Rift Valley Waters: Indigenous-Led Research on Climate Change and Health in Lake Turkana and Lake Bogoria

Climate change is impacting water resources and ecosystems globally, with severe consequences for Indigenous communities with deep cultural ties to their lands.

We propose a Community Based Participatory Research project to investigate and address health impacts from changes to two water bodies in the East African Rift Valley – Lake Turkana and Lake Bogoria.

Minority Rights Group International, alongside two local partners embedded in these ecosystems - Friends of Lake Turkana and Endorois Indigenous Women's Empowerment Network – will conduct workshops, convenings, and policy dialogues.

These activities will generate crucial data on climate-water-health impacts, build local research capacity and enable Indigenous communities to lead their own climate, water and health adaptation efforts.

The research will involve Turkana, El Molo, Daasanach, and Endorois communities, integrating Indigenous knowledge with scientific methods to develop strategies for addressing health challenges.

The project will culminate with a side event at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York and a presentation aligned with Wellcome Collection’s 2025 exhibition on freshwater.

The research process, its outcomes, and these events will amplify the voices of these Indigenous communities on a global stage, contributing to the broader discussion on climate change, Indigenous rights, and health equity.