Catalyzing Local Action for Urban Sustainability

A consortium of non-governmental organizations, including the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES-Kenya), the Civil Society Urban Development Platform (CSUDP), and the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) from Kenya, has officially launched the Strengthening Civil Society Engagement for a Just and Sustainable Urbanization (SCEJU) project. This initiative, co-funded by the European Union, will run from 2024 to 2026.

The primary aim of the SCEJU project is to bolster democracy and enhance inclusive processes related to urban quality of life, climate change, and biodiversity in Kenya. Despite the introduction of the Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022, which mandates waste sorting at the household level, significant compliance gaps persist. Additionally, while reforms in the water sector have aimed to improve services, they have largely favored formal urban areas, leaving informal settlements—home to a significant portion of urban residents—under-resourced.

To tackle these challenges in sustainable water and waste management, the partnership among FES-Kenya, CSUDP, and PACJA is focused on creating inclusive and equitable solutions. Bastian Schulz, Country Representative of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Kenya Office, emphasized the collective expertise of the partners in overcoming barriers to effective service delivery.

The SCEJU initiative particularly aims to empower vulnerable urban communities, especially women and youth, in Kisumu, Nakuru, and Makueni counties. “By enhancing the voices and capacities of these groups, we aim to create just policies and ensure effective implementation,” Schulz noted.

This public launch seeks to achieve several objectives: gathering stakeholders from target groups—including youth, women, media, and government ministries—to share the project’s vision and expected outcomes; facilitating networking to promote knowledge exchange among project beneficiaries and implementing agencies; and increasing visibility to enhance public awareness of the project and its goals.

George Wasonga, CEO of CSUDP, remarked, “SCEJU aims to unlock the innovative potential of youth to enhance water and waste services in informal settlements, recognizing them as pivotal climate change makers.” Engagement will target various youth demographics, including those involved in recycling, social entrepreneurship, and the arts. The project envisions a synergistic relationship among people, the planet, and economic prosperity, highlighting the importance of collaboration.

“Despite their crucial roles in providing essential services, youth and women from informal settlements often lack access to opportunities for decent employment and are excluded from decision-making processes,” stated Titus Kaloki, Program Coordinator at FES-Kenya. The project aims to strengthen their capacity and amplify their voices, enabling them to advocate for better outcomes in sustainable water and waste management.

By focusing on the innovative potential of youth, women, and marginalized populations, the SCEJU project seeks to influence policy and public discourse, ensuring that the needs and perspectives of these groups are recognized and addressed.

In Kenya’s urban informal settlements, vulnerable communities face ongoing challenges with water access and waste management, exacerbated by climate change. The SCEJU project aims to transform this narrative by empowering these communities to take an active role in creating climate-resilient solutions.

The mission of youth extends beyond environmental solutions; it encompasses the vital need for marginalized communities to have a voice in shaping the urban policies that affect their lives, as noted by Charles Mwangi, Head of Programs and Research at PACJA.

As we commemorate World Cities Day 2024, themed “Youth Climate Changemakers: Catalyzing Local Action for Urban Sustainability,” this project aligns perfectly with the call to empower young people as vital agents of change in addressing urban sustainability challenges.