The Dutch engage PACJA on its new Africa Climate strategy

Isiolo 21 September 2022: At a meeting held in Isiolo town on Wednesday, Charles Mwangi, the Head of Progammes said investment in locally led climate actions must be rights based, and targeting the grassroot, micro and semi structured outlets that target the most at the frontline of the climate impact.

Mwangi noted that while Africa is need of interventions, including investments towards projects that would enhance resilience building and the adaptive capacities of the citizens of Africa, there is however, the danger of investors in climate actions targeting mega projects forgetting communities at the grassroots. “Even as investors and donors target the big and macro projects, there has to be accountability to ensure that even the local, small and medium enterprises of the grassroot communities are not left out in line with the principles of locally led adaptation,” he said. The grassroot communities need predicable, consistent financing. 

He pointed out that the 6^th Assessment Report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change report of 2022 singles out Africa, particularly those in vulnerable communities as being in the frontline of the climate impacts.

The theme of the meeting was to reflect on and strengthen resilience and economic potential in the Arid and semi arid lands.

During the meeting, it was noted that the new narrative on Arid and Semi Arid Lands (ASALS) in  Kenya aspires to transition from a lower-middle income country to an upper-middle income country by 2030 (Vision 2030 )..

To realize Vision 2030, Kenya needs to overcome several challenges. Climate change, extreme weather and loss of biodiversity seriously impact two important economic sectors, tourism and agriculture (54% of total employment).

Over the past decade, climate-related annual losses have been 3-5% of GDP (WB). Climate change and recurring droughts increase the regional and economic disparities in Kenya by having devastating effects on small-scale farmers who depend on rain-fed agriculture and on food security and livelihoods in the relatively underdeveloped Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs).

Climate change induced natural resource based conflict is negatively affecting the stability in Kenya. Further marginalisation of groups and parts of Kenya can also lead to conflicts and instability through radicalization and homegrown extremism.

The overall objective of the meeting in Isiolo was to strengthen the mutually beneficial economic cooperation between the Netherlands and Kenya in a sustainable manner.

It was further to contribute to stability and more inclusivity (leave no one behind) by deepening devolution, enhancing civic space and climate resilience as key preconditions for Kenya’s sustainable and inclusive development and a strong basis for a prosperous partnership between the Netherlands and Kenya and strengthen stability in Kenya, as shown by deepened devolution, enhanced (climate) resilience, reduced inequality and decreased threat of radicalization and violent extremism.

Strategic Results

• Improved climate resilience of vulnerable communities in ASAL partner Counties, through resilient food systems and livelihoods, within sustainably managed landscapes and river basins.
• Strengthened sustainable economic potential of ASAL partner Counties.
• Improved capacity of Government and Civil Society on sector finance, service delivery, governance, locally led resilience building and integrated food security, water and renewable energy approaches for climate change adaptation and mitigation of natural resource based conflict.
• Increased use of added value on of relevant Netherlands private sector, knowledge institutions and civil society in the water, food security and renewable energy sectors across the development and trade and investment portfolio, with the aim to promote sustainable solutions.
• Greater contribution of Dutch interventions to the deepening of devolution by increased policy engagement with counties (at least 50% ASAL counties) and balanced spread of NL programmes.