Climate Sense

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daptation

and

itigation

trategies

from the International Development Association of the World Bank,

the Government of Kenya and community contributions. The project is

designed to empower local communities to reduce the vulnerability of the

poor to adverse outcomes associated with recurrent flooding.

Floodwaters have wreaked immense havoc among the communities

situated on the Kenyan flood plains. WKCDD/FM aims to provide these

communities with flood forecasting early warning information, as well

as guidance on the proper management of floodwaters. This will involve

the construction of protection structures such as dykes, as well as the

rehabilitation and management of catchment areas.

The WKCDD/FM project follows methodology that has proven

successful in other contexts. One such example is the project’s use

of the Participatory Integrated Community Development approach.

Flood risk modelling is conducted daily with input including rainfall

measured within the basin and a short-range prediction. Flood risk

indicators and forecasts of water levels for the Nzoia River Basin are

generated and disseminated to aid in decision-making processes.

Success stories – such as the evacuation of vulnerable commu-

nities prior to a flood – are already emerging. Using the reliable

information provided from the model outputs, the provincial

administration is now able to evacuate people living on flood plains

far more quickly than before the project.

Another example of a collaborative adaptation efforts is the commu-

nity drought resilience project that was initiated in 2006 in Sakai,

Kisau Division, in the Makueni District. It is one of the three pilot

projects being implemented as part of the regional project

‘Integrating Vulnerability and Adaptation of Climate

Change into Sustainable Development Policy Planning

and Implementation in Eastern and Southern Africa’. The

project is funded by the Global Environment Facility and

the governments of the Netherlands and Norway, and is

supported by kind contributions from the governments

of Germany, Kenya and Rwanda. It is being implemented

by the Centre for Science and Technology Innovations in

partnership with the Government of Kenya Arid Lands

Resource Management Project.

Aims of the project include:

• Downscaling climate forecasts to guide the choice of crops

planted and the timing of agriculture activities

• Improving agronomic practices by providing access to fast

maturing and drought resistant crop varieties

• Building sand dams, shallow boreholes and drip irriga-

tion systems to improve access to water for use in crop

production.

A number of success stories have been recorded since

the inception of the project. It has been established

that farmers using the downscaled seasonal weather

forecasts and undertaking early land preparation and

dry planting are getting better harvests than those who

have sustained the ‘business as usual’ approach. In addi-

tion, early maturing varieties of maize and pigeon peas

selected on the basis of the forecasts are performing

better that the varieties usually used by the farmers.

A final example of a collaborative project is The Kenya

Wetland Forum. The forum is a multi-stakeholder insti-

tution concerned with the conservation and management

of wetlands within the ‘wise use principles’ of the Ramsar

Convention.

The programme adopts a holistic approach

to address the impacts of climate change on the coastal

and marine resources of Kenya. The main goal of the

programme is to increase understanding of climate

change issues, as well as to prompt the development of

adaptation and mitigation strategies.

The objectives of the programme are to:

• Promote an ecosystem-based approach for the conser-

vation and management of critical coastal and marine

ecosystems

• Build and strengthen the capacity of local communities

and relevant stakeholders to manage local coastal and

marine resources

• Promote sustainable livelihood options for vulnerable

coastal communities.

There are five main local-level projects:

• Kuruwitu community marine conservation project

• Wasini Island mangrove forest conservation, clean and

safe water initiative

• Conservation and sustainable management of coastal and

marine resources on the south coast

• Coastal wetlands management and conservation in Jimbo

village, Vanga

• Building capacity to adapt to climate change impacts on

conservation in East Africa.

Limited watering points during a dry season can result in conflicts

Image: Kenya Wetlands Forum

A farmers’ field day

Image: Wandiga, 2008