Climate change is a critical challenge for people of East Africa. Changing climate and weather patterns are predicted to have severe negative impacts on food production, food security and natural resources in East Africa.

Without appropriate responses climate change is likely to constrain economic development and poverty reduction efforts and exacerbate already pressing difficulties in a country like Kenya. Kenya is one of the countries whose economy is deeply rooted in climate sensitive sectors like agriculture, fisheries and forestry and Siaya County is expected to be hardest hit.

According to KWTA 2013 report, Siaya County has the least forested area at 0.42 %.This is caused by expansion of agricultural land, clearing of bushes for timber, charcoal and fuel wood, poor cultural practices.

Siaya County has a population size of about 842,304 according to the 2009 Population Census of which are 47% are males and 53% females living in 199,034 households. The county has a surface area of 2,530.38 sq km culminating to a population density of 333 people per km2. Therefore there is an urgent need for taking the challenge of climate change and the resulting impact of unsustainable development very seriously.

CAED through this workshop will bring together key stakeholders in the county to think carefully about the consequences of unsustainable consumer focused lifestyles and find ways on how to act in their local context, to avoid the worst predicted impact.

A planned workshop with the following objectives:

• To foster understanding about the global impacts of climate change in the county. This will be achieved by capacity building of stakeholders and awareness campaign by use of IEC materials and 30 min community radio talk show. THE TEN TREE Campaign will be launched in the county by the county governor.
• To inform the stake holders on ways to implement energy and water use best practises with 30% adoption by mid 2015.
• To encourage the county government to adopt policies to promote efficient energy and water use by mid 2015.

Course Agenda

 


Expected outcomes
Short term (6 months-1 year):
Visit to the county government office to establish progress made by county office on policy, 2 Tree nursery establishment in schools per sub county-school going children will plan trees on their birthday and take the responsibility of taking care of the tree, at least 10Trees planted per household, at least 100 trees planted per school, at least one clean technology adopted by 40% of households.

Long term expectations (1+ years):
County government to initiate environmental protection policy: Enforcement of tree planting legislation, solar lamps adoption, clean cookstoves,tree planting campaigns-biannual, organize agricultural shows to show best practices-annually.

Method of evaluation
Use of KAP (Knowledge, Awareness and Practice) survey which will help show levels of adoption and to know awareness levels and impact of the training
Working closely with stakeholders to access progress they are making on various proposed set of activities

Blogpost and photo by Simon Ogutu – CEO of Community Action on Environment and Development – CAED (Nairobi, Kenya) – simonogutu(at)yahoo.com