The 10^th Circular Economy Conference held on 19^th and 20^th November 2025 at the Nairobi Street Kitchen was more than an annual gathering; it was a moment of reflection, renewal, and bold reimagining for Kenya’s circular economy movement. Designed as a zero-waste event, attendees experienced sustainability first-hand: vegan meals, refillable water stations, reusable notebooks, and an encouragement to carry personal pens and bottles. It set the tone for a conference that demonstrated what a circular future can look like in practice. 

Circular Economy: Kenya’s Next Big Growth Frontier  

In her opening remarks, Anja Berreta the head of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Regional Programme Economy Africa, who are an international partner reinforcing multi-stakeholder dialogue on circular economy strategy and scaling of circular practices, emphasised that shifting from a linear to a circular model is not only an environmental necessity but an economic opportunity. She highlighted key areas where Kenya stands to gain: reducing post-harvest losses in agriculture, reusing construction materials, and scaling e-waste recycling hubs. She noted that circularity could contribute an estimated 2–3% to Kenya’s GDP while creating thousands of green jobs. 

Akshay Shah the Chair of the Kenya Plastics Pact (KPP) Steering Committee, emphasised that Kenya could position itself as a global hub for green manufacturing by harnessing renewable energy and converting local waste into valuable raw materials. Opportunities lie in repair, upcycling, reuse, repurposing, and recycling models; ecotourism grounded in clean, sustainable living, and using wastelands for productive green investments. Additionally, Dr Festus Ngeno , the Principal Secretary (PS) for Environment and Climate Change in the Republic of Kenya observed, circularity can significantly reduce reliance on imports while strengthening collaboration with development partners and unlocking climate benefits, which aligns strongly with the outcomes and ambitions reaffirmed at the Conference of Parties (COP) 30. 

Looking Back to Shape the Future 

Kenya has had a gradual but notable journey in attempting to shift its production models from the conventional ‘take-make-dispose’ to more circular models that enable re-using, recycling or even upcycling of waste. Carole Kariuki, CEO of Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), reflected on the paradox of ‘looking back to the future’, which was a call to revisit what Kenya has not yet done to achieve a more sustainable society. She highlighted the long-standing relationship between the private sector and National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), while acknowledging current concerns around the newly implemented Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework under the Sustainable Waste Management Act 2022 which states that ‘ every producer shall bear extended producer responsibility to reduce pollution and environmental impacts of the products they introduce into the Kenyan market and waste arising therefrom’. 

Although EPR aims to reduce pollution and ensure producers take responsibility for the waste generated by the products they place on the market, businesses have raised concerns, such as: 

• Increased compliance and waste-management costs 

• Unclear regulations and implementation systems 

• Operational Challenges for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) 

• Risks of penalties and disruptions for non-compliance 

• Competitiveness concerns for importers 

Despite these challenges, Carole stressed that circular production strengthens Kenya’s private-sector competitiveness both locally and globally.  In addition, Ps Festus Ng’eno noted that since 60% of Kenya’s waste is poorly managed, embracing reuse, repair, recycling, and upcycling is essential for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Ubuntu: The Heartbeat of a Circular Africa 

Ubuntu, the African philosophy interpreted as ‘I am because we are’, emerged as a powerful thread connecting circularity to African identity. This philosophy aligns deeply with human-centred design, which prioritises people’s values, lived experiences, and real community needs. 

When circular innovation is rooted in Ubuntu, solutions such as repair networks, community recycling hubs, waste-reduction systems, and sustainable product redesign become more inclusive, culturally grounded, and socially equitable. 

In this spirit, Kamilla Heden, a circular economy sector counsellor at the embassy of Denmark in Kenya, highlighted the crucial yet often overlooked role of waste pickers, who face challenges such as low pay, unsafe working conditions, and competition from large recyclers. The conference called for structured dialogue to ensure waste pickers, who are key actors in Kenya’s recycling ecosystem, are not left behind.  

As the conference neared closure, two key announcements that shifted the landscape and will influence national policy were made;  

• The Launch of the ‘ No single-use Plastics’ campaign 

A major highlight was the national call to reduce single-use plastics across hotels, restaurants, cafes, conferences, and public events. The announcement symbolised a bold shift from intention to implementation, sparking applause across the room. 

• Unveiling of the Toolkit on Advancing Circularity in the Waste and Textile sector in Kenya 

A new, business-friendly toolkit was unveiled to support the textile and apparel industry in adopting circular models. It simplifies circularity into practical steps, templates, case studies, and investment pathways, positioning it as a game changer for green innovation. 

Display of Innovation, Ingenuity, and African Excellence 

The exhibition floor buzzed with creativity, showcasing upcycled fashion, biodegradable packaging, plastic-derived raw materials, clean energy models, and community recycling hubs. It was the perfect demonstration that circularity is not a distant concept, but it is alive, practical, and already reshaping livelihoods. 

Beyond showcasing innovation, the conference also highlighted initiatives designed to support the transition to circular production systems. Notably, the Circular Retrofitting for Sustainable Industrialization (Geckocir) project which aims to promote circularity within food and beverage processing companies, would be an enabler of this transition. The project supports practical approaches through which companies can adopt more circular practices such as upcycling of food processing waste into higher value products, thereby creating additional revenue streams from materials that would otherwise be discarded. 

In conclusion, the 10th edition of the circular economy conference in Kenya will be remembered because it was people-centred, blended African philosophy with global innovation, showcased real-world solutions, announced commitments that will shape national policy, placed community and humanity at the heart of circularity, and demonstrated that sustainability is a shared journey. As the curtains closed, one truth was undeniable: Africa’s circular future will be defined not by isolated efforts, but by a society grounded in Ubuntu, designing a future in which everyone can thrive together. 

About the GeckoCIR) Project

The Circular Retrofitting for Sustainable Industrialization (GeckoCIR) Project, funded by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), advances Kenya’s transition toward a near zero-waste society by shifting food waste management from downcycling to high-value upcycling. Led by the University of Copenhagen in partnership with Rodee ApS, JKUAT, the University of Nairobi, the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), and the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), GeckoCIR pilots the Rodee technology to assess the viability of circular retrofitting within and between manufacturing firms. The project strengthens research and industrial capacity to transform food side streams into safe, nutritious food and other high-value products, promotes data-driven circular economy solutions, and defines scalable circular models for Kenyan industries—laying a strong foundation for national and county circular economy strategies while showcasing Africa’s leapfrogging potential through circular innovation.

Click here to visit the webpage of the project

Partners

Related resources:

Blog: From Waste to Resource: Circular Economy as a Solution for Sustainable Waste Management  

As part of the ACES/SPOKE program’s ongoing support to strengthen cold-chain ecosystems and improve postharvest management, this brochure provides farmers and community groups with practical, easy-to-use guidance on common nutrient deficiencies, pests, and diseases affecting key horticultural crops in Kenya.

Developed in partnership with the Clean Cooling Network and produced with insights from the Lari Horticultural Farmers’ Cooperative Society (LHFCSL), the resource equips farmers with:

• Clear identification signs for nutrient deficiencies
• Visual guides for common pests and diseases
• Practical, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) solutions
• Recommended corrective actions to reduce pre-harvest losses
• Maintain high-quality produce while also achieving higher yields

This brochure supports the broader goals of the ACES/SPOKE model—helping communities build stronger, climate-resilient production systems alongside cold-chain integration. By improving crop health, farmers can deliver higher-quality produce to markets, reduce spoilage, and maximize the benefits of cold storage and aggregation.

We invite farmers, partners, and practitioners to download and use this guide as a key resource in strengthening horticultural production across the SPOKE communities and beyond.

As climate risks intensify across the Global South, the need for innovative, scalable, and locally relevant solutions has never been greater. Recognizing this urgency, the ACTS Pathways Academy (APA) is proud to announce the APA Seasonal School 2026, a 7-day immersive learning experience themed Artificial Intelligence for Climate Action. The program will take place from 23–30 August 2026 at the serene Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa in Kenya.

Building on the African Centre for Technology Studies’ long-standing leadership in science, technology, and innovation, the Seasonal School brings together researchers, innovators, policymakers, students, and entrepreneurs committed to shaping a more climate-resilient future.

Why AI for Climate Action?

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming how societies understand, predict, and respond to climate challenges. From early warning systems and climate-smart agriculture to low-carbon energy transitions, AI offers powerful tools for enhancing resilience and reducing vulnerability. The APA Seasonal School aims to equip participants with the practical skills and ethical grounding needed to apply these technologies effectively and responsibly.

What Participants Can Expect

The program is designed as an interactive, hands-on experience that goes far beyond theory. Participants will engage in:

• Expert-led lectures exploring the latest debates and innovations in AI
• Case studies and group discussions to co-create real solutions
• Panel dialogues with thought leaders shaping the AI and climate agenda
• A vibrant Marketplace for showcasing ideas and catalyzing collaboration
• Immersive excursions to coastal communities to contextualize learning
• Networking events that foster long-term partnerships across regions

This unique blend of structured learning, practical application, and cross-sector engagement ensures that participants leave with both the skills and confidence to implement AI-driven solutions in their own institutions and communities.

Beyond the Classroom: A Sustainability Fellowship

Graduates of the Seasonal School will also have the opportunity to join a 5-Month Sustainability Fellowship, extending their learning and allowing them to deepen practical and soft skills aligned with sustainable development research.

Who Should Attend?

The program welcomes individuals working at the intersection of AI and climate change—researchers, innovators, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and students eager to design solutions that serve the needs of the Global South.

Registration Details

Registration is open until 31 January 2026, with participation fees covering accommodation, meals, local transfers, and excursions. Limited slots are available to ensure a high-impact, collaborative learning environment.

Contact Person:
Monroe Ouma
Email:mouma@acts-net.org
Organization: African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)

Kenya’s horticulture and fish industries are thriving, but succeeding in high-value global markets takes more than good produce—it demands global trust earned through strict certification and compliance. At the 2025 GLOBALG.A.P. Tour Stop in Nairobi, farmers, exporters, researchers, and policymakers came together around the theme: Driving the Region’s Agrifood Trade Through Compliance and Product Diversification.

This three-day event provided a dynamic platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration on food safety, certification, market access, and sustainability standards shaping future trade across the region and beyond. Here’s what each sector can take away.

Farmers: Growing Skills, Access, and Opportunities

Smallholder farmers are at the heart of Kenya’s agrifood growth. The Primary Farm Assurance (PFA) program introduced by GLOBALG.A.P.—now rebranded as Agraya—offers a stepwise path to certification, helping farmers build capacity in food safety, traceability, pest control, water management, and worker welfare. This support system equips farmers with tools to meet international standards and access premium markets.

Joyce Gema from TradeCare Africa stressed the importance of business models tailored to smallholder realities, highlighting how expanding regional markets like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) open new doors for farmers to become influential agribusiness players.

Exporters: Meeting Standards and Expanding Markets

Exporters face rising demands, especially from the European Union, which is increasing regulations around Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) and enforcing sustainability practices such as mandatory use of 70% recyclable packaging by 2030. These regulations are both a challenge and an opportunity—to differentiate products through compliance and sustainability.

Lilian Mwai of TradeMark Africa pointed out that export diversification, especially in fruits like mangoes, is making Kenya’s horticulture sector more competitive in global markets. Consistent quality and adherence to standards remain vital for sustained growth.

Researchers: Innovation and Evidence for Impact

The growing agrifood sector presents rich opportunities for research on sustainable farming, post-harvest loss reduction, and certification impacts. The Tour Stop showcased how research underpins policy and practice, from aquaculture development supported by Kenya’s government to pesticide regulation innovations led by agencies like PCPB.

Researchers are urged to focus on developing context-appropriate solutions and evidence to help farmers and exporters adapt to evolving international standards and environmental pressures.

Policymakers: Driving Collaboration and Sustainable Growth

Policy frameworks must foster collaboration across stakeholders and create enabling environments for certification uptake, market access, and climate-smart agriculture. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development closed the event with a clarion call to shift 50% of horticultural exports from air to sea freight within 10 years—cutting costs and reducing the sector’s carbon footprint.

Policymakers also play a key role in ensuring pesticide regulations strike a balance between safety and practicality, supporting the promotion of biopesticides and safer farming practices that Kenya leads in regionally.

Conclusion: Compliance Unlocks Kenya’s Agrifood Future

For farmers, exporters, researchers, and policymakers alike, compliance is not a barrier—it is a gateway to new markets, innovation, and shared prosperity. By working together, Kenyan agrifood actors can compete confidently on the global stage, driving sustained growth and job creation for communities across the country.

When I began my internship at the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS),  I anticipated a typical, slow-paced learning experience where interns mainly observe and provide support from the sidelines. However, from the very first day, I realized this experience would be far from ordinary. ACTS encouraged me to take initiative and create my own space, rather than quietly blending in behind the scenes.

My internship placement was with the Climate Resilience Economies Program at ACTS. Within this program, I had the chance to work closely with several impactful initiatives: the Blue Empowerment Program, Just Energy Transitions, and the Adaptation Research Alliance Regional Policy Advocacy Program. Each of these placements exposed me to unique challenges and opportunities in the climate space.

Throughout my time in the program, my growth was shaped by four interconnected outcome areas of learning: research, policy engagement, capacity building, knowledge brokerage, and resource mobilization. Engaging with these five pillars gave me a well-rounded experience and helped me discover where my strengths and interests truly lie.

Policy: Shaping Change Through Influence

At ACTS, every project is designed with a purpose to influence and lead changes. Each activity and project gather stakeholder insights and a research package to offer policy recommendations and Insights. This design allowed me to be strategic with every work to ensure it is planned for evidence to move from paper into practice. The spaces I entered were not just “meetings,” they were platforms where language was tailored to diverse audiences, where facilitation shaped consensus, and where policy pathways were nudged forward.

Through policy  engagements, I realized that policy work at ACTS is not about waiting for the right forum, it is about creating opportunities that shift mindsets and open doors for change.

Capacity Building: Growing Within and Beyond

Capacity building at ACTS happens on two levels: internal and external. Internally, young researchers and interns like me are trained through mentoring, project participation, and structured opportunities. Externally, ACTS invests in partners and networks, giving us opportunities to host webinars, design learning sessions, and presentations at international conferences.

Through the Pathways Academy and the Alternative Science Communication (Ask) Network, I was able to design sessions, moderate discussions, and co-create frameworks with peers. These experiences made me see capacity building not just as teaching, but as a continuous process of growing confidence, voice, and collaboration.

Figure 1:  Presentation on Alternative Science Communication Ask Network during the Transformation Conference

Research: The Core of ACTS

Research is at the core of the Internship program at ACTS. It drives programs, informs policy dialogues, and shapes capacity-building initiatives. As an intern, I was immersed in both institutional research and the freedom to explore my own areas of interest. I contributed to blogs, co-authored papers, and moderated discussions that translated technical insights into accessible narratives.

I learned that at ACTS, research is never an isolated academic exercise it is about generating knowledge that is practical, timely, and transformative. More importantly, it is about ensuring that the evidence is communicated widely so it resonates with those who need it most.

Knowledge Brockerage: Turning Evidence into Action

ACTS fosters knowledge brokerage as a deliberate and strategic process of connecting science, policy, and society. It ensures that evidence informs action and that communities’ realities inform research. I experienced this through co-producing info briefs, engaging in dialogues, and supporting dissemination efforts that linked complex insights with real-world applications. From translating technical reports into accessible summaries to helping frame talking points for regional stakeholders, I saw how knowledge becomes powerful when it is made relatable.

At ACTS, communication is part of the research publication. Knowledge brokerage taught me that impact depends on how well ideas move across disciplines, audiences, and borders. It is through these exchanges that evidence becomes policy, innovation becomes practice, and collaboration becomes change.

Resource Mobilization: Turning Ideas into Action

At ACTS,  resource mobilization is designed to unlock potential. From drafting concept notes to brainstorming proposals, I saw how timely ideas could be converted into actionable initiatives.

What struck me most was the collective energy of resource mobilization when researchers, policymakers, and communities pool their strengths; the result is more than just funding. It is momentum, collaboration, and innovation rolled into one. Resource mobilization here is not just a financial exercise; it is a creative process of ensuring ideas don’t just live on paper but come alive in the world.

Taken together, these four areas, policy, research, capacity building, and resource mobilization made my internship an overarching growth and learning opportunity. They gave me breadth and depth, grounding me in practical experiences while also showing me the bigger picture of ACTS’s work.

My first activity was a regional workshop on Climate adaptation. I arrived eager to assist, ready to help with report writing. Instead, I found myself unexpectedly in the facilitator’s seat, leading my very first activity. After a quick briefing, the next step was up to me, and I rose to the occasion. That session marked my first immersion into climate advocacy, plunging me into meaningful cross-regional collaboration and sparking lessons that would shape my entire internship journey. My reflections on that experience even became the subject of my first blog Post  cross regional collaboration. There wasn’t a single moment that changed everything, but rather a series of small breakthroughs and an honest reflection gradually began to see where I might fit in this new world. In sharing the lessons from my internship, each one a surprise, a challenge, or a triumph, I hope to capture how I found my footing, and maybe even inspire someone else standing at the edge of their own “first day.”Here are the 10 key lessons I pulled from this journeyeach one a surprise, a challenge, or a breakthrough that shaped the person I am becoming.

Figure 2; Moderating Group session during the ARA knowledge synthesis symposium

Lesson 1: Embrace the Learning Curve

Coming from a Community development background, the climate resilience economies space was completely new to me, and I found myself engaging with technical terms and concepts I had never encountered before. Even in simple tasks like compiling documents, I had to learn quickly and adapt. These learnings, however, became steppingstones. I Learnt that when I later moderated a podcast episode on financing Africa’s climate adaptation, I realized how much that early exposure had equipped me. The concepts that once felt overwhelming gave me the confidence to guide the discussion and host an engaging session. The learning curve wasn’t just about catching up; it was about laying the foundation for new opportunities. My turning point was when I was able to understand, ideate and articulate concepts in climate Resilience and Adaptation skills I developed by embracing the initial challenges and uncertainties of the learning process.

Lesson 2: Learning Happens in Motion

A key lesson I learned was that you grow best in motion; you don’t need to have all the skills in place before starting a task. It is in action that real learning happens. When I was part of the team supporting the launch of the ACTS Pathways Fellowship Program, I quickly realized how much I would have to pick up on the go. Beyond research, I had to stretch into new areas: marketing, stakeholder management, and organizing at a scale I had never imagined. It wasn’t a one-day event but months of activities, designing lesson plans, setting expected outcomes, and even identifying potential facilitators. And finally, when the fellowship launch came to life, I could see just how much I had grown. I had cultivated new skills in more than one area, proving that the best learning comes not before the action but within it.  The most crucial element in learning is embracing the unknown, stepping confidently into new roles, and realizing that growth happens best through doing and refining skills along the way.

Lesson 3: Small Wins Build Confidence

My confidence has been built most strongly in online engagement. Designing marketing materials and mobilizing people for programs gave me a chance to experiment with communication, creating posters, drafting messages, and sharing updates across platforms. Each new interaction, whether responding to a question or encouraging someone to join, added a layer of confidence. Over time, these seemingly small tasks prepared me to take on larger responsibilities, teaching me that growth often comes not in giant leaps but in steady, repeated steps.  Through handling small segments in the events session, I was confident and took a leap to moderate more sessions physically and online. Each little success made the next one easier to take on, showing steady progress and growth.

Lesson 4: Do Not Box Yourself In

Working in CRE and at ACTS meant being part of a large team with diverse skills and expertise. In such an environment, it quickly becomes clear that wholesome learning requires stepping beyond your initial role. I joined intending to build my research and policy skills, yet I soon found myself taking on communications responsibilities and even leading a co-creation session on Business models, an area I had never imagined I would touch. Experiences like this showed me that growth happens when you stay open to learning across disciplines, rather than limiting yourself to the duties you first expected. By stepping beyond my initial research role to take on, I expanded my skillset, gained confidence in leadership, and developed a broader interdisciplinary perspective, proving that growth happens when you embrace challenges outside your comfort zone.

Lesson 5: Adapt to Advance

During the Blue Empowerment Policy Dialogues on bolstering gender inclusion in the blue economy, held in both Kwale and Kilifi, I learned that adaptability is essential. Each location brought its dynamics: in one, I had to adjust the language and simplify terms to ensure clarity; in the other, the diversity of the audience required shifting tone and emphasis to maintain engagement. The lessons themselves also differed, shaped by the distinct contexts of each county. I found myself constantly reworking notes and approaches, with insights from day one feeding directly into how I managed day two. This experience mirrored many other tasks during my internship. It showed me that adaptability is not about starting from scratch each time, but about staying flexible and building on what you learn to respond effectively in changing environments.

After the first two dialogue sessions, I had learned to adapt continuously, so by the third dialogue, I confidently managed questions and steered the conversation with ease. This experience reinforced that flexibility and openness to change are essential ingredients for growth and engaging communication.

Lesson 6: Networks Are Bridges

Through the Alternative Science Communication (Ask) Network, I experienced the power of collaboration beyond a single project or institution. We came together as individuals with diverse interests but a shared passion for making science communication more impactful. Together, we co-created the framework for the network, designed activities, and mobilized participants even drawing in people I had never worked with before, but who quickly became collaborators. This process showed me that networks are more than professional contact; they are living bridges that connect ideas, skills, and people in ways that spark opportunities none of us could achieve alone. Building the Alternative Science Communication (ASK) Network was a game changer. I discovered how collaboration transforms scattered ideas into shared opportunities, generating new insights and innovative pathways forward.

Lesson 7: Feedback Is a Gift

Looking back, one of the most transformative parts of my journey was learning to treat feedback not as critique, but as a steppingstone. Public speaking was never something I considered a strength, yet my internship gave me many opportunities to stand before different audiences, from the Blue Economy policy dialogues to the Just Energy Transition dialogues. I also moderated a three-day workshop and hosted several webinars, each requiring different levels of preparation and adaptability. Every setting stretched me differently, and so did the feedback I received. What I learned in one space, whether about refining my language, pacing my delivery, or allowing more room for audience engagement, I carried into the next. Even informal debriefs after sessions became valuable lessons. Over time, I grew more attuned to non-verbal cues, adjusted how I structured ideas in my speeches, and became more comfortable making presentations that connected with people rather than simply delivering information. The real gift of feedback was not just in improving my performance, it was in showing me that growth is continuous, and every voice of guidance has something to teach if you are willing to listen. Moderating workshops and webinars were the pivotal moment when I realized that embracing feedback could transform a nervous speaker into a compelling, engaging communicator. 

Figure 3; Moderating Policy dialogue on Just energy transitions in Kisumu County

Lesson 8: A Good Idea Dies in Inaction

One challenge I encountered was learning to act on ideas quickly. There were moments when I hesitated, spending too much time overthinking or second-guessing whether my contribution was good enough. For example, after one of the dialogues, I had an idea for a blog that could have amplified the discussions. I delayed working on it, and by the time I finally pulled it together, the momentum of the dialogue had already moved on. That experience was a turning point for me. It taught me that ideas only make an impact when they are acted upon in time. Since then, I’ve tried to trust my instincts more, put drafts out sooner, and refine them along the way. The lesson I carry is simple: progress is better than perfection, and inaction can quietly bury even the best idea. Hardly any of the Work I do is ever perfect from the word go I  aim to start and build on it.

Lesson 9: Impact Is Collective

During the annual progress session in the Blue Economy program, I saw firsthand how powerful collective action can be. People directly working on Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) technology shared their updates, scientists presented on water quality monitoring, community members described the businesses they were building, and students like me reflected on our learning journeys. Alongside us were advocacy teams pushing for inclusion, government representatives aligning policies, and partners offering support. When all these voices and efforts came together, the impact was undeniable. I realized that my internship, though just one thread in this web, was part of the broader fabric of change. The lesson was clear: real transformation is never the work of one person or one sector; it is the sum of many, working together with a shared purpose.

Lesson 10: Make Time to Reflect

Working across different programs, whether in the Blue Empowerment, the Just Energy Transition work, the ACTS Pathways Academy, the Adaptation Research Alliance Regional policy advocacy project, or the Alternative Science Communication Network, meant I was constantly shifting between diverse contexts and responsibilities. Each space demanded something different of me: policy insights, facilitation, advocacy, coordination, or creativity. In the busyness of it all, it would have been easy to simply keep moving forward without pause. But I found that the most valuable growth came when I took time to reflect. By journaling after an event, reviewing lessons from a project, or writing blogs that captured insights, I was able to process not just what I had done, but what it meant. Reflection helped me connect the dots between these programs and see how, together, they shaped my skills and deepened my understanding of climate resilience, policy, and communication. Taking time to reflect turned experiences into lessons, and lessons into a sense of direction for my future.

Conclusion: Lessons That Endure

As I look back on my internship, I carry a deep sense of gratitude for the mentors who guided me, the colleagues who trusted me with responsibility, and the many opportunities that stretched me beyond what I thought I could do. The journey was not without its challenges, but each one became part of the process of growth. In navigating new concepts, adapting to shifting contexts, and engaging with diverse teams, I found more than just skills; I found direction. I discovered that my place is not on the sidelines, but as an active contributor in spaces where research, policy, and communication meet. This experience has shown me that finding your place is not about waiting for it to be given; it is about stepping forward, embracing the challenges, and allowing each experience to shape you into who you are becoming.

The link between road transport, public health, and climate change is undeniable. The transport sector is the main source of the Kenya’s CO₂ emissions related to energy. With more than one million motorbikes and 4 million cars, road transport is a major source of greenhouse gases and air pollution in cities. These emissions cause higher levels of NOx and particulate matter, leading to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, worsening the urban heat island effect, and intensifying climate-related risks. Battery swapping has recently emerged as an innovative way to accelerate the shift to cleaner mobility. Beyond motorbikes, electric vehicles (EVs) supported by climate-friendly charging stations offer a low-emission pathway to a cleaner, healthier future which contributes to Kenya’s NDC goals on mitigation.

Benefits of Electric Vehicles (EVs)

When recharged from clean or progressively renewable grids, EVs significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions. In Kenya, where more than 90% of electricity comes from renewable sources, switching to electric vehicles can reduce emissions by up to 70% over the life of the vehicle compared to gas-powered ones. This lowers CO₂ while eliminating tailpipe pollutants such as NOₓ and PM2.5, helping clean the air and soil and reducing pressure on ecosystems. Moreover, EVs, which produce zero tailpipe emissions, directly improve air quality in cities by lowering smog and reducing respiratory diseases. This is especially critical in congested towns like Nairobi and Mombasa, where air pollution contributes to high rates of respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses.

In Kenya, using electric vehicles (EVs) is up to 70% cheaper than running a gasoline or diesel vehicle, since electricity costs less than fossil fuels. Reduced dependence on imported oil also helps narrow Kenya’s trade deficit, saving the economy billions of shillings each year while lowering transport costs for households and businesses. Additionally, Kenya’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) include commitments to lower emissions and strengthen resilience. EV adoption supports these goals by reducing vulnerability to global fuel price shocks and supply disruptions. Integrating renewable energy solutions such as solar-powered charging stations further secures energy supply, enhances climate adaptation, and advances SDG 7 (clean energy) and SDG 13 (climate action).

Key Barriers to Adoption and Possible Solutions

BasiGo, founded in 2021 and based in Nairobi, Kenya, is a pioneer in the electric vehicle sector across Africa. By introducing e-buses, BasiGo offers advantages such as reduced operating costs and enhanced passenger experience, and local development through employment. However, the influential matatu association poses a considerable challenge to the scale-up of e-buses. A gradual transition for matatus, instead of an immediate overhaul, could be more acceptable, as it facilitates adaptation and mitigates potential disruptions to their established operations.

As we think of battery-swapping as a clean and sustainable path to mobility, it is important to acknowledge that battery end-of-life management is a significant concern. Since batteries have a finite shelf life, ensuring proper end-of-life management is critical. Electronic waste is the fastest-growing waste stream globally, with over 50,000 tonnes generated annually in Kenya, yet only about 10% is formally recycled, while much of it ends up in informal dumps.

To capitalize on the advantages of growing battery use, particularly for electric vehicles, Kenya must improve its infrastructure and procedures for efficiently recycling, recovering, or safely degrading batteries. For instance, The Sustainable Waste Management (Extended Producer Responsibility) Regulations, 2024, and the draft e-waste regulations, seek to regulate end-of-life products such as EV batteries by imposing management responsibilities on producers. These regulations pose necessary but significant compliance challenges for EV battery producers; finding ways to lower compliance of EV battery producers and consumers without compromising environmental sustainability is therefore critical.

Kenya can speed up the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and charging equipment by giving tax and financial incentives on battery imports as a short-term solution. Advances in environmentally conscious highway charging facilities powered by renewable energy will make it more reliable and boost consumer trust. Policies that encourage fleet electrification, like buses and boda-bodas, will help the market grow. While public-private partnerships can help charging networks grow. It’s also important to train people about the long-term savings of electric vehicles (EVs), which cost up to 70% fewer bucks to run than gas-powered cars. On the other hand, over-reliance on imported batteries poses a huge economic and strategic challenge. Importation directs investment and economic benefits to foreign countries, particularly in China’s leading battery supply chain. To this end, Kenya needs to set up programs that facilitate skills transfer and R&D to scale up localization in the medium to longer term. This will help in weaning the sector off imported batteries to build long-term sustainability. Localizing battery cell production provides an opportunity to capture various benefits locally, like promoting job creation throughout the value chain, from raw material extraction and processing to cell manufacturing, assembly, and recycling. Localization enhances economic resilience and supports the burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) industry by providing a consistent, cost-effective, and secure supply of crucial components.

Beyond localization, Kenya must also prioritize electrifying its transport system, particularly public transit, which serves most citizens. This ensures that the benefits of EV adoption extend beyond manufacturing to everyday mobility and public welfare. This transition is supported by entities like C40, Breathe Cities, and the CCAC. Furthermore, aligning EV policies with Kenya Vision 2030 and its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) will help integrate them into broader sustainability and economic goals, building a strong, low-carbon transportation system.

Kenya’s Path Forward

Momentum is already building for electric mobility in Kenya and across Africa. The government recently developed a draft National E-Mobility Strategy, signaling its intent to accelerate EV uptake through supportive policies, infrastructure development, and fiscal incentives. Elsewhere on the continent, Ethiopia has taken a decisive step by banning the importation of internal combustion engine vehicles, while Ghana has introduced import duty reliefs for EVs to lower costs and encourage adoption. These examples highlight that electric mobility is not just a Kenyan ambition but part of a broader continental and global shift toward sustainable transport. Together, they demonstrate that, despite current barriers, EV adoption is the future of mobility. However, realizing this future depends on expanding charging networks and ensuring reliable, affordable power.

For Kenya to switch to battery-powered vehicles and bikes, expanding charging facilities in public spaces such as office buildings, malls, and parking areas is critical. This also calls for Kenya’s energy generation and distribution companies, as well as private power producers, to work together to expand the power grid and ensure a steady electricity supply in the future. To achieve this, there needs to be a concerted effort to address the energy deficit and reduce electricity costs to sustain Kenya’s transition to electric mobility.

In many African homes, cooking is an everyday ritual, especially for mothers and girls. It’s often a blend of tradition, nourishment, and love. However, behind this familiar routine lies a silent challenge: unsafe, inefficient, and polluting cooking methods that affect our health, time, and environment. This disproportionately affects women and girls who spend up to 4 times longer hours than men cooking and preparing food. Like many women in my community, especially in the village, the reliance on charcoal and firewood for years was common, unaware of the risks the family was being exposed to and not considering the amount of time spent in preparing food. The smoke-filled kitchen was a norm and is still a norm to many rural communities, and the daily struggle of sourcing fuel is an accepted inconvenience.

However, having moved to the urban setting, I transitioned to LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) as my primary cooking fuel, with occasional use of an electric pressure cooker and charcoal. LPG seemed cleaner and more convenient compared to firewood, but I quickly realized it wasn’t a perfect solution; it was still expensive, prone to supply shortages, unpredictable price changes, and not as environmentally friendly as I had hoped.  Until recently, in October 2024, I got the opportunity to participate in the Global Leap Awards, an international competition that identifies and promotes the world’s best, most energy-efficient appliances and equipment intended for use in energy-constrained settings, as a test user. The 2024 Global LEAP Awards focused on Induction Cooktops Competition. I had a chance to interact with a range of 11 induction cookers (ICs). An exceptional experience I feel privileged to have, and an eye-opener to the dynamics of the clean energy space. My Name is Sello, a mother of 2, living in Kasarani, Nairobi, Kenya.

A Costly, Health-Risking Way of Life

Cooking with traditional fuels, including charcoal, firewood, kerosene and even LPG has long been the norm for many African households. However, these methods come with hidden costs:

High costs: Charcoal prices have been rising within the day with the current price of a 2kg charcoal tin rising from Ksh 50 in 2020 to Ksh 120 today. The tin can averagely cook 3 to 4 meals at most depending on the size of the family and type of food. Kerosene prices for cooking stoves have also been increasing day by day with the monthly fuel prices review by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA). LPG refills have been unreliable due to supply chain issues, expensive, (with a13kg cylinder going for Ksh 2500, and can only run my family for 1 month) and the unpredictable fluctuating prices making budgeting difficult. Charcoal for me often comes in as a backup, despite being aware of its environmental impact, I occasionally rely on charcoal, especially when preparing dishes that require more energy and longer time to prepare.

Time-consuming: Preparing meals over charcoal required constant attention, making multitasking difficult. It also comes with a lot of hygiene maintenance issues like constant refilling of the jiko with charcoal, and exposure of smoke and ash, which have proven to be dangerous if not well taken care of, especially in urban setting where often the kitchen space is very small and with limited aeration. LPG compared to charcoal is a bit faster but also requires constant monitoring

Limited use of electric cooking: Even though I own an electric pressure cooker, I use it sparingly because of concerns about electricity costs, but I have soon come to outgrow this misconception after keenly observing the cost incurred in buying electricity tokens, and adaptability to different meals.

Like many women, I must admit that I have been caught in this cycle, of navigating different cooking options depending on the type that is most accessible, reliable and affordable, not because I wanted to, but because I didn’t know a better alternative.

A New Chapter of Clean Cooking

This changed when I participated in the Global LEAP Awards Induction Cooktop Competition, as a test user of 11 different IC brands. It introduced me to induction cooking, a technology that has proven to be energy-efficient, fast, safe and clean cooking. At first, I was skeptical. How could a cooktop without an open flame replace my trusted charcoal jiko or gas burner? Would an IC really work for my daily meals? How much electricity would it consume? Would it be too complicated to use?

But as I started using the different ICs, my doubts disappeared. I quickly saw the difference and realized the potential of clean cooking. Here is what I discovered;

Cleaner, healthier and safer cooking: Unlike the use of charcoal and LPG, induction cooking has no smoke, no soot. Cooking with IC is just clean, breathable air for my family. The persistent coughs disappeared, and I no longer had to endure teary eyes while cooking. Pooping into my kitchen while preparing a meal, you could barely notice the source of energy, but just the delicious aroma of food. Cleaning up my kitchen surface after cooking was a breeze, the sleek surface of most ICs was wiped clean in seconds.

Time-Efficient and convenient: Cooking was faster! Water boiled in less than half the time compared to my traditional methods. I barely took more than 40 minutes preparing a basic meal like ugali, beef and vegetables. I had more time to focus on my children and personal growth. Another thing is the size of the IC, being compact and portable, I was able to integrate the IC into my small kitchen space without having to shift the arrangement and structure of my kitchen. Most of the ICs models had pre-set cooking functions, though some were not tailored to Kenyan cuisine. However, I had an opportunity to interact with an IC locally made in Kenya, which I felt was more versatile to the Kenyan cuisine and highly efficient as well.

Cost-Effective: While I initially worried about electricity bills, I soon realized that electric cooking generally is surprisingly more energy efficient lowering my energy costs. Cooking githeri on jiko-charcoal cost me ksh 240 (two tins of charcoal). Charcoal is also quite slow, taking 3-4 hours to cook, with constant monitoring to refill the jiko with charcoal. With an electric pressure cooker, I only use 2 electric units which costs ksh 56, I then shift to IC to fry my githeri, which also takes 0.8 electric units which costs ksh 22. I saved money while using a cleaner, faster, and more convenient method.

Easy Adaptation: Since I already had an electric pressure cooker, integrating induction cooking into my routine was easier than expected. It became my go-to solution, reducing my dependence on LPG and charcoal. While learning the settings of how to operate the induction cookers took a few tries, the process was smooth. All of them had manuals, with some having more simplified and elaborate instructions. I loved the fact that a few of them had, in the manual, troubleshooting options, and some even went further to provide emergency contact number for customer support. The cooktops were user-friendly, and with a few practice meals, I got the hang of it.

Sustainability and the bigger picture: With every meal, I felt empowered knowing I was making a small yet impactful contribution to reducing deforestation and carbon emissions. I no longer have to use charcoal which I know is produced from a tree cut somewhere. Every meal cooked on induction means less reliance on fossil fuels, contributing to a greener future.

Learning, Adapting, and Sharing

Through the Global Leap award test user project phase, I learned not just how to use the induction cooktop but also how to maximize its benefits. Engaging with other participants in focus groups and WhatsApp discussions helped me learn best practices and troubleshooting tips, exchange recipes and discovering creative ways to cook traditional meals using modern technology. We shared our experiences daily, although very few of us struggled with electricity blackouts. While we were initially worried about needing induction-compatible cookware, the project provided them for us.

The impact of induction cooking was not just personal but community-wide and immediate in different ways, including;

Inspiring others: Several of my friends saw the benefits and expressed interest in switching to induction cooking. The aesthetics, portability and efficiency of IC made it more appealing. Seeing the experience of my cooking journey and being able to gauge the amount and time used to prepare meals made it very easy to convince them on its efficiency. Installing and using the IC as mentioned earlier didn’t require me to alter any of my kitchen arrangement. What I literally did was to flap my LPG cooker and place the IC on top.

Energy savings cost: On average, I spent 30-40% less on energy costs compared to use of LPG and charcoal. Previously, I would spend about ksh 4500 as cooking but energy cost in a month, but with IC and pressure cooker, I used about ksh 3000.

Creating awareness and empowerment: I now use my induction cooktop and electric pressure cooker more frequently, reducing my carbon footprint. I have also become an advocate for clean cooking, sharing my experience with neighbors and family. More women in my network are now considering induction cooking as a viable alternative, shifting perceptions that electric cooking is expensive or impractical.

Call to action

This experience reinforced an important truth: African mothers are ready for change, but we need access and awareness. Induction cooking is not just a luxury; it is a necessity for health, economic, and environmental sustainability. I would therefore recommend that governments support policies that promote clean cooking solutions through subsidies and awareness campaigns. Clean cooking Stakeholders must also ensure affordability and accessibility so that more households can make the switch to these kinds of technologies. It is also a call for communities to embrace adaptation, because the future of cooking should be clean, efficient, and sustainable.

I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of this transformation. As an African mother, my priority is the well-being of my family, and clean cooking is one of the best gifts I can give them.

A Shared Vision for Climate Entrepreneurship

The meeting, held at the Makerere University Business School campus in Uganda, brought together representatives from MUBS, KCIC, and the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS). Discussions highlighted the value of partnerships that merge academic research, incubation, and entrepreneurship support to create sustainable climate solutions. The collaboration originated from earlier engagements under the Evi-SICEE framework, which aims to empower young innovators and women entrepreneurs working in clean energy sectors across Africa. Through this MoU, the institutions agreed to formalize cooperation in research, incubation, and mentorship, ensuring that results from current projects evolve into long-term, sustainable initiatives.

Strengthening Regional Innovation Ecosystems

The new partnership builds on a shared commitment to support climate-smart enterprises, enhance access to green financing and mentorship, and foster knowledge-driven entrepreneurship. KCIC, with over a decade of experience supporting thousands of green enterprises in Kenya and beyond, emphasized the importance of a Pan-African approach to climate innovation, one that nurtures locally developed solutions and scales impact across borders.

MUBS, on its part, showcased its vibrant innovation ecosystem, with active student and faculty engagement in research and enterprise incubation. The collaboration opens doors for Ugandan youth-led enterprises to access incubation support, market linkages, and mentorship through KCIC’s growing regional network.

Transforming Collaboration into Action

The MoU outlines practical steps to operationalize the partnership, including:

• Incubation of six youth-led enterprises under the Evi-SICEE project framework.
• Development of mentorship and internship pathways for students.
• Joint research and publications between the partnering institutions.
• Engagement with national ministries in Uganda to explore the establishment of a Uganda Climate Innovation Centre.
• A follow-up workshop to review progress and define next steps.

These actions reflect a clear roadmap toward deepening regional integration and scaling up climate innovation support.

Driving Sustainable Impact Beyond Projects

This collaboration symbolizes the spirit of the Evi-SICEE project, leveraging partnerships to amplify impact, create learning opportunities, and enhance sustainability beyond project lifecycles. It demonstrates how institutions can jointly address climate challenges by connecting research, innovation, and enterprise development.

The session concluded with a shared commitment to advance Africa’s green transformation agenda through inclusive, evidence-based, and entrepreneurial approaches.

Introduction
The global imperative to feed a growing population while simultaneously combating climate change has catalyzed the development of innovative solutions that merge agriculture with renewable energy. Kenya receives an average of 5–7 kWh/m² of solar radiation daily, yet less than 5% of its agricultural land currently integrates renewable energy solutions. One particularly promising approach gaining significant traction is agri-solar, a hybrid model that integrates solar panels directly with farming activities on the same parcel of land. This co-location strategy aims to optimize land use efficiency, boost farm incomes, and contribute to clean energy generation, creating a synergistic relationship between food and power production. As nations like Kenya actively pursue sustainable development pathways, a critical question emerges: can agri-solar truly be a key to a sustainable future? This blog delves into this question by examining the concept of agri-solar, its multifaceted benefits, the practical challenges to its adoption, illustrative examples within Kenya, and the future prospects for scaling up this innovative approach to support both environmental and social goals.

What is Agri-Solar?

Agri-solar, also known as agrivoltaics, refers to the dual use of agricultural land for both conventional crop cultivation or livestock rearing and solar power generation. This model stands in contrast to conventional standalone solar farms, which dedicate land exclusively to energy production. In an agri-solar system, solar panels are strategically installed above or alongside crops and pastures, allowing farmers to harvest sunlight for electricity while continuing their agricultural operations. A key feature of many agri-solar installations is the elevation of panels, which provides partial shading for crops beneath. This shading can yield significant agronomic benefits, such as improved soil water retention and the creation of more favorable microclimates for certain plant species, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Configurations can range from fixed elevated structures to more advanced systems with adjustable panels that track the sun to optimize light exposure for both the plants and the photovoltaic cells. As highlighted in a report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), this integrated approach leverages limited farmland more intensively, embodying a powerful synergy that addresses the interconnected challenges of energy and food production.

Potential Benefits of Agri-Solar in Kenya

Kenya presents a fertile ground for the expansion of agri-solar systems due to its abundant solar radiation and an economy heavily reliant on agriculture for livelihoods and employment. The potential benefits are multifaceted. Environmentally, agri-solar directly contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by displacing diesel-powered generators and kerosene lamps commonly used in rural areas. The partial shading from panels can mitigate water stress for crops, a critical advantage in Kenya’s drought-prone regions, potentially leading to higher yields for certain shade-tolerant species. Economically, this model provides farmers with a diversified and more resilient income stream; they can profit from selling surplus electricity to the grid while maintaining their agricultural output. This diversification is a crucial buffer against climate variability and market fluctuations. Furthermore, agri-solar presents a significant opportunity to empower rural communities, including women and youth, by creating decent work in both the farming and renewable energy sectors. Given the high unemployment rates in many rural counties, combined agri-solar projects can be a catalyst for inclusive economic growth and community-level resilience against climate impacts.

Case Study of an Agri-Solar Initiative in Kenya

A leading example of agri-solar application in Kenya is the Distributed Renewable Energy Ecosystem Model (DREEM) project, hosted by the Kenya Climate Innovation Centre (KCIC). This innovative initiative focuses on integrating solar power into critical agricultural value chains, particularly dairy and horticulture, in semi-arid counties such as Isiolo, Kitui, Laikipia, and Makueni. The DREEM project supports smallholder farmers and cooperatives by deploying solar-powered solutions, including milk cooling and processing systems. These technologies directly reduce energy costs and post-harvest losses while enabling cleaner production methods. Beyond the immediate technological benefits, the project empowers youth and women through targeted agri-solar entrepreneurship training and job creation, fostering a new generation of green entrepreneurs. By facilitating access to affordable solar energy and financing, DREEM builds stronger community resilience against climate change impacts and decreases reliance on costly, polluting fossil fuels. This integrated approach aligns closely with Kenya’s national commitments to higher renewable energy penetration and sustainable agriculture development, as outlined in the long-term development blueprint, Kenya Vision 2030, and the strategic Kenya Climate Change Action Plan.

Challenges for Agri-Solar Adoption in Kenya

Despite its considerable promise, the widespread adoption of agri-solar in Kenya faces several practical and policy challenges, as noted in a report by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). A primary barrier is the high upfront cost associated with solar technology and its installation, which can be prohibitive for smallholder farmers without targeted financial support or innovative financing mechanisms. Furthermore, policy and regulatory frameworks often have gaps, lacking clear guidelines for connecting these distributed energy systems to the grid and ensuring fair remuneration for fed-in power. There is also a significant lack of technical capacity; farmers and local technicians require training to manage and maintain the dual systems effectively. From an agronomic perspective, a key technical challenge lies in balancing crop yield with energy production. Not all crops are suitable for agri-solar environments; some high-value crops requiring full sun may experience lower yields under partial shading, which can limit the range of viable agricultural products for these systems. Addressing these interconnected challenges through financial innovation, supportive regulation, and targeted research is critical for agri-solar’s broader adoption across the country.

Policy, Institutional Support, and Future Prospects in Kenya

Policy, institutional support, and future prospects are critical pillars shaping the successful adoption and scaling of agrisolar technologies in Kenya, which combine solar energy generation with agricultural activities to boost food security and clean energy.

Policy

A supportive policy framework is essential for agrisolar adoption and scaling. Kenya’s policies increasingly recognize agrisolar as a strategic solution for sustainable development. The National Energy Policy 2025-2034 promotes renewable energy integration in agriculture, emphasizing solar-powered irrigation and value addition to increase farm productivity while reducing carbon footprints. Additionally, Kenya has formulated specific support mechanisms and subsidy schemes designed to increase access to solar technologies among smallholder farmers, facilitating affordability and uptake. The government’s commitment is also reflected in dedicated programs such as the Solar Energy for Agricultural Resilience (SoLAR) project, which channels resources into solar irrigation and processing solutions

Institutional Support

Institutional support in Kenya is robust, featuring collaboration between government agencies, research institutions, innovation hubs, and development partners. The Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation leads solar irrigation initiatives, while innovation centers like the Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) provide technical support, financing facilitation, and capacity-building to farmers and enterprises adopting agrisolar technologies. Other institutions such as Sustainable Energy Technical Assistance (SETA) contribute advisory services to align policies and enhance technical expertise, ensuring a conducive ecosystem for scaling solar energy in agriculture.

Future Prospects

The future of agrisolar in Kenya is promising, backed by the country’s vast solar resources and a significant portion of under-irrigated arable land that could benefit from solar-powered irrigation solutions. Advancements in solar technology, coupled with increased local manufacturing and innovative financing models, are expected to lower costs and encourage broader adoption among small-scale farmers. The integration of agri-solar with water management and climate resilience strategies presents a transformative opportunity to simultaneously address food security, energy access, and environmental sustainability. Kenya is poised to become a regional leader in agri-solar deployment, leveraging emerging trends and continuous policy improvements to create resilient and productive farming systems.

Conclusion

Agri-solar presents a promising pathway to a more sustainable and resilient future by combining clean energy production with food security on the same land. While challenges around cost, technology, and policy must be overcome, successful examples in Kenya and beyond demonstrate that the adoption and scaling of agri-solar can deliver environmental, social, and economic dividends. With supportive policies and inclusive programming focused on empowering rural communities, agri-solar can be a powerful tool to achieve climate goals, promote decent work, and advance Kenya’s sustainable development ambitions.

Imagine a community development project that has successfully distributed hundreds of water filters. On paper, it meets every target: outputs are delivered, reports are filed, and dashboards shine with progress. Yet months later, outcomes have barely shifted, and social dynamics within the community have evolved in unexpected ways. Who truly benefited? Which outcomes hold lasting significance? And who may have been left behind? These questions go to the heart of social impact, which can be understood as the long-term effects of interventions on the well-being of individuals, communities, and systems. Traditional metrics often fall short in capturing this complexity.

Interventions intersect with social norms, local economies, and political dynamics in ways that are rarely linear or predictable. Numbers may confirm delivery, but they rarely explain empowerment, trust, or shifts in community power. This is why understanding social impact requires approaches that blend quantitative data with stories, systems thinking, and lived experiences, perspectives that reveal what truly counts as progress in complex settings.

This blog explores how moving beyond metrics opens the door to evaluation that embraces complexity, nuance, and inclusiveness, enabling a deeper and more meaningful understanding of change.

Limitations of Conventional Metrics

Traditional impact metrics, such as headline numbers on yields, income levels, or program reach, often provide only a partial view of social change. While these quantitative indicators are useful for accountability, they tend to misrepresent complex realities and overlook critical nuances.

Another limitation for evaluators and policymakers lies in attribution: the difficulty of linking observed changes to a single intervention. Programs operate within overlapping economic, environmental, and social dynamics, making the isolation of effects a limitation in itself. Conventional metrics also overlook unintended outcomes, such as inequalities or ecological trade-offs, and often ignore local context. This leaves decisions resting on incomplete evidence, underscoring the need for adaptive, context-sensitive approaches that recognize complexities and interdependencies.

Complexity in Social Programs

Development programs rarely operate in isolation. They unfold in dynamic environments shaped by cultural norms, economic shifts, political dynamics, and community power relations. These factors interact in ways that are non-linear and often unpredictable, making social change difficult to measure through traditional cause-and-effect models.

For instance, a climate-smart agriculture program may introduce drought-resistant crops to improve food security. Yet whether these benefits last depend on household labor distribution, gender roles, and decision-making structures within communities. Such interdependencies mean outcomes emerge through feedback loops, social dynamics, and unintended ripple effects that linear metrics cannot capture.

Recognizing this complexity requires evaluators to move beyond simple input-output models and embrace approaches that can adapt to shifting realities, uncover hidden dynamics, and better reflect how change unfolds in people’s lives.

Why Context and Nuance Matter

While metrics can track outputs, they rarely reveal whether change is meaningful or equitable. Power dynamics, cultural practices, and equity considerations vary widely across contexts and often determine the success or failure of interventions. Ignoring these dimensions risks reinforcing exclusion or producing only surface-level outcomes.

Patterns in impact evaluation across Sub-Saharan Africa illustrate the importance of context. While more than 4,200 studies have been conducted in the region, over a quarter focus on Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia, while Central Africa remains underrepresented, often due to historical unrest and logistical barriers. This uneven distribution not only limits what is known but also shapes whose experiences define “evidence,” highlighting the need for more inclusive and context-sensitive approaches.

Leadership and funding patterns deepen this imbalance. Nearly one-third of lead authors of African impact evaluations are based in the United States, and much of the financing comes from major external funders such as USAID, the World Bank, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. With limited engagement of local governments and institutions, research agendas risk overlooking community-driven priorities, leaving issues of equity, inclusion, and resilience underexplored.

This is why adaptive management becomes essential. Embedding iterative learning cycles allows programs to adjust to shifting realities, ensuring strategies remain relevant, inclusive, and responsive to lived experiences. Nuance is therefore not optional; it is central to delivering social impact that is both meaningful and sustainable.

Approaches to Understanding Social Impact Beyond Metrics

Capturing the richness of social impact requires moving beyond purely quantitative measures by integrating qualitative methods. Methods such as qualitative interviews, storytelling, and participatory evaluation allow evaluators to uncover deeper insights into change processes. These approaches surface perspectives that numbers alone cannot: shifts in empowerment, changes in social cohesion, and alterations in local governance.

Mixed methods approach, combining surveys and statistical analysis with qualitative narratives, offers a more holistic understanding of impact. Participatory processes ensure the voices of beneficiaries are central to evaluation, making the process more inclusive and contextually grounded. Methodologies such as Complexity-Aware Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (CAMEL) provide tools for mapping dynamic interactions and adapting strategies in real-time, enabling evaluations that are both responsive and sustainable.

These approaches highlight what is possible when evaluations move beyond conventional metrics. The next step is translating these principles into practice

Practical Recommendations for Practitioners

To move beyond conventional metrics, practitioners ought to integrate multi-dimensional approaches into their monitoring and evaluation systems. This includes

• Embedding mixed-methods frameworks – Combining quantitative data with qualitative insights, enabling a fuller picture of impact.
• Applying flexible, context-sensitive impact assessments– Tailoring indicators to community priorities ensures evaluations reflect the realities on the ground. Context-sensitive tools make results more relevant, reducing the risk of overlooking local needs or reinforcing inequalities.
• Using adaptive evaluation approaches – Methods such as Outcome Mapping, Developmental Evaluation, and Complexity-Aware Monitoring allow teams to track emergent changes and adjust interventions in real-time. This strengthens responsiveness and long-term relevance.
• Fostering participatory evaluation – Engaging stakeholders in defining criteria, generating evidence, and interpreting findings builds ownership and accountability. Tools such as the Most Significant Change technique and community storytelling workshops enrich understanding while enhancing sustainability.

Conclusion

Understanding social change demands evaluation approaches that embrace complexity, adapt to context, and include diverse perspectives. By widening the lens of evaluation, practitioners can capture the depth of impact, including shifts in empowerment, equity, and social cohesion that numbers alone cannot reveal. Integrating qualitative insights, participatory methods, and systems thinking turns evaluations into tools for continuous learning and adaptive decision-making. The real challenge lies in ensuring that evaluation itself evolves alongside changing realities, remaining responsive to the communities it seeks to empower.