Kenya Launches Ksh 34 Billion Climate Resilience Initiative to Transform Rural Livelihoods Across Ten Counties

Ten counties across Kenya are set to receive Ksh 34 billion from government and development partners under the Integrated Natural Resources Management Programme (INReMP). The groundbreaking initiative, jointly funded by the Government of Kenya in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is expected to improve livelihoods for at least two million Kenyans while addressing the urgent challenges of climate change and environmental degradation.

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Historic Investment in Climate Resilience

Comprehensive Funding Structure

The total estimated cost of INReMP reaches US$262.8 million (approximately Ksh 34.1 billion), representing IFAD’s largest-ever investment in Kenya. The financing structure demonstrates unprecedented international confidence in Kenya’s climate adaptation efforts, with multiple development partners contributing to this transformative eight-year programme.

The funding breakdown includes significant contributions from IFAD, the Green Climate Fund, and the Global Environment Facility, alongside matching funds from the Government of Kenya. Additionally, a US$47 million financing envelope remains open to attract new investors and development partners committed to climate action and rural transformation.

Strategic Leadership and Vision

Speaking at a meeting with partners, Treasury Principal Secretary Dr. Chris Kiptoo emphasized that the initiative will significantly boost Kenya’s efforts in building climate resilience and addressing rural poverty. “This programme is a testament to our collective commitment to safeguard natural ecosystems while empowering smallholder farmers and vulnerable communities to thrive in a changing climate,” said Dr. Kiptoo.

Targeting Kenya’s Most Vulnerable Communities

Direct Beneficiary Impact

INReMP directly targets 407,176 vulnerable rural households, benefiting over 2 million people through community-led natural resource management and climate action. The programme focuses on improved, inclusive, and sustainable rural livelihoods while strengthening institutional frameworks for resource governance and coordination.

According to the National Treasury, women, youth, and marginalized groups will be prioritized to ensure climate adaptation efforts are inclusive and equitable. This approach aligns with Kenya’s commitment to leaving no one behind in its development agenda while addressing the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable populations.

Target Counties and Geographic Focus

Beneficiary counties include Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Kakamega, Kericho, Kisumu, Homa Bay, and Migori. These counties were strategically selected based on their vulnerability to climate change impacts and the presence of critical water tower ecosystems.

Critical Water Tower Ecosystems at Risk

Kenya’s Five Major Water Towers

The programme particularly focuses on protecting the Cherangany Hills and Mau West regions—key catchment areas vital to the country’s water supply. These areas form part of Kenya’s five major forest “water towers” that include the Mau Forest Complex, Mt. Kenya, Aberdares, Cherangany Hills, and Mt. Elgon, which collectively provide an estimated 75 percent of the country’s water resources.

Environmental Degradation Challenges

Despite their critical importance, these water tower ecosystems have been seriously degraded by irregular settlements, overgrazing, illegal forest resource extraction, and conversion of forest land to agriculture. The Mau Forest Complex, for example, serves as the main water source for 12 rivers that feed into lakes Victoria and Turkana, but faces intense pressure from deforestation and encroachment.

Recent studies indicate that Kenya loses Ksh 534 billion yearly to deforestation and forest degradation, threatening water resources, biodiversity, and economic stability. Forest loss has particularly affected key water catchment areas, making water shortages more severe and leading to conflicts over access to this vital resource.

Climate Vulnerability and Agricultural Challenges

Kenya’s Climate Vulnerability Profile

Kenya is ranked 52nd among the most vulnerable countries to climate change and extreme weather events, contributing to low yields, loss of livelihoods, and depletion of natural resources. The country faces projections of temperature increases between 1.5°C to 2.5°C by 2046–2065, alongside unpredictable rainfall patterns, droughts, and floods that already affect crop yields and natural resources.

Agricultural Sector Under Pressure

Agriculture contributes 33 percent to Kenya’s GDP and employs 53 percent of the population, but farming output has not kept pace with rapid population growth of nearly 2 percent annually. Climate change impacts, including irregular rainfall and increased temperatures, have made farming increasingly challenging for smallholder farmers who form the backbone of Kenya’s agricultural sector.

The agricultural challenges are compounded by declining forest cover and ecosystem degradation, which disrupts rainfall patterns and reduces the natural water storage capacity of the landscape. Temperature changes are particularly critical in water tower ecosystems, where favorable microclimate conditions support high-value crops like tea, a major export earner for Kenya.

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Comprehensive Programme Components

Community-Led Natural Resource Management

The programme will focus on restoring forests, rivers, wetlands, and rangelands through community-led initiatives such as tree planting and agroforestry. This approach recognizes that successful environmental restoration requires active community participation and ownership of conservation efforts.

INReMP will implement ecosystem restoration activities including sustainable management of forests, wetlands, rangelands, and arable lands. The programme will also work to reduce natural resource-based conflicts through equitable access and community engagement, ensuring that conservation efforts benefit local communities rather than displacing them.

Climate-Smart Agriculture and Technology

The initiative will promote climate-smart agriculture and income-generating activities, helping farmers adapt to changing climatic conditions while maintaining productivity. This includes supporting the adoption of drought-resistant crops, adapting cultivation seasons, and improving irrigation efficiency.

Dr. Kiptoo noted that “This initiative is not just about responding to climate change. It’s about reshaping rural development to be inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready.” The programme will invest in climate-proof infrastructure including irrigation systems, renewable energy, and water management systems that are resilient to future climate variability.

Additional Funding and Partnerships

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Partnership

The National Treasury expects additional funding amounting to Ksh 325 million ($2.5 million) from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation under the Climate Smart Agribusiness Partnerships for Resilience (CSAPR) initiative to enhance climate information systems in agricultural value chains.

This partnership will enable farmers and agri-MSMEs to access accurate, timely data that informs production and market decisions, reduces risk, and improves profitability. The Gates Foundation has been actively supporting climate adaptation efforts in Africa, focusing on helping smallholder farmers build resilience against climate change impacts.

Technology and Innovation Integration

Dr. Kiptoo emphasized that “We are encouraged by the confidence that development partners continue to place in INReMP. This partnership with the Gates Foundation will catalyse data-driven solutions that elevate resilience and economic opportunity in rural Kenya.”

The programme will leverage digital technologies to ensure smallholder farmers can anticipate and respond to climate threats. This includes innovative weather intelligence platforms that provide climate-smart agriculture information to farmers via text messages, similar to successful partnerships between the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) and technology providers.

Building on IFAD’s Legacy in Kenya

Extensive Partnership History

This initiative builds on a strong foundation of collaboration between IFAD and Kenya. Since 1979, IFAD and its partners have implemented 21 development projects in Kenya, mobilizing over US$1.2 billion in investments and reaching more than 4 million households. INReMP continues this legacy with a sharpened focus on resilience, climate adaptation, and community empowerment.

Sara Mbago-Bhunu, IFAD Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, noted that “Natural resource management is linked to livelihood activities, and agroforestry can be sustainable and provide multiple benefits. INReMP will scale up interventions that have already shown impact in our past projects in Kenya.”

Scaling Up Successful Interventions

The programme scales up successful results already achieved in smaller IFAD programmes in Kenya, particularly focusing on approaches that have proven effective in community-led natural resource management and climate adaptation. This evidence-based approach ensures that investments build on what works while adapting to local contexts and needs.

Policy Framework and Government Support

Alignment with National Development Plans

INReMP aligns perfectly with Kenya’s development blueprint Vision 2030 and the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS 2019–2029). The programme also supports the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which prioritizes empowering rural communities and smallholder farmers.

Agriculture Principal Secretary Dr. Kipronoh Ronoh highlighted that “This investment aligns with our Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and underscores our determination to empower rural communities through integrated natural resource management.”

Cabinet-Level Commitment

The agreement was formally signed by Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning John Mbadi, emphasizing the high-level government commitment to the programme’s success. CS Mbadi stated, “This programme is not just about conserving the environment, it’s about securing the livelihoods of our rural communities, restoring their natural resources, and building resilience for future generations.”

Climate Smart Agriculture and Innovatio

Technology-Driven Solutions

The programme will integrate cutting-edge climate information systems and digital agricultural tools to support farmers’ decision-making processes. This technological approach is crucial given that Kenya accounts for 23 percent of all agri-tech start-ups in Africa, yet many farmers have yet to benefit from these innovations.

The integration of climate information systems will enable farmers to access accurate weather forecasts, soil moisture data, and crop advisory services through mobile platforms. This data-driven approach will help farmers optimize planting times, irrigation schedules, and harvest planning based on real-time climate conditions.

Payment for Ecosystem Services

INReMP will implement payment for ecosystem services mechanisms to incentivize communities to participate in conservation and restoration activities. This approach recognizes the economic value of environmental services provided by forests and other ecosystems, creating financial incentives for their protection and restoration.

Expected Outcomes and Impact

Poverty Reduction and Food Security

Once fully implemented, INReMP is expected to contribute significantly to poverty reduction, food and nutrition security, and inclusive economic development for Kenyans. The programme’s focus on sustainable livelihoods and climate-smart agriculture will help vulnerable communities build resilience against climate shocks while improving their income prospects.

The initiative addresses the critical challenge of food security in a country where climate change has led to increasingly unpredictable agricultural seasons. By promoting drought-resistant crops and improved water management, the programme aims to stabilize food production and reduce rural poverty.

Environmental Conservation Impact

The programme will contribute to Kenya’s broader environmental conservation goals, including the national target of achieving 10 percent forest cover. Through community-led restoration activities, INReMP will help reverse the degradation of critical water tower ecosystems while supporting biodiversity conservation.

Environmental restoration activities will focus on restoring the natural water storage and regulation functions of ecosystems, helping to mitigate floods during rainy seasons and maintain water availability during dry periods. This ecosystem-based approach to climate adaptation provides multiple benefits for both communities and the environment.

Challenges and Implementation Strategy

Addressing Historical Challenges

The programme must navigate complex challenges including land tenure issues, competing demands for natural resources, and the need to balance conservation with livelihood needs. Historical patterns of deforestation and environmental degradation in target areas require careful community engagement and alternative livelihood strategies.

Successful implementation will require strong coordination between national and county governments, effective community mobilization, and robust monitoring and evaluation systems to track progress and adapt strategies as needed.

Institutional Strengthening

INReMP includes components for strengthening policies and institutions for integrated natural resources management and coordination of rural activities. This institutional focus is crucial for ensuring sustainable outcomes beyond the programme’s eight-year implementation period.

Regional and Global Significance

Model for African Development

Kenya’s INReMP has the potential to serve as a model for climate-resilient development across Africa. The programme’s integrated approach to natural resource management, climate adaptation, and rural livelihoods addresses challenges common to many African countries facing similar climate vulnerabilities.

The programme’s emphasis on community-led approaches and ecosystem-based adaptation aligns with global best practices in climate resilience building. Its success could provide valuable lessons for scaling similar initiatives across the continent.

Contributing to Global Climate Goals

INReMP contributes to global climate objectives including the Paris Agreement targets and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. By combining climate adaptation with mitigation benefits through forest restoration and sustainable land management, the programme addresses multiple dimensions of the climate challenge.

Conclusion

The launch of Kenya’s Ksh 34 billion Integrated Natural Resources Management Programme represents a transformative investment in the country’s climate resilience and rural development. By targeting vulnerable communities in critical water tower ecosystems, the initiative addresses both immediate livelihood needs and long-term environmental sustainability.

The programme’s comprehensive approach—combining natural resource management, climate-smart agriculture, technology integration, and community empowerment—provides a robust framework for building resilience against climate change impacts. With strong government commitment, international partnership, and community participation, INReMP has the potential to create lasting positive change for over two million Kenyans while protecting vital ecosystems.

As climate change continues to pose unprecedented challenges to rural communities across Africa, Kenya’s INReMP serves as a beacon of hope and a practical demonstration of how integrated approaches can address multiple development challenges simultaneously. The programme’s success will not only benefit Kenyan communities but also provide valuable insights for climate adaptation efforts across the continent.

The initiative represents more than just an investment in climate resilience—it’s an investment in Kenya’s future, ensuring that vulnerable communities have the tools and resources they need to thrive in a changing climate while safeguarding the natural resources that sustain the entire country.

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By: Montel Kamau

Serrari Financial Analyst

2nd September, 2025