Nicholas K Ombachi’s scientific contributions

The impact of climate change in developing countries such as prolonged droughts, flooding and erratic rainfall, among other effects are increasingly driving agricultural-dependent households into deeper poverty each year. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive adaptation and mitigation strategies, involving both local and global efforts. Self-help groups (SHGs) are recognized as powerful instruments for the empowerment of vulnerable groups, particularly women, by providing access to credit and health information. They also play a crucial role in climate change adaptation and mitigation, which in turn enhances sustainable livelihoods for their members. However, this aspect has received limited attention in academic research. This study explores the nexus between SHGs, climate change mitigation, and sustainable livelihoods in Nyakach Sub County, a region where persistent poverty is exacerbated by recurrent climate shocks. A descriptive research design was employed, involving a sample of 384 respondents selected from members of 630 self-help groups (SHGs) in Nyakach Sub County, Kenya. The study's findings show that SHG members benefit from SHGs facilitated capital assets some of which that have not only led to reduced reliance on firewood, thus mitigating deforestation, but also facilitated a transition to alternative energy sources. This shift has enhanced their adaptive capacity to challenges posed by climate change. Furthermore, a significant correlation (rs=0.659, p=0.014) was observed between SHG-associated resources and competencies in climate change mitigation, as well as household sustainability. Additionally, collective action, such as participation in tree planting and trenching/water channelling to combat flood effects, showed a strong correlation with SHG-associated resources. Overall, the study concludes that SHG-linked assets and competencies play a vital role in enhancing climate change adaptation and the sustainable livelihoods of members. The study recommends increased emphasis on strengthening social capital within SHGs.

Self-Help Groups (SHGs) adopt joint liability lending schemes to access the poor financial resources. Among the rural poor households, access to SHG micro-credit enables households acquire assets of social and economic importance. Members build social and economic capital as well benefit group synergy. Notwithstanding, poverty levels in some regions in Kenya, especially the Nyakach Sub-County remains high despite several SHGs. Approximately 800 registered SHGs were in Nyakach Sub-County by 2023 engaging in different social and economic endeavours. Food insecurity, poverty, environmental degradation, poor technology and general insecurity manifest in the sub county. It contrasts evidence of other developed countries across the globe, especially parts of Asia and Europe that self-help groups have positively influenced the overall development of society. The study explored the contributions of strategies to SHGs’ participation influence the livelihoods of households in Nyakach Sub County, Kenya. By using Questionnaires, gathered quantitative data from the respondents was analysed and presented in descriptive statistics while Pearson Correlation Analysis measured the relationship between the variables. The study found that strategies like education and entrepreneurial training, group lending and partnerships, networks and SHG-facilitated bookkeeping and business skills influenced the members’ active participation for enhanced livelihoods. Improving participation in SHGs was found to have a high and significant influence on the sustainability of the livelihood of members’ households. The study recommends to the government for development of legislative regulations on participation and protection of SHGs from operational and performance risks.