NOSIM (NOSIM Women's Organisation)

Nosim Women Organization is a local NGO in Kenya. It is located in Kajiado town, a distance of 80kms from Nairobi. It was registered in 2001 under the NGO Act (1990) and has been active in Kajiado central district since then. NOSIM is led by women from the marginalized Maasai community and aims to counter the negative cultural practices that affect health and gender relations within the Maasai community. The organization focuses on cultural issues like female genital mutilation (FGM), human/children’s rights, water and sanitation, livelihoods, education (especially the girl child) and HIV&AIDS.

The primary purpose of NOSIM is to empower women and children in the Maasai pastoral community to identify and achieve their own development initiatives and promote decision making. The organization’s development approach is described as based on participation, women empowerment, local capacity building/training, gender equality, advocacy, sustainability and accountability. The organization considers the development of strong linkages with the community as a priority in the attainment of its programmatic and organizational goals. The organization has established strong linkages with women groups and other organized social groups.

NOSIM’s vision is described as ‘An empowered Maasai woman and girl child enjoying equal opportunities to enable them to maximize life’s opportunities’. Their mission is ‘to create awareness and sensitization to the Maasai girl child and woman which will empower them to operate in an enabling environment’.

WASH is one of the four strategic pillars in the work of NOSIM, besides Livelihoods, Health and Education. NOSIM’s activities on WASH specifically consist of borehole drilling, extension of pipelines, establishment of water drinking points, introduction of hand washing with soap, and introduction and increasing of latrine use. They address WASH mainly from an institutional perspective, focusing on schools.

NOSIM has a good working relationship with the government. The government of Kenya provides technical support to NOSIM. In sensitization seminars, relevant ministries provide experts in different professions e.g. health and education officers who facilitate the seminars. The government also provides licensing for projects e.g. borehole drilling and construction activities. Supervision of seminars and projects are also done the Government officers.