PENHA has lost a dear friend and colleague. Nicole Kenton passed away at the age of 62 on Saturday 21st January 2023. Nicole was a member of PENHA’s Board of Trustees, and for over 20 years she supported PENHA, its partners and the communities that we work with in the Horn of Africa.
Nicole was associated with PENHA from the early 1990s – almost since the organisation’s foundation. She first came to know of PENHA through Dr Zeremariam, its founding director. Over the years, Nicole played a key role in sharing pastoralism-focused knowledge and research outputs. She worked for the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) for more than two decades, editing publications that included the highly influential Haramata and Drylands Issue Papers. With her exceptional ability to communicate complex ideas with clarity, Nicole made a substantial contribution to the evolution of discussion and debates on pastoralism, participatory development and climate change. She helped PENHA in its work with emerging academic institutions in the Horn of Africa, drawing on lessons from different countries and regions of the world with pastoralist and agro-pastoralist livelihood systems.
Over the 1990s and 2000s, Nicole contributed across the board as a PENHA friend and advisor. In particular, she worked to strengthen the PENHA-IIED partnership, jointly organising and coordinating public discussion forums – including the launch event for the EU-supported ‘Food We Want – Sustainable, Local and Fair’ project in 2012. On the basis of her long association with PENHA and reaffirming her support for PENHA, Nicole joined the Board of Trustees on the 21st of January 2016. Nicole subsequently played a key role in developing PENHA’s new strategy, as well as in building the charity’s governance capacity and overseeing programmes in Ethiopia and Somaliland.
From left to right Zeremariam Fre, Tafesse Nicole Kenton (third from right) Visit, Somaliland 2018
With her strong communication and editing competencies, Nicole reviewed and edited many PENHA research outputs as well as resources and communication materials. She regularly produced the e-newsletter that has been vital in sharing information about PENHA’s work in the Horn and internationally with partners and the wider public.
Nicole Kenton (the first from right), as PENHA trustee visiting PENHA-GIZ Water Project in Somaliland
Nicole was the Managing Editor and a co-editor of the book recently published by Routledge, Social Protection, Pastoralism and Resilience in Ethiopia: Lessons for Sub-Saharan Africa. As a co-editor of the book, Nicole worked tirelessly to review drafts and get the final volume ready for publication. Nicole was also instrumental in redesigning the new PENHA website and helped in promoting PENHA’s work through digital media. Together with other colleagues and based on the various research products, she produced book chapters, articles and blogs. On top of all this, Nicole also reviewed several successful grant proposals – including the ongoing youth-focused National Lottery Fund project.
Nicole had the opportunity to engage with pastoralist communities in the Horn of Africa directly during visits to Ethiopia and Somaliland in 2018. She spoke eloquently and engagingly to audiences of academics and NGO workers in the Afar Region and in Somaliland. As a representative of PENHA’s Board of Trustees, she observed and assessed the organisation’s activities in Ethiopia and Somaliland. Nicole left a very positive impression in both the conference halls and in the villages.
Nicole was a sweet, kind and generous human being with a big heart and a big, beautiful smile. It was always a pleasure to work with her, even in difficult meetings and stressful situations. She was highly professional and highly competent, as well as being extremely pleasant. Nicole had a passion for pastoralism, development and the environment, with an appreciation of culture and people.
Nicole battled with her health for over two years and she faced her illness with exemplary courage and never lost her enthusiasm for life and work. PENHA trustees, staff members, associates and volunteers were shocked and saddened by her loss. We would all like to express our deepest condolences to the Kenton family, in particular her beloved ones, friends and colleagues. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult moment.
