GEO367 Geographies of Development Fieldclass, Kenya
2007/2008 Module Team
- Dr Deborah Sporton (Convenor)
- Professor Tony Parsons
- Mr Rupert Friederichsen
This module critically examines contemporary development discourse and practise by providing students with the opportunity to explore and research development issues in the field and to enhance their understanding of grass-roots outcomes with reference to a particular developing country. This new fieldwork module ran for the first time in 2006/7 and is currently based in the West Pokot District of Kenya that borders Uganda and is one of the least developed districts in Kenya
The module is open to 30 students drawn from both physical and human geography and combines both study visits and group fieldwork projects. These projects are planned in Sheffield before departure during a series of lectures, workshops and group meetings where students are introduced to key relevant development issues and fieldwork methodologies.
Typical Fieldclass Itinerary
We fly on a scheduled overnight flight from London to Nairobi arriving in the early hours of the morning.
Day 1
At Nairobi airport we are met by our drivers for the fieldclass in four 8-10 seater minibuses and transfer to our destination for the first night - Lake Elementaita Lodge. On the route, we travel along the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley to arrive at Elementaita for lunch. Lake Elementaita is one of the Rift Valley's Great Lakes (others include Naivasha, Nakuru, Baringo and Bogoria) The lakes are famously home to flocks of pink flamingos. The rest of the day is spent either visiting the WWF Integrated Catchment Management Project at Lake Bogoria or a commercial flower farm.
Day 2
We travel to Marich Pass Field Studies Centre arriving in the early afternoon, our base for the next six nights. The rest of the day is spent settling in and includes an introduction to the field centre and to the week's activities. Students are accommodated in traditional thatched bandas on a full-board basis.
Days 3-4
Over the next few days students familiarise themselves with the local area through a series of excursions and visits. Students will also plan group fieldwork in consultation with their local guide. These include:
- A walk in small groups around Marich village led by a guide/translator and visit to Pokot homesteads
- Visit to Sigor Market, one of a number of periodic markets, where hill Pokot cultivators and lowland Pokot pastoralists come to buy and sell produce
- Walk/drive up the Wei Wei valley to see traditional irrigation and cultivation activities and then a visit to the Wei Wei Irrigation Project - the only major external development intervention in the area where water from the Wei Wei river flows by gravity through a series of overhead sprinklers allowing commercial cultivation
- Visit to the plains and to pokot pastoral homesteads
Days 5-7
Working in groups of three or four students undertake a group project. Topics include livelihood studies (of pastoralists or cultivators), childhood, periodic markets, irrigation, pastoral conflict, gender, childhood and education, health.
Day 8
Early Departure for Lake Elementaita Lodge.
Day 9
Game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park and departure to Nairobi for overnight flight to London.
Optional travel afterwards for students who wish to stay in Kenya