Supporting Kenya’s Adaptation Leadership
The first lady of the Republic of Kenya H.E Rachel Ruto presided over the one-day Climate Adaptation Conference on 9th December 2022 at the Wangari Maathai Institute, University of Nairobi.
The conference was organized by the Global Center on Adaptation in partnership with the University of Nairobi to showcase successful community adaptation initiatives and innovations. Prof. Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of GCA and also the Distinguished Chair of Wangari Maathai institute lauded Kenya for the leadership in acceleration of climate adaptation in Africa.
The first lady asked the University to work with the government and the community in achieving the goal of planting 10 billion trees by 2032. This translates to each Kenyan planting at least 200 trees.
Conference held at Wangari Maathai Institute on Fri 9 Dec, 2022
Her Excellency launched a practitioners guide on building climate resilience in urban informal settlements.
Locally Led Planning: A Guide for Building Climate Resilience in Urban Informal Settlements captures lessons and practices from the groundbreaking work implemented by the community and local government in Mukuru, Nairobi, to develop and implement a community-based program for upgrading the informal settlement.
Speaking at the launch event, Her Excellency Rachel Ruto, First Lady of Kenya said: “The Kenyan Government has been forced to re-allocate funds budgeted for education, health and other priority services as a result of climate change. These trade-offs, the government is forced to make between indispensable public goods, are evidence that climate change is directly threatening our people’s lives, health and the socio-economic future of our beloved country. I want to applaud The Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program initiated by the African Development Bank and the Global Center on Adaptation that aims to mobilize 25 billion US dollars, over 5 years, to accelerate and scale climate adaptation action across the continent.”
On her part, Hon. Roselinda Soipan Tuya, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Republic of Kenya said:
“Adaptation is crucial for us. Feasible solutions already exist but more financial support must to be channelled to reach the vulnerable communities and the climate adaptation policies have to move beyond planning into implementation… We welcome GCA to partner with us in preparations for the Africa Climate Summit that was called for by H.E. President Ruto to find investments for Climate in Africa.”
Three Kenyan winners of the African Youth Adaptation Solutions (YouthADAPT) Challenge, Eric Bosire of Irri-Hub Ke Limited Carolyne Mwangi of Kimplanter Seedlings and Nurseries and Maryanne Gichanga of Agritech Analytics were also recognised at the event as they showcased their innovative climate adaptation solutions and highlighted the value of the YouthADAPT Challenge, an annual competition, in positioning their enterprises to scale.
The First Lady also congratulated the Adaptation Consortium, the Kenyan winners of the GCA Local Adaptation Champions Awards Financial Governance category announced at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh last month. The Adaptation Consortium design and implement County Climate Change Funds to support pastoral communities to create, access, and use climate finance from varied sources, to reduce their vulnerability to climate change.
