Inception Workshop for Integrating Agriculture in National Adaptation Plans held in Kenya

Nairobi, 8th June 2016 - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have partnered with the Kenyan Government to support the Integration of Agriculture into the National Adaptation Plan process. This is because agriculture is particularly vulnerable to climate change due to extensive reliance on rainfall, high seasonal climate variability, recurrent drought and floods and persistent poverty that limits the capacity to adapt. The three-year technical assistance programme has earmarked USD 700,000 in Kenya for implementation of activities for the period 2016-2018.

Speaking during the project inception workshop in Nairobi on behalf of FAO and UNDP, the FAO Kenya Representative Dr. Gabriel Rugalema said the project will work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to boost agricultural productivity, adapt to climate change and increase resilience. “Nearly 75 per cent of the world’s food insecure and poor people rely on agriculture and natural resources for their livelihoods. Agricultural sectors are particularly exposed to the effects of climate change and increased climate variability” he said.

Through funding from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), the programme targets eight countries: Kenya, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, Uganda, Uruguay, Vietnam and Zambia. The support will help vulnerable countries’ adaptation planning efforts. Four outcomes are envisaged in the programme (a) technical capacities and institutions on the National Adaptation Plan  (NAP) strengthened (b) Integrated roadmaps for the National Adaptation Plan developed (c) Evidence-based results for Kenya’s National Adaptation plan improved and (d) Advocacy and knowledge-sharing on NAP promoted. Implementation of the Kenya project will be supported by the global technical team of the United Nations Development Programme and Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nations.

Speaking on behalf of the Permanent secretary in the State department of Agriculture Dr. Richard Lesiyampe, the Director of agriculture mechanization and engineering Eng. Nkanya said “Kenya is already transitioning from making the case for and building awareness on climate change adaptation to the development of adaptation strategies and action plans for their implementation.

While most African countries have the smallest contribution to the emission of greenhouse gases, they are the most threatened due to impact of climate change especially on agriculture. Through various United Nations projects, Kenya has already integrated some of its climate change adaptation needs including using various crop varieties, adopting sustainable land management especially in the Arid and semi-arid areas through use of modernized water and irrigation systems.

Agnes Yobterik, Director of Programmes at the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources emphasized the need to work closely with the counties for effective planning and implementation of the project activities. The Programme has earmarked key support to counties under the Climate Smart Agriculture Framework Programme which is aligned to the broad objective of providing capacity building and technical support at national and sub-national level.

The inception workshop attracted stakeholders from all the relevant ministries including Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Ministry of Devolution and Planning, National Drought Management Authority and the Kenya Meteorological Department. Among those present were the Director of the National Climate Change Secretariat, Dr. Pacifica Achieng, IPCC focal point for Kenya, Dr. Marigi and the NAP focal point for Kenya, Mr. Stephen Kingúyu. The global project management team was represented by Julie Teng, Technical Specialist at UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub.

The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process was initiated in 2010 to address medium and long term adaptation needs for all developing countries under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The objectives of the NAPs are to reduce vulnerability to the impact of climate change by building adaptive capacity and resilience and to facilitate the integration of climate change adaptation into fiscal, regulatory and development policies, programs and activities. Kenya embarked on the process of developing its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) in 2013 under sub-component three of the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP 2013-2017) formulated and launched by the Government of Kenya in 2013. Kenya’s NAP therefore builds on the National Climate Change Action Plan - the principal instrument for implementing the National Climate Change Response Strategy launched by the government in 2010.   The Strategy’s  primary focus is to ensure that climate change adaptation and mitigation measures are integrated in all government planning and development objectives.

Other key partners will include Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Ministry of Devolution and Planning, Kenya Meteorological Department and the National Drought Management Authority.

Download the report of the Inception Workshop