The Paris Agreement under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) entered into force in November 2016; marking a new era of climate action that will put the world on a path to eliminating carbon from the global economy by the second half of the century.Taking action on climate change means adopting and implementing ambitious programs to limit emissions of greenhouse gases to levels compatible with the well-being of the ecosphere, while supporting communities around the world to adapt to the unavoidable impacts of the climatic changes that are already being observed. It also means embracing the potential of the green economy – a more sustainable way of life that balances economic, social, and environmental priorities.

We can mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a variety of ways. These include promoting greater energy efficiency and use of renewable energy, as well as building more sustainable urban transport. Since land, forests, and oceans store carbon, we also need to adopt smarter ways to preserve and restore these “carbon sinks.” Adaptation helps people cope with increased risks to their lives and livelihoods from a changing climate. Climate change is already affecting weather patterns, water resources, crop yields, and marine ecosystems. The poor, who are least able to cope, are the hardest hit. Increasingly, policymakers recognize the need to integrate climate-resilient strategies into long-term development programs.

 

This project is supported by the UNDP’s Global Environmental Facility (GEF), Small Grant Programme (SGP)

GRADIF-K has been undertaking various environmental conservation and Climate Change intervention working with various collaborators in different counties in the past 8 years.  To scale up this programme, in 2014 GRADIF-K entered into partnership with the UNDP/GEF/SGP to implement a Climate Change Adaptation Project in Tharaka Nithi County Titled: Tharaka Nithi County Adaptation Project to enhance Community Capacity and Socio-Economic Resilience. The project is as a build up to the already ongoing Natural Resource Management and Climate change impact mitigation & adaptation interventions supported under the Economic Livelihoods empowerment thematic area. The project is making efforts to address the gaps on Climate Change mitigation & adaptation which have been identified during the implementation of the concurrently ongoing Natural Resource Management (NRM)/ Agriculture project funded by Act Change Transform (ACT!) organization with funds from the Embassy of Sweden in Kenya. The project implementation is rooted on the invaluable lessons learned in the NRM/Agriculture project to effectively and successfully deliver the set objectives and the goal.

The GRADIF-Kenya County Adaptive Project goal is to build the Socio-Economic resilience of the targeted communities while enhancing their capacity to adapt to climate change, in the targeted Counties. This is being achieved through capacity building of the targeted community groups, county government and other key stakeholders to develop and implement climate change-sensitive development policies, plans and projects supportive of poverty reduction and sustainable development, formation and strengthening of a functional multi-level network of stakeholders, adaptive capacity building and policy influencing. The project key strategy is a model of an adaptive county, where both policies and practices are climate sensitive. The project is further encouraging diffusion of technologies that are essential in adapting to climate change at the level of local communities, through demonstrations.

Specific Project Objectives:

  • Enhancing community resilience to climate change through;

Supporting setting up demonstration of appropriate technologies that can be adopted to adapt to climate change &Piloting off-farm income generating activities including Giant bamboo enterprise

  • Influencing policy and administrative management for climate change at the county level, through;

Building adaptive capacity of the county government; national government officers civil organizations, farmers organizations, Advocating for the formulation of a County Adaptation Strategy and establishment of County Climate Change Trust Fund, Building community’s capacity to effectively participate in policy formulation and implementation processes, Establishing County Round-table on climate change (platform to share information) and Designing a community based policy implementation monitoring and reporting system

  • Increased coordination of climate change measures and activities across relevant actors/sectors in Tharaka Nithi County, through;establishing a multi-level network of relevant actors/stakeholders and Designing a climate change information & knowledge sharing platform. 

Impact of the GRADIF-K Climate Change mitigation and adaptation project on Environment and community to date:

  • Increased community participation in Natural Resource management, Governance and biodiversity conservation interventions at the counties’ levels by gender.
  • Conserved environment and biodiversity resulting to reduced negative climate change impact on the fauna and flora around Mt Kenya region.
  • Influencing the enactment of relevant policies at the counties levels for effective climate change adaptation and mitigation interventions. GRADIF-K Kenya is one of the organizations consulted by the Tharaka Nithi County on matters of Climate Change, Natural Resource Management & Agriculture.
  • Community adaptation to various climate change adaptation technologies including use of the alternative sources of energy through energy saving cook stoves.
  • Reduced impact of Climate change on women and girls who bear the most painful consequences of the impacts of Climate change like on going for long distances to fetch water, firewood fetching, inadequate food for their families among others.
  • Diversification of alternative sources of livelihood which does not have negative impact on Climate Change including enhanced entrepreneurship.
  • Active participation of community members and children in climate change mitigation initiatives in targeted villages and schools.
  • Increased rainfall leading to adequate water in the existing rivers for both human and animal consumption.
  • Enhanced Good governance systems and enhanced capacities among CBOs and other community groups who are effectively designing and managing Climate Change and related community development projects/initiatives.
  • Reduced incidences of climate change negative effects on the fauna and flora.
  • Reduced massive destruction of environment around in Tharaka Nithi County through; farming along the forest, firewood harvesting, timber logging, grazing, bhang cultivation etc.
  • Existence of strong Multilevel Network to advocate for Climate Change mitigation and Adaptation.
  • Enactment of friendly Climate Change policies at the county level.
  • Diversification and sustainable livelihood and increased farm yields including tea yields.
  • Strengthened integrated community development initiatives that addresses natural resources management and biodiversity conservation for realization of sustainable development
  • Emergency of community centers of excellence in climate change adaptation and mitigation as well as in integrated community development initiatives.

GRADIF-K Climate Change key accomplishments to date:

  • Reviewed the Tharaka Nithi 2017-2022 County Integrated Development Plans and budgets to establish if issues of Climate Change have been factored in the county plans and presenting the Memorandum with key gaps to the County Governor.
  • Sensitized Tharaka Nithi County key policy makers including Members of County Assembly (MCAs) on existing Agriculture, Natural Resource Management (NRM) & Climate Change policies.
  • Organized and facilitated trainings for Tharaka Nithi County Members of County Assembly (MCAs) on various policy making/development processes.
  • Increased community participation in natural resource management and biodiversity conservation by gender.
  • Conserved environment and biodiversity resulting to reduce negative climate change impact on the fauna and flora around Mt Kenya region.
  • Sensitized community actively participating in climate change mitigation initiatives in targeted villages and schools.
  • Increased rainfall leading to adequate water in the existing rivers for both human and animal consumption.
  • Sensitized and supported the targeted communities to adopt various climate change adaptation technologies.
  • Distributed emerging saving cook stoves/jikos to 4075 community members in Tharaka Nithi County.
  • Good governance systems among CBOs and other community groups and enhanced capacities to effectively design and manage natural resource and related community development projects.
  • Reduced incidences of climate change negative effects on the fauna and flora.
  • Reduced massive destruction of environment around Mount Kenya through; farming along the forest, firewood harvesting, timber logging, grazing, bhang cultivation etc.
  • Diversification and sustainable livelihood and increased farm yields including tea yields.
  • Development and implementation of Climate Change Friendly policies at the County level.
  • Strengthened integrated community development initiatives that addresses natural resources management and biodiversity conservation for realization of sustainable development

Emergency of community centers of excellence in climate change adaptation and mitigation as well as in integrated community development initiatives.