THEORY OF CHANGE
How Change Happens in West Pokot
Joy Keeper Lifeline (JKL) is grounded in the belief that sustainable development is not achieved through isolated interventions, but through connected systems that work together to transform how communities live, respond, and thrive.
In West Pokot County, communities already demonstrate strong resilience. However, this resilience is often stretched by overlapping challenges such as unemployment, climate shocks, limited access to services, weak protection systems, and psychosocial stress.
JKL’s Theory of Change is built on a simple but powerful idea:
If community systems are strengthened, then resilience can evolve into stability, opportunity, and long-term wellbeing.
The Core Problem
Communities in West Pokot face interconnected challenges, including:
- Limited access to sustainable livelihoods, especially for youth
- Weak child protection and safeguarding systems
- High vulnerability to climate shocks such as drought
- Limited psychosocial and mental health support
- Fragmented service delivery systems
- Limited access to information, skills, and opportunities
While communities are resilient, resilience alone is not enough to break cycles of vulnerability.
The Change We Envision
JKL envisions a future where:
- Children and vulnerable individuals are protected within strong community systems
- Young people have access to skills, employment, and economic opportunity
- Communities are emotionally and socially supported through psychosocial wellbeing systems
- Local systems can anticipate, adapt to, and recover from shocks
- Communities actively participate in decisions that affect their lives
- Development is driven by local leadership and ownership
This represents a shift from survival-based coping to structured, sustainable development.
Our Pathway to Change
JKL’s approach to change is built on five interconnected pathways:
- Strengthening Protection Systems
When communities have strong protection structures, children, youth, and vulnerable groups are safer and better supported.
This reduces harm, improves wellbeing, and creates a stable foundation for development.
- Expanding Youth Opportunities
When young people have access to skills, livelihoods, and economic opportunities, they transition from vulnerability to productivity.
This reduces unemployment and strengthens household and community resilience.
- Supporting Psychosocial Wellbeing
When individuals and communities are emotionally and socially supported, they are better able to cope, recover, and participate in development processes.
Healing strengthens relationships, trust, and cohesion.
- Building Adaptive Community Systems
When communities can anticipate and respond to climate, economic, and social shocks, they move from reactive survival to proactive resilience.
This reduces long-term vulnerability and instability.
- Strengthening Local Systems and Learning
When communities, organizations, and partners use data, learning, and accountability systems, decisions become more effective, targeted, and sustainable.
This ensures continuous improvement and long-term impact.
The Assumptions Behind Change
JKL’s Theory of Change is based on several key assumptions:
- Communities are active agents of their own development
- Local knowledge and systems are valuable and essential
- Youth potential can be unlocked through opportunity and skills
- Protection and wellbeing are foundational to development
- Collaboration between stakeholders strengthens impact
- Sustainable change requires systems, not one-off projects
The Expected Outcome
If these pathways are effectively implemented, the expected outcomes are:
- Stronger community protection systems
- Increased youth employment and livelihood opportunities
- Improved psychosocial wellbeing and social cohesion
- Enhanced climate and economic resilience
- More accountable and responsive local systems
- Greater community ownership of development processes
Over time, these outcomes contribute to a broader transformation:
Communities in West Pokot move from survival to stability, from coping to opportunity, and from vulnerability to sustained wellbeing.
JKL’s role is to support and strengthen the systems that make this transformation possible working with communities, not for them, to build a more resilient and equitable future.