Kenya is leading an ambitious and wide-ranging approach to transform towards a climate compatible economy and society. Led by Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources (MEMR), the Government of Kenya, supported by CDKN, developed a Climate Change Action Plan that cuts across sectors to implement Kenya’s National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS), finalised in 2010. This comprehensive Action Plan includes subcomponents such as a national adaptation plan, low carbon sector analysis, a technology action plan, finance, a policy and regulatory framework, and a knowledge management and capacity building component.

The Action Plan has produced concrete mitigation and adaptation actions integrated into long-term economic planning processes to support a low carbon, climate resilient development pathway. This has ensured that responding to climate change is central to the development vision of the country, and included in policies, budgets, poverty alleviation measures and investment decisions across government agencies and departments at national, provincial and local levels.

A flagship model for Africa

The Action Plan is anticipated to be a flagship model that may be replicated to plan effectively for the varied and uncertain impacts of climate change. Multiple partners have assisted in the process given its significant scope, including CDKN, the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the French Development Agency (AFD), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and DANIDA.

Prioritising community and stakeholder-driven solutions

To achieve this high level of ambition, the process involved many stakeholders, aiming to reflect the needs of the citizens and communities most affected by climate change. The Kenyan Government engaged with people across the country on their experiences of climate change and how the Action Plan can address their issues, moving from Nakuru in the south and Garissa in the north, to the cities of Mombasa and Nairobi.

The process has also led to new dialogue and cooperation across ministries and donors. High-level buy-in and direction from government has been achieved through an inter-ministerial, senior-level Taskforce overseeing the delivery of the Action Plan. Eight thematic working groups consisting of a wide range of stakeholders provide technical support, including civil society, academics and the private sector. This worked to ensure that the Action Plan is informed by the best available knowledge and expertise. A recent meeting of civil society organisations saw a very broad representative mix of participants. John Kioli, a member of the Taskforce, said: “The thematic working groups towards NCCRS have given an opportunity to involve more local and experienced people. This is a good opportunity to keep reviewing and improving the content; we’ll get a better outcome”.

PROJECT UPDATE:

In November 2012 over 275 people, including representatives from all of Kenya’s 47 counties, gathered in Nairobi to validate the National Climate Change Action Plan.  This high turnout from civil society groups, private sector organisations, academic institutions and local government emphasised the importance that a wide range of stakeholders are placing on the need for urgent action to meet the climate challenge in Kenya.

Read the blog about the event and watch the video to hear a range of stakeholders express their hopes for the implementation of the Action Plan. The executive summary of the Action Plan can be found here.

Project Resources

Read about the six CDKN funded subcomponent projects:

1) Kenya’s National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS) Action Plan – Subcomponent 1: Low Carbon Pathway (TAAF0027c)

2) Kenya’s National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS) Action Plan – Subcomponent 2: Policy Framework (TAAF0027d)

3) Kenya’s National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS) Action Plan – Subcomponent 3: Adaptation Plan (TAAF0027e)

4) Kenya’s National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS) Action Plan – Subcomponent 4: Priority NAMAs (TAAF0027b)

5) Kenya’s National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS) Action Plan – Subcomponent 8: Finance (TAAF0027f)

6) Kenya’s National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS) Action Plan – Subcomponent 9: Coordination (TAAF0027a)

Key resources

• Official Kenya Climate Change Action Plan website: http://www.kccap.info/
• The Action Plan Process
• Kenya's National Climate Change Action Plan Executive Summary
• Action Plan Consultation Workshops: 27-29 February and 23-25 April
• National Climate Change Response Strategy
• National Climate Change Response Strategy Executive Brief
• Economics of Climate Change in Kenya (Stockholm Environment Institute, 2009)

CDKN funding: £500,000