIDA set out to put pastoralist communities themselves at the centre of their own development.
From early water and livelihoods projects around Marsabit, the organisation has grown into a trusted partner delivering integrated programmes across Marsabit County in Northern Kenya and into Southern Ethiopia — always guided by the belief that the people of the drylands are the authors of their own progress.
Today PACIDA works across five thematic pillars, applying a Humanitarian–Development–Peace Nexus approach and adhering to the Core Humanitarian Standard, to build communities that are peaceful, progressively prosperous and resilient.
2008
Founded by local scholars
Mission & Vision
Our mission
To improve the well-being of vulnerable ASAL communities through sustainable development.
Our vision
“A peaceful, progressively prosperous and resilient community.”
Empowering pastoralist communities across the drylands of the Horn of Africa.
Our core values
The principles that shape every decision, every project and every relationship across the communities we serve.
Transparency & Accountability
We are open in all our work and strive to live a life beyond reproach, stewarding every resource with integrity.
Commitment & Service to Community
We take service to humanity as a calling and a higher purpose, committed to the communities we walk alongside.
People Centeredness
We put people first — designing every intervention to deliver lasting impact in their lives.
Integrity
We maintain honesty and consistency in all our engagements, internally and externally.
Professionalism
We conduct our work to the highest professional standards, guided by the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS).
Equity & Respect for Human Rights
We value human dignity equally, without discrimination, and uphold the rights of every person we serve.
Cooperation & Partnerships
We collaborate across communities, government, donors and civil society to achieve more together.
The Humanitarian–Development–Peace (HDP) Nexus
PACIDA works where crisis, poverty and conflict overlap. Rather than treating them separately, we integrate all three — meeting urgent needs, building long-term resilience, and sustaining peace at the same time.
Humanitarian
Rapid, principled relief when drought, flood or displacement strikes — water, food, cash and protection for those who need it most.
Development
Long-term investment in water systems, livelihoods, education and health that reduces the need for emergency aid over time.
Peace
Conflict prevention, dialogue and inclusive governance so communities can share scarce resources without violence.
Where these three overlap is where PACIDA works — meeting urgent needs, building lasting resilience and sustaining peace, all at once.
How change happens
IF pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities have secure livelihoods, reliable water, quality education, and the means to prevent conflict and prepare for disaster — THEN they can withstand recurrent shocks and progressively prosper — SO THAT the drylands of Northern Kenya and Southern Ethiopia become peaceful, resilient and self-reliant.
Community-led
Communities identify and own their priorities.
Integrated
We combine relief, development and peace through the HDP Nexus.
Resilient
Systems and skills endure beyond the life of any project.
Prosperous
Households and institutions grow stronger, shock after shock.
The people leading PACIDA
An experienced team of professionals from and for the drylands, accountable to the communities we serve.
Head of State Commendation (HSC), 2023Patrick Katelo
Chief Executive Officer
A leading advocate for ASAL communities, Patrick has led PACIDA’s growth into one of Northern Kenya’s most respected indigenous NGOs. In December 2023 he was awarded the Head of State Commendation (HSC) by the President of Kenya in recognition of his service to pastoralist communities.
Programmes Directorate
Director of Programmes
Leads the design and delivery of PACIDA’s five thematic pillars across Marsabit County and Southern Ethiopia, ensuring quality, accountability and community ownership.
Finance & Operations
Director of Finance & Operations
Safeguards PACIDA’s resources and systems, upholding the transparency and accountability that donors and communities trust.
In December 2023, PACIDA CEO Patrick Katelo was awarded the Head of State Commendation (HSC) by the President of Kenya — a national recognition of a lifetime of service to pastoralist communities.
A trusted, accountable institution
PACIDA is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors that provides strategic oversight and safeguards our independence, working alongside a professional management team. As an indigenous NGO registered under Kenya's NGO Coordination Act, we uphold the highest standards of transparency, impartiality and accountability to the communities, donors and partners we serve.
- Registered under Kenya’s NGO Coordination Act (No. 19 of 1990)
- Signatory to the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) on Quality & Accountability
- Non-sectarian, non-discriminatory and politically impartial
- Member of national and international humanitarian networks
We don't do this alone
PACIDA is an active member of national and international humanitarian networks, and works hand in hand with a broad coalition of donors and partners.
Networks & memberships
Our donors & partners
- Malteser International
Awards & honours
Our teams' work has been recognised nationally — in WASH, peacebuilding and the environment — and our CEO honoured with the Head of State Commendation. Tap any award to view it.
See our work in action
Explore the five thematic pillars transforming life in the drylands — or help us reach the next community that needs clean water, a classroom, or a chance at peace.