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  

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.

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.

Introduction

Sustainable development is a comprehensive goal that work towards meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainability is the foundation for today’s leading global framework for international cooperation, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It encompasses a balanced approach involving three interconnected pillars: social equity, economic growth, and environmental protection. Together, these pillars aim to create a society where human well-being improves while maintaining the health of the planet. Specifically, social equity ensures fair access to resources and opportunities; economic growth promotes prosperity and quality of life; and environmental protection safeguards natural systems to sustain life and resources long-term.

Sustainable development initiatives achieve greater impact by actively engaging stakeholders, which fosters a sense of ownership, inclusivity, and enhanced effectiveness in meeting development goals. This inclusive approach ensures their diverse perspectives, local knowledge, and varied interests are incorporated into policy and action design, leading to long lasting solutions that are more relevant, culturally sensitive, and widely accepted.

Understanding Stakeholder Engagement in Sustainability

Stakeholder Engagement  is an ongoing, mutual process of involvement that goes beyond one-time consultation. It involves creating meaningful spaces and communication channels for dialogue, information sharing, collaboration, and co-creation among all parties affected by or influencing sustainability initiatives. This continuous engagement ensures that diverse perspectives are integrated into decision-making, strengthening the relevance, transparency, and impact of sustainable development efforts.

Common methods and tools used in stakeholder engagement include surveys, interviews, workshops, public consultations, stakeholder forums, advisory boards, and participatory decision-making platforms. These mechanisms facilitate transparent communication, active listening, and collaboration, ensuring stakeholders’ insights effectively shape policies and projects effectively. According to the Global Reporting Initiative,  85% of organizations recognize stakeholder engagement as essential for identifying and managing sustainability risks, making it vital for strategic decision-making, risk mitigation, and delivering impactful sustainability outcomes. Ultimately, stakeholder engagement transforms stakeholders from passive observers into active partners who innovate, provide feedback, advocate, and help implement sustainable practices that build trust, improve reputation, and foster long-term success.

Why Stakeholder Engagement is Crucial for Sustainable Development

Engaging stakeholders in sustainable development offers numerous benefits, including enhanced transparency that builds trust and fosters collaboration. It ensures that diverse perspectives and local knowledge are integrated into the development initiatives, creating shared ownership and responsibility for outcomes. This shared commitment motivates stakeholders not only to support but also actively promote sustainable initiatives. According to the Research Institute of Sweden, highlights that customers, NGOs, and local governments play vital roles in supporting firms’ sustainability transitions by providing information, feedback, and motivation for innovation. Stakeholders serve as innovators by contributing ideas and solutions and serve as reality-checkers validating sustainability efforts, brand advocates promoting sustainable values and provide continuous feedback providers for improvement. Financial contributors among stakeholders enable long-term sustainability initiatives, while community members ensure projects remain relevant and respectful of local contexts.

Challenges in stakeholder Engagement

Challenges in stakeholder engagement in sustainability initiatives encompass a variety of social, cultural, economic, and structural barriers. Social and cultural differences in language, norms, and values can cause misunderstandings and exclusion, while economic disparities limits the capacity of marginalized stakeholders to participate fully. Power imbalances often silence marginalized groups, undermining equity and legitimacy of engagement process. Additionally, many stakeholders face constraints in resources and capacity, which hinder effective and meaningful involvement. Further, there is also the risk of engagement becoming tokenistic, where participation is superficial and fulfills formalities without meaningful influence, causing distrust and weak outcomes.

Strategies for Effective Stakeholder Engagement

For stakeholder engagement to be effective, the process must be thoughtfully designed from the outset and  sustained throughout the initiative. Early involvement during problem identification and planning stages fosters ownership and helps prevent misalignment later phases. Engagement strategies should be customized to address the divers interests, influence, and expectations of different stakeholder groups, with special attention to accommodating marginalized or under-represented populations to ensure inclusivity. Collaborative approaches, where stakeholders actively contribute to shaping not just goals but also implementation mechanisms, yields  stronger, more resilient, and sustainable outcomes. Continuous communication, empowerment, and co-creation are key elements that can deepen stakeholder commitment and improve the overall success of sustainability projects.

Impact of Stakeholder Engagement on Sustainable Development Outcomes

Well-executed stakeholder engagement leads to the development of stronger, more context-sensitive policies and projects with broader local support. It enhances resource efficiency, promotes social inclusion, and strengthens environmental stewardship. Engaged stakeholders act as promoters who challenge assumptions and drive innovation aligned with sustainability principles. This support is critical for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals and helps organizations meet global standards for transparency, fairness, and corporate responsibility. Currently, stakeholder engagement is recognized as a central pillar that makes sustainable development practical, inclusive, and impactful, ensuring that initiatives are both responsive to local needs and aligned with global sustainability frameworks.

The Role of Policy and Governance

Policies play a crucial role in mandating or encouraging stakeholder participation by establishing formal requirements and guidelines for inclusive engagement in sustainable development processes. Such policies often require early, continuous, and meaningful consultation with stakeholders, ensuring transparency, accountability, and respect for diverse perspectives. For example, environmental and social safeguard policies in international funding mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund (GCF) mandate accredited entities to integrate stakeholder engagement in project design and implementation, emphasizing the inclusion of vulnerable and marginalized groups. This legal and procedural framework ensures that stakeholder voices are not only heard but also actively inform and shape development outcomes, reinforcing the legitimacy and effectiveness of sustainable initiatives. Policies like those from UN-Habitat and UNDP further highlight principles such as equality, inclusion, shared responsibility, transparency, and sustainability in stakeholder engagement practices, supporting the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through multi-stakeholder partnerships and inclusive decision-making.

Governance frameworks promote multi-stakeholder collaboration by establishing structured platforms and mechanisms that facilitate shared responsibility and collective decision-making among diverse actors, including government agencies, private sector, civil society, and communities. These frameworks provide clarity on roles, responsibilities, and processes for cooperation, fostering trust through transparent communication and regular feedback loops. They also support capacity building, conflict resolution, and resource mobilization to sustain engagement over time. Kenya’s SDG stakeholder engagement roadmap exemplifies such  frameworks, institutionalizing partnerships and continuous dialogue to enable integrated and scalable progress toward national and local sustainability goals. This roadmap also involves multiple actors including national and county governments, private sector, civil society, academia, youth, parliament, and UN agencies working together through consultative, inclusive, and participatory processes to enhance ownership, legitimacy, and effective implementation of the SDGs.

Conclusion

Stakeholder engagement is fundamental to the successful advancement of sustainable development. When meaningful, early, and continuous engagement is embedded throughout the lifecycle of projects and policies, it fosters a more democratic, adaptive, and impactful approach. This inclusive process cultivates a culture of shared responsibility, transforming sustainability from an isolated goal into a collective journey. For any organization or government committed to sustainable outcomes, investing in strong stakeholder relationships and institutional frameworks is essential to translate vision into reality.

Circular economy is waste reimagined where resources are maximised, and waste is minimised by keeping materials in continuous cycles of recycling, reuse and value addition. This was directly tied to the Kenya National Research Festival 2025 theme, which as “Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security: Empowering Communities through Research, Science, Technology, and Innovation,” where a range of circular solutions, farm management practices and other innovations were showcased.  

During a panel discussion on ‘Diversifying Benefits from Waste Products through a Circular Economy’, experts, policymakers, and innovators unpacked how Kenya can shift from a throwaway culture to a thriving circular economy that benefits people, businesses, and the planet. 

This blog captures some insights from different speakers and shares some of the case studies in circular economy.

The policies exist, but enforcement and implementation are needed 

Salom Machua from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) outlined Kenya’s waste management laws. Since 1999, the Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act (EMCA) has empowered NEMA to regulate pollution, biodiversity, and waste. More recently, the Sustainable Waste Management Act (2022) introduced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), requiring producers to manage products through their entire lifecycle, alongside private-sector waste plans. Other tools include the National Solid Waste Management Strategy and the Electronic Equipment Disposal Bill. 

“The laws and policies are there; but the real challenge is enforcement,” Salom Machua emphasised. The panel noted lessons from the 2017 plastic bag ban, which cut usage by 80% within a year. Stronger enforcement, more officers on the ground, and citizen involvement in policy design were highlighted as critical next steps.  

Quantifying waste is the key to smarter interventions 

According to a report by Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) in 2024, Kenya generates 8.8 million tons of waste annually with over 75% ending up in landfills or incinerated. Nairobi alone produces 2,000–2,500 tons daily, 80% organic and 20% plastic, and nationwide, solid waste averages 3,000–4,000 tons daily, mostly from urban areas. 

Christine from ACTS stressed that while these figures are useful, they do not reveal which stages of the value chain generate the most waste or break down volumes of food, plastic, textile, and e-waste. Without these details, interventions risk being off target. Speaking during the Kenya National Research Festival 2025, in Njoro, Kenya, she emphasized that evidence-based solutions must start with accurate, localized data. 

From classrooms to communities  

The speakers agreed that there is a need to include topics and subjects on circular economy in school curricula. Students should not just read about the negative impacts of poor waste management but also learn how to leverage waste as a business opportunity through recycling, upcycling, and other circular economy practices. 

The youth need support to harness opportunities in circular economy innovations and to explore how they could become entrepreneurs. Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) that already have structures and machinery could offer training and even short courses to the youth and women, making practical knowledge easily accessible right within their reach. 

Child labor in waste management  

One festival participant noted that while the circular economy holds promise for Kenyan innovators, it also has a darker side. Young people, and some being underage, are drawn into waste collection for recyclers, often for meagre pay, while those with influence reap most of the rewards. Without stronger regulation, child labour risks overshadowing the real benefits of the circular economy. 

The two case studies below show that circular economy is not just theory, but it thrives through practical solutions and collaboration. 

Circular Retrofitting for Sustainable Industrialization (Geckocir) Project 

Christine from ACTS shared insights on the Geckocir Project, which is developing practical ways for food processors to upcycle waste into high-value products different from the traditional practices of recycling, repurposing and reusing. For instance, mango seeds can yield starch and mango peels can produce pectin which is both valuable in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. She noted that this shows the circular economy is not only about environmental management but also a business opportunity, made possible through collaboration among academia, industry, researchers, and regulators. 

Konza Technopolis: a living lab 

Konza, the Silicon Savannah of Africa, is a good example that proper waste management is possible. At Konza, waste is segregated at the source and continues to be separated until the end. This makes it possible to efficiently upcycle, recycle, or even reuse the waste for other secondary purposes before it is just disposed of. Konza offers a practical blueprint for scale-up in other parts of the country as well. 

Towards a Near-Zero Waste Future 

In conclusion, Kenya’s journey toward a circular economy is underway, but progress depends on stronger enforcement, accurate data, and community-driven education. At the same time, challenges such as child labor must be addressed to ensure that no one is left behind. With the right mix of policy, innovation, and citizen engagement, waste can indeed be transformed into a valuable resource that supports sustainable growth. 

Using AI to tackle climate change, the ethical risks are usually smaller and less serious than in areas like healthcare or criminal justice, where it relies heavily on personal data and makes direct decisions that affect people’s lives (Tsamados et al. 2020)

Introduction
Kenya, like many other countries, contributes to the global greenhouse gas emissions, and the risks it faces from climate change are significant. The main contributors are the Energy and Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sectors, where deforestation, fossil fuel use, and agricultural expansion continue to drive growth in emissions. On average, emissions have grown by 4% per year since 1990.

To be climate sensitive, Kenya’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commits to reducing emissions by 32% by 2030. To achieve this, the country has put in place policies in agriculture, energy, transport, forestry, waste, and industry. These include the Climate Smart Agriculture Strategy, Least Cost Power Development Plan, Sustainable Waste Management Act, and the 10% tree cover target. With this foundation in place, this blog tries to explain how Kenya should consider Artificial Intelligence (AI) in climate resilience efforts as part of the solution.

AI Against Climate Change
Artificial intelligence can be defined as a collection of computational tools and strategies designed to simulate or improve tasks typically perceived as requiring human intelligence (McCarthy et al. 2006). Through advanced data processing, AI can forecast temperature changes, anticipate events such as El Niño, model rainfall, and predict extreme weather patterns like floods and wildfires. These applications improve the accuracy of climate models and provide clearer insights into both present conditions and future risks.

In addition to deepening scientific understanding, AI has been increasingly applied to practical solutions that reduce emissions and support adaptation efforts. It is used to improve energy efficiency in industries and buildings, optimize shipping and grid systems, monitor pollution, and evaluate the carbon footprint of materials. AI also supports policy by simulating the potential impacts of measures such as carbon taxes and sustainable transport systems. AI works by converting data into actionable insights that inform both immediate responses and long-term strategies.

So What? The Need for Responsible and Inclusive AI
AI systems learn from past data that has already been labeled and organized, and they use this information to make predictions or decisions about new situations. The challenge is that if the original data contains bias, the AI can unintentionally carry it forward, leading to unfair treatment or discrimination against certain people or groups. For example, if AI relies on smartphone data to understand how people travel, it may overlook communities where fewer people own smartphones. This could lead to biased results that don’t accurately reflect everyone’s transportation choices (Dabiri and Heaslip 2018).

AI systems draw on both personal and non-personal data, and efforts to reduce emissions often depend on information that reflects patterns of human behavior raising important privacy concerns. For instance, control systems aimed at lowering carbon footprints, such as those used in energy storage, industrial heating and cooling, and precision agriculture, the effectiveness of AI systems often relies on highly detailed, real-time data. The data gathered can include sensitive personal details, creating risks to privacy not only for individuals but also for entire communities (Floridi 2017). The implication is clear: AI will only serve the climate agenda effectively if inclusivity, fairness, and data protection are embedded in its design and deployment.

Conclusion
Artificial intelligence offers a powerful opportunity to accelerate progress on Kenya’s and the world’s climate goals. Its ability to process complex data and optimize decision-making makes it a critical enabler of both mitigation and adaptation. However, the success of AI in this sector depends not only on technological capacity but also on aligning its use with ethical principles and societal values. The main challenge is to ensure that as AI is scaled up in climate action, it reduces emissions and enhances resilience without compromising fairness, inclusivity, or privacy.

For further reading:
Cowls, J., Tsamados, A., Taddeo, M. et al. The AI gambit: leveraging artificial intelligence to combat climate change—opportunities, challenges, and recommendations. AI & Soc 38, 283–307 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-021-01294-x

Africa is on the frontline of climate change, facing growing risks that erode livelihoods, especially for the most vulnerable. Although climate resilience strategies have been proposed and implementation efforts initiated, uptake has often been slow, hindered by approaches that are top-down, technical, and detached from the communities they aim to serve.

Climate resilience in Africa cannot be built solely on information; it must be built on connection. While the continent has become a frontline witness to the devastating effects of climate change, from failing crops to flooded coastlines, most responses remain top-down, technical, and detached from the people they are meant to serve. According to the report by UNESCO & UNFCCC, scientific research exists in large numbers, yet the communities facing the brunt of the crisis often have the least access to it, and even less influence over how it is used.

The Role of Participation in Climate Resilience

For too long, science communication has flowed one way, from experts to the public, North to South. But as climate impacts intensify, that model is no longer enough. True resilience demands participatory approaches that center equity, lived experience, and local wisdom. Africa’s climate story is not just about emissions or adaptation technologies; it is about voice, representation, and narrative power. How we talk about climate change determines who is heard, who is funded, and who is left behind

Transformative science communication must go beyond simplifying research; it must challenge knowledge hierarchies, create space for lived experience and local wisdom, and enable meaningful public participation. Just as importantly, it must build sustainable, scalable platforms that carry these voices into the future. This is why we must rethink science communication as a foundational climate infrastructure, a system that connects knowledge, people, and action.

Science Communication as Climate Infrastructure

Despite decades of climate research, the translation of knowledge into actionable change remains weak. Reports are written, policies drafted, but meaningful public engagement is often missing. This has led to a disconnect between what is recommended and what is practiced. This communication gap is particularly stark in frontline communities, from smallholder farmers facing shifting rainfall patterns to coastal fishers navigating rising tides.

Science communication, when strategically deployed, can:

• Strengthen trust between communities and institutions
• Mobilize informed participation in climate adaptation programmes
• Create platforms for marginalized voices to shape climate narratives
• Translate complex research into tools for action, not just awareness
• Create a learning culture for sustainable climate resilience

If science communication is the infrastructure for climate justice, then how it is designed, from who shapes it to how it is shared, becomes critical. This is where co-creation comes in.

Co-Creation over Dissemination

Traditional science communication models often treat audiences as passive recipients. This one-way flow, from researcher to “end user,” fails to capture the lived realities of those at the frontline of climate impacts. In contrast, co-created communication values local knowledge, cultural context, and community priorities.

Participatory communication models have gained attention across the Global South, especially in climate-vulnerable regions where institutional trust is low. In such spaces, building communication infrastructure that centers on co-creation can be transformative. Whether through citizen-led climate monitoring or collaborative storytelling, giving communities the platforms to produce and share their knowledge enhances both legitimacy and impact.

Co-creation is not just a method; it is a shift in how we understand science itself. This requires reframing the role of knowledge in climate action.

Reframing Science as a Collective Conversation

Climate science cannot be neutral. In a region already dealing with inequality, exclusion, and environmental degradation, the way knowledge is framed matters in Africa. Communication must address the power dynamics in whose knowledge counts, whose voices are prioritized, and how decisions are made.

This calls for:

• Redefining expertise to include experiential, indigenous, and community-based knowledge
• Bridging the gap between data and decision-making through clear, targeted, multilingual products
• Using storytelling and narrative framing to highlight local realities and shift dominant policy discourses
• Recognizing science communication as political and essential to climate justice

Having reframed science as a collective conversation, the next step is to embed these principles into action.

The Path Forward

While transformative science communication has often been seen as ending with the publication of findings, it begins where people, policy, and practice intersect. Climate resilience will not be achieved through better data alone, but through better dialogue: dialogue that is inclusive, critical, and empowering.

Africa’s climate future hinges not just on the science it produces, but on how that science is communicated, challenged, and inclusively shared. If communication remains extractive or exclusive, even the strongest research may fail to connect. But when rooted in equity, trust, and participation, communication becomes a tool for justice and a force for accommodating and adapting to change.

The future of climate resilience in Africa depends not just on science, but on how we share it. When communication becomes participatory, just, and rooted in lived experience, it becomes the true backbone of climate justice.

To unlock the full potential of whey and drive its environmental and economic valorization, we must unlock MYST (mindset, youth, storytelling, and technology), which means shift mindsets, amplify awareness, and foster inclusive collaboration using the most energetic people, the youth, across innovation, storytelling, and sustainable action.”
Why isn’t the problem? The challenges stem from disconnects, the way we work in separate corners, each guarding our little piece of the puzzle.

Researchers are discovering amazing things, but farmers don’t hear about them.
Government is shaping policy, but processors aren’t at the table.
Entrepreneurs have bold ideas, but they don’t know who to call or where to start.

It’s like we’re all part of the same band, but playing different songs, on various stages, with no one keeping time.

But the good news? We can change that.
We can break down the walls, bridge the gaps, and turn these separate voices into a harmony of action.

And now is the time.
Not tomorrow. Not next year.
Now is when we shift from seeing waste… to seeing it as wealth.
Now is when we stop working in silos and start building systems, together.
Now is when we unlock the power of mindset, youth, storytelling, and technology to drive change.
Because the opportunity is already here.
Whey isn’t just a byproduct. It’s a breakthrough waiting to happen.
And the time to act is now.

We have the knowledge, the tools, and, now more than ever, the collective will to act.

Call to action: So let’s keep this momentum going.

• Let’s co-create pilots.
• Let’s tell better stories.
• Let’s make the invisible visible

Because Whey Is the Way Forward.

Related resources: 

• Blog: Accelerating Market Penetration of Whey-based Food Products in Kenya: Matching consumer insights and innovation
• Blog: Whey Waste into Wealth: Harnessing the Possibilities of Whey in Kenya.
• Workshop report: Valorizing Dairy By-products: Insights from a Kenya Circular Economy Journey with the VALORISE Project
• Workshop report: Dairy Industry Sustainability through Adding Value to Processing Sidestreams
• Project Brief: Circular Bioeconomy for the Kenyan Dairy Sector (VALORISE)

^{The project is funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs}

“Your research isn’t boring, it just needs to be told in a way that captivates and shows its impact.”

Peter Ongalo, MPRSK

Storytelling is one of the oldest and most powerful forms of human expression, with the ability to engage, influence, and inspire. For generations, it has been used to pass on knowledge, history, and cultural values, often through the oral narratives of our grandparents and great-grandparents, leaving lasting impressions that transcend formal education. By fostering connection and understanding, storytelling has played an important role in shaping societies, preserving heritage, and reinforcing ways of life across time.

Storytelling lies not only in its intuitive appeal but also in the cognitive and psychological principles that make stories memorable and impactful. For researchers, embracing storytelling can transform how their work is understood and received. This was emphasized during the ACTS Pathways Academy session at the ASk workshop, where participants noted that the message received by an audience often differs from the one intended by the presenter. By weaving storytelling techniques into their publications, researchers can bridge this gap, making their findings more accessible, relatable, and resonant with wider audiences.

When sharing research, clarity is essential. Use simple, precise language that avoids jargon and makes your work accessible to a broad audience. Shape your message with purpose by considering who you want to reach, whether academics, policymakers, or the wider public, and adapt your tone and platform accordingly. Equally important is presentation. While academic papers remain vital, complementary formats such as infographics, charts, or concise explainers can help distill complex ideas into more engaging, understandable forms.

From the publishing stage, practical storytelling matters because it encourages uptake by policymakers, practitioners, and the public. People are more likely to use research they understand. It also enhances visibility by increasing citations, media coverage, and policy relevance, and bridges the gap between research and real-world change.

It is also worth noting that your data can tell a meaningful story by highlighting its real-world implications rather than presenting raw numbers alone. Finally, situate your work within current debates in media and policy. By aligning your findings with timely issues and emphasizing their human impact, you enhance their relevance and increase the likelihood of influencing both public understanding and decision-making.

In the end, effective research communication is not just about what you know, but how you share it. By embracing storytelling, simplifying language, and connecting with audiences where they are, researchers can ensure their work not only informs but also inspires change. Publishing is not the end; it is the beginning of your research’s public life. The challenge and opportunity for scholars today is to make research resonate beyond academia and shape the conversations that matter most.

The ASk Network | Alternative Science Communication Network:
Connecting Communicators, Researchers, and Innovators for a New Era of African Science Engagement

Introduction:

Like many developing countries, Kenya faces a significant challenge with traditional cooking methods that rely heavily on polluting fuels such as wood, charcoal, and kerosene. According to KIPPRA, over 70% of Kenyans heavily depend on such polluting fuels for cooking, leading to detrimental effects including severe household air pollution, respiratory illnesses, and environmental degradation. Astonishingly, over 15,000 premature deaths annually in Kenya have been attributed to household air pollution. The adoption of solar cooking presents a promising solution to these pressing issues by harnessing abundant sunlight to produce clean, free thermal energy without harmful emissions. Its adoption also strengthens climate resilience and contributes to Kenya’s Vision 2030 development blueprint and advances commitments worldwide under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of health (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), clean energy (SDG 7), as well as climate action (SDG 13), while also reducing pressure on forests, home fuel expenses, and harmful emissions. The most common forms of solar cooking are Solar box and concentrating cookers.

Why Solar Cooking?

Solar cooking presents a wide range of benefits including:

Mitigation of Climate change: Solar cooking not only eliminates smoke and indoor air pollution but also significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Unlike traditional cooking methods that contribute to deforestation and carbon emissions, solar cookers use the sun’s energy to cook food, which is a zero-emission process. By reducing dependency on firewood, solar cooking also helps preserve forests and biodiversity, contributing to climate change mitigation and ecological conservation.

Health and socioeconomic benefits: The health benefits of solar cooking are profound. Families using solar cookers experience cleaner indoor air, which reduces respiratory infections and smoke-related illnesses. Additionally, solar cooking frees women and children from the time-consuming and often hazardous task of gathering firewood, allowing more time for education, work, and community development. The adoption of solar cooking in Kenya has contributed to creation of job opportunities through local construction and promotion of solar cookers, empowering communities economically.

Community Resilience and Sustainability: Solar cooking enhances community resilience by providing a reliable, off-grid cooking technology that can be quickly implemented without infrastructure development. The cookers’ long lifespan (estimated to be over15 years) means sustained benefits, with families able to cook millions of meals on free solar energy. Moreover, solar cooking reduces gender-based violence by lessening the need for women to travel for firewood. It also supports sustainable development aligned with multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including health, gender equality, climate action, and clean energy access.

Challenges in Driving the Adoption of Solar Cooking

Despite its proven benefits for health, environment, and climate resilience, the adoption of solar cooking in Kenya faces notable challenges that slow its widespread uptake, including:

Socio-Cultural Barriers: Traditional cooking practices and deeply rooted cultural habits pose significant hurdles. Many households are accustomed to using firewood or charcoal and are reluctant to change long-standing habits. Solar cooking methods require adjustments in cooking time and techniques which may not align with daily routines or cooking preferences in Kenyan communities. Furthermore, social norms and gender roles impact adoption, as cooking decisions and behaviors are often influenced by family dynamics.

Technical Limitations: Many potential users lack the necessary training and skills to operate and maintain solar cookers effectively. Without proper user education, there is a risk of misuse or abandonment of the technology. Solar cooking requires clear understanding and experience with using solar ovens or box cookers, including how to position them for optimal sunlight and how to manage cooking times. Additionally, solar cooking is weather-dependent and therefore during cloudy or rainy days can limit its usability, causing users to rely on traditional fuels during such times.

Economic and Accessibility Issues: The initial costs for solar cookers, even when locally made, can be prohibitive for low-income households. Many Kenyans rely on wood or charcoal that can often be collected for free or at very low cost, making the investment in a solar cooker less attractive without subsidies or financial support. Limited access to affordable products and distribution channels also poses barriers, especially in remote or underserved areas where solar cooking could have the greatest impact.

Project Funding and Awareness: Solar cooking initiatives often depend on external funding from donors or NGOs, which can be intermittent or limited in scope, affecting project continuity and scale. Awareness campaigns and educational outreach are critical and currently insufficient in many regions. Many households remain unaware of the benefits or existence of solar cooking technologies.

Strategies to Enhance the Adoption of Solar Cooking in Kenya

Overcoming these challenges necessitates multifaceted strategies including:

Community Engagement and Awareness: Effective adoption begins with raising awareness about the health, environmental, and economic benefits of solar cooking. Community workshops, cooking demonstrations, and targeted behavior change communication campaigns can show the practical efficiency of solar cookers and dispel myths about their usability. Engaging local leaders and women’s groups as champions creates trust and facilitates wider acceptance.

Technical Training and Support: Providing comprehensive user training on the operation, positioning, and maintenance of solar cookers is crucial. Continuous technical support and capacity building ensures sustained usage and reduce abandonment rates.

Economic Incentives and Financing: Subsidies, microfinance schemes, or pay-as-you-go models can make solar cookers financially accessible to low-income households. Partnerships with private sector players and local enterprises to produce and distribute affordable solar cooking technologies can reduce costs. Government policies providing tax exemptions or waivers on solar cooking equipment can further lower the price barrier.

Product Innovation and Localization: Designing solar cookers suited to local cooking needs, including size, cooking speed, and meal compatibility, enhances user satisfaction. Innovations such as thermal energy storage solutions help address intermittency challenges when sunlight is insufficient. Using locally available materials and involving local artisans in manufacturing boost affordability and local ownership.

Integration into National Policies and Programs: Embedding solar cooking adoption within broader national clean cooking, energy, and climate action strategies ensures coordinated support and scaling. This can include coordinated efforts through Kenya’s National Electric Cooking Strategy and Kenya National Cooking Transition Strategy, which promote clean cooking solutions, including solar technologies, with clear targets, financing, and market development.

Sustainable Market Development: Creating a viable market for solar cooking technologies involves establishing supply chains, after-sales service networks, and awareness campaigns. Collaborating with NGOs, community-based organizations, and private sector players strengthens sustained demand generation and product availability in rural and urban areas.

Kenya’s Path Forward

Kenya’s path forward on the adoption of solar cooking is closely aligned with its national energy and clean cooking policies, aiming for a sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient future. Its adoption involves robust national policy support, leveraging renewable resources, prioritizing health and equity, and fostering innovation and partnerships to ensure broad adoption of solar cooking technologies by 2030 and beyond. The adoption of solar cooking is not just about making food; but it’s about guaranteeing a future for the country that is cleaner, safer, and considerably more resilient.

Introduction

Cooking is an essential part of everyday life; therefore, driving efforts towards clean cooking is a critical consideration for governments, non-profits, and the private sector.  Approximately 2.5 billion people globally rely on farming and cattle for subsistence and income. Cattle is not only a source of food but it also plays a significant cultural role in African society as a store of value. In recent times, according to the IPCC report, there has been increasing attention on livestock as a source of methane, a short-lived Climate pollutant (SLCP) that is about 20 times more potent than CO2 which contributes to global warming. Cattle, however, are a source of manure, which has been touted as one of the ways to improve circularity and provide energy through the generation of portable biogas.

Portable biogas gives rural people the ability to power their kitchens with cheap and clean energy. Households can use manure to generate their own cooking gas using inexpensive and easy-to-use portable biogas systems instead of buying costly charcoal or fuel, both of which results in deforestation and expose people to harmful indoor smoke. For villages on the frontlines of climate change, biogas utilization opens new economic opportunities and has the potential to bring about social equity and resilience to climate change. Further, biogas helps in combating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from open manure, deforestation and indoor air pollution from the use of firewood, charcoal and other traditional energy sources, the core objective of the Just Energy Transition.

Why portable Biogas

Biogas is significantly more beneficial to poor communities than energy sources such as firewood or charcoal, which are not only more costly but also adversely affect the climate. To generate sufficient biogas for a day, it is estimated that a family needs waste from approximately 3 cows or 6 pigs. Biogas generation is straightforward, as it comprises only collecting animal waste and transferring it to a long-lasting biogas digester which could be made of plastic or bricks and mortar. Methane gas is naturally released when the manure ferments inside the biogas digester, and methane is repurposed as clean gas for cooking or heating water. This gas is then supplied straight into the kitchen.

Moreover, biogas empowers women. In African society, particularly in rural settings, the woman typically takes on the role of preparing food for the family; this involves collecting firewood or sourcing charcoal which can be back-breaking work and time consuming. Biogas reduces this workload for women, freeing up their time and energy which can be channeled to other income generating activities, thereby empowering them economically; this is particularly relevant for women-led households. For instance, women will have the capability to contribute to biogas value chain and sell the biogas by-products such as slurry. Through this, a more sustainable and equitable society will be created.

There are several challenges that stakeholders need to confront to actualize the widespread use of portable biogas. For instance, the marginalized and vulnerable families may find it challenging to affordably purchase and feed animals, particularly those living in dry or semi-arid areas or those with low and erratic incomes. The second challenge relates to the system of livestock production in Kenya; 80% of livestock farming in Kenya is practiced through pastoral systems. In pastoral systems it is difficult to harness cattle refuse for Biogas production, nonetheless, it is possible with the remaining 20% practiced by smallholder farmers in intensive farming systems to produce portable biogas. People in such areas are the biggest consumers of costly charcoal and the ones who force women and children to go great distances in search of firewood.

Various recommendations are instrumental in addressing these challenges. The government of Kenya needs to have a significant impact in ensuring that biogas is accessible to the vulnerable and marginalized groups. Kenya’s Ministry of Energy and Petroleum needs to support in establishing livestock assistance programs that provide animals to families without basic livestock, such as cows or pigs at a subsidized price. In much the same way as solar companies implement the pay-as-you-use model, government agencies could pilot similar models for communities to acquire livestock with the end goal of creating more capacity for biogas production.

Establishment of community biogas hubs. Sharing within communities is another workable option. Local farmer organizations and cooperatives could work with government agencies to establish community biogas hubs. Through the hubs, residents combine their animal waste with that of nearby homes and feed it into a communal digester, which can be beneficial to larger communities, including community members without cattle, by leveraging economies of scale.

Biogas has solidified into a reality, and many people in rural Kenya are already benefiting from it. Organic materials account for more than 60% of Kisumu’s solid waste. Included in this category are items discarded from homes in informal settlements and other residential areas. Just a fraction of this waste is collected and sent to a landfill at Kasese, which is around forty kilometers distant from the Kisumu CBD. Byproducts from the process of generating biogas have an additional benefit to farmers in that they can be used as agricultural manure, which can reduce the cost of purchasing inorganic fertilizer and boost yields. If the fraction of the solid waste turned into biogas and manure is increased, climate resilience in the county of Kisumu can be fostered.

Kiambu farmers have embraced installation of biogas production technologies. There is a balloon biogas plant in Kiambu County. As illustrated in figure 1, the balloon biogas system combines a digester and a gas-holder plant in the comfort of one’s own residence. During the first phase, animal waste is combined with water in a proportion of 2:4 in the balloon bag. In the subsequent step, the fermentation process takes place, during which the substrates are introduced into chambers (balloons) that combine the digester and the gas holding. After that, the gas is stored in the top portion of the balloon, which is where the inlet and outlet are joined directly to the skin of the balloon. The skin of the balloon then inflates once the pressure of the gas is higher. The last step is the generation of biogas, which occurs when fermentation takes place within the balloon. This results in the production of biogas. Methane, carbon dioxide, and water are all components of the gas, and once the fermentation process is complete, the waste products are discharged via the outlet. These waste products are then used to produce agricultural manure.

Figure 1: Balloon biogas system in Githunguri, Kiambu County

Biogas is growing to be an integral element of rural life in different parts of the world. For example, in India, millions of rural homes convert cow manure into usable cooking gas using small-scale biogas devices. Keeping these basic digesters running is easier for farmers because of government incentives and training. Likewise, Rwanda is another country that has seen the widespread use of biogas in institutions such as boarding schools, jails, and rural households. Schools may save money on firewood and help preserve local forests by cooking hundreds of meals every day using biogas made from cow manure.

Conclusion

Rural communities in Kenya can benefit significantly from the many benefits of biogas use if efforts towards mainstreaming it will be emphasized. Even households without animals may benefit from community and county government initiatives. Portable biogas is clean, economical, and sustainable. It provides households with rich fertilizer to enhance their crops, lowers home fuel expenses, improves interior air quality, and lessens the demand for firewood. To this end, it is paramount to note that our villages feed this country, and they can power it too. With just a few cows or pigs and a simple biogas digester, rural everyday waste is converted into a clean, steady energy source. 

When Data Speaks a Language Understood by All

Imagine this: You and your team complete a groundbreaking study on improving food security in rural Kenya. The data is solid, the findings are promising, and the conclusions could shift how we tackle hunger. Yet, despite all the effort, the people who inspired the research have no idea it exists. This is the paradox of research, brilliant knowledge that rarely makes its way back to the people it was meant to serve.

Across Africa, research holds enormous potential to shape solutions the world urgently needs, yet the gap between discovery and impact remains wide, and costly. As of 2022, the continent contributed less than 2% of global research output, 1.3% of worldwide research spending, and accounted for a mere 0.1% of all patents. Even in South Africa, where universities published 17,000 research outputs in 2019, only 145 innovations followed. This mismatch highlights a pressing question: how can a continent so rich in ideas and resilience remain so underrepresented in the global innovation landscape? Meanwhile over 744 innovation hubs and incubators thrive across Africa, many linked to universities, yet the bridge between research and impact remains fragile. The challenge is not unique to Africa, in 2023 a total of 3.3 million scientific and technical (S&E) journals were published worldwide which is a significant increase from 2.2 million in 2014, but without translation, they risk gathering dust instead of changing lives.

Encouragingly, a shift is underway. Globally, funders and institutions are pushing harder for research to deliver real world impact, shaping both policy and practice. Networks such as the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and ACTS Pathways Academy are amplifying African voices, while innovation hubs connect scholars to industries and communities.

Yet translation demands more than networks; it demands storytelling. To bridge the divide, researchers must frame their discoveries in ways that resonate with people, policymakers, and practitioner, not just peers. Telling a research story is not oversimplifying; it is about inclusive engagement, research that includes local voices leads to better adoption and sustained impact, builds trust, and ensures that solutions are owned by communities not imposed upon them. Done well, it turns research from static paper into a living force: one that can shift policies, spark innovation, and deliver solutions far beyond Africa’s borders.

The Disconnect: When Research Misses Its Audience

Too often, researchers rely on a top-down model to collect data, publish, present, and hope the findings filter down to the communities that most need the solutions their research is meant to address. But publishing alone isn’t enough, especially when the language, tone, or format doesn’t resonate beyond academia. Communities don’t want to be mined for data; they want to be part of the story. Communication, therefore, isn’t a box to tick at the end. It’s a relationship that must be nurtured from the very beginning.

As Christabel Mukubwa recalls, during fieldwork one community refused to participate in the research, explaining that they had already contributed to another study but never heard back. “We’re tired of contributing without seeing results,” they said. Their frustration was valid; they were not simply asking for recognition but demanding genuine partnership. That experience reshaped her understanding of research not only as a pursuit of knowledge, but also as a shared journey toward solutions.

The ASK Approach: Changing How We Communicate Science

This is where the Alternative Science Communication (ASk) Initiative by the Africa Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) through ACTS Pathways Academy steps in. Ask trains researchers, storytellers, and communicators across Africa to rethink how they share science moving beyond jargon to storytelling, beyond one-way dissemination to two-way dialogue. Its goal is simple yet transformative: make science something people can connect with, not something locked away in journals.

ASk challenges us to treat communication as part of the research process itself. It reminds us that when we speak in local languages, when we use poems, songs, proverbs, stories as strategy, and when we prioritize trust and feedback, we don’t just inform communities, we involve them, and involvement is what births sustainable solutions.

The EU-funded RETHINK Project has underscored the urgent need for transformational pathways in science communication, particularly in an era shaped by public distrust, digital misinformation, and widening gaps between researchers and society. Its lessons such as embracing diversity, fostering reflective practices, and co-creating with communities offer powerful tools for building trust and relevance.

Elizabeth Rasekoala, in her commentary Responsible Science Communication in Africa, argues that for these lessons to resonate on the continent, African science communicators must move beyond Eurocentric models and adopt a more radical, Afrocentric approach. This means decolonising language, frameworks, and practices while addressing systemic gaps in policy, resources, and capacity building that still constrain African research and its communication.

At the heart of her vision is a SMART framework for science communication in Africa: Sustainability through long-term, institutionalised engagement; Multidisciplinarity that integrates social and natural sciences; Arts and culture inclusion to embed communication in lived experiences; Respect for the public(s) by valuing indigenous knowledge and linguistic diversity; and Transformation that anchors communication in social justice and equity. Together, these principles challenge African researchers and communicators to not only tell better stories, but to tell them in ways that empower communities, build ownership, and bridge the long-standing disconnect between research and real-world impact, so as to ensure that knowledge from the lab, to the paper trickles down to communities, through the funnel of storytelling.

Now more than ever, researchers are stepping beyond the walls of academia to collaborate, co-create, and translate knowledge into solutions that matter. A growing field of Knowledge Translation (KT) defined by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research as the “exchange, synthesis, and ethically-sound application of knowledge within a complex system” is reshaping how research connects to policy and practice. From health to climate resilience, funding bodies and researchers worldwide are recognizing that impact is no longer optional but essential. For African researchers, this shift offers both an invitation and a challenge: to tell their stories boldly, to partner inclusively, and to ensure that their work not only adds to the world’s library of knowledge but also transforms lives on the ground.

Lessons We Can’t Ignore

Language is power. Research shows that when science is taught and communicated in local, familiar languages, understanding and innovation soar. One effective model even uses a “do it, say it, read it, write it” approach grounded in local knowledge and cultural context.

Culture is strategy. Embedding science communication within cultural forms such as music, poem, storytelling, proverbs, and visual arts creates deeper resonance than charts ever can. Expands the possibility to decolonise, democratise, and foster participation in community-driven development and social change.

Trust is everything. Communities trust voices that include them. Research consistently finds that outreach rooted in genuine local engagement not just top-down presentations builds trust and effectiveness.

Your story is the bridge between data and transformation, we invite you to be part of this change.

With circular bioeconomy (CBE), the dairy sector is redefining byproducts “wastes,” into valuable resources with applications across different sectors globally. One of these is whey, a nutrient-rich byproduct that has the potential of being used to develop different products, creating sustainable value from dairy byproducts and achieving the circular economy. Read more on whey’s value & opportunities in this blog I co-authored titled Whey Waste into Wealth.

Whey-based product development is an avenue for innovation and value addition within the dairy sector, and in Kenya, it currently holds notable unexplored opportunities. It offers a promising opportunity for product diversification and business growth to processors because it is a versatile ingredient for developing a wide range of products. Whey-based products range from beverages, sports nutrition, health supplements to animal feeds, and even the production of biofuels.

In Kenya, there is huge consumer potential for whey-based products; however, consumer awareness of these products remains low. This was confirmed by Celestine Mutio, a Kenyan graduate student under the VALORISE project, who researched on consumer preferences and their willingness to pay for locally made whey-based yoghurt & smoothie products. Her findings showed that 80% of the in-store customers she interacted with are not aware of the locally made whey-based products, 97.7% are willing to purchase the locally made whey-based products, and the overall consumer product liking score was 4.5 out of 5.

Whey-based Product Innovation

Celestine’s findings, in-depth, showcase an opportunity for whey-based product innovation in the Kenyan market beyond the smoothies and yogurts; healthy product innovation opportunities are ripe with a ready market.

This product innovation opportunity was well displayed by one partner of the VALORISE project, Arla Food Ingredients, during the recently concluded workshop. This leading Danish dairy company has been at the forefront of value-adding innovation of whey and milk, and has developed new whey-based products like protein bars and new flavors like lemongrass-flavored yoghurts. During the workshop, participants enjoyed a product tasting session and gave real-time feedback on their taste, texture, and packaging appeal of the presented products, connecting science with consumer realities.

To drive such whey-based product innovation in Kenya, Arla Foods Ingredients has partnered with Promaco East Africa Limited, its Kenyan ingredient distributor and innovation partner. Informed by consumer studies, Promaco is currently working with a number of Kenyan dairy processors to develop products for the local market.

Existing dairy processors like Happy Cow Dairy Limited, a Nakuru County-based dairy manufacturer, pride themselves in producing dairy products, mainly cheese and yoghurt, with a whey-based product portfolio that includes strawberry & vanilla flavored Yogies Nutri-Yoghurt.
Another is Laki Laki® Limited, a Juja Town-based dairy company that utilizes whey as a key ingredient in its signature flavored smoothies.

Whey Tasting as a Market Penetration Approach

A consumer-insight-led whey-based product development contributes to a sustainable dairy sector in Kenya. These customer insights can be obtained from primary market research, market reports, and, most effectively, consumer feedback.

In the food industry, food sampling has proven to be a highly effective promotional strategy for new products; a sensory-driven experience that directly engages potential buyers. Food tasting is a sensory journey that engages all your senses when sampling and evaluating different foods to assess their quality, flavor, texture, and overall appeal.[1]

This is an approach that local dairy processors can utilize for their innovative whey-based products, allowing consumers to sample, evaluate, and build trust in the whey-based products before making purchasing decisions. Let’s call this experiential approach Whey-Tasting!

Practically, processors in Kenya can offer consumers a tangible introduction to whey’s nutritional value and environmental benefits by commencing a whey tasting campaign in every supermarket, fitness center, mall, and relevant public event, exposing potential consumers to whey’s nutritional and environmental impact while letting the whey-based value-added product’s flavor, texture, and other attributes do the convincing.

Whey Tasting campaigns in Kenya will accelerate market acceptance of whey-based products in the following ways:

• Increases awareness and visibility of the locally made whey-based products, thus enhancing consumers’ perception.
• Processors get to collect valuable customer feedback for further improvement, which solidifies existing product attributes.
• With the sensory experience, it initiates consumer loyalty to Kenya’s whey-based products, as it reduces the perceived risk of purchasing and builds purchase confidence.
• Whey tasting will drive sales. Research shows that in-store sampling can significantly increase sales, with some studies reporting uplifts of over 250%. [2]

Innovative Whey-Based Product Opportunities from Consumer Insights

1. High-Protein Beverages & Smoothies
   Consumers in Kenya showed strong willingness to pay for whey-based smoothies and fortified drinks, with strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate among the preferred flavors. These products directly target health-conscious urban consumers and fitness enthusiasts.
2. Functional Dairy Snacks (Protein Bars & Yoghurts)
   Product tasting sessions revealed enthusiasm for value-added whey yoghurts and bars enriched with natural sweeteners and innovative flavors such as lemongrass. These appeal to younger consumers seeking convenient and nutritious snacks.
3. School Feeding & Low-Income Market Products
   Whey can be transformed into affordable, nutrient-rich beverages or yoghurts tailored for children, especially within school feeding programs, a “low-hanging fruit” market opportunity repeatedly highlighted by stakeholders.
4. Wellness & Specialized Nutrition Products
   With global best practices from Arla Foods as inspiration, whey can be upcycled into specialized products such as sports nutrition powders, medical nutrition, and lactose-free options. Kenyan consumers expressed strong interest in healthier, low-fat, and naturally sweetened alternatives.

Collaborating for Whey’s Future

The time to act on whey is now. Consumer insights show a clear willingness to buy, yet awareness remains low. To bridge this gap, processors should introduce whey-based products supported by tasting campaigns in schools, gyms, and supermarkets, building trust and driving demand.

At the same time, policymakers must create an enabling environment through supportive incentives and certification, while researchers and innovators continue to diversify products and improve quality.
By moving together with a shared purpose, we can reposition whey from a by-product to a nutritious everyday choice, delivering health benefits to consumers, new opportunities for businesses, and lasting value for the environment.

Grounding

Whey valorization holds great promise for advancing Kenya’s circular bioeconomy and enhancing nutrition through innovative food products. However, low consumer awareness and adoption remain major hurdles. Introducing targeted whey tasting campaigns presents a practical and impactful solution, bridging the knowledge gap, stimulating demand, and accelerating the market penetration of whey-based products. By transforming the consumer experience into an engaging, sensory journey, whey tasting not only boosts visibility and trust but also converts curiosity into loyalty. The time is ripe to turn tasting into buying and elevate whey from shelf to staple.

Whey Tasting grounds Whey Buying!

[1]  Food Tasting 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Culinary Exploration:
https://lynasiascuisine.com/blog/food-tasting-101-a-beginner-s-guide-to-culinary-exploration

[2] Food & drink in-store sampling – the benefits to brands and retailers
https://www.fizz.co.uk/blog/in-store-sampling-for-brands-or-retailers/#:~:text=Encourages%20consumer%20trial.,word%2Dof%2Dmouth%20marketing.

Related resources: 

Blog: Whey Waste into Wealth: Harnessing the Possibilities of Whey in Kenya.

Workshop report: Valorizing Dairy By-products: Insights from a Kenya Circular Economy Journey with the VALORISE Project

As a researcher, I have been in the middle of working with the ocean resource for research, and my knowledge can be defeated by what the locals who have grown up seeing and making use of it. The further end comprises the rest of the world, who are ignorant and only see the ocean as a source of pleasure, a place to beat the blues, a playground, or a getaway. One gets to see the ocean for what it truly is, a living component of the earth, one that can ‘speak’ to us and advise on means of solving problems linked to climate change, food insecurity, biodiversity loss, and sustainability.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (2023), approximately 71% of the Earth is covered by water, with the Oceans containing 97% of that world’s total water. It is a large body of seawater that acts as the Earth’s largest component of the hydrosphere. It has been in existence for longer than the human race, the earth’s oldest and largest storyteller, and it is important to listen to it when it speaks.

Figure 1: A coastal view of the ocean and adjacent mangrove forests, highlighting the interconnection between marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

This article provides a perspective shift. The ocean becomes a narrator, illustrating the beauty and biodiversity, the neglect and damage, and the strings of hope which, however fragile, can weave a balance between factors such as climate change and the blue economy. It begs for a listening ear that surpasses mundane hearing towards live actions.

I was here before you: The beauty and biodiversity.

I am not just a body of salt water; I am life. I am a large ecosystem that includes habitats like the coastal areas of salt marshes, mangrove forests, estuaries, and coral reefs, the open ocean comprising the surface waters where the sunlight penetrates, and the deep sea, characterized by cold temperatures and extreme pressure. The biodiversity within me is adapted differently to the varying oceanic conditions; some creatures here would leave you speechless. All these factors contribute towards climate regulation, where the ocean absorbs greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂) and excessive heat from the atmosphere, providing resources like food and raw materials for your industries, and nutrient cycling. I offer these gifts for free, if only the human race saw it as so.

You Took More Than You Gave: The neglect and damage.

Sea life had it so good before you launched your vessels into the surface water, before submarines, toxic waste dumped, construction, oil spills, and plastics, all of which are crippling my ability to exist, breathe, and help you live your lives optimally. I have become the largest waste basket for humanity. With overfishing, coral bleaching, and rising sea levels, only for you to satisfy your industrial demands. Capitalism will be the end of you, and sadly, me. My ability to contribute towards sustainability in matters of climate, food, and health has been utterly affected. You came with sails, then steel. And with every vessel, you brought harm.

Some Listen: The hope; Innovations around the Blue Economy.

I have seen collective efforts from the majority of you trying to do clean-ups, naturally growing seaweed, replanting corals and seagrasses, which will restore lost or ailing biodiversity. You are developing policies that are directed towards curbing pollution, slowing down over-fishing, and guiding the utilization of my resources. I am very appreciative that not all have turned away.

The ideology of the blue economy is a lifeline. There is hope in climate-smart livelihoods, innovations around seaweed farming, marine protected areas that create sanctuaries, and integrated aquaculture systems that develop a balance, restricting heavy maritime traffic flows, and banning construction around shorelines.

The evolution of farms to integration is quite creative, mimicking me. Once, you grew seaweed on its own and caged fish, solely having the waste produced run through the waters, creating problems like eutrophication. You are taking advantage of the cyclic nature within trophic levels and the ocean by combining different sea life into one system. You are now pairing finfish like rabbitfish with seaweed and shellfish or sea cucumbers, each element doing its part in cleaning or feeding the next one. The seaweed takes up the excess nutrients, the bivalves work on what floats by filtering it, the fish develop, and the waste produced acts as a resource rather than a burden on me. You have dabbed it, Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system, Figure 2, I refer to it as restoration.

Figure 2: Conceptual diagram of an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system.

The illustration shows a structured arrangement of three trophic levels: fed species (fish in cages), inorganic extractive species (seaweed on floating rafts), and organic extractive species (e.g., filter-feeding shellfish). Arrows indicate the flow of particulate organic matter (POM) and dissolved inorganic nutrients (DIN) from fish waste, which are then utilized by the shellfish and seaweed, respectively. This setup demonstrates the ecological synergy within IMTA systems, where waste from one species becomes a resource for another, contributing to environmental sustainability and nutrient recycling.

Source: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Conceptual-diagram-of-the-integrated-multitrophic-aquaculture-system-Boxes-represent_fig1_276174838

You have incorporated traditional knowledge, looped in the local communities, especially women and experts, to scale up the system, looking at what works, what does not, learn, and ensuring it performs its intended purpose of becoming a bridge between livelihood and preservation and between a healthy ecosystem and food security.

Call to action

I am requesting collaboration, partnerships, restoration, and respect, not pity. I have been a resource since my beginning and request that you build systems that heal, those that enable me to do my job, leaving behind ones that cause me harm. I call on you to work with me and not around me.

Partnerships are needed across coasts, communities, and regions since my currents do not have borders; what affects me in Kenya has the potential to impact China and Australia. Science and research need more investment, but traditional knowledge and wisdom should never be left out of the equation. More people should be looped in to ensure they understand my significance and that what is done inland will affect me in the long run. Blue economy should not just be a colour but a blueprint for survival on a warming planet.

Sources

1. S. Geological Survey. (2023). How much water is there on, in, and above the Earth? https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/how-much-water-there-earth
2. Zhang, J., Hansen, P.K., Fang, J., Ma, S., & Jiang, Z. (2015). Conceptual diagram of the integrated multitrophic aquaculture system. ResearchGate

Introduction

Internships serve as a bridge between academic knowledge and professional practice, offering a space to apply learning, acquire new skills and gain a deeper understanding of real-world challenges. My internship at the African Centre for Technology Studies ( ACTS) marked a significant step in this journey. As one of Africa’s leading think-and-do tanks, ACTS is committed to advancing science, technology and innovation to support sustainable development across the continent. What makes ACTS distinctive is not only the rigour of its research, but also its deliberate focus on translating evidence into action, policy and inclusive change.

I joined the Climate Resilience Economies (CRE) Programme, one of ACTS’s core programme areas that supports climate adaptation through applied research, capacity development, stakeholder engagement, and the promotion of inclusive innovation. The programme addresses complex and interconnected challenges such as biodiversity loss, gender inequality, climate vulnerability and sustainable livelihoods, creating a rich learning environment for emerging professionals.

Throughout my internship, I engaged in a range of assignments that exposed me to the inner workings of research, project design, communication, and knowledge translation. These experiences enabled me to apply critical thinking, enhance my writing and coordination skills and better understand the dynamics of interdisciplinary teamwork. I also gained first-hand insight into how research can be co-produced with communities and aligned with policy to create meaningful outcomes.

What stood out most was ACTS’s commitment to embedding its work in local realities. The CRE Programme, in particular, showed me the value of working across sectors, disciplines and stakeholder groups to design solutions that are both innovative and contextually grounded.
This reflection draws together key lessons and experiences from my internship, organised across five thematic areas that reflect CRE’s strategic approach to impact: research, capacity strengthening, stakeholder engagement, policy engagement, and resource mobilization.

Research for Real-World Impact

Research was a central component of my internship, providing opportunities to contribute to knowledge development across multiple thematic areas. I was engaged in preparing written outputs such as reports, blogs and information briefs each designed to communicate evidence in formats suitable for different audiences, including policymakers, practitioners, and communities.

Some of the work I contributed to includes the Yala T-LAB Workshop Report, which captured insights from a collaborative knowledge co-creation process, and a reflective piece on Strengthening Capacity for Climate Adaptation, emphasizing the shared responsibility across sectors. I also explored innovation in agri-food systems through a blog on Turning Whey Waste into Wealth in Kenya, and co-authored an article titled Yala Wetland’s Turning Point: From Crisis to Collective Action, highlighting community-driven conservation efforts. In addition, I documented the role of the blue economy in gender and climate resilience through a piece on Riding the Blue Wave, which focused on empowering coastal women in Kenya.

These assignments enabled me to apply analytical thinking, improve my writing skills, and strengthen my ability to translate complex ideas into accessible and action-oriented messages. Participating in collaborative writing processes also gave me valuable exposure to how research is framed, reviewed, and refined. I gained a deeper appreciation for research that is both rigorous and relevant, grounded in context, responsive to real-world challenges, and aligned with broader efforts to support policy and practice.

Strengthening Capacity through Exposure and Mentorship

My capacity was strengthened not just through formal learning, but through real-time engagement in live projects, feedback loops and hands-on responsibilities. I refined core competencies such as writing for policy audiences, synthesising evidence, and contributing to the design of knowledge products.

Mentorship played a vital role, working alongside experienced colleagues exposed me to high standards of quality, while offering space to ask questions, take initiative, and reflect. CRE programme fostered an environment where learning was embedded in daily work, and where interns were treated as contributors, not just learners. This approach helped me build confidence, professional judgment, and a deeper understanding of how capacity grows through trust, practice, and constructive feedback.

Engaging Stakeholders with Purpose
One of the most impactful parts of the internship was learning that meaningful change is often built through relationships. At CRE, I saw firsthand that stakeholder engagement is not a one-time event, but a continuous process grounded in mutual respect, active listening and shared visioning.

A key highlight was my involvement in the Yala Wetland Transformation Lab, where elders, youth, policymakers and civil society actors came together to co-design sustainable futures for the wetland. I actively supported this process, not only by documenting the workshop and contributing to blogs that amplified community voices, but also by coordinating and inviting stakeholders to ensure their meaningful participation.

This experience deepened my appreciation of stakeholder engagement as both a method of knowledge generation and a foundation for more grounded, inclusive, and accepted outcomes in environmental planning and research.

Communicating Research to Inform Policy

Throughout the internship, I saw how communication is central to the policy influence work that ACTS undertakes. Whether drafting blogs, supporting briefs, or contributing to reports, I learned to tailor language and format to suit different audiences and platforms.

This experience strengthened my ability to convey technical ideas in concise, clear, and actionable formats. I became more aware of how language, tone, and timing influence how evidence is received, and how essential it is to align communication with broader policy narratives and agendas.

Working within this space taught me that effective policy engagement doesn’t start with recommendations, it begins with framing research in ways that are timely, relevant, and responsive to the priorities of decision-makers and local communities alike.

Learning through Resource Mobilization

During my internship, I had the opportunity to observe and support early-stage processes of grant concept development. While I did not lead proposal writing, I contributed to shaping ideas, reviewing drafts and understanding how projects are framed for potential funders.

This offered critical insights into how organisations align their strategic priorities with funding opportunities, and how concepts evolve through internal collaboration. I learned the importance of articulating clear value propositions, incorporating cross-cutting themes like gender and inclusion, and balancing ambition with feasibility. Understanding the behind-the-scenes process of resource mobilization gave me a fuller picture of what it takes to design fundable, impactful work, and how strategic thinking connects vision to opportunity.

Navigating Challenges

Despite the enriching experience, the internship was not without challenges. Managing multiple deadlines across different projects sometimes created pressure, particularly when supporting outputs that required rapid turnaround. Adapting to the writing styles and expectations of different supervisors also required flexibility and strong communication.

In some instances, I had to quickly familiarise myself with unfamiliar technical topics, such as bioeconomy, which demanded extra research and learning on the go. However, these challenges ultimately strengthened my resilience and ability to work under pressure.

Conclusion: A Foundation for Growth and Contribution

My internship at ACTS has been a transformative period of learning, growth, and discovery. It helped me connect academic knowledge to practical challenges, and offered a rare opportunity to engage in multidisciplinary work that blends research, community insight, innovation, and policy relevance.

Beyond skills, this experience nurtured confidence to contribute, to lead small processes, and to speak up in spaces I once felt unsure. It also gave me clarity on the kind of work I want to do: evidence-based, people-centered, and impact-driven. I am grateful to the CRE team for creating a space where young professionals are trusted, mentored, and given the tools to thrive. As I look ahead, I carry with me not only the skills I’ve gained, but also a deeper commitment to contributing meaningfully to climate resilience, inclusive development, and the co-production of knowledge that matters.

Introduction

Universal access to affordable, clean energy remains a global challenge, particularly for women and marginalized groups. Access to energy is no longer just about keeping the lights on; it’s about unlocking opportunities, ensuring fairness, and empowering communities. As the world shifts towards cleaner energy sources, critical questions emerge: Who participates? Who benefits? Who is left behind? These questions are central to the principal of energy eguity, which stipulates  that all people, regardless of gender, socioeconomic status, geography, or disability, should have fair access to reliable, affordable, and clean energy services. Just energy transition, is the transitioning to green sources of energy in a way that is as fair and inclusive as possible to everyone concerned, creating decent work opportunities and leaving no one behind. Globally, the urgency to switch to sustainable energy is driven by climate change mitigation goals, the need to reduce air pollution, and the imperative to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) especially SDG 5(Gender Equality), 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Understanding Energy Equity and the Just Energy Transition

Energy equity ensures that energy services fulfill an essential human right by addressing affordability and accessibility for all segments of the society. According to the World Energy Trilemma Report of 2025, Kenya’s development and global climate commitments on energy equity focus on designing and implementing policies that prioritize vulnerable and marginalized groups.

The just energy transition framework is closely linked to sustainable development. It recognizes that transitioning to clean energy needs to be done without exacerbating existing inequalities or causing job losses without providing alternative employment opportunities. Additionally, it integrates social justice by prioritizing the inclusion of workers, communities, and marginalized populations benefit from the economic opportunities created by renewable energy.

The energy sector in Kenya exhibits notable significant and persistent structural gender imbalances, including underrepresentation of women in leadership, technical roles, and decision-making positions. Women often hold lower-level, administrative roles while men dominate management and technical positions. For example, women constitute only about 35% of total staff and roughly 15% of technical leadership positions in the Ministry of Energy. While there are some notable exceptions, such as a woman leading Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) as CEO, these are exceptional cases rather than the norm.

Energy planning in Kenya has often overlooked women’s unique needs as both energy consumers and producers, resulting in formulating policies that do not address or sometimes exacerbate gender inequalities.

The Gender Gap in Kenya’s Energy Sector

Women’s representation in Kenya’s energy industries remains disproportionately low. Kenya’s Second Nationally Determined Contribution 2031-2035, indicates that although women make up nearly half of Kenya’s population, they occupy less than 30% of roles in the energy sector, with even fewer in senior leadership and technical expertise positions. In policy formulation, women’s voices are limited, reducing the efficacy of gender-responsive energy policies.

Multiple barriers hinder women’s participation in the energy sector, including limited access to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, which restricts women’s entry into technical roles; challenges for accessing financial support prevent women entrepreneurs from starting and scaling energy-related businesses. In addition, prevailing cultural norms often discourage women’s involvement in male-dominated sectors. These obstacles are compounded by lack of women representation in decision-making forums, limiting their influence to energy sector policies and priorities.

When women are included in energy planning and policy, entire communities gain better access to sustainable energy, economic opportunities are created, and gender barriers. Example the “Solar Career Pathways program” in Kenya successfully trains rural women as solar technicians, empowering them economically and challenging gender stereotypes. Similarly, entrepreneurship initiatives supported by organizations like Women in Energy Enterprises in Kenya (WEEK 3) project supported over 400 women energy entrepreneurs. These women provided access to clean energy for last-mile communities, benefiting over half a million people so far.

Why Gender Inclusion is Essential for Justice

Gender inclusion in the energy sector delivers broad social, economic, and environmental benefits. Economically, when women participate fully in the energy workforce, innovation increases, and clean energy enterprises become more sustainable and community-focused. Socially, energy solutions designed with women’s input tend to better address household energy needs, reduce indoor air pollution, and improve health outcomes.

Women’s leadership in energy planning and policy results in decision-making that better reflects the needs of all community members, ensuring equitable distribution of energy resources. Moreover, gender-diverse teams have been shown to enhance organizational performance and creativity, essential for solving complex energy challenges.

Key Challenges and Opportunities

Persistent challenges hinder gender inclusion. Gender-blind energy policies fail to recognize women’s specific energy needs or participation barriers. Lack of mentorship and role models restricts women’s career advancement in energy fields. Energy poverty disproportionately affects women, limiting their educational and economic opportunities.

Yet, emerging opportunities signal progress. Kenya’s recent National Energy Policy 2025–2034 explicitly commits to gender inclusion and just transition principles. The rise of networks such as the Women in Renewable Energy in Africa Network (W-REA) fosters mentorship and capacity building. Global commitments like the SDGs and the Paris Agreement support funding mechanisms that prioritize vulnerable groups. Programs piloting gender-responsive budgeting, incentivizing women’s employment in renewable energy, and expanding women-led enterprises have shown promising results.

Driving Change – Practical Steps for Gender-Inclusive Energy Transition

Driving change for a gender-inclusive energy transition involves practical, multi-dimensional steps including:

Integrating Gender into Energy Policies and Planning: Ensuring gender considerations are systematically mainstreamed into national and regional energy strategies, policies, and investment plans. This creates an enabling environment for women’s empowerment within the energy transition.

Closing Financial Gaps for Women Entrepreneurs: Addressing the systemic challenges women face accessing capital and credit to start or scale clean energy businesses. Tailored financing mechanisms, collateral alternatives, and gender-responsive investment policies help unlock women-led ventures’ growth potential.

Building Institutional and Leadership Capacity: Strengthening women’s representation and leadership in energy decision-making forums and technical roles through capacity-building, mentorship, and targeted recruitment efforts.

Collecting and Utilizing Gender-Disaggregated Data: Developing gender-specific indicators and data systems to track women’s participation, access, and impact in the energy sector is critical. This evidence base helps design smarter policies, set targets, and monitor progress.

Addressing Cultural and Social Norms: Challenging stereotypes and cultural barriers that restrict women’s involvement in male-dominated energy sectors. Awareness raising, education, and inclusive community engagement are essential to shift narratives and foster equitable participation.

Promoting Inclusive Energy Practices and Technologies: Designing renewable energy projects and services that respond to women’s needs and priorities, including addressing unpaid care work and household energy access challenges. Women’s active involvement in project design improves sustainability and social outcomes.

Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: Leveraging partnerships among governments, development agencies, civil society, women’s organizations, and the private sector to mobilize resources, coordinate actions, and sustain momentum for gender-inclusive energy futures.

Conclusion

True energy equity cannot be achieved without intentional and sustained gender inclusion. A just energy transition in Kenya must recognize women and marginalized genders as essential actors, beneficiaries, and leaders. Their full participation will not only promote social justice but also accelerate innovation, economic growth, and sustainable development. As Kenya’s energy landscape evolves, stakeholders at all levels must champion gender equity to realize an inclusive, resilient energy future for all.

Introduction

The Yala Wetland, one of Kenya’s most ecologically vital and culturally rich landscapes, is undergoing a transformation that is both quiet and significant. Once vibrant with papyrus reeds, fish populations, and community activity, the wetland has been increasingly threatened by unsustainable land use, deforestation, and large-scale agricultural developments that have disrupted its ecological and social balance (Dedan, 2023)

These pressures have had a profound impact on the local population. Fishers have experienced a steep decline in stocks, smallholder farmers are struggling with irregular water flows, and women who depend on papyrus weaving have seen their raw materials diminish (Thenya, 2006). Longstanding cultural ties to places such as Risamba and Thithia are also weakening under the strain of environmental change.

In response to these challenges, the TRANSPATH project, a collaborative initiative spearheaded by Egerton University, the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), and Kaimosi Friends University, in partnership with local and global stakeholders, has been focused on co-developing inclusive, science-driven tools for sustainable governance of wetlands in the Lake Victoria Basin. A significant aspect of this project is the Yala Wetland Transformation Laboratory (T-Lab). This participatory space brings together communities, researchers, policymakers, and civil society to co-create restoration strategies and build shared ownership of the wetland’s future.

This blog draws on reflections and insights from the second Yala T-Lab held in May 2025, as documented in the official workshop report II. It highlights how dialogue, learning, and collective action are helping to reframe the future of the Yala Wetland, from a landscape in crisis to one rooted in collaboration and possibility.

A Moment of Reflection and Realignment

The second Yala wetland T-Lab, held in May 2025, provided an important opportunity for stakeholders to reflect, recalibrate, and recommit. Instead of merely recounting past efforts, participants re-engaged with the foundational Seeds of Change identified in the first T-Lab: Legal Advocacy and Policy Dialogue, Wetland Education and Outreach Programmes, Community-Led Restoration, Inter-agency Coordination, and Papyrus-Based Enterprises. The aim was to refine and realign these themes to better reflect evolving local realities and shared aspirations for the sustainable management of the Yala Wetland.

Among the key outcomes was a reaffirmation of community-led restoration, emphasizing local stewardship of degraded zones. Papyrus-based enterprises were redefined to reflect a more collaborative and research-informed approach to sustainable livelihoods. Inter-agency coordination was reimagined with a focus on transparency and practicality, while education and outreach were elevated as essential drivers of transformation. Legal advocacy and policy dialogue also received renewed attention, with participants calling for more effective enforcement and increased public awareness.

As one participant noted, “The T-Lab gave us a chance to look at our roles differently, not as isolated actors, but as contributors to a shared journey.”

Deepening Understanding across the Landscape

The discussions at the T-Lab revealed the importance of making knowledge accessible, actionable, and inclusive. Participants stressed that many community members remain unaware of key environmental laws, wetland dynamics, or their roles in conservation.

To bridge this gap, stakeholders underscored the value of culturally relevant education. Community radio programs, school mentorships, storytelling, and local dialogues were cited as vital tools for reaching different groups, especially youth and marginalized populations. These approaches help translate policy into practice and foster local ownership.

“You cannot enforce what people do not understand. Education is where accountability begins,” observed a local teacher from Siaya.

The dialogue also highlighted a disconnect between policy frameworks and community awareness. Even where strong legal instruments exist, implementation is often slow due to lack of communication or coordination. Addressing this requires trust-building and more regular joint planning.

Recognizing Economic Realities

The relationship between environmental restoration and sustainable livelihoods was another recurring theme. The pressures facing the wetland are closely tied to the everyday economic needs of communities. Participants emphasized that conservation efforts must go hand in hand with income-generating alternatives.

Structured and environmentally sound enterprises, such as papyrus product development, beekeeping, and ecotourism, were seen as essential to long-term success. These must be developed with research support, technical training, and collaborative planning.

One participant from Busia summed it up: “Restoration without livelihoods will not last. People must see value in protecting the wetland.”

Translating Insight into Action

Building on these insights, the T-Lab transitioned into concrete planning. Stakeholder groups outlined commitments and timelines across immediate, medium, and long-term horizons. Women’s associations from Siaya advocated for improved water access, formalized community-based enterprises, and skills training. Men called for increased community education, valuation of ecosystem services, and infrastructure repair. Busia representatives pushed for localized training, ecological land-use planning, and stronger radio programming to spread awareness.

Additionally, Government agencies and civil society actors presented strategies for operationalizing land use plans, supporting conservation-based businesses, and establishing wetland resource centers. The private sector emphasized conservation-linked investments and long-term financial models like payment for ecosystem services.

The resulting roadmap included short-term activities like public education and fishing regulation, medium-term actions such as enterprise support and data-sharing mechanisms, and long-term strategies aimed at institutional resilience and intergenerational learning.

Personal Responsibility and Shared Ownership

The most powerful segment of the workshop came during the closing reflection. Participants responded to prompts on personal commitments: “What will I stop doing?” “What will I start doing?” “What will I continue doing?”

These reflections were deeply personal yet broadly unifying. Some pledged to stop harmful practices like illegal fishing, others committed to starting mentorship programs, or documenting Indigenous knowledge. Many resolved to continue their outreach and environmental education work.

“We are restoring not just trees, but trust,” one woman from Siaya remarked.

These individual pledges reinforced the workshop’s central message: lasting transformation begins with personal resolve and collective accountability.

Sustaining the Momentum

The Yala Wetland remains a place of ecological complexity and cultural significance. Its future, while still uncertain, is now being shaped through inclusive dialogue, evidence-based planning, and mutual commitment. The lessons from the T-Lab are clear. Restoration requires coordination, education, and sustained collaboration. No single actor can achieve this alone.

“Everything else may be in place, but without law and order, it will all collapse,” an elder from Yimbo cautioned.

The reframed seeds of change now serve as both a strategic guide and a symbol of renewed partnership. If nurtured, this momentum could transform Yala wetland from a contested landscape into a model of participatory wetland governance. Ultimately, Yala Wetland’s story is more than environmental recovery. It is about reimagining relationships between people and ecosystems, knowledge and action, rights and responsibilities. If the spirit of the T-Lab is sustained, then Yala wetland may yet become not only a restored wetland, but a future reclaimed.

References

• Dedan, O. O. (2023). The Economic Benefits of Yala Wetland Resources in the Lake Victoria Basin: Threats. African Journal of Education, Science and Technology, 7(3), 65-75.
• Thenya, T. (2006). Analysis of Macrophyte Biomass Productivity, Utilization, and its Impact on Various Eco-Types of Yala Swamp, Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya. 33–36.

Related Resources

• Yala T-Lab Workshop Report II

In Africa’s race toward a clean energy future, the most powerful fuel may not be solar, wind, or even finance—it’s data. But not just any data. We’re talking about localized, community-driven, context-rich insights that turn policy into impact and ambition into access. As millions across Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa still live without electricity, the path forward isn’t just about building more solar panels or importing wind turbines. It’s about rooting energy solutions in the lives, voices, and knowledge of local people—and that begins with how we collect, share, and act on data. Welcome to a movement where people power energy policy, and data becomes the driver of a just, green, and local transition.

Africa’s Renewable Energy Potential: A Story of Abundance and Need

Africa is home to some of the world’s richest renewable energy resources. The continent, for instance, enjoys over 300 days of sunshine per year and vast untapped wind corridors, particularly along the coasts and highlands. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the continent has the technical potential to generate more than 1,200 gigawatts (GW) of electricity from solar and wind annually—enough to power the region many times over.  Yet despite this potential, as of 2023, approximately 12.6 million people in Kenya, 7.4 million in South Africa, and 3.5 million in Ghana still lack access to electricity. The gap between what is possible and what is real remains stark, and localization may be the key to bridging it.

Localization refers to the development, production, and deployment of renewable energy technologies, skills, and services within a country or region, rather than importing solutions wholesale. But it’s more than building solar farms or wind turbines. Localization is about nurturing entire ecosystems: from manufacturing supply chains and skilled labor to culturally relevant community ownership. When done right, localization offers a pathway to:- Job creation and technical up-skilling – Industrial development and reduced import dependency- Community inclusion and buy-in- Resilient energy systems that adapt to local needs

Key Opportunities for Localization

• Manufacturing and Local Supply Chains: Africa can manufacture components such as mounting structures, wind turbine towers, cabling, and inverters. With strategic policy incentives and investment, these local supply chains could reduce costs and boost national economies.
• Skills Development and Training: The clean energy economy requires a workforce trained in solar PV installation, energy auditing, system maintenance, and project management. Local institutions can play a critical role in up-skilling young people for these opportunities.
• Community Participation and Cultural Relevance: Energy solutions must resonate with local priorities. Localization means planning with—not just for—communities to ensure lasting success.
• Decent Jobs and Economic Empowerment: The clean energy transition can create millions of dignified jobs across sectors. From logistics and construction to operations and customer care, local economies stand to gain.

IRENA estimates that by 2030, Africa’s renewable energy sector could support over 13 million jobs—only if localization is embedded in national strategies. Localized systems also offer greater resilience. During global supply chain disruptions, nations with local energy industries and infrastructure suffer fewer setbacks. Moreover, localization enables technology transfer, encourages innovation, and strengthens regional trade.

The Role of Data in Localization

Data is the backbone of a localized, community-led energy future. Without reliable, inclusive, and up-to-date data, energy strategies risk missing the mark. This is where campaigns like “Powering Policies Through Data” come in. Launched in Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa, the initiative trains grassroots researchers to collect real-world data at the community level. These local grassroots researchers serve not just as data collectors but as knowledge translators, making technical energy insights understandable and actionable for both communities and policymakers.  Data is driving change in key areas, including identifying viable components for local manufacturing. Mapping skills gaps and training needs. Tracking community inclusion and ownership models. Informing climate adaptation and environmental impact planning.

When local voices inform local data, policy becomes more responsive, and the energy transition becomes more just. 

A recent dialogue in Kenya’s Coastal Region, with consultations still ongoing in other regions, explored the question:“Are we ready to localize solar and wind energy components—and under what frameworks can this be achieved?”Key insights from stakeholders included:- The need to identify feasible components for local production- Strengthening technical skills and infrastructure- Developing policy and financial incentives to support local investment. The consensus was: Localization is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It must be adapted to each region’s socio-economic and industrial context.

The UNEP-led Trans-boundary Data Sharing Workshop recently held in Nairobi showcased how community data can influence national energy planning. The event explored the full data lifecycle—from collection to dissemination—and highlighted self-reported community data as a powerful tool for shaping energy policy. The workshop made it clear: data is not a product. It is a shared resource—and to be effective, it must be trusted, transparent, and usable across institutions and borders.

This is the Way Forward: A Just, Green, and Local Energy Transition

Africa’s population is projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050. Meeting the rising demand for electricity with sustainable solutions will require bold thinking and bold action.The future of energy in Africa must be:- Green, to protect our environment- Just, to uplift communities- Local, to build economic resilience and social inclusion.That means:

1. Investing in people, not just hardware
2. Fostering governance systems that ensure accountability
3. Creating partnerships that unite governments, civil society, academia, and the private sector
4. Promoting data democratization to ensure everyone can participate in shaping the energy future

“When local voices shape local data, we build stronger, smarter energy systems—together. This is more than a technological shift. It’s a movement for justice, resilience, and shared prosperity—one where Africa leads, innovates, and thrives on its own terms.”

Call to Action

It’s time to power Africa with African solutions. Localize data, localize energy—act now. If data is the new oil—and energy the engine of development—then shouldn’t the people closest to the ground be in the driver’s seat?

What if the byproduct of your favourite cheese or yoghurt held the key to transforming Kenya’s food system toward a circular bioeconomy, fueling innovation, and cutting down on waste management from processing? Kenya’s dairy sector is experiencing rapid growth, with increased production of cheese and yoghurt to satisfy expanding consumer demand. The Kenya Dairy Board projects that cheese and yoghurt consumption will double by 2030. This expansion brings a significant challenge owing to increased volumes of whey of how to effectively manage whey, a byproduct in processing cheese and yoghurt. Hence, produced and discarded. Whey is an asset with tremendous potential to foster sustainability, enhance nutrition, as part of the growing interest in bioeconomy. This was the central message conveyed at the recent VALORISE project workshop held in Nairobi. The VALORISE project aims to map whey’s usage amongst Kenya’s dairy processors, assess the environmental impact of whey waste and identify feasible and sustainable pathways to turn whey into valuable products.

The (Mis)opportunity of Whey
Whey valorization is a key to aligning Kenya’s dairy sector with sustainability by integrating circular bioeconomy principles. Whey, cheese and some yoghurt processing byproducts, typically discarded as waste, contributing to environmental problems because of its rich organic content. However, whey is rich in protein, lactose, vitamins, and minerals, making it suitable for valorizing it into new products such as nutritional supplements, animal feed, and functional foods and pharmaceutical applications, and/or bioenergy production.

However, findings from the VALORISE project revealed that 80% of dairy processors in Kenya producing whey from cheese and yoghurt processing discard the whey while the minority sell or give for free for animal (pig) feeding. High transportation costs and inadequate infrastructure for storage and handling, limited scale were identified as major barriers.
In this context, a scenario workshop was organized by the project to discuss with stakeholders pragmatic opportunities or pathways for valorisation of whey in Kenya. The pathways should be economically viable and environmentally sound. Three pathways were identified

1. For livestock (pigs and chickens) farmers, integrating whey into feed formulations can lower the high expenses associated with traditional protein sources.
2. For processors, it presents a chance to diversify their revenue streams by developing additional whey-based products
3. The development of products that can be considered in the pharmaceutical sector.

The first two seem most promising in the short and medium term. Valorization of whey will contribute to environmental sustainability through diverting the waste into products, thus decreasing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, potentially saving 6,000 tons of CO₂ and thousands of hectares of land each year if just 10% of Kenya’s whey is valorized. If harnessed properly, whey’s potential could significantly diminish waste, bolster livelihoods, and improve food security.

The Need for Innovation, Policy, and Collaboration Whey valorization in Kenya faces key hurdles: minimal policy guidelines, limited research and innovation, insufficient processing infrastructure, and low public awareness The workshop called for a bold coordinated action plan that includes policy reform, investments in processing technology, research to determine optimal The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development must lead with clear regulations, promote research & innovation, and foster public-private partnerships. Capacity Strengthening and Financially Empowering the Local cooperatives and processors scales up technology and market whey-based products.

Activities during the Trends and Opportunities for Valorisation in Kenya dairy processing Scenario Workshop in Nairobi, Kenya.

A Future Grounded in Circular Thinking
Kenya’s dairy sector is at a pivotal moment, with a vision toward sustainable growth etched in the Dairy Sustainability Road Map. With the right investments, whey can be transformed into a resource and contribute to sustainable dairy innovation. The VALORISE project has laid the groundwork; now is the time for stakeholders throughout the value chain to take action. By adopting circular bioeconomy principles and valorizing whey, Kenya could lead Africa in creating a robust, inclusive, and climate-resilient dairy sector where nothing is wasted, and everything holds value.

Call to Action: Whey isn’t waste—it’s a resource. The VALORISE Project, through research, has shown what’s possible. Now it’s time for dairy farmers, processors, policymakers, dairypreneurs, donors, research institutions and supporting agencies in Kenya to take bold steps toward a more sustainable, circular, and profitable dairy sector.

Together, we can turn every drop of whey into a step toward a greener future!

Related resources: 

Blog: Accelerating Market Penetration of Whey-based Food Products in Kenya: Matching consumer insights and innovation

Blog: Whey Waste into Wealth: Harnessing the Possibilities of Whey in Kenya.

Workshop report: Valorizing Dairy By-products: Insights from a Kenya Circular Economy Journey with the VALORISE Project

From left: Dr. George Musumba, Ms. Florence Anyango Ogonjo, Dr. Lawrence Nderu, and Mr. Brian Omwenga, in a panel discussion at the Evi4Dev conference side session on AI

A recent dialogue, hosted by the ACTS AI Institute (ACAII), revealed that there is a troubling paradox on Artificial Intelligence (AI) development in Africa, in that, while innovators are actively developing AI systems every day, only a small percentage are being implemented and scaled. The dialogue, held on the 6^th of May, 2025, brought together policymakers, researchers, developers, civil society organisations, vendors and the media, to reflect on the promises and perils of AI innovations in Africa and to provide a practical balance between ethics, regulation and innovation.

AI presents a transformative opportunity for Africa to significantly boost its economies, governance systems, and public services. Despite the low deployment rate on the continent, access is still expanding.  According to McKinsey, the current adoption rate of AI could unlock between $61 billion and $103 billion in additional economic value across various sectors in Africa. However, AI innovations provide both benefits and risks, which greatly impact their development and adoption on the continent. Hence, as technology continues to evolve, stakeholders across the continent are calling for a conscious and deliberate approach to how AI is developed, adopted and deployed.

AI innovation and ethics: Where is the balance?

While discussing the benefits and risks of AI, Dr. Winston Ojenge, Principal Research Fellow and the Head of the ACAII at the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), highlighted that platforms like “Beyond” allow users in rural areas, even those with basic feature phones, to access large language models such as ChatGPT. This is a necessary breakthrough for bridging the digital divide and ensuring inclusivity.

However, while the opportunities are immense, so are the risks. Incidences where AI failed and posed risks are grim reminders of the dangers of unregulated AI. Examples of these include the 2023 incident in South Korea where a mis-calibrated sensor led to a robot killing a human worker, and accidents involving Tesla vehicles.

At the continental level, the impact of automation on employment is a more critical concern for African economies. While countries with aging populations may welcome labor-replacing AI, in Africa, where youth unemployment is already high, unregulated automation could lead to massive job losses. There is a need for African leaders to proactively develop policies that balance productivity with social protection.  Essentially, AI should not come at the cost of deepening inequality or aggravating unemployment.

“These incidents and potential impacts make regulation not optional, but essential. However, regulation should not stifle innovation,” he stressed, adding that, “there is no doubt that AI-driven automation will arrive in Africa, the question is: are we prepared for it?”

Ms. Florence Anyango, Research Fellow for the AI Policy Center at the Center for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (CIPIT), added that ethics exists to provide order and in this case to ensure that the development and use of AI does not spiral out of control, but instead serve the common good.

“…policy is not just about regulation; it is about guiding values like fairness, accountability, and inclusivity. We need strong ethical frameworks, backed by clear governance systems, to ensure that AI benefits everyone, not just a few,” she emphasised.

UNESCO’s AI ethics principles offer a starting point to responsible AI development, placing emphasis on AI systems that are responsible for their actions, ensure fairness, transparency, and properly safeguards against misuse. The ACAII, through the AI4D-SRAIS project is using the GIZ Ethics of AI tool to mentor innovators across African hubs implementing these ethical frameworks in real-world contexts. The team is also working to develop an Africanized toolbox that will provide context-specific frameworks, as a result of gaps already realized in the current tool.

Africa’s unique potential for contribution to AI development

As AI continues to reshape industries, economies and societies, Africa cannot afford to be passive adopters of the technology. The continent must actively engage in its development with a strategic focus on regulation, collaboration, and responsible deployment to safeguard against its risks.

Hon. John Kiarie, Kenya’s Member of Parliament representing Dagoretti Constituency, and the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Communication, Information, and Innovation, recognised ethics as Africa’s opportunity for entry into the AI revolution. He emphasised that Africa’s ethical frameworks should be rooted in authenticity, cultural values, and a people-first philosophy in a future-facing context.

“The risk is not just that Africa will miss out. The real danger is that, if we do not shape AI development ourselves, we risk reducing our people to digital plantations, where we remain consumers rather than producers,” he noted, adding that “our principles, ways of thinking, traditions, and heritage are our strengths.”

The inclusion of marginalised groups in AI development can draw the continent closer to realising its potential. Currently, less than 30% of the workforce in data and AI-related jobs are women. This calls for more inclusive educational programs and conducive working environments for women in technology. Notably, ACAII has been at the forefront in championing the inclusion of African women in AI development through scholarships to enhance their knowledge and skills.

Partnerships for responsible AI development

The current regulation landscape is a major challenge to the development and scaling of AI solutions in Africa. While a few countries like Kenya have developed an AI strategy, the broader policy landscape remains fragmented. Furthermore, various institutions have their own scattered regulations or frameworks that lack cohesion or national and regional guidance. This makes it hard to regulate and promote AI development in a unified way.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Tom Peter Migun Ogada, ACTS Executive Director, mentioned that for over three decades, the Centre has played a pivotal role in shaping forward-looking policies in science, technology, and innovation. He underscored that this has been made possible by sustained collaboration between research institutions and governments.

In particular, the relationship between ACTS and the Parliament of Kenya, through the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Communication, Information, and Innovation has steered forward the conversation on responsible AI within the policy space. A notable impact is the UK-Kenya AI Challenge fund which brought together AI innovators from both countries to shape responsible AI innovation.

Dr. George Musumba mentioned that another challenge to the adoption and scaling of AI innovations is the weak link between academia and industry.

“Stronger partnerships and collaborations could lead to more innovations being adopted. When industry players understand what is happening in academia, they will be more likely to invest in and scale promising research,” he stressed.

At the end of the session, participants called for a multidisciplinary approach where different experts, such as marketing specialists, ethics scholars, and developers collaborate to ensure that AI innovations are not only market-ready but also ethically sound.

For more information, contact: acaii[@]acts-net.org

Related resources

• Evi4Dev Conference Side Session: Balancing Breakthroughs and Risks of AI in Africa   – ACTS | African Centre for Technology Studies
• ACTS Kicks off the Mentorship Program on Scaling Responsible Artificial Intelligence Solutions   – ACTS | African Centre for Technology Studies
• How Kenya and the UK are Shaping Responsible AI Innovation through Strategic International Partnership – ACTS | African Centre for Technology Studies
• AI4D Reports

Introduction

Lake Victoria is ranked the second largest freshwater lake globally, in terms of surface area (68,800 Km²) and the largest in Africa with a basin area of approximately 195,000 square km. It is shared among three East African countries, i.e., Kenya (6%), Uganda (43%), and Tanzania (51%), with the basin extending to Rwanda and Burundi. The lake is a source of livelihood for over 40 million inhabitants in terms of food provision, water source, ecotourism, and transport among other activities. It is estimated that over 3 million people are employed in fisheries-related activities, generating around US$ 1.1 billion in 2021 to the East African Community (EAC) (LVFO, 2022). The lake is home to some of the most commercially valuable and nutrient-rich fish species including Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), Nile Perch (Lates niloticus), Silver Cyprinid (Rastrineobola argentea), and Haplochromine spp.

In the last few decades, Lake Victoria has shown drastic changes in terms of water quality resulting from its open-access nature which has led to overfishing, illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing, eutrophication, and the introduction of invasive species (Muthoka et al., 2024). Consequently, these problems have negatively impacted the fisheries ecosystem of the lake with a notable decline in fish stock and extinction of some native fish species (Outa et al., 2020). Overfishing and overexploitation of the fishery arise from the ever-increasing population in the riparian zones, who rely on the resource for livelihood, indicating the need for alternative livelihood options to ease the pressure on the lake. Pollution is also one of the major problems faced in L. Victoria. From point to non-point source, pollutants in the form of effluents are discharged into the lake deteriorating the water quality and over-enriching the water with nutrients leading to eutrophication. This has led to frequent occurrence of water hyacinth and harmful algal blooms that have been blamed for fish kills in Winum Gulf of Lake Victoria.

Potential Interventions

i. Climate-Smart Aquaculture (CSA) for Sustainable Fisheries

The production of food relies on the accessibility of essential resources such as land, freshwater, fossil fuels, and nutrients. Nevertheless, the current pace of resource consumption and degradation exceeds their ability to regenerate naturally. Aquaculture has the potential to supplement declining wild fish stocks and provide alternative livelihoods for local communities. Aquaculture farms are particularly at risk and are vulnerable to climate change because the animals are consistently exposed to fluctuating temperatures within enclosed environments. These farming activities occur in different setups, including ponds, tanks and cages, and across diverse habitats such as freshwater, brackish/coastal waters, and inland saline areas, to satisfy the increasing demand for protein from the growing population. CSA is a sustainable approach that enhances productivity while minimizing environmental impact. It focuses on resilient fish farming, integrated systems and sustainable feed production solutions.

In aquaculture, the concept of ‘resilience strategy’ encompasses the actions undertaken by farmers and stakeholders to cope with the negative impacts of climate change in their operations. Various approaches, such as shrimp farming, crab fattening, biofloc fish culture, recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), cage culture (Figure 1), mono-sex tilapia farming, and incorporating natural air-breathing fish into climate-smart aquaculture, along with other adaptations, can be implemented within the industry. In Lake Victoria, resilient fish farming could involve breeding species like O. niloticus and C. gariepinus in pond and cage enclosures to reduce over-reliance on the dwindling wild fish stocks.

Figure 1: A model fish cage set up in Lake Kanyaboli, Siaya County

ii. Cage Fish Farming in Lake Victoria

Cage fish farming in the Kenyan waters of Lake Victoria has experienced substantial growth since the Lake Basin Development Authority introduced it in 1988, with commercial adoption increasing following successful trials at Dunga Beach, Kisumu, in 2013. The industry predominantly cultures Nile tilapia (O. niloticus), which makes up 75% of Kenya’s aquaculture production, followed by African catfish (C. gariepinus) (Orina et al., 2018). Currently, over 5,000 cages operate in five riparian counties namely Migori, Siaya, Homa Bay, Busia, and Kisumu, with Siaya having the highest number of cages (Munguti et al., 2023. This sector serves as an important socio-economic driver, accounting for 0.7% of Kenya’s GDP in 2022 and providing livelihoods to over 1.5 million people through job creation and food security. However, the rapid expansion of the industry has led to environmental drawbacks, including nutrient pollution, the risk of disease transmission to wild fish, and conflicts with other lake users, raising concerns about sustainability.

Fish mortality rates in cage systems also present a significant challenge, leading to substantial economic losses. Key causes include:

• Upwelling: Seasonal upwelling (in May, June, September, and October) brings oxygen-deficient, cold water to the surface, resulting in mass mortalities in shallow areas (6–10 meters) where many cages are situated, particularly impacting Kisumu and Busia counties.
• Poor Water Quality: Excess uneaten feed and fish waste elevate nitrogen and phosphorus levels, triggering eutrophication and oxygen depletion. This creates an environment conducive to bacterial and fungal infections, manifesting as symptoms like fin rot and cloudy eyes.
• Diseases and Parasites: Increased farming intensifies biosecurity risks. While Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV) has been detected asymptomatically in Kenya, other pathogens like Streptococcus iniae, fish louse (Argulus spp.), and white spot disease (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) are common, exacerbated by poor farming practices such as using low-quality feeds and untreated water.
• Pollution: Runoff from urban, industrial, and agricultural sources introduces harmful substances (such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, and lead), deterioration the lake’s water quality and further stressing caged fish.

These factors have resulted in losses totaling millions of shillings, highlighting the urgent need for improved site selection and management practices informed by evidence based and data driven research.

Cage Fish Farming Guidelines

In 2019, the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) published a suitability report for cage fish farming at its Kisumu Station, with updates released in 2024. The report indicates that only 362 km² (9%) of the 4,100 km² Kenyan section of Lake Victoria is suitable for tilapia cage culture, supporting a carrying capacity of 4,085.5 tonnes per cycle. Suitable areas are primarily in deeper waters (over 10 meters) with optimal wave action to mitigate the risks associated with upwelling. Conversely, a significant 91% of the lake (3,737 km²) is deemed unsuitable due to factors such as water hyacinth, critical fish breeding grounds, and navigation routes, with regions like Anyanga, Sika, Uyawi, Asat, and Dunga housing 54% of cages in high-risk zones. KMFRI recommends locating cages in deeper water, monitoring water quality (especially oxygen levels), and steering clear of breeding grounds. Farmers are also encouraged to use high-quality feeds, observe proper stocking densities (60–250 fingerlings per cubic meter), and invest in cold storage solutions for emergencies and proper post-harvest handling. The report emphasizes the importance of stakeholder collaboration, zoning enforcement, and biosecurity measures to reduce environmental impacts, supported by a 2024 suitability map that further refines site selection based on depth, water quality, and accessibility.

iii. Aquaponics

Combining fish farming with crop production (aquaponics) can also maximize resource use while reducing waste. Aquaponics is a food production method that integrates growing fish and planting crops in water in a symbiotic environment – recycling waste water rich in nutrients from the fish pond or tank to water crops and then back to the pond or tank as illustrated in Figure 2. Aquaponics, which was once primarily a backyard technique, is now quickly expanding into industrial-scale production as design and practice advancements enable much higher output capacities, production efficiencies, and resource recovery in a circular economic manner. This method presents a sustainable alternative to traditional pond/tank farming. In this integrated system, fish waste serves as fertilizer for plants, while the plants filter and purify the water for the fish, creating a closed-loop environment. This method offers several benefits: it enhances sustainability by reducing nutrient discharge, thereby mitigating eutrophication and protecting Lake Victoria’s ecosystem; it improves biosecurity by minimizing disease risks and the potential spread of pathogens to wild fish stocks; and it is land-based, eliminating conflicts over lake resources and issues related to upwelling, making it suitable for peri-urban areas like Kisumu. Additionally, aquaponics is economically viable as it produces both fish and crops, such as vegetables, thereby diversifying income sources for smallholder farmers and improving food security through dual outputs that enhance nutrition.

Figure 2: The Aquaponics Cycle

iv. Preventing post-harvest losses by adopting new technology

Fish post-harvest losses (FPHLs) in Sub-Saharan Africa are higher compared to other regions globally, with the majority occurring during production (39%), handling (36%), distribution (13%), processing (7%), and consumption (5%) (Abelti, 2024). Reducing post-harvest losses is essential to maximizing the benefits of sustainable practices for Lake Victoria’s blue economy. Adopting technological solutions such as solar-powered cold storage, raised drying racks, and perforated plastic containers is important for reducing post-harvest fish losses at Lake Victoria. Cold storage facilities can preserve fresh fish, extending shelf life and maintaining value. This is estimated to increase fisher incomes by over 20% as a result of reduced post-harvest losses. Raised drying racks accelerate drying processes, minimize contamination, and are cost-effective, especially for small-scale fishers. Perforated plastic containers enhance hygiene and reduce damage during transport. Digital platforms, including mobile applications, facilitate direct connections between fishers and buyers, reducing delays and ensuring quicker sales. These locally adaptable, affordable technologies collectively help support the livelihood of the community and promote sustainable use of lake resources, fostering regional resilience and economic stability.

Conclusion

Cage fish farming in Lake Victoria is essential for local economies but is challenged by issues such as fish kills from upwelling, pollution, and disease. Although KMFRI’s suitability report provides valuable guidelines for sustainable practices, implementation and regulation efforts remain ineffective, and environmental impacts continue to escalate. Aquaponics presents a promising land-based alternative that could mitigate these challenges by integrating fish farming with hydroponic plant cultivation, thereby improving sustainability and food security. However, its success will require significant investment and training for farmers. By adopting successful marine practices such as zoning and planning, IMTA, enhanced biosecurity measures, RAS, feed formulation innovation, and strengthened collaborations among stakeholders we can effectively address existing gaps in Lake Victoria’s aquaculture. This holistic approach is vital for ensuring sustainable practices while protecting the lake’s delicate ecosystem, thereby securing livelihoods for millions who depend on its resources.

References

1. Abelti, A. L., & Teka, T. A. (2024). Intervening fish post‐harvest losses to narrow the gap between demand and supply: A review on magnitude of fish post‐harvest losses in some Sub‐Saharan African countries. Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries, 4(2), e168.
2. Aura, C. M., Akinyi Obuya, J., Ombwa, V., Musa, S., Mziri, V., Osore, M., & May, L. (2024). Assessing cage fish farming practices in Lake Victoria, Kenya, for sustainable lake utilization and community well-being. Kenya Aquatica Journal, 9(1), 17-26.
3. Lennard, W., & Goddek, S. (2019). Aquaponics: the basics. Aquaponics food production systems, 113.
4. LVFO. (2022). Regional catch assessment survey report for Lake Victoria. Jinja, Uganda.
5. McKay, R. M., Manyala, J. O., Nunan, F., Nyamweya, C., Awuor, F. J., & Njiru, J. (2024). Introduction to the special section: Aquatic resources for a sustainable future and blue economy prosperity for the African Great Lakes region. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 50(5), 102413.
6. Munguti, J. M., Obiero, K. O., Iteba, J. O., Kirimi, J. G., Kyule, D. N., Orina, P. S., … & Tanga, C. M. (2023). Role of multilateral development organizations, public and private investments in aquaculture subsector in Kenya. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7, 1208918.
7. Muthoka, M., Ogello, E. O., Outa, N. O., Ouko, K. O., Obiero, K. O., Mboya, J. B., & Mukaburu, B. O. (2024). Threats to aquatic biodiversity and possible management strategies in Lake Victoria. Aquaculture, Fish and Fisheries, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1002/aff2.143
8. Nyamweya, C., Lawrence, T. J., Ajode, M. Z., Smith, S., Achieng, A. O., Barasa, J. E., Masese, F. O., Taabu-Munyaho, A., Mahongo, S., Kayanda, R., Rukunya, E., Kisaka, L., Manyala, J., Medard, M., Otoung, S., Mrosso, H., Sekadende, B., Walakira, J., Mbabazi, S., & Nkalubo, W. (2023). Lake Victoria: Overview of research needs and the way forward. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 49(6). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jglr.2023.06.009
9. Ogembo, V., Thiery, W., Pietroiusti, R., Akurut, M., Vanderkelen, I., & Akinyi, G. (2025). Hydroclimatic Modeling of Lake Victoria: Development of an Inland Lakes Integrated Water Balance Model with Future Climatic Risk Projections (No. EGU25-600). Copernicus Meetings.
10. Onada, O. A. (2016). Climate smart aquaculture: A sustainable approach to increasing fish production in the face of climate change in Nigeria. International Journal of Aquaculture and Fishery Sciences. https://doi.org/10.17352/2455-8400.000013
11. Orina, P. S., Ogello, E., Kembenya, E., Githukia, C., Musa, S., Ombwa, V., … & Okechi, J. K. (2018). State of cage culture in Lake Victoria, Kenya.
12. Outa, N. O., Yongo, E. O., Keyombe, J. L. A., Ogello, E. O., & Namwaya Wanjala, D. (2020). A review on the status of some major fish species in Lake Victoria and possible conservation strategies. In Lakes and Reservoirs: Science, Policy and Management for Sustainable Use (Vol. 25, Issue 1). https://doi.org/10.1111/lre.12299
13. UNDP. (2022). Poverty-environment action for sustainable development goals: A toolkit for policymakers and investors in climate-smart aquaculture.
14. https://www.kmfri.go.ke/index.php/component/sppagebuilder/page/100
15. https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/7/4/61

Climate change is no longer a distant threat it is a reality that people all over the world are having to grapple with every day. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report notes that issues ranging from rising sea levels, dwindling fresh water resources, unpredictable weather patterns and the underlying socio-economic disruptions highlight the undeniable need for adaptation measures to climate change.

Various tools and technologies exist that have been used by researchers, climate advocates, policymakers and governments across the globe but what stands out is the ability to convert all the jargon to intricate pieces of information and visualization that drives the message across like a hot knife on butter. For instance, the NASA Center for Climate Simulation offers CREATE-V, an interactive tool that visualizes reanalysis data to facilitate climate change investigation. It aids in understanding complex climate data through interactive visualizations. Data storytelling is a beast and the answer!

Recently, I had the privilege of participating in a conversation hosted by Zindua School on X Space, titled “The Art of Data Storytelling: Turning Insights into Impact“. As a researcher at the African Center for Development Studies (ACTS) I can appreciate the significance of the discussion which explored how data storytelling transforms raw data into compelling narratives that drive understanding, engagement, and action. Here, I will delve into how this approach is a game-changer in climate adaptation and promoting resilience.

So what is data storytelling?

Correlation One in their article on the ‘Power of Data Storytelling’, define data storytelling as more than just presenting facts and figures but it is the art of weaving data into a compelling narrative that informs, inspires, and drives action. In the context of climate adaptation, it involves taking complex datasets, ranging from temperature trends and sea-level rise to disaster risks, and transforming them into accessible, relatable stories that resonate with diverse audiences.

The tools and techniques available include; visualizations such as climate models, GIS maps and time-series graphs; infographics which are simplified visual data summaries for quick understanding; interactive tools like dashboards or simulations that explore the ‘what-if’ scenarios; and narrative case studies which in this case can be stories of successful adaptation efforts. For instance the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) offers Data Snapshots, a collection of simplified climate maps with plain language descriptions. These resources make complex climate data more accessible to the public.

Figure 1: The image shows groups at higher risk of health threats related to climate change and potential solutions. These groups are among the most at-risk when considering all the threats from climate change on top of other environmental hazards. They are the most exposed, and sensitive, and have the least resources to prepare for and respond to health threats. White text indicates the risks those communities face, while dark text indicates actions that can be taken to reduce those risks. Source: EPA (National Climate Assessment) https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/climate/climate-change-impacts

Simplifying Complexity

Climate data is essentially complex. It is multi and inter-disciplinary running from meteorology, and hydrology, to socio-economics among others, and it involves massive datasets. For policymakers, community leaders, and even the ‘wanjiku’, meaning the general underrepresented public, this complexity can be overwhelming and in most cases, the information is ignored and termed as ‘hii ni ya watu wamesoma, maPhD’ translating to ‘this is for educated people, PhDs’. Data storytelling simplifies these details by combining clear visuals, narratives, and actionable insights.

For instance, instead of presenting a table of rising global temperatures, a well-crafted infographic might show how a 2°C rise impacts agriculture, water resources, and human health. More so systems such as the Climate Data Management Services Division (CDMS) of the Kenya Meteorological Department manages the ENACTS (Enhancing National Climate Services) map-rooms which is a dedicated web portal providing 24/7 access to climate information services, offering visualizations that merge station data with satellite estimates. By distilling data into digestible formats, storytelling ensures the message is heard and understood.

Figure 2: The climate dashboard shows desk historical booking data in different graphs using various filters, e.g. date, location, office hours, workspace type or zones. Source: https://shorturl.at/sLIpP

Driving Awareness and Engagement

One key takeaway from the Zindua School conversation was the power of storytelling to connect data with human experiences. People are likely to engage with stories that reflect their realities or aspirations.

Imagine a coastal community in Mombasa County which is a low-lying coastal area, grappling with flooding due to rising sea levels. A data-driven story could combine satellite imagery, historical flood data, and personal accounts from affected residents. This information woven well represents facts and emotion too creating a narrative that is both informative and compelling, sparking conversations and mobilizing action.

Informing Decision-Making

Evidence-based decisions drive effective and actual climate adaptation. Yet, decision-makers often lack the time or expertise to analyze raw data. Data storytelling bridges this gap by presenting insights in a way that is accessible and actionable. Resources such as the World Bank’s Climate Change Knowledge Portal offers detailed climatology data for Kenya, covering the period from 1991 to 2020. Visitors to the site can visualize data through spatial variations, seasonal cycles, or time series analyses. This resource aids in building a comprehensive understanding of Kenya’s current climate conditions and future scenarios

Interactive tools like dashboards and scenario-based models are instrumental here. Dashboards are a type of graphical user interface (GUI) that often provide at-a-glance views of data that is relevant to a certain objective or process following a combination of visualizations and summary information (Wikipedia). They allow policymakers to visualize potential outcomes, such as the impact of implementing green infrastructure versus maintaining the status quo or the impact of offering green jobs and training to women and youth in marginalized areas. By making data interactive and engaging, storytelling empowers leaders to prioritize interventions that yield the greatest benefits.

Empowering Communities

The involvement of local communities is imperative in driving successful climate adaptation efforts. Data storytelling plays a critical role in translating technical jargon into relatable tales that resonate with resident populations. A nomad in the Rift Valley would fail to understand what the X and Y’s on a plot map mean or a fisherman in Kilifi County cannot fathom an equation calculating the proximate composition and mineral content in seaweed. That is pure jargon to them and just numbers and letters on a screen or piece of paper.

There by, linking data to tangible benefits, storytelling fosters a sense of ownership and encourages grassroots participation. For example, a community-facing campaign might use story maps to show how tree planting can reduce urban heat islands in their region.

Fostering Collaboration

Climate adaptation requires collaboration across sectors and stakeholders. A famous quote by Mother Teresa says, ‘I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things’. During the X Space conversation, we discussed how data storytelling acts as a unifying language, aligning diverse groups around shared goals where everyone has a clear understanding of the process and feels heard.

Whether it is a non-profit seeking funding for a project or a government body rallying public support, a well-told data story can build consensus. Case studies of successful adaptation efforts, backed by data, inspire confidence and encourage investment.

Advocacy and Policy Influence

One of the most impactful aspects of data storytelling is its ability to influence policy. Advocacy organizations often use data-driven narratives to highlight the urgency of climate adaptation and push for systemic change. For instance, putting side by side the cost of inaction with the benefits of proactive measures in a visually striking way can sway decision-makers. As highlighted during the Zindua School conversation, storytelling can transform data into a rallying cry for change.

Figure 3: An Infographic on Climate Adaptation vs Mitigation and the In-between  (Warren, F. and Lulham, N., editors (2021). Canada in a Changing Climate: National Issues Report Government of Canada, Ottawa, ON.)

Conclusion

Data storytelling is more than a communication tool; it’s a catalyst for action. By simplifying complexity, driving engagement, informing decisions, empowering communities, fostering collaboration, and influencing policy, it turns insights into impact.

The insights shared during the Zindua School conversation among other discussions I have been part of reinforce the critical role of storytelling in addressing the climate crisis and the overall environmental management. As we navigate an uncertain future, let us harness the power of data storytelling to inspire collective action and build a more resilient world.

What stories will you tell to drive change?

References

1. Correlation One. (2023, July 21). The power of data storytelling: Transforming data into impactful narratives. Correlation One. Retrieved from https://www.correlation-one.com/blog/data-storytelling
2. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2021). Climate change 2021: The physical science basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/
3. Kenya Meteorological Department. Climate data management services. Kenya Meteorological Department. Retrieved from https://meteo.go.ke/services/climate-data-management-services
4. NASA Center for Climate Simulation. CREATE-V. NASA. Retrieved from https://www.nccs.nasa.gov/services/analytics/create-v
5. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.). Data Snapshots. NOAA Climate.gov. Retrieved from https://www.climate.gov/maps-data/data-snapshots
6. World Bank. Kenya: Climate data – historical. Climate Change Knowledge Portal. Retrieved from https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/kenya/climate-data-historical

Climate change is not just an environmental crisis, it is a justice crisis. It is about who owns resources, who gets to decide on solutions, and who bears the burden of decisions made in far-away negotiation halls. While developing countries contributed the least to the climate catastrophe, they remain the most affected, with studies indicating that African countries are losing 10-15% of their GDP per capita growth due to climate change.¹

Despite being on the frontlines, vulnerable communities are often missing from the rooms where decisions about their futures are made. For years, the dominant approach to climate justice has been to “advocate for” or “represent” vulnerable people. But is that enough? Having a seat at the table is important, but real justice demands more than just symbolic inclusion. It requires shifting from an aid-based mindset to one of accountability. It means ensuring climate finance is not charity but reparation. It calls for rethinking climate finance processes in a manner that centers vulnerable communities’ voices, especially as the world negotiates the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG).

The way we conceptualize climate change has often been too narrow, limiting it to an environmental issue when, it is also a property, equity, justice, economic, and humanitarian issue. If we continue seeing climate action purely through the lens of habitat loss or greenhouse gas emissions reduction, we risk ignoring the deep-rooted injustices that have left vulnerable communities disproportionately at risk. Climate justice demands consideration of the history of exploitation and economic systems that have exacerbated climate vulnerability.

While international climate negotiations shape policies that affect millions, they often take place behind closed doors, dominated by government representatives, corporations, and multilateral institutions. But what about the communities living with climate impacts? Who speaks for them? True justice requires more than just speaking on behalf of these groups, it requires creating space for them to be present and actively so, in negotiations. In many instances, vulnerable communities are entirely absent from critical spaces where climate policies are shaped. Representation should not be tokenistic. It must be meaningful, allowing the affected communities to influence decisions directly.

The NCQG, set to replace the outdated $100 billion climate finance commitment,² is an opportunity to rethink how climate finance is structured. Yet, if the process remains dominated by donor countries and multilateral institutions, it risks repeating past failures, where climate finance is inaccessible, inadequate, and burdensome for those who need it most.

 Climate Finance as Reparation, Not Charity 

One of the fundamental flaws in climate finance is that it still operates largely as an aid rather than as an accountability mechanism. Developed countries, many of whom have historically contributed the most to climate change, continue to frame climate finance as an act of “goodwill” rather than a duty. Instead of grants, climate funding is provided as loans that must be repaid with interest, and this becomes a financial burden to developing countries. Even concessional loans, which offer lower interest rates or longer repayment periods, still reinforce financial dependence and force climate-vulnerable nations to pay for a crisis they did not create.

This approach perpetuates the power imbalance between donor and recipient countries and fails to recognize the need for distributive and retributive justice. The NCQG presents an opportunity to shift the narrative by ensuring climate finance is no longer a voluntary commitment, but a legally binding obligation grounded in the principles of historical responsibility and justice. The “Polluter Pays” principle must go beyond financial pledges to include legally binding commitments that ensure vulnerable communities receive the support they need without bureaucratic processes and unjust conditions.

If progress is to be made beyond rhetoric and towards action, concrete mechanisms are needed that ensure vulnerable communities are not just being talked about but are actively participating in decision-making processes. Some key approaches include:

1. Decolonizing Climate Finance – Moving away from top-down, donor-driven financial architecture, to models that allow developing countries and vulnerable communities to determine their own priorities. This means ensuring climate funds are not dictated by Global North interests but align with the realities of those most affected.
2. Direct Access to Climate Finance – Simplifying disbursement processes so that finance flows directly to the communities that need it the most, rather than being locked within bureaucracies.
3. Legally Binding Commitments – Integrating climate justice into human rights frameworks and embedding legally enforceable obligations in climate finance agreements to ensure that developed countries honor their responsibilities. Without accountability mechanisms, financial pledges remain empty promises, leaving vulnerable nations in a cycle of crisis and debt.
4. Redefining Representation in Climate Negotiations– Ensuring that active participation in key decision-making spaces, such as the Conference of Parties (COP), is not limited to state representatives and financial institutions but includes civil society, youth, and vulnerable communities’ leaders.

Towards Transformative Climate Action

At the heart of climate justice negotiations, we must continually ask – what are we negotiating for? Are we negotiating about communities, or are we negotiating with them? The NCQG represents one of the biggest tests for climate justice in recent years. If it merely repackages old commitments without addressing accessibility, accountability, and equity, it will fail to deliver justice. True climate action is not about charity or symbolic representation, it is about power, agency, and reparative justice. If vulnerable communities are not central to the negotiations that determine their fate, then climate justice remains an empty promise. The challenge is clear, we must move beyond discussions of justice and actively fight for it. Only then can we ensure that climate action is not just fair, but truly transformative.

References

1. Baarsch, F. et al. The impact of climate change on incomes and convergence in Africa. World Dev. 126, 104699 (2020).
2. From Billions to Trillions: Setting a New Goal on Climate Finance | UNFCCC. https://unfccc.int/news/from-billions-to-trillions-setting-a-new-goal-on-climate-finance.

Plant diseases remain a threat to global agriculture amidst growing global challenges such as climate change and population growth. In the Biotech field, Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) gene editing technology stands out as a groundbreaking solution with immense potential for developing disease-resistant crops. In essence, the CRISPR molecule is made up of short palindromic DNA sequences that are repeated along the molecule and are regularly-spaced. The CRISPR-Cas9 system, which was developed from components of the earliest known bacterial immune system, allows for targeted gene breakage and gene editing in a variety of cells/RNA sequences to guide endonuclease cleavage specificity in the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Editing can be directed to practically any genomic site by altering the guide RNA (gRNA) sequence and delivering it to a target cell along with the Cas9 endonuclease^[1]. By utilizing the CRISPR associated protein 9 (Cas9), guided by a custom RNA sequence, researchers can target and edit genes with unprecedented accuracy; offering a precise, efficient, and versatile method for modifying the genetic makeup of organisms, including crops.

Through the CRISPR technology, researchers have been successful in enhancing disease resistance in plants, addressing one of the most significant challenges in agriculture such as crop diseases caused by pathogens[2].Traditional breeding methods to develop disease-resistant crops such as selective breeding are often time-consuming and limited in scope. However, the CRISPR allows for the direct targeting and editing of genes associated with disease susceptibility or resistance, offering a more targeted and rapid approach. This technology not only promises to improve crop yields and reduce losses but also supports the development of more sustainable farming practices by reducing reliance on chemical pesticides. This writing highlights how CRISPR- gene editing has been precisely used to target potential genes and enhance disease resistance in plants. The writing emerges from ongoing “GENTWORK”research between BOKU University, ACTS and Egerton University which aims to modenise breeding programmes in Kenya.

In terms of agricultural advancement, several successful CRISPR applications in creating disease resistant have already been documented in rice[3], soybean[4], wheat[5], sweet orange[6]. The process begins with the identification of target genes associated either with susceptibility or resistance to specific diseases. Researchers design guide RNAs (gRNAs) that match the sequences of these target genes. When introduced into the plant cells, the CRISPR-Cas9 complex locates the precise DNA sequence and makes a specific cut in the DNA sequence[7]. The plant’s natural DNA repair mechanisms then either disable the susceptibility gene or incorporate a resistance trait, thus conferring disease resistance. Once the CRISPR-Cas9 complex has successfully edited the target genes, the plant cells undergo a regeneration process to develop into whole plants. This involves cultivating the edited cells in a controlled environment to ensure that they grow and differentiate into full plants. These regenerated plants are then subjected to testing to confirm the desired genetic changes and assess their plants are then subjected to testing to confirm the desired genetic changes and assess their resistance to the targeted diseases.

In 2014, for the first time, the CRISPR/Cas9 system was used successfully in wheat protoplasts to edit the TaMLO gene (Mildew resistance locus O)[8]. The CRISPR TaMLO knockout lines have been successfully established to increase resistance against Blumeria graminis f. sp. Tritici (Btg), the causal organism of powdery mildew disease. In another study, Kim et al., (2018) demonstrated gene editing in wheat protoplasts for dehydration-responsive element-binding protein 2 (TaDREB2) and ethylene-responsive factor 3 (TaERF3) using the wheat U6 snRNA promoter. The CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing system is capable of editing the complex hexaploid wheat genome (T. aestivum). The availability of whole-genome sequence information for wheat along with the advancements in the CRISPR/Cas9 technique could provide possibilities for the development of a “hypo-immunogenic-wheat variety. This genome editing technology not only improves crop yields contributing to sustainability and food security but also reduces the dependency on chemical treatments and promoting sustainable food crop production.

Figure 1: Ongoing CRISPR research at BOKU University Tulln of gene responsible for DON resistance gene by Dr. Barbara Steiner

Figure 2: A clear indication of fusarium head blight in ongoing study with wheat

As CRISPR genome editing is entering a new era, its future potential is offering unprecedented precision and efficiency in developing disease-resistant crops. This technology’s ability to target and modify specific genes associated with disease susceptibility or resistance allows for rapid and accurate enhancements in crop resilience. By reducing reliance on chemical pesticides, CRISPR not only fosters more sustainable agricultural practices but also supports global food security by ensuring higher and more stable crop yields. The successful applications in crops highlight CRISPR’s transformative potential. As research advances and regulatory frameworks evolve, CRISPR genome editing is poised to become an integral tool in the ongoing effort to combat plant diseases, identify and characterise the genes responsible for stress responses, contributing to a more resilient and sustainable agricultural future. Moving forward, continued research and refinement of CRISPR technology, along with supportive regulatory frameworks, will be essential in harnessing its full potential.

With CRISPR genome editing, it is possible for Africa to generate crops that are resilient to climate change. It has the potential to increase yields, improve nutrition, reduce inputs like pesticides and fertilizers, and produce crops that can resist changing climates[9]. This may aid in addressing Africa’s issues with hunger and food insecurity as already evidenced in East Africa where a disease resistant banana, maize resistant to lethal necrosis, and sorghum resistant to the parasitic plant Striga and enhanced quality, are under development for African farmers[10].

By facilitating capacity building, fostering local and international collaborations, and advocating for supportive regulatory frameworks, ACTS can play a crucial role in harnessing CRISPR gene editing to develop disease-resistant crops in Africa. They can establish training programs to equip African scientists and researchers with the necessary skills in CRISPR technology, and engage in collaborative research with established international institutions to exchange knowledge and resources. Additionally, ACTS can work towards identifying region-specific challenges and target genes for crop improvement, ensuring that the technology addresses local agricultural needs. Through public awareness and dialogue on the ethical and safety aspects of gene editing, and advocating for a conducive regulatory environment, ACTS can help in integrating CRISPR technology into sustainable agricultural practices, thereby enhancing food security and resilience against climate change in Africa.

[1] AHMAD, M. (2023). Plant breeding advancements with “Crispr-cas” genome editing technologies will assist Future Food Security. Frontiers in Plant Science, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1133036

[2]. Min-Yao Jhu, Ellison, E. E., & Sinha, N. (2023). CRISPR gene editing to improve crop resistance to parasitic plants. Frontiers in Genome Editing, 5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgeed.2023.1289416

[3] Guo M., Zhang X., Liu J., Hou L., Liu H., Zhao X. (2020) OsProDH negatively regulates thermotolerance in rice by modulating proline metabolism and reactive oxygen species scavenging. Rice. 13(1): 1–5. 10.1186/s12284-020-00422-3

[4]Cai Y., Wang L., Chen L., Wu T., Liu L., Sun S., Wu C., Yao W., Jiang B., Yuan S., et al.. (2020) Mutagenesis of GmFT2a and GmFT5a mediated by CRISPR/Cas9 contributes for expanding the regional adaptability of soybean. Plant Biotechnol. J. 18(1): 298–309. 10.1111/pbi.13199

[5] Hayta S., Smedley M.A., Demir S.U., Blundell R., Hinchliffe A., Atkinson N., Harwood W.A. (2019) An efficient and reproducible Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method for hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Plant Meth. 15(1): 1–15. 10.1186/S13007-019-0503-Z

[6] Jia H., Nian W. (2014) Targeted genome editing of sweet orange using Cas9/sgRNA. PLoS One. 9(4): e93806. 10.1371/journal.pone.0093806

[7] Jinek, M., Chylinski, K., Fonfara, I., Hauer, M., Doudna, J. A., & Charpentier, E. (2012). A programmable dual-RNA-guided DNA endonuclease in adaptive bacterial immunity. Science, 337(6096), 816-821. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1225829

[8] Shan, Q., Wang, Y., Li, J., & Gao, C. (2014). Genome editing in rice and wheat using the CRISPR/Cas system. Nature protocols, 9(10), 2395-2410.

[9] Ndudzo, A., Makuvise, A. S., Moyo, S., & Bobo, E. D. (2024). CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing in crop breeding for climate change resilience: Implications for smallholder farmers in Africa. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 16, 101132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2024.101132

[10] Tripathi, L., Dhugga, K. S., Ntui, V. O., Runo, S., Syombua, E. D., Muiruri, S., Wen, Z., & Tripathi, J. N. (2022). Genome editing for sustainable agriculture in Africa. Frontiers in Genome Editing, 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgeed.2022.876697.

“We are the first generation to feel the effect of climate change and the last generation who can do something about it.” – Barack Obama

Climate change is a global crisis, but adaptation remains a deeply local challenge. African nations face some of the most severe climate impacts, yet their responses are often fragmented. The Adaptation Research Alliance (ARA) TLS Knowledge Synthesis Symposium, held in Nairobi, Kenya, from March 10–12, 2025, highlighted the power of collaboration in strengthening Africa’s climate resilience. Experts discussed shared challenges in health, human settlements, digital food security tools, and adaptation financing, showing how pooling expertise and resources can lead to scalable solutions.

The Power of Collaboration

Despite its benefits, cross-regional collaboration remains limited due to fragmented efforts, inadequate funding, and insufficient capacity (African Capacity Building Foundation, 2025). The Nairobi symposium emphasized three key lessons:

1. Knowledge Sharing – Peer-to-peer learning enables countries to exchange adaptation strategies (Adaptation Research Alliance, 2025).
2. Financing Mechanisms – Regional funding structures can reduce reliance on external donors and prioritize community-driven projects (UNEP, 2022).
3. Integrated Approaches – Multisectoral collaboration across health, agriculture, and infrastructure is critical for tackling interconnected climate risks (UNEP, 2022).

Strengthening Africa’s Voice on the Global Stage

Effective collaboration is not only vital for local adaptation efforts but also for shaping global climate negotiations. The African Group of Negotiators (AGN) plays a crucial role in advocating for Africa’s adaptation needs at COP meetings. However, internal divisions and competing priorities often weaken its bargaining power.

At COP29, AGN Chair Ali Mohamed emphasized that “adaptation is Africa’s lifeline” and called for tripling adaptation funds to $1 trillion annually (African Climate Wire, 2024). Yet, Africa still receives less than 25% of its required adaptation financing, much of it in loans rather than grants. To bridge this gap, AGN must work closely with regional blocs, research alliances, and funding partners to present a unified front in climate negotiations.

Moving Forward: A Call to Action

To maximize Africa’s adaptation efforts, collaboration must focus on three key areas:
Unified Advocacy – A strong collective voice can enhance Africa’s influence in climate negotiations and unlock greater funding (UNEP, 2022).
Regional Financing Mechanisms – Investing in homegrown solutions can reduce dependency on external donors.
Scaling Innovations – Knowledge-sharing networks can replicate successful adaptation models, such as climate-smart agriculture plans in Mali and Côte d’Ivoire (Adaptation Research Alliance, 2025).

Climate change is already reshaping Africa, but it does not have to define its future. Africa can build resilience and secure equitable climate financing by strengthening regional collaboration and global advocacy. The message is clear: Africa’s strength lies in unity, and through collaboration, the continent can shape a more sustainable future for generations to come.

References :

1.  Adaptation Research Alliance. (2025). Asia-Pacific Climate Adaptation Actors Gather in Colombo for Knowledge Synthesis Symposium. Retrieved from https://www.pressenza.com/2025/02/asia-pacific-climate-adaptation-actors-gather-in-colombo-for-knowledge-synthesis-symposium/
2. African Group of Negotiators. (2024). African Group of Negotiators Put Forward COP29 Positions. Retrieved from https://africanclimatewire.org/2024/08/african-group-of-negotiators-put-forward-cop29-positions/
3. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2022). Adaptation Gap Report 2022: Too Little, Too Slow – Climate adaptation failure puts world at risk. Retrieved from https://www.unep.org/ndc/resources/report/adaptation-gap-report-2022
4. African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF). (2025). Coordination Challenges and Opportunities for Climate Adaptation in African Agriculture. Retrieved from https://elibrary.acbfpact.org/acbf/collect/acbf/index/assoc/HASH3f53/1d5a4618/50041b12/09.dir/Knowledge%20Product%20Climate%20Change%20Coordination%20Eng.pdf

Plant genotypic analysis is a crucial component of modern agricultural research, particularly when it comes to improving crop yield, resistance to diseases, and overall adaptability to environmental changes. One of the crops where genotypic analysis has shown significant progress is wheat (Triticum aestivum), a major global food source. Genotypic analysis helps identify the genetic makeup of different wheat varieties, enabling plant breeders and researchers to understand the genetic variations that drive specific traits. In recent years, the open-source statistical tool R-Studio has emerged as a popular platform for conducting this analysis due to its versatility, extensive packages, and ease of use (Culhane et al., 2018). In R-Studio, genotypic analysis of wheat involves several steps, starting with data preparation, which includes collecting genotypic data, often from DNA sequencing or molecular marker analysis. This data is then cleaned and formatted for analysis. One standard tool used in R is the “genetics” package, which helps manage genotype data in various formats, such as SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) markers. The package is also helpful for multivariate analysis, allowing researchers to visualize genetic diversity among different wheat samples (Jombart & Ahmed, 2011). These flexible packages support classical and modern statistical methods for genotype data exploration and visualization.

One key application of genotypic analysis in wheat is in Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) mapping. This approach helps researchers identify genome regions associated with specific phenotypic traits such as drought tolerance or grain quality. In R-Studio, packages like “qtl” enable users to perform QTL mapping efficiently. This package allows researchers to model genetic markers’ influence on traits, helping uncover the genetic basis of complex traits in wheat. Additionally, the “ASMap” package generates high-density linkage maps, which can be used to locate QTL regions more accurately (Broman et al., 2003). The use of these tools has enabled plant breeders to make more informed decisions about which varieties to cross-breed for optimal results. R-Studio also offers the advantage of integrating phenotypic data alongside genotypic data, providing a holistic view of plant traits. This integration is critical for genotype-phenotype association studies, which aim to link genetic variations with observable traits such as yield or disease resistance. The “GWASpoly” package in R is particularly useful for Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS), allowing researchers to analyze polyploid species like wheat with greater precision. GWAS is widely used in wheat breeding programs to identify genetic loci that contribute to essential agronomic traits (Rosyara et al., 2016). The combination of genotypic and phenotypic data helps researchers to make accurate predictions about how different genetic variants might affect wheat growth under various environmental conditions.

The advantages of using R-Studio for wheat genotypic analysis go beyond just data handling and visualization. R-Studio’s open-source nature makes it highly accessible to researchers worldwide, especially in resource-limited settings. Moreover, the ability to integrate custom scripts and perform large-scale data analysis makes it a versatile tool for complex genetic studies. With the help of specialized R packages such as “rrBLUP” (ridge regression Best Linear Unbiased Prediction), plant breeders can estimate breeding values, enhancing the selection process for high-yielding wheat varieties (Endelman, 2011). This level of customization and scalability is pivotal in addressing global challenges like food security and climate change.

In conclusion, R-Studio has revolutionized wheat genotypic analysis by offering powerful tools that are accessible and flexible. Whether for QTL mapping, GWAS, or integrating phenotypic data, R-Studio provides a comprehensive environment for conducting advanced genetic studies in wheat. By leveraging these tools, researchers can enhance wheat breeding programs, ultimately contributing to improved crop performance and global food security. The growing use of R in genotypic analysis also encourages collaboration among researchers across different fields, facilitating the sharing of data and methodologies.

Call to Action: As food security remains a global challenge, researchers and plant breeders must adopt cutting-edge tools like R-Studio for genotypic analysis. I encourage you to explore R-Studio’s capabilities and contribute to the growing body of research aimed at improving wheat and other essential crops. Visit R-Project to download R-Studio and start your journey in plant genotypic analysis today

References

Broman, K. W., Wu, H., Sen, Ś., & Churchill, G. A. (2003). R/qtl: QTL mapping in experimental crosses. Bioinformatics, 19(7), 889–890. https://doi.org/10.1093/bioinformatics/btg112

Culhane, A. C., Thioulouse, J., Perrière, G., & Higgins, D. G. (2018). MADE4: An R package for multivariate analysis of gene expression data. Bioinformatics, 21(11), 2789–2790. https://doi.org/10.1093/bioinformatics/bti394

Endelman, J. B. (2011). Ridge regression and other kernels for genomic selection with R package rrBLUP. The Plant Genome, 4(3), 250–255. https://doi.org/10.3835/plantgenome2011.08.0024

Jombart, T., & Ahmed, I. (2011). adegenet 1.3-1: New tools for the analysis of genome-wide SNP data. Bioinformatics, 27(21), 3070–3071. https://doi.org/10.1093/bioinformatics/btr521

Rosyara, U. R., González-Hernández, J. L., Manickavelu, A., Steffenson, B. J., & Belzile, F. (2016). Genome-wide association study of spot blotch resistance in wheat. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics, 6(7), 2103–2114. https://doi.org/10.1534/g3.116.028480

The concept of Just Energy Transition (JET) is becoming increasingly important worldwide as countries work towards transitioning from traditional, carbon-intensive energy sources to cleaner and more sustainable alternatives. Kenya’s commitment to a Just Energy Transition is a commendable effort to tackle the pressing issues of climate change and energy access. This transition is driven by a strong dedication to not only adopting cleaner energy sources but also to guaranteeing that the advantages are fairly shared among all members of society. This comprehensive approach takes into account factors such as localization, creating fair employment opportunities, and empowering small and medium enterprises (SMMEs). Recently, stakeholders converged in Nairobi for a workshop aimed at charting a path forward in this transition journey.

The stakeholder engagement workshop provided a valuable opportunity to delve into the multifaceted aspects of Just Energy Transition (JET) within the context of Kenya’s policy landscape. Although Kenya has made impressive strides in promoting renewable energy projects, gaps in awareness and implementation have been found, which highlights the need to close the gap between the policy objectives and implementation. These gaps emphasise the need for targeted efforts to ensure that policy frameworks result in tangible outcomes in practical situations. This highlights the critical importance of well-functioning governance structures and mechanisms for engaging stakeholders (Bäckstrand & Lövbrand, 2006). In addition, the workshop highlighted the importance of community engagement in the transition process, aligning with previous research that emphasizes the use of participatory approaches in sustainable development initiatives (Sovacool & Dworkin, 2015). Increasing awareness among local populations about existing policies emerged as a crucial strategy for gaining support and promoting ownership of the transition agenda, which is in line with principles of inclusive governance and grassroots empowerment (Bäckstrand & Lövbrand, 2006). Thus, to achieve the objectives of JET in Kenya, policymakers, stakeholders, and local communities must work together to close gaps in policy implementation and awareness.

The concept of decent work, as defined by the ILO and incorporated into Kenya’s Just Energy Transition (JET) narrative, is a fundamental aspect of the country’s commitment to sustainable development (ILO, 2024). The ILO (2024) highlights the importance of decent work, which includes fair wages, safe working conditions, and professional development. It is crucial to ensure that the shift towards cleaner energy sources in Kenya creates ample and meaningful employment opportunities. This means protecting workers’ rights and making sure they take an active role in the transition process. The stakeholders involved in the JET discourse emphasized the significance of skill development, social protection measures, and the adoption of fair labor practices as crucial components for achieving a successful transition (IDRC, 2024). This emphasis is in line with the conclusions of previous studies conducted by the ILO, which highlight the crucial importance of decent work in promoting sustainable development and inclusive economic growth (ILO, 2024).

The workshop offered a unique perspective on Kenya’s energy transition, allowing participants to envision the future across three distinct timeframes using the three Horizons Framework. This effective planning tool not only helped stakeholders visualize the transition process but also enabled them to outline the important steps needed to navigate each stage successfully. articipants emphasized key actions to initiate, stop, and maintain, with a particular focus on areas such as job opportunities in the green industry, digitalization of energy, bioenergy, and youth engagement. These observations highlight the significance of innovation, collaboration, and policy coherence in promoting sustainable energy transitions, which aligns with the conclusions of other researchers. Research conducted by Bäckstrand and Lövbrand (2006) highlights the importance of collaborative governance mechanisms in tackling complex environmental issues. Similarly, Sovacool and Dworkin (2015) suggest that innovative policy approaches can be effective in encouraging the adoption of renewable energy. This framework offered a well-structured approach to envisioning Kenya’s energy transition.

In conclusion, Kenya’s commitment to sustainability and inclusivity is evident in its pursuit of a Just Energy Transition. The stakeholder engagement inception workshop served as an important forum for in-depth discussions and sharing of knowledge regarding Kenya’s progress towards a fair energy transition. The workshop’s insights will shape future project activities, guiding policy interventions and promoting collaboration among stakeholders. Kenya’s energy transition requires the collaboration of all stakeholders to achieve a fair, inclusive, and sustainable future. Although there has been considerable progress, there are still challenges that need to be addressed. These challenges include a lack of awareness, reliance on imports, and the difficulty of finding a balance between local needs and global impacts. To tackle these challenges effectively, participants highlighted the importance of involving stakeholders, improving skills and knowledge, and ensuring consistent policies. In addition, it was suggested that connections be established with organizations like the Consumer Federation of Kenya and the Federation of Kenyan Employers to enhance the effectiveness of JET initiatives and encourage greater collaboration.

References

Bäckstrand, K., & Lövbrand, E. (2006). Planting trees to mitigate climate change: Contested discourses of ecological modernization, green governmentality and civic environmentalism. Global Environmental Politics, 6(1), 50-75. http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1162/glep.2006.6.1.50

Decent work and the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development | International Labour Organization. (2024, January 28). Www.ilo.org. https://www.ilo.org/topics/decent-work-and-2030-agenda-sustainable-development.

Sovacool, B. K., & Dworkin, M. H. (2015). Energy justice: Conceptual insights and practical applications. Applied Energy, 142, 435-444. https://efl-stichting.nl/app/uploads/2022/08/Sovacool_Dworkin-AE-Justice20190902-14416-15urgi3-with-cover-page-v2-1.pdf

The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP 29) in Baku, Azerbaijan provided an invaluable platform for experts, policymakers, and innovators from around the world to convene and facilitate meaningful discussions on tackling climate change. As a panelist, I had the honor to present insights and initiatives from the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) at the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) conversation panel at the Greece Pavilion. This blog sheds light on the importance of strengthening national systems of innovation for collaborative Research, Development, and Deployment (RD&D) on climate technology to support the achievement of the Paris Agreement on climate change.

The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, aims to strengthen the global response to climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Achieving these ambitious goals requires transformative and innovative approaches that are deeply rooted in national systems of innovation. Often, transformative and innovative approaches are perceived as purely technological, but financial and institutional innovations also play a crucial role in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. These systems play a pivotal role in driving the development and deployment of cutting-edge climate technologies that can significantly contribute to mitigating the impacts of climate change.

Collaborative RD&D for Climate Technology and the National Systems of Innovation

Collaborative RD&D on climate technology involves a multidisciplinary approach that brings together researchers, innovators, policymakers, and practitioners to jointly address the challenges of climate change. By fostering collaboration at national, regional, and global levels, countries can pool resources, share knowledge, and accelerate the development and deployment of impactful climate technologies. Furthermore, collaborative RD&D activities can amplify the collective impact of diverse stakeholders and create synergies that drive sustainable solutions. To effectively support the achievement of the Paris Agreement, it is imperative to strengthen national systems of innovation. This involves bolstering the capacity of research institutions, fostering innovation ecosystems, and providing conducive policy frameworks that incentivize investment in climate technology RD&D. Additionally, empowering local communities and ensuring gender and youth inclusion in innovation processes are integral components of fostering robust national systems of innovation for climate technology with the though of impact from the onset in RD&D.

Positioning ACTS to enable climate technologies and innovations

The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) is a research, policy, and technology-oriented organization committed to strengthening the capacity of African countries and institutions to harness science, technology, and innovation for sustainable and inclusive development. Located within the vibrant ecosystem of Konza Technopolis, ACTS is dedicated to conducting research, providing advisory services, and disseminating information on the policy aspects of applying science and technology to sustainable development in Africa.

African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) has five programming areas including, Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Security, Science, Technology, Innovation and Knowledge for Society, Digital Economy, Gender Youth and Inclusive Development, and Climate Resilient Economies.

The implementation in these thematic areas, has ACTS focusing on five areas of intervention comprising policy relevant research, outreach and engagement, knowledge and technology brokerage, and capability building. The focus has ensured that the impact  checklist—covering impact, context specificity, relevance of actors, understanding institutional context, and the power of interrelations—is met through its operations guided by innovation.

ACTS work in promoting RD&D for national innovation systems

Some of the key areas for ACTS in RD&D can be packaged in three of the five intervention areas including knowledge and technology brokerage, and capacity building.

Knowledge Brokerage: ACTS plays a crucial role in knowledge brokerage, especially through its engagement with the African Network for Economics of Learning, Innovation, and Competence Building Systems (AfricaLics). Through this network, ACTS facilitates the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and best practices in the areas of learning, innovation, and competence building systems across Africa. Additionally, ACTS is involved in Research and Innovation Management (RIM) projects, where it oversees the effective management of research and innovation initiatives to drive impactful outcomes.

Technology Brokerage: In the realm of technology brokerage, ACTS focuses on various projects aimed at harnessing technology for empowerment and sustainability. The Blue Empowerment project seeks to leverage technology to empower communities and enhance their livelihoods. The solar cooling and drying ACES project involves developing innovative solutions for sustainable cooling and drying using solar energy. The ACTS Konza Artificial Intelligence Institute (AKAII) and the ACTS Technology Centre, including gDIH (Digital Innovation Hub) and the community cooling hub project, are initiatives aimed at harnessing technology for positive societal impact and sustainable development.

Capacity Building: ACTS prioritizes capacity building through various initiatives focused on skill development and knowledge enhancement. The ACTS Pathways Academy offers training programs and courses to build capacities in areas related to sustainable development, innovation, and technology. The AfricaLics academy provides specialized training and capacity-building activities in the field of economics of learning, innovation, and competence building systems. The AI4D scholarship program aims to nurture talent in Artificial Intelligence for Development, offering scholarships to individuals with a passion for leveraging AI for positive societal change.

Lessons drawn from the work ACTS has done

The work ACTS does in RD&D is transitioning ACTS to a think-do-tank, beyond the think-tank position that the organization has been focused on. These lessons can be enhanced to support the achievement of the Paris Agreement objectives.

Level of localization/decolonization of actions determines sustainability: The extent to which RD&D initiatives are localized and decolonized significantly impacts their sustainability. By incorporating local contexts, knowledge, and traditions into projects, organizations ACTS continues to ensure that interventions are relevant, accepted, and sustainable in the long term.

The global production network influences commercialization: The global production network plays a crucial role in the commercialization of innovations developed through RD&D activities. Understanding and strategically leveraging global networks can facilitate the successful commercialization of solutions, enabling them to reach larger markets and have a wider impact.

The business models anchor success: Strong and sustainable business models are essential for the success of RD&D initiatives. By developing robust and adaptable business models, ACTS continues to promote scalability and longevity of climate action projects, attracting investment, and fostering growth.

There is a need to diversify partnerships that are authentic for global discourses: Building diverse and authentic partnerships is essential for engaging in global discourses and initiatives. Building collaborations with a wide range of stakeholders, including governments, businesses, academia, and local communities, ACTS brings different perspectives and expertise to the table, enriching discussions and driving impactful outcomes.

Impact communication is strategic to build agency: Strategic communication of impacts is critical for building agency and influence. Ensuring effectively communicating the outcomes and successes of RD&D initiatives, organizations can raise awareness, inspire action, and build credibility, ultimately empowering stakeholders and driving change on a larger scale.

Conclusion

The journey towards a sustainable and resilient future requires collective action, innovative solutions, and robust partnerships. By strengthening national systems of innovation, fostering collaborations, and amplifying the impact of climate technologies, we can work towards achieving the ambitious goals of the Paris Agreement. Let us unite in our commitment to drive transformative change, empower communities, and pave the way for a greener and more sustainable world. Together, we can make a difference and leave a positive legacy for future generations. Join us on this journey towards a brighter and more sustainable future.

Capacity building lies at the center of the Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) Agenda of the Paris Agreement as a means of empowering countries, especially developing ones, for the active fight against climate change. Article 11 of the Paris Agreement highlights the need to enhance the capacities of all parties in the implementation of their climate commitments. This will involve technical, financial, and educative support in building skills and knowledge of countries to address climate change mitigation and adaptation¹. Capacity building ensures that countries can develop, implement, and establish robust climate policies, enhance their resilience to climate impacts, and meet reporting and transparency requirements of the agreement². Capacity building, through promoting cooperation and sharing of experience, thus bridges the gaps between developed and developing countries in offering responses to climate change in an effective and inclusive manner³.

Against the backdrop of COP 29 deliberations, the 6^th Capacity-building Hub held critical sessions on the subject of capacity-building tools and methodologies playing a key role in the realization of global climate objectives. The Capacity-building Hub, established at COP24 in Katowice, serves as a collaborative and representative space for diverse stakeholders involved in capacity-building activities. Held annually alongside COP, it unites the expertise and experiences of local and global experts, scholars, and activists. The Hub promotes knowledge creation and dissemination, fostering a spirit of collaboration within the capacity-building community. It is an ongoing, evolving platform for co-learning, exchange, and co-creation of knowledge⁴. The sessions emphasized targeted strategies, stakeholder engagement, and innovative frameworks necessary to address complex sustainability challenges.

“With about 5 billion people dependent on vulnerable systems” emphasized a panelist at a side event by the Capacity building hub, the force to take action becomes overwhelming. This blog presents an initiative by UNDP and FAO embedded in the Climate Action Review (CAR) tool, aimed at supporting countries in their climate action mitigation (e.g. NCDs) and adaptation (NAP) plans, with emphasis on the power of local engagement and private sector collaboration.

Figure 1: CAR tool framing

Climate Solutions Global Dependency on vulnerable systems

Billions of people depend on systems that are increasingly vulnerable to climate change. It requires a multi-faceted set of responses.

 “We must limit global temperature increase to 1.5°C” emphasized a panelist at side event, CoP 29.

Achieving this is not only about global cooperation but also the empowerment at the very local levels to be part of active solutions to the climate challenges guided by the national goals.

Addressing challenges by systemic frameworks

In 2020, UNDP and FAO launched the groundbreaking programme, Scaling up Climate Ambition on Land Use and Agriculture through Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans (SCALA), supporting 12 countries in crafting and implementing their national climate action plans. It has been about comprehensive support so that these nations make a quantum leap toward their climate goals. The programme is addressing the urgent need for practical tools to bridge the gap between policy intentions and on-the-ground actions, allowing stakeholders to take effective adaptation measures to address climate change challenges in agriculture and land-use. An example came from forestry assessments in Mongolia, via the analysis of land-use policies through the CAR tool. The programme also extends to other countries through a private sector facility, which provides up to $50,000 to involve the private sector in climate action. Not only does this provide an expanded circle of impact, but it also brings on board local businesses to take part in creating ripples in changing the circumstances for better outcomes.

“We created this programme that is dedicated effort to support countries to have a team approach on national contributions and national competition plans.”​ UNDP’s Panelist at the capacity building hub side event

Prioritizing Actions for Maximum Impact

“One of the most significant challenges facing any government is knowing where to begin” Panelist at the capacity building hub side event.

The CAR tool addresses this challenge by providing a systematic mechanism for unpacking different activities and defining priorities. This ensures that efforts are concentrated on the most effective actions that will drive meaningful progress in the fight against climate change.

Engaging Stakeholders for Comprehensive Solutions

There is a need for a diversity of stakeholders in effective climate action. The programme reinforces the need to actively involve participants at multiple levels, from government agencies to private sector representatives. This will promote business spaces and investment plans for climate action at ground level ensuring robust, contextual and sustainable solutions owned by the countries. “…discussing with the domestic private sector, and how to teach and how to create business spaces and investment goals and plans to create actions on the ground.” Panelist at the side event

Looking Ahead: A Future of Continued Support

By 2028, the now-extended programme will have reinforced this commitment to meet the needs for climate action at the country level. Continuing support will go a long way to ensure that countries build on their progress, implement innovative solutions, and attain their set targets on climate action. We’re still on our journey into a sustainable future, and together we can make a lot of difference.

Call to Action

Climate change is a challenge that requires both local engagement and international cooperation. As we, with specific programmes, innovative initiatives, and collaboration, enable governments to take significant steps toward sustainability, the United Nations has taken a step forward to identify such initiative tools and support mechanisms that will inspire positive change. At organization level the African Centre for Technology Studies has been at the forefront of initiating capacity strengthening tools and strategies for learning incorporating technologies including AI as highlighted in this blog – Empowering Climate Innovation: ACTS’ Insights from COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Join us on this journey! Policymaker or business leader, concerned citizen, your voice is important. Take part in climate change initiatives, innovate, share it with your networks, and then act on it in your community. Together, let’s create a world where climate resilience is real for everyone.

CoP29 in Baku brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds, all united by a shared hunger for change. The dialogues and themes that emerged during the conference shed light on the urgent need for collective action towards a greener, just and more sustainable world. From discussions on climate change to calls for biodiversity conservation, the hunger for change was palpable, igniting a sense of urgency among participants. This is a self-reflection based on participation at CoP29.

Embracing a Call to Action

The hunger for action was a prevailing sentiment throughout the conference, emphasizing the crucial need for immediate and meaningful steps towards environmental preservation. The urgency to address pressing issues such as carbon emissions, deforestation, and plastic pollution was a common thread that resonated with attendees. It is evident that the time for passive observation has passed; now is the time for active engagement and commitment to sustainable practices.

Celebrating Diversity and Collaboration

Another significant aspect that emerged from the conference was the hunger for diversity and collaboration. Participants recognized the importance of inclusivity in decision-making processes and the value of diverse perspectives in finding holistic solutions to complex environmental challenges. The exchange of ideas and the spirit of cooperation highlighted the transformative power of working together towards a common goal. The appreciation of indigenous knowledge has solidified the role of traditional knowledge in facilitating a just transition.

Exploring Emerging Themes and Innovations

The hunger for innovation and exploration of emerging themes was evident in the discussions surrounding alternative energy sources, sustainable agricultural practices, and circular economies. The conference served as a platform for showcasing groundbreaking technologies and initiatives that have the potential to drive positive changes in the fight against climate change and environmental degradation.

“The only way to create a safe landing while tackling climate change is through innovations therefore, we have no choice but to make innovations work” Speaker from a panel session by the Global innovation hub, CoP 29

Upholding Democratic Values and Advocating for Change

The hunger for democratic values and the advocacy for transparency and accountability permeated the conversations at the conference. Participants emphasized the importance of upholding democratic principles in environmental governance and decision-making processes. The call for active citizen participation and advocacy for policies that prioritize sustainability underscored the commitment to effecting real and lasting change.

A Collective Journey Towards a Sustainable Future

The 29th Conference of the Parties (CoP 29) underscored the urgency and collective responsibility required to address climate change. Key lessons from the conference highlighted the importance of global cooperation, innovative technology, and inclusive policies. Nations emphasized the need for equitable solutions that consider the vulnerabilities of developing countries. The conference also showcased successful case studies of renewable energy adoption and sustainable practices, inspiring a shared vision for a greener future. By fostering dialogue and collaboration, CoP 29 reinforced that a sustainable future is achievable through collective action and commitment to environmental stewardship.

As we reflect on the discussions and themes that emerged from CoP29, the hunger for change is a powerful force that can drive us towards a greener and more sustainable future. The call to action is clear – it is time to harness our collective hunger for change and work together towards a shared vision of a healthier, more environmentally conscious world.

The climate crisis is profoundly reshaping our world, impacting economies, ecosystems, and our daily lives through floods, droughts, extreme heat, and rising sea levels. In Africa, the situation is particularly dire. The continent is warming faster than the global average, with temperatures expected to rise by 0.5 to 2°C in the coming decades (Schneider, S. H.; et al., 2007). This increase has led to severe droughts, unpredictable rainfall patterns, and devastating floods, affecting millions of lives. For instance, Kenya has experienced significant climate hazards, including prolonged droughts and intense floods.

While adaptation is crucial, it extends beyond mere infrastructure and technology. True climate resilience requires empowering individuals, fostering knowledge, and enhancing collaboration. To build a resilient future, it is necessary to invest in capacity strengthening (CS) across all sectors and engage key groups—policymakers, the private sector, and communities.

Consider the story of Edwin Koga from Kisumu, Kenya. Edwin has witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of climate change on his community. Unpredictable rainfall has led to crop failures, and floods have destroyed homes and livelihoods. Edwin’s experience underscores the urgent need for collective action and investment in climate resilience.

Collaborative Actions for Effective Capacity Strengthening.

Meaningful capacity strengthening requires active collaboration, resource-sharing, and joint problem-solving among key stakeholders. We can enhance climate resilience and create inclusive, sustainable adaptation strategies by fostering partnerships across sectors. This coordinated effort, involving governments, the private sector, communities, and civil society, ensures that policies, knowledge, and resources work together to drive impactful solutions.

Building an Enabling Environment for Climate Adaptation: The Role of Policymakers

Policymakers must go beyond creating frameworks and actively collaborate with businesses, research institutions, and communities for effective climate adaptation. Key actions include strengthening education, governance, financing, research, and partnerships to drive real progress on the ground.

Investing in climate education ensures widespread adaptation. Policymakers should integrate climate studies into curricula, launch awareness campaigns through media, and establish community training hubs to equip farmers, businesses, and local leaders with climate-smart skills.

Strengthening governance and institutions is another critical area where policymakers must take action. Climate-responsive policies should be integrated into all levels of governance to ensure climate risks are considered in national and county planning. The National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) provides a framework for Kenya, but further steps are needed to ensure implementation at the county level. Training government officials on climate risk assessment and management will enable more informed decision-making.

To drive data-driven climate adaptation, policymakers must invest in research and innovation. Supporting institutions like Kenya’s KALRO can enhance climate-smart solutions while strengthening early warning systems and making climate data accessible to improve disaster preparedness. Initiatives like CLARE show how collaboration can lead to practical, impactful solutions.

Fostering international and local collaboration is key to building climate resilience. Policymakers should strengthen regional agreements and local partnerships, like Kenya’s involvement in the African Risk Capacity, to ensure coordinated, well-funded, and responsive adaptation efforts.

The Private Sector’s Role in Driving Climate-Smart Innovation

Climate risks pose direct challenges to business operations, supply chains, and long-term profitability. To remain competitive and sustainable, companies must integrate climate resilience into their strategies. However, businesses cannot tackle these challenges alone—collaboration with local communities, researchers, and policymakers is crucial for scaling impactful solutions. Below are key actions the private sector can take to strengthen climate adaptation.

A fundamental step is adopting climate-smart operations by transitioning to renewable energy, optimizing water use, and cutting carbon emissions. Reducing carbon footprints through energy-efficient practices, as seen in Unilever’s net-zero strategy, further enhances sustainability while maintaining profitability.

Businesses should also develop climate-resilient products and services that support adaptation efforts. In agriculture, Seed Co has introduced drought-tolerant seeds. Companies can invest in sustainable packaging solutions, following Safaricom’s eco-friendly initiative to reduce plastic waste. Building workforce capacity is essential for integrating climate adaptation into business models.

Strengthening sustainable supply chains is another priority. Agribusinesses can also enhance resilience by implementing regenerative farming practices, as demonstrated by KTDA’s sustainability programs.

Finally, businesses should invest in local climate initiatives and collaborate with communities to drive grassroots adaptation. Engaging with global programs like CLARE also fosters knowledge-sharing and innovative partnerships.

The Role of Communities & Civil Society in Climate Adaptation

Communities play a key role in climate adaptation by using Indigenous knowledge, improving disaster preparedness, adopting climate-smart livelihoods, and embracing technology. While support from civil society and government is important, community-led actions are essential for sustainable, locally relevant adaptation.

Communities adapt to climate change by applying Indigenous and local knowledge. In Kitui and Makueni, farmers use sand dams to store rainwater, while the Ogiek in Mau Forest practices sustainable beekeeping and conservation. Strengthening these traditions through knowledge-sharing, youth training, and policy support enhances resilience. Another critical step the community can take is developing early warning systems to protect lives and livelihoods from climate-related disasters. In Budalangi, Busia County, flood-prone communities have established community-led flood early warning systems, using river gauges and SMS alerts to warn residents of rising water levels.

Ensuring food security and economic stability requires the adoption of climate-smart agriculture and sustainable livelihoods. Along Kenya’s coast, women in Kwale County have embraced seaweed farming as an alternative livelihood, reducing pressure on overfished marine resources while generating new income. In Kilifi and Lamu counties, fishers are adopting Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), where different marine species are farmed together, minimizing waste and increasing productivity. The Blue Economy project by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) is further supporting these efforts by training coastal communities in sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, and value addition in marine resources, ensuring that economic activities align with environmental conservation. Expanding access to climate-resilient crops, sustainable aquaculture techniques, and financial support for climate-smart businesses can help communities build long-term resilience.

Communities also play a key role in advocating for climate justice and inclusion, ensuring that local voices especially those of women, youth, and Indigenous groups are considered in decision-making processes. To strengthen these efforts, communities can organize local advocacy groups, engage with county governments, and participate in national climate discussions to push for policies that address their unique adaptation needs.

What Needs to Happen for Successful Capacity Strengthening?

For lasting impact, capacity strengthening must be adaptable, inclusive, and continuous. This means using diverse learning methods, leveraging technology, and tailoring content to specific audiences. A successful approach focuses on what needs to be done, how to do it, and who benefits.

• Expanded Capacity Development Approaches: Capacity strengthening should emphasize real-world problem-solving, simulation-based learning, and cross-sector partnerships for practical application. Programs must foster innovation, critical thinking, and long-term skill-building through mentorship and continuous development. Integrating climate adaptation into education and vocational training will create a skilled workforce ready to tackle climate challenges.
• Diversified Learning Modalities: Beyond traditional methods, microlearning, gamification, and community-led workshops enhance knowledge retention. Blended approaches—online courses, mobile apps, and peer learning—make climate training more accessible and practical.
• Refined Targeted Learning Audiences: Capacity strengthening must prioritize marginalized groups, women, and Indigenous communities while supporting professionals transitioning into climate roles. Tailored strategies ensure policymakers get policy insights, farmers receive hands-on training, youth engage in leadership programs, and businesses integrate climate resilience into strategy. When tailored training, modern learning methods, and inclusive approaches align, capacity strengthening becomes a powerful driver of climate resilience. These coordinated efforts are not just theoretical the Capacity Strengthening Hub, one of the CLARE projects initiatives funded by IDRC and FCDO is already demonstrating how capacity strengthening can work in practice.

Practical Applications: How the CS Hub is Driving Change

The CS Hub plays a pivotal role in facilitating climate adaptation through the strategic capacity development of projects within the Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CLARE) Program. Notable funders such as the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) have been instrumental in supporting various capacity-strengthening initiatives. The CLARE Capacity Strengthening Hub, led by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) in collaboration with PlanAdapt, aims to support the CLARE initiative’s efforts in promoting sustainable, climate-resilient development. The Hub supports CLARE research projects by implementing capacity-strengthening activities, identifying opportunities and gaps to guide the selection of projects focused on capacity strengthening, and tracking and sharing CLARE’s progress in this area.

Scaling up these initiatives requires widespread engagement, making a strong call to action essential.

For more detailed information, kindly refer to the links mentioned below

1. Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) – https://www.kalro.org
2. Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CLARE) Program – https://clareprogramme.org/
3. National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) – Kenya – http://www.environment.go.ke
4. African Risk Capacity (ARC) – https://www.africanriskcapacity.org
5. African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) – https://www.acts-net.org

COP29 marked a decisive moment in the global climate negotiations, especially in the use of blended financial instruments to support climate action. These financial instruments are tools designed to blend public and private funding for catalyzing investment in climate initiatives, and they have emerged as a cornerstone necessary to meet ambitious targets set under the Paris Agreement.

Figure 1: Blended finance by World Economic Forum

CoP 29 provided a platform for nations to discuss new climate finance goals, aiming to ensure fair and equitable progress towards their targets. Developed countries have repeatedly fallen short of their financial commitments, causing delays in both mitigation and adaptation efforts. In this context, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell emphasized at the closing of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, on November 24, 2024:

“This new finance goal serves as humanity’s insurance policy against worsening climate impacts affecting every nation. However, like any insurance policy, it is only effective if the premiums are paid in full and on time. Commitments must be honored to safeguard billions of lives.”

This blog highlights key takeaways of COP29 on  blended finance and its implications for the scaling of climate action from various Climate finance conversations at CoP 29, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Partnerships  models need to be redesigned to support the new era for blended financing

One of the key takeaways at COP29 was the partnerships that must be formed between governments, development banks, private investors, and NGOs. Collaboration across multi-stakeholders is highly necessary. For example, partnerships like the GCF’s engagement with private banks proved how one can unlock billions in investment for renewable energy and resilient infrastructure as soon as priorities are aligned

“Blended financial instruments are a link between the public sector-possibly grants, concessional loans-and private capital to share risk and incentivize private-sector participation” Highlighted a participant at CoP 29.

Innovative financial instruments play a pivotal role in mitigating financial risks of climate adaptation investments.

One of the most pressing barriers to private-sector investment in climate change initiatives is the perceived financial risks of quantifying investment in adaptation. COP29 highlighted how innovative financial instruments de-risk investments, making them attractive to institutional investors.

“Customizing risk mitigation strategies to local contexts is critical as projects in developing countries benefit from mechanisms like partial credit guarantees from microfinance institutions, reducing perceived operational risks” emphasized panelist at British pavilion, CoP 29.

Leveraging underutilized climate finance resources to strengthen the impact of climate finance

Local capital markets were recognized as a critical yet underutilized resource for climate finance. COP29 showcased innovative examples of green bonds issued in emerging economies, supported by blended finance to lower costs and increase uptake. Strengthening local financial ecosystems can amplify the impact of blended finance. Capacity development for local institutions and financial systems is a necessary complement to funding.

Addressing Equity and Inclusivity in access of climate finance for equitable distribution of resources

While blended finance indeed holds immense potential, COP29 also provided a reminder that resources need to be equitably distributed. Most developing countries, especially in Africa and small island states, face systemic challenges in accessing blended finance due to weak institutional capacity and poor credit capacity.  Grant-to-loan conversion schemes and technical assistance funds are being explored as means of overcoming this shortfall.

“Targeted support is given to the most marginalised regions and communities becomes important for equity in access to climate finance’’ representative of Green Climate Facility, CoP 29.

Transparency and Accountability as per the Paris Agreement towards achieving the global climate goals

Accountability lies at the very heart of the Paris Agreement, and as blended financial structures continue to grow in their complexity, COP29 called for enhanced transparency and accountability to engender trust among the various stakeholders. This includes transparent reporting of financial flows, outcomes, and impacts. Standardized and contextual frameworks for monitoring and reporting are needed.

Scaling Beyond the Energy Sector for adaptation financing

While renewable energy has been the focus for blended finance, COP29 urged diversification to sectors like agriculture, water management, and biodiversity sectors whose vulnerability will grow and for which innovative financing solutions are increasingly needed. Integrated approaches can include combined projects for climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation.

“The scope of blended finance can be expanded to further unlock new opportunities for impact” Panelist at Climate finance side event, CoP 29.

The Road Ahead

COP29 strengthened the role of blended financial instruments in tackling the climate crisis. For this potential to be realised fully, innovation, equity, and local empowerment will have to come to the fore by all concerned. The messages from COP29 are legible:

“There are residual challenges, yet the momentum is unstoppable” Panelist, CoP 29 side event

Bended finance can catalyze the trillions needed to transition to a sustainable, low-carbon future. As the world prepares for COP30, the emphasis needs to continue toward scaling up successes, filling gaps, and encouraging partnerships across sectors. Blended finance is not a tool alone but a lifeline for the planet.

Participants’ group photo at the UK-Kenya AI Challenge Mini-workshop held on 19^th of March 2025, at the Alan Turing Institute Office, London, United Kingdom.

Kenya and the United Kingdom are forging a dynamic and revolutionary partnership to advance artificial intelligence (AI) innovation. This collaboration, known as the UK-Kenya AI Challenge, is a strategic initiative that aims to build AI capabilities that are safe, ethical, and accessible to all. It seeks to create an inclusive digital future, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like Kenya.

The UK-Kenya AI Challenge was born from a two-day AI tech ecosystem visit by a Kenyan delegation to the UK. The delegation committed to a collective vision to build robust AI ecosystems that align with national policies and foster long-term cooperation.

On the 19^th of March 2025, key stakeholders gathered at the Alan Turing Institute offices in London, United Kingdom, to reflect on the progress made, consolidate learnings, and plan for sustainable collaboration beyond the current funding cycle. The hybrid mini-workshop featured project teams from both countries, who shared their successes and discussed future opportunities for scaling up their innovations.

Overcoming challenges through continuous knowledge exchange

The partnership between the UK and Kenya has grown stronger since its inception, driving AI projects that span healthcare, data management, and public service optimisation. Even so, stakeholders acknowledged there were initial difficulties in bringing diverse teams from Kenya and the UK together to work on complex AI projects.

However, through open communication, continuous dialogue, and knowledge sharing, the teams have formed strong bonds and established synergies that have propelled the projects forward, despite the relatively short implementation period. This collaborative spirit extends beyond academia to include public and private sector stakeholders, creating a holistic and multi-faceted approach to AI innovation.

Challenges remain, particularly in aligning AI-driven diagnostic tools with government protocols and achieving official recognition. To navigate these issues, participants proposed the need to develop open-source models while adhering strictly to established standards. This approach not only enhances the reliability of the solutions but also ensures their readiness for integration into public systems.

Participants agreed that developing solutions that are both sustainable and scalable is vital. This requires piloting innovative tools, monitoring their effectiveness, and planning for their long-term deployment. Therefore, continuous knowledge sharing between Kenyan and UK researchers is an essential aspect of the UK-Kenya AI Challenge.

Prof. Tom Migun Ogada, ACTS Executive Director, emphasised the importance of sustaining the partnerships established through this initiative beyond the project, stating,

“Although the implementation time has been short, it is crucial not only to derive benefits from this engagement but, more importantly, to ensure the continuity of these partnerships for the future.”

Partnership toward inclusivity and diversity in AI innovation

A critical aspect of the UK-Kenya AI Challenge is promoting inclusivity and diversity, particularly for women and marginalised groups. Thus, there is a need to create supportive environments where both female and male academics can share their career struggles and successes, which is vital to fostering inclusivity.

Notably, ACTS, through the ACTS AI Institute, has made deliberate efforts to include women in the development and implementation of AI for development through scholarship programmes targeted at women undertaking their post-doctoral studies, master’s, and early careers in AI. Through that, ACTS has established a network of about 80 AI scholars and researchers in 22 universities, across 18 countries where 40% of the scholars are women.

What does the future hold?

Looking ahead, the UK-Kenya AI Challenge sees a future where AI-powered solutions are widely adopted across sectors to enhance efficiency in addressing development issues. The initiative serves as a model of how international partnerships can leverage technology to drive meaningful change. Therefore, as the collaboration moves forward, the focus will be on scaling successful projects while ensuring that solutions are both sustainable and impactful.

To ensure the long-term success of AI innovations, participants emphasised aligning AI innovations with national policies and health protocols. Gaining government approval and public trust is crucial for sustainably integrating AI solutions into public services, especially in sectors like healthcare.

Speaking at the event, representatives from the British High Commission emphasised the importance of fostering responsible and scalable AI solutions.

“We would like to strengthen the whole ecosystem of AI through the partnerships that we are developing. In the next coming weeks, we will focus on looking at each and every solution to ensure that these use cases are sustainable and scalable.  I believe that if we focus on those two key points, then what we’ll be ensuring is that we are creating impact out of this initiative,” noted Wilfred Oluoch, speaking on behalf of the British High Commission.

Similarly, Samuel Wanjau, ACTS Research Fellow, encouraged a continued focus on sustainable, scalable, and impactful solutions. He acknowledged that while much progress had been made, there remained opportunities to do even more to ensure the long-term success of AI applications.

“We don’t get to the end by simply innovating. We need to ensure that what we develop can be maintained and expanded to benefit more people,” Samuel noted.

Eliza Riley Smith, AI International Policy Advisor at the AI Policy Directorate Department for Science, Innovation and Technology underscored the significance of aligning the collaboration’s goals with the UK government’s AI priorities. She expressed her excitement at seeing the ambition and innovation demonstrated by the project teams. She highlighted that the partnership reflects the spirit of international cooperation and shared progress.

Further, participants recognise that the journey from innovation to implementation requires continuous effort, community engagement, and government support. Therefore, future priorities will include building capacity among stakeholders, and ensuring that AI solutions are accessible to all, including marginalised groups and people with disabilities. Lastly, participants agreed on continuous dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge transfer to shape a more innovative and resilient future.

The UK – Kenya AI Challenge Fund is a programme that is implemented by ACTS, in collaboration with the Alan Turing Institute, KICTANet and with funding from the British High Commission and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Written by Pauline Soy, ACTS Communications and Outreach Officer

Related resources:

• UK and Kenyan AI innovators commit to enhance collaboration for responsible AI advancement
• ACTS Sets to Convene a Mid-Term Review Workshop for the UK-Kenya AI Challenge Fund Projects
• Kenya-UK partnership on emerging technologies
• UK-Kenya AI Challenge Fund

EVI-SICEE BRIEFS SERIES – BRIEF 1: March 2025

The clean energy sector in Kenya and the broader sub-Saharan region faces significant gender financing disparities that threaten its growth and sustainability. Despite progress in renewable energy, women-led enterprises struggle to secure funding, with only 5% of private equity investments worldwide directed toward women-owned businesses. In Kenya, just 7% of women entrepreneurs have access to formal training, further widening the financial inclusion and business development gap.

A recent learning workshop that brought together stakeholders working on the Evidence for Informing Scaling and Impact in Youth and Women-Led Clean Energy Enterprises (EVI-SICEE) in Africa explored options for scaling transformative solutions in this sector. The EVI-SICEE project, led by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada has been committed to addressing systemic barriers that limit women and youth’s access to entrepreneurial opportunities in clean energy innovation, including financial disparities (Box 1).

Box 1: About EVI-SICEE Project

Systemic factors informing Gender Disparity in Clean Energy Entrepreneurship: insights from Clean Energy Ecosystem stakeholders

Presentations from the project’s field data and participants’ discussions elicited the following:

• A major barrier to achieving gender equity in clean energy financing is the lack of comprehensive data on the sector related to women employment and entrepreneurship. Without robust employment statistics and investment case studies, advocating for equitable funding remains a challenge.
• While countries like Kenya have made significant strides in renewable energy, with 94% of its electricity coming from clean energy sources, the role of women in this success remains underreported. For instance, evidence from the EVI-SICEE project shows that women predominantly engage in the pico solar systems subsector, where sales and distribution roles provide sustainable employment.
• National policies such as Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 and 9 emphasise the importance of sustainable energy solutions and infrastructure. Additionally, frameworks like Kenya’s Energy Act 2019, the Bioenergy Strategy 2020-2027, and the Climate Change Act 2016 among other policy instruments provide regulatory support for clean energy development. However, implementation challenges such as inadequate financing and institutional barriers hinder the effectiveness of these policies in promoting women-led entrepreneurship.
• Women often establish micro-businesses with minimal capital due to limited access to formal financial mechanisms such as bank loans and venture capital. This is largely attributed to their restrictive collateral requirements. Additionally, women are generally more cautious about debt financing, which further limits their ability to secure financial support. Therefore, they rely heavily on personal savings, family contributions, and informal lending mechanisms.
• Most clean energy enterprises in Kenya remain small, with 80% employing fewer than five people. Further, while the sector is heavily concentrated in business ownership, sales, and distribution, there is limited participation in manufacturing and technological innovation. Strengthening financial access and capacity-building initiatives will be crucial in enabling these businesses to scale sustainably and create a more inclusive ecosystem.

Recommendations

The participants of this interactive learning workshop made the following recommendations for policy and practice.

• To address the systemic barrier relating to gender responsive access to finance for women entrepreneurship, innovative financing models must be tailored to women-led enterprises. A crucial step in addressing financing gaps is developing financial products that cater specifically to women-led enterprises. These include low-interest credit facilities, loan guarantees, and impact investment funds designed to encourage female participation in the clean energy space. Encouraging financial institutions to adopt gender-sensitive lending policies can also help bridge the disparity in credit access.
• Capacity-building initiatives should focus on equipping women with the necessary financial literacy, business management skills, and technical expertise to thrive in the sector. Flexible training programs tailored to those with domestic responsibilities would ensure that more women can participate in and benefit from the clean energy economy.
• Public-private partnerships can also help leverage public funds to attract private sector investment in women-led clean energy businesses. Blended finance models, such as combining grants, concessional loans, and private equity, can help reduce investment risks and encourage greater participation from financial institutions and investors
• There is need for policy frameworks that actively promote gender-inclusive financing strategies. Governments and regulatory bodies should integrate gender-responsive budgeting into national energy policies and establish financial incentives for institutions that prioritise lending to women-led enterprises.
• Financial reporting requirements should include gender-disaggregated data to ensure transparency and accountability in resource allocation.

Authors: Pauline Soy, Yvonne Gitu and Mourine Cheruiyot

For more information contact: EVI-SICEE@acts-net.org

Kenyan and UK innovators have emphasised the need for strengthened collaboration in developing and scaling responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovations to address current development challenges.

This appeal was made during the mid-term review workshop for the UK-Kenya AI Challenge Fund organised by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), The Allan Turing Institute and KICTANet on February 18, 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya.

The UK-Kenya AI Challenge Fund, launched in September 2024, is a groundbreaking initiative designed to advance AI capabilities while ensuring safety, ethics, and inclusive development.

The mid-term review workshop was a platform for AI innovators to assess progress, facilitate knowledge exchange, and explore opportunities for deeper collaboration.

While giving his opening remarks, Prof. Tom Ogada, ACTS Executive Director, highlighted the importance of ensuring that the projects can be scaled sustainably.

“This project is crucial for us as it aligns with our vision for the ACTS AI Institute. Thus, we are not only focused on bringing in more partners but also committed to ensuring that this work can be scaled to the next level,” he said.

This partnership between British and Kenyan institutions seeks to drive AI innovation through applied research, policy development, and the establishment of ethical frameworks. Currently, the fund supports multiple projects under two cohorts, each tackling key challenges in AI development and deployment.

“This partnership brings together governments, academia, and the private sector to develop AI solutions to address key development issues. This provides an opportunity to create scalable, sustainable, and ethical AI applications,” said Hon. John Kiarie, MP, Dagoreti South Constituency and the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Communication, Information, and Innovation.

“The UK government is privileged to support the development of ethical and responsible AI solutions in Kenya. We are keen to explore strategies to scale and sustain these solutions,” noted Wilfred Oluoch, speaking on behalf of the British High Commission.

The workshop allowed project teams to reflect on their achievements, address emerging challenges, and refine strategies to maximise impact.

The UK-Kenya AI Challenge Fund supports eight projects spanning various critical domains, including healthcare, data governance, policy development, and accessibility. These projects represent strong collaborative efforts between UK and Kenyan institutions that foster knowledge transfer and capacity building.

Related Resources

• ACTS Sets to Convene a Mid-Term Review Workshop for the UK-Kenya AI Challenge Fund Projects
• Kenya-UK partnership on emerging technologies
• UK-Kenya AI Challenge Fund

APA Fellow 2024

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Introduction

On 29 November 2024, the African Centre for Technology Studies, in collaboration with the ACTS Pathways Academy, hosted a webinar titled “Integrating Green Finance into Africa’s Economic Growth Agenda.” The speakers included Dr. Lydia Kabue, a climate change specialist; Mr. Bright Wekesa, an agricultural policy analyst; and Mr. Sévérin EKPE, a hydro hydrology and water policy specialist. The focus was on how Africa can strategically harness green finance mechanisms, such as carbon credits and green bonds, to accelerate its transition to a low-carbon economy while supporting economic growth.

A carbon credit is a tradeable permit that allows an organization (buyer) to compensate another entity (seller) for capturing or removing one metric tonne of CO2 or equivalent of other GHG they cannot prevent into the atmosphere courtesy of their activities. It incentivizes emission reductions through cap-and-trade systems, where businesses emitting less than their allowance sell the surplus while those exceeding limits buy credits. This market-based approach promotes cost-effective emission cuts and supports projects like UNFCCC’s Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation(REDD+). Additionally, carbon credits are traded in two main markets: voluntary markets, where companies offset emissions as part of their Environmental, Social, and Governance(ESG) commitments, and compliance markets, which are governed by government mandates or international agreements.

Green bonds, on the other hand, offer another important mechanism for raising funds specifically for climate-related or environmentally beneficial projects such as clean energy projects or climate-resilient infrastructure. These debt securities have grown rapidly globally, with issuance exceeding USD 500 billion in 2021 (Climate Bonds Initiative, 2022). However, challenges such as transparency issues and the risk of “greenwashing” persist.

Key Insights

Africa Green Finance Context

The move to carbon finance is gaining traction across the continent. Countries are looking for cost-effective ways to pay to promote efforts to combat and adapt to climate change. However, there is a financing gap in bringing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to fruition. A few initiatives, like the African Carbon Market Initiative (ACMI), are working to build capacity across the continent through knowledge sharing, project development, and encouraging regional cooperation. South Africa is paving the way with Africa’s only compliance market that utilizes a hybrid carbon tax and offsetting mechanism expected to deliver meaningful emission reductions by 2025 (IMF African department, 2023). Kenya is Africa’s second country to adopt a fully regulated carbon trading system. It is noted that Ghana has now also enacted legislation to create a Carbon Markets Office. It seeks to finance a significant portion of its Nationally Determined Contribution implementation through carbon credit revenue, making it the third African country with a compliant carbon market.

Additionally, regional initiatives like the West African Alliance on Carbon Markets and Climate Finance and the East African Alliance on Carbon Markets and Climate Finance are building readiness for mechanisms under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Nonetheless, obstacles exist, including insufficient knowledge of how the carbon market works, a lack of capacity, limited financial resources, and an unequal distribution of carbon finance that benefits richer countries. Overcoming these barriers is essential to unleashing the potential for carbon finance to support sustainable development throughout Africa.

Kenya Green Finance Context

Kenya is making significant strides in the carbon market with the recent introduction of the Climate Change Act 2023 and the Carbon Credit Trading and Benefit Sharing Bill 2023. These landmark pieces of legislation establish a clear and structured framework for carbon credit trading, ensuring that emission reductions are accurately recorded and transparently tracked. A key component of this framework is the creation of a National Carbon Registry, which guarantees compliance with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement by preventing double counting and ensuring the integrity of carbon credits.

These regulatory advancements mark Kenya’s transition from a voluntary to a compliant carbon market. This shift offers significant public and private sector participation opportunities, fostering investor confidence and unlocking new avenues for sustainable development finance.

Examples of Carbon Credit Projects in Kenya

The first example is BURN Manufacturing, which has developed efficient cookstoves that reduce fuel consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and mitigate indoor air pollution. The project generates carbon credits through its thermal efficiency and has been independently verified through a randomized control trial. As a fully integrated carbon developer, BURN manages all aspects, from product design to carbon credit issuance.

The second example is the JIBU Safe Water Initiative, which, in partnership with Homepride, provides affordable, clean water to low-income households across Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, and Rwanda. By offering an alternative to carbon-intensive water purification methods like boiling with firewood, JIBU’s initiative reduces emissions while expanding access to safe drinking water.

Green Bonds Development in Kenya

Kenya’s green bond market remains in its formative stages, with only one listing, ACORN, as a key example. In comparison, South Africa holds the largest green bond market on the continent, with a dedicated segment for green bonds. Despite the potential of green bonds as a financial tool for sustainable development, interest in this market across Africa remains generally low, and sovereign listings crucial for signaling market confidence are scarce. However, the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) has established guidelines for green bond listings, and international organizations such as the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) and FSD Africa are actively supporting technical capacity building, signaling a growing recognition of green bonds’ potential for future market expansion.

Challenges within Kenya’s Carbon Market

While Kenya’s carbon market has made notable progress, several challenges must be addressed. One of the main hurdles is the high cost of compliance, particularly in meeting international listing standards and securing third-party verifiers like Verra or Gold Standard. Since there are currently no local verifiers, project developers are forced to work with international firms, which drives up costs. Another challenge is the limited local expertise in designing, implementing, and monitoring carbon credit projects, which hinders the effectiveness of these initiatives. Overcoming these challenges and improving market infrastructure will be crucial for ensuring the long-term success of Kenya’s carbon market.

Conclusion

The recent $300 billion climate finance pledge by wealthy nations and the $1.2 trillion commitment from Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) by 2030 at COP 29 present significant opportunities for Africa’s green finance markets. Success will depend on strategically developing local verification capacity, implementing clear policy frameworks, and fostering regional cooperation. While challenges remain in carbon and green bond markets, Africa’s expanding regulatory frameworks and market initiatives signal promising progress toward a low-carbon economy. A sustained commitment to capacity building and market development will be key to fully leveraging these emerging opportunities.

References

1. Africa Carbon Market InitiativeAfrica (2024). Africa Carbon Markets: Status and Outlook  Report 2024-25
2. African Union (2024). Climate Finance in Africa: An overview of climate finance flows, challenges and opportunities
3. Agarwal, R. K. (Ed.). (2018). Carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration. BoD–Books on Demand.
4. Climate Bonds Initiative (2022). $500bn Green Issuance 2021: social and sustainable acceleration: Annual green $1tn in sight: Market expansion forecasts for 2022 and 2025
5. Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) (2023). Global Landscape of Climate Finance 2023.
6. IMF African department (2023), South Africa Carbon Pricing And Climate Mitigation Policy
7. Magale, E. G. (2021). Developing a green bond market in Kenya: Perspectives from practitioners and lessons from developing markets. Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment, 1-18.
8. UNFCCC (2024). COP29 UN Climate Conference Agrees to Triple Finance to Developing Countries, Protecting Lives and Livelihoods.

The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) of the African Union (AU) has been the blueprint driving agricultural transformation across the continent and is reviewed every 10 years. CAADP sets a bold action agenda with targets to improve food security and nutrition; increase agricultural productivity; reduce post-harvest losses; increase incomes in farming-based economies; increase public investment; improve rural infrastructure; and stimulate investment in agriculture research, innovation and scaling of adoption.

African Heads of State met recently (January 9^th – 11^th) in Kampala, Uganda, to consider the next 10-year period and endorsed the Strategy and Action Plan: 2026-2035, now referred to as the Kampala CAADP Declaration. The latter is themed “Advancing Africa’s Inclusive Agrifood Systems Transformation for Sustainable Economic Growth and Shared Prosperity” and puts a spotlight on the imperative for building future proof, resilient agrifood systems in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA).

The Hot Reality 

A recent seminal report published by the Centre for Sustainable Cooling (2024) – The Hot Reality: Living in a +50°C World – highlights how rising seasonal temperatures and an increased frequency in the occurrence of prolonged extreme heat events, as well as droughts and changes in precipitation patterns, affect agricultural productivity. The impact of this reality is already visible, with many SSA nations facing food insecurity. According to the FAO State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023 report, the prevalence of severe food insecurity in the SSA population in 2022 was 26% compared to 20% in 2014, thereby pointing to a reverse in previous gains. Additionally, climate change risks including erratic weather, drought, and floods, are significantly impacting the agriculture-based livelihoods of rural populations, particularly in the Global South. To address such a stark reality, there is an urgent need to implement suitable adaptation strategies that build more resilient and sustainable food systems and related supply chains.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report notes that the rate of warming in African countries has been approximately 0.2°C to 0.5°C per decade, which is faster than the global average of approximately 0.18°C¹ observed over recent decades. Such warming trends have informed the drive toward rolling out climate smart agriculture initiatives in the region. These are characterized by a basket of solutions, such as breeding for drought tolerance, including short maturing crops that are better adapted to associated stresses, increased temperature, and emergent pests and diseases. The goal is to address the food production challenges in the region that are exacerbated by climate change risks.

Food saved is as important as food produced 

Paradoxically, while addressing productivity yields SSA experiences high levels of food loss and waste – typically up to 50%² of food produce in various value chains is lost between the point of production and the consumer, and in some contexts the magnitude is higher. This is further exacerbating the prevalence of food insecurity and malnutrition while simultaneously contributing to climate change risks due to emissions from the loss, and emphasizes the fact that food saved is as important as food produced. However, despite the latter, adaptation efforts have been biased towards the production node of agrifood systems with much less attention given to postharvest management, including loss and waste reduction. Indeed, the AU developed a Postharvest Loss Management Strategy (AU-PHLMS) under CAADP, as the policy framework aimed at reducing the continent’s postharvest food losses by 50 percent by 2025³, yet reducing yield gaps and increasing food production remain the primary focus of participating governments. Given that interventions to eliminate food loss and waste have not been prioritized, it is difficult to track progress toward such targets. 

Reducing food loss and waste by applying solutions that will enhance the efficiency of food supply chains and contribute to resilient food systems is recognized as an important strategy to help end hunger and address malnutrition across Africa. Options that can reduce post-production losses, such as cooling and cold-chain systems, are being promoted, but their adoption remains a challenge. The lack of effective cold-chain is notably a key gap and exacerbates this challenge by contributing an estimated loss of 12 per cent of the total food produced globally⁴. Limited access to sustainable cold-chain technologies, especially by smallholder farmers who make up the majority of SSA producers, is particularly glaring.

A systems level approach 

The ‘Hot Reality’ report points to several limiting factors that have contributed to the access gaps in smallholder dominated food systems. These relate to capital costs, the relatively high energy (electricity) demand of most of the equipment available in the marketplace, and the use of high global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants, some of which are in the process of being phased out. This makes access to cooling and cold-chain technologies expensive to manage and in some cases contributes to the sustainability challenges. Hence there is a need for innovating low cost and low carbon technology options that are a better fit with the specifics of Africa’s context in enhancing adaptation and mitigation goals.

While there is increasing investment directed at closing the cold-chain access gap for smallholder based food systems, research shows that most of these efforts have resulted in ‘white elephants’. The latter being largely due to a fragment approach in deploying the solutions which focuses mainly on the technology – particularly cold storage – without considering other elements of the chain, connectivity, or the specific needs and usage context. The African Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Cooling and Cold Chain (ACES), which is a component of the Clean Cooling Network, adopts a systems approach to catalyse access to sustainable cold-chain solutions. By taking this approach, ACES aims to develop and fine-tuning scalable and inclusive models for increasing access to resilient, efficient and climate-friendly cooling and cold-chain technology to address food loss and waste, as well as enhance smallholders’ livelihoods. The approach integrates best fit sustainable cold-chain solutions with requisite skills development to make the technology function optimally. Importantly, it also addresses the gender equitable and socially inclusive business models necessary to demonstrate the investment case for such critical, high-cost infrastructure. 

Investing in technology and business models to make sustainable cold-chains work for smallholders farming communities, and thereby help build more resilient food systems in Africa, calls for better coordination in policy development and implementation that cuts across sectors including agriculture, energy, environment, trade, education among others. There is a pressing need to refocus policy attention and improve guidance on how best to inject the requisite investment at the different nodes in the food system, particularly in relation to climate change and the adaptation of food storage, processing, transportation, distribution, and marketing.

Initiatives such as ACES aim to develop the evidence base that can provide policy guidance on how to direct public and private investment for targeting current and emerging food system issues in a warming world. The upcoming All Africa Post Harvest Congress and Exhibition hosted by the African Union Commission, to be held in September 2025, provides a good platform to advance the continental agenda for enabling access of sustainable cold-chains, especially for the millions of smallholder farmers who are the backbone of resilient food systems.

• FAO, UNEP. 2022. Sustainable Food Cold Chains: Opportunities, Challenges and the Way forward 
• https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGII_Chapter09.pdf 
• FAO. 2019. The State of Food and Agriculture 2019. Moving forward on food loss and waste reduction. Rome.  
• African Union Commission .2018. Post harvest loss management strategy 

Background

The Evidence for Informing Scaling And Impact In Youth And Women- Led Clean Energy Enterprises in Africa (EVI-SICEE) project, implemented over the past one and a half year, aims to address systemic opportunities and barriers faced by women and youth in accessing entrepreneurial opportunities within the clean energy innovation ecosystem (CIE). Women and youth form a significant part of the informal, small, and medium enterprises (SMEs) driving economic development in Africa. However, they remain disproportionately vulnerable to external shocks like climate change and global economic crises.

Structural and socio-cultural challenges further limit their access to finance, markets, and training, hindering their ability to grow businesses compared to adult men. This issue is compounded by Africa’s rapidly growing youth population, which requires sustainable employment opportunities. Through joined-up action research with actors in the CIE ecosystem, the EVI-SICEE project seeks to provide evidence-based strategies for scaling promising youth- and women-led clean energy enterprises for transformative impact.

Introduction

A learning workshop was held over two days, 6th and 7th February 2025, at the ICIPE campus, Duduville, Kasarani in Nairobi. It brought together the EVI-SICEE project team from the four African countries, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi and South Africa, along with Kenya’s clean energy ecosystem stakeholders, advisory board members, researchers, entrepreneurs, and policy actors.

The workshop aimed to create an interactive space to reflect on the first year of project implementation, share and validate key research findings from Kenya, and co-create knowledge to optimize and scale youth- and women-led clean energy enterprises. The engagement sought to deepen understanding of systemic factors influencing access to entrepreneurial opportunities in clean energy innovation.

This blog explores insights from a Kenyan stakeholders’ panel discussion moderated by Dr. Mbaya featuring the following esteemed panelists:

• Daniel Obonyo – General Secretary of the Improved Stoves Association of Kenya (ISAK), representing 3,700 members across 37 counties. ISAC focuses on capacity-building for producers, marketers, and fabricators in the clean cooking value chain, with a strong emphasis on women and youth (60% of its membership).
• Abigail Wairua – Research Assistant and Mechanical Engineer at Dedan Kimathi University’s Bekut Center for Energy Studies. Her team works on research, development, design, testing, piloting, and training in energy technologies.
• Vincent Ogaya – Representative from the Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC), specializing in business incubation and acceleration for climate innovations. KCIC supports startups with business advisory services, financing, and mentorship.
• Matthew Matenga – Representative from Yehu Microfinance, which operates in Kenya’s coastal region. Yehu provides innovative funding models like group lending to empower women and youth in clean energy adoption.

Ongoing Panel discussions: From Left, Matthew Matenga, Vincent Ogaya, Abigail Wairua, Daniel Obonyo and Dr. Caroline Mbaya

Key Takeaways from the Panel Discussion

The session provided a platform for sharing experiences and strategies around:

• Integration of Research, Policy, and Business for Clean Energy Growth
• Ensuring Quality Standards and Innovation in Clean Cooking Technologies
• Financial and Business Support for Women and Youth Entrepreneurs
• Capacity-Building, Mentorship, and Scaling Innovations
• Addressing Gender-Specific Challenges in the Clean Energy Sector

Contributions of Stakeholders

Each panelist highlighted their unique contributions:

• ISAK promotes quality standards for clean cookstoves through partnerships with organizations like the Clean Cookstove Association of Kenya (CCK). They also focus on capacity-building programs to bridge the energy property gap.
• Dedan Kimathi University supports innovators by mechanizing production processes for clean energy technologies like cookstoves. For example, they developed tools such as pulverizers and mixers to improve efficiency in fabricating clay liners.
• KCIC facilitates the commercialization of climate innovations by providing business advisory services, financing (grants or loans), and mentorship programs tailored to women and youth.
• Yehu Microfinance empowers women and youth through group lending models for solar products and improved stoves. They also provide training to ensure clients understand the benefits of clean energy technologies.

Collaboration Benefits

Participation in forums like this workshop fosters collaboration by:

1. Networking Opportunities: Helping stakeholders connect with academia, government, and civil society for strategic partnerships.
2. Policy Updates: Keeping stakeholders informed about current policies to align interventions with national priorities.
3. Knowledge Sharing: Using research insights to inform targeted interventions addressing skills gaps or financing needs.

For instance, ISAK benefits from partnerships with CCAK to ensure that their members produce stoves meeting market standards. Similarly, KCIC uses research findings to refine its support for enterprises.

Challenges Faced by Women and Youth

Panelists identified several barriers:

• Access to Capital: Women and youth often lack collateral to secure loans.
• Skills Gaps: Limited technical expertise hinders scaling innovations.
• Gender Biases: Traditional perceptions discourage participation in male-dominated sectors like engineering or climate technology.

To address these challenges, organizations like KCIC provide mentorship programs that match women entrepreneurs with female mentors who have succeeded in similar fields.

Innovative Funding Models

Yehu Microfinance’s group lending model was highlighted:

• Women form self-help groups (chamas) to co-guarantee loans from savings.
• Loans are used for solar products or improved stoves with minimal interest rates.
• Training empowers clients with knowledge of clean energy technologies before adoption.

Standards Maintenance

ISAK maintains quality standards by:

• Collaborating with CCAK for efficiency testing protocols training.
• Working with research institutions for certification to meet market requirements.

Mentorship for Scaling

KCIC integrates mentorship by:

• Matching entrepreneurs with experts based on development stage.
• Focusing on scalability and innovation potential.
• Providing structured practical experience under seasoned professionals.

Carbon Financing

Though emerging and faced with hesitancy due to new regulations, carbon financing holds potential to provide additional resources for scaling clean energy solutions.

Successful Collaborations

An example shared was the project between Dedan Kimathi University and Fairtrade Africa involving training entrepreneurs in mechanizing cookstove production and developing tools for efficiency.

Proposed Strategies for Greater Impact

To address these challenges and enhance opportunities for women and youth in Kenya’s clean energy sector, the following strategies are proposed:

1. Foster Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration among research, private sector, government, and communities.
2. Promote Inclusive Financing Models tailored for women- and youth-led enterprises.
3. Enhance Capacity-Building Programs with mentoring and connecting entrepreneurs with investors.
4. Adopt Gender-Inclusive Policies to overcome structural barriers and promote participation.

In conclusion, the discussion highlighted the critical role of collaboration among stakeholders in advancing clean energy solutions. By addressing challenges like access to capital, skills gaps, and quality standards, these organizations are paving the way for a more sustainable future while empowering women and youth in the process. By implementing these strategies on a larger scale, Kenya can accelerate its transition to sustainable clean energy while empowering its most vulnerable populations women and youth.

Invitation for Feedback 

What are your thoughts on these strategies? How can we collectively enhance opportunities for women and youth in Kenya’s clean energy sector? Share your ideas or connect with us to explore collaborative opportunities!

By Kevin Ouko, Nicholas Odongo and Esther Mugera

Overview

On August 8, 2024, the Research and Innovation Management (RIM)[1] Project hosted a webinar themed “Bridging Innovation and Market: Effective Technology Transfer and Commercialization”. The webinar was led by Prof. Tom Ogada, Executive Director of the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and Principal Investigator for the RIM project as the main speaker.

The RIM Project’s main goal is to enhance the ability of  Science Granting Councils (SGCs) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to support research that contributes to economic and social development. This includes refining research frameworks, managing high-quality research competitions, and issuing contracts to ensure smooth project execution. It also involves joint monitoring of projects, integrating gender equality and inclusivity, supporting the synthesis and dissemination of research outputs, and organizing symposia for knowledge exchange.

The webinar aimed to increase participants’ awareness and understanding of technology transfer and commercialization processes, identify best practices and strategies for successful commercialization, enhance collaboration among academia, industry, and government, and establish a network of professionals engaged in advancing technology transfer and commercialization efforts. These aims support the broader goal of strengthening Africa’s innovation ecosystem to drive economic growth and sustainable development.

Highlights from the Webinar

(a). Impact of Technology Transfer and Commercialization

Science Technology and Innovation (STI) is intended to develop solutions impacting a wide range of users- government sectors, private sectors, NGOs, and other possible users- each with its specific objectives. From the lab to the actual users, the technology and solutions from innovations target diverse stakeholders with different orientations- some lack legal skills, some operate in activities with strenuous processes, and the bureaucracy among stakeholders such as the private institutions. In the past, technology transfer and commercialization has involved academia and the private sector but has broadened to increase other users, attracting new pathways for tech transfer and commercialization.

Technology transfer and commercialization impact at different levels; at individual, organizations, and government levels. The requirements at each of these levels vary, necessitating the capacity of bridging the various needs of stakeholders with diverse orientations and different work structures. For governments, investments in research targets social development such as elimination of hunger, access to health, reducing post-harvest losses, and industrialization. Assessment of research investment can be demonstrated by the real output and developments from the research outcome deployment.

At the institutional level, technology transfer and commercialization become relevant as a tool for attaining national development through knowledge generation. Part of this knowledge generation leads to publications that influence policy; however, it is through the application of the knowledge generated and innovations that social goals intended by research are addressed. Through technology transfer and commercialization processes, institutions enhance their image and relevance. For universities, engaging in outreach, and extension services as a third mission ensures knowledge and innovation generated is adopted. The transfer and commercialization processes also provide an avenue for universities to generate income by making knowledge generated available. Many universities in Africa are undertaking commercialization and technology transfer as a way to mobilize more funding.

Many universities in Africa are in the process of establishing institutional intellectual property (IP) policies, outlining ownership and benefit-sharing from products generating revenue streams. IP is an enabler in the commercialization and technology transfer process granting protection and the rights to exploit and make money out of an innovation. Moreover, for an institution such as a university, IP rights is a means of recognizing the effort for the innovation. Several options exist for exploiting the IP rights such as self-exploiting the knowledge or innovation, allowing others to use the knowledge, and preventing others from using the knowledge without permission.

Various categories of IPs highlighted included copyrights such as publications, music, and artwork; industrial property including patents, utility models, and industrial design, and trademarks; and plant breeder’s rights to new plant varieties. Another IP category that has gained much emphasis recently is traditional knowledge relating to cultural and geographical indications.

Technology commercialization bridges the gap between the innovators and final technology users. Ideally, it is the final movement of the initial technology movement from the researchers and innovators.  Several options apply when commercializing a technology namely; i) Self-Exploitation that involves starting a spin-off company to manage and market the technology. This option is ideal if there is confidence in achieving higher returns and the required skills and resources are available. For universities, this route can also be used to create start-ups from student innovations; ii) Selling a technology in which technology ownership is transferred to another party. This option is suitable when an innovator lacks time or resources to invest. Evaluating the best terms for selling technology may require the involvement of a technology broker; iii) Joint Ventures through which researchers or innovators collaborate with fellow partners to pool resources and skills. This option reduces individual liability and requires clear guidelines for responsibilities and exit clauses; and iv) Licensing that allows others the use of a technology under defined terms while retaining innovator or researcher retains ownership. Licensing is appropriate when there is a lack of resources to commercialize the technology. Contracts should specify the purpose, territory, duration, and financial terms, and may include provisions for capacity-building and addressing improvements. Licensing agreements can be exclusive or non-exclusive. Exclusive licensing prevents competition but may limit revenue sources, while non-exclusive licensing allows multiple partners, providing a fallback if one partner underperforms.

Case Study: African Knowledge Transfer Partnership

The African Knowledge Transfer Partnership, led by the British Council, successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of technology transfer. Operating in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa, the project facilitated collaboration between universities and industries. One notable outcome was the licensing of Biofix, an organic fertilizer. The licensing agreement included a one-off payment and royalties based on sales, demonstrating the success of clear agreement terms and collaborative efforts.

Question & Answer Session

Following the informative webinar session, some of the participants sought clarification on pertinent issues on technology transfer and commercialization. The talk elicited reaction on the current stakeholders in technology transfer, level of IP awareness, technology commercialization, and the interaction between innovators and final users.

(i). Specialization in Technology Commercialization

Several organizations and individuals specialize in supporting innovators and universities. Universities are increasingly developing programs to encourage commercialization and support SMEs. However, awareness and understanding of intellectual property (IP) remain suboptimal among stakeholders. IP, while often seen as theoretical, is a practical tool essential for demonstrating ownership and facilitating commercialization.

(ii). Practical IP Management

To make IP more practical, it is essential to actively manage and demonstrate ownership. IP should be integrated into commercialization strategies and not treated as a theoretical concept. Evaluating technology transfer officers involves assessing their effectiveness and awareness. Many institutions have established offices to support this, though some still lack functional technology transfer offices.

(iii). Addressing Reluctance to Commercialize

Reluctance among innovators and SMEs to commercialize their innovations can often be attributed to trust issues and concerns about IP theft. Engaging neutral brokers can help build trust and facilitate the commercialization process. Universities may also hesitate to engage with industries due to public sector constraints and legal complexities.

(iv). Formalizing Relationships and Protecting Innovations

The relationship between innovators and researchers within universities often remains informal. More formal engagements are needed to enhance collaboration. Additionally, protecting innovations in the informal sector through IP is crucial, though awareness remains a significant barrier.

Conclusion

The webinar provided a critical analysis of the mechanisms and challenges associated with technology transfer and commercialization. Key takeaways include the need for effective research frameworks, robust intellectual property management, and strategic partnerships between academia, industry, and government. The discussion highlighted significant barriers, including inadequate IP awareness and reluctance to commercialize innovations due to concerns over intellectual property theft and trust issues.

Policy Implications:

1. Strengthening IP Policies: Policymakers should enhance intellectual property frameworks to provide clearer guidance and support for innovation management, ensuring protection and incentivizing commercialization.
2. Fostering Collaboration: There is a need for policies that promote stronger collaborations between universities, industries, and government bodies to facilitate the effective transfer of technology.
3. Building Capacity: Investments in capacity-building for technology transfer offices and commercialization programs are crucial to bridge the knowledge gap and enhance the practical application of IP.
4. Addressing Barriers to Commercialization: Developing policies that mitigate trust issues and legal complexities can encourage innovators and SMEs to engage more actively in technology commercialization.

[1] A collaborative project led by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), the Association of African Universities (AAU), and Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD)

Issue 2

May 2024

By Ann Kingiri and Yvonne Gitu

By Dorcas Kalele and Joel Onyango

Real-world impact can be realized through action-oriented research approaches as well as through knowledge generated to impact societal technical action. Creation of knowledge for sustainability and achieving real-world impact can be mediated using different methods and tools, especially based on decision theory, to support decision-making processes.

Evidence based decision making, that shape policy and technological discourses can be classified as mono-criterial (when only one criterion or goal is considered to evaluate its performance) or multicriterial (which considers the interaction between two or more goals or criteria that can be in conflict or synergy). A Multi-criteria Mapping Approach (MCM) is an interactive, multicriterial appraisal method designed to map diverse perspectives in the anticipatory appraisal of complex policy issues, especially around emerging technologies. The MCM approach is a ‘non-linear’ process which allows for an iterative, interactive and cyclical process. It is ‘iterative’ because participants can freely move in any direction between each step, ‘interactive’ because it is governed by the participant’s own interaction with the process and ‘cyclical’ because the process can be freely repeated.

The Blue Empowerment (BE) project aims at proposing socio-technical, policy and governance configurations that can support in optimizing gender-transformative practices that are resilient to shocks (such as Covid-19), enhance inclusive empowerment, and ensure sustainability. This can be achieved by drawing relationships between stakeholders’ interests and their processes. The MCM methodology was used to systemically appraise and explore socio-technical, policy and governance options that would be best suited in promoting effective implementation and uptake of Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) in Kwale and Kilifi Counties in Kenya. A core criterion[1] was developed to determine what it means for a technology, policy and governance option to be technically and socially smart. The identified criteria included: sustainability, resilience and women economic empowerment and the parameters under each criterion were as presented in figure 2. The analysis used MCM web application tool  to facilitate a structured interaction with stakeholders for the systematic appraisal of policy, technology and governance options. This followed a step-by-step process as shown in figure 1 below.

Figure 1: MCM Assessment Process

Figure 2: Defined Criteria for Technology, Policy & Governance Options

The MCM approach supported in guiding a systematic assessment of stakeholders’ opinions, interests, and positions of influence while integrating gender and social inclusion gaps in the process. A diverse group of actors in the seaweed-fish value chains ranging from researchers, policy makers, scholars as well as the community were involved in the assessment. The participants were first introduced to the MCM tool, the different options and criteria which were open for their judgement and determination of their fit for use in the assessment. After consensus, the participants were then allowed to appraise the different technologies, governance, and policy options (See figure 3), intended to stimulate inclusive innovations in the BE project. The participants provided their judgement based on their understanding and relevant information guided by the defined criteria. The overarching question in the assessment, by reference to a range of defined options and stakeholder perspectives, was, ‘which technology, policy and governance options are expected to perform more or less favorably, under which conditions ‘criteria’ and why’? The participants were encouraged to think how different options may perform considering complexities, uncertainties and ambiguities while allowing their views to move away from any notionally single best answer.

Figure 3: Defined Technology, Policy, and Governance Options

The MCM uses two forms of data visualization and analysis referred to ‘pairwise inclination’ and ‘merit order’. Under the pairwise inclination chart the participants assigned ‘optimistic’ and ‘pessimistic’ scores under each criterion for each option. The differences between the two (i.e. the length of the bar) from the final ranks charts produced by each MCM interviewee was then used to compare their appraisal of each possible pairing of the core options that they had appraised. The performance of all options is beset by uncertainty, albeit to differing degrees, and it can often be seen that better ‘performing options’ are outperformed under their pessimistic scores by poorer performing options under their optimistic scores. At every step of assessment, participants were asked to justify their scoring in relation to their own understanding and capture their qualitative reasons to depict their own understanding as well as assign simple numerical weights to criteria to produce a picture of overall option rankings.

The assessment enabled gathering of a rich array of quantitative and qualitative data. Importantly, MCM is a cognitively demanding approach, consequently only the fully completed MCM engagements (both quantitative and qualitative data) from the interviewees were included in analysis. At the analysis stage, all the quantitative and quantitative data contained in the individual MCM engagements was loaded into the analysis section of the MCM application and synchronization of the completed MCM engagements was done. Thereafter participants’ viewpoints were grouped into ‘perspectives’ referred to as ‘grouping of views’ segregated based on the stakeholders’ categorization i.e. community and other stakeholders (policy and governance). Subsequently, creating issues (grouping of criteria), as well as clusters (grouping of options based on commonality) was done. An overview of the visual graphs of scores and weights for the different technology. policy, and governance options based on the stakeholders’ perspectives were shared with the participants who were then allowed to interact with the pictorials to meaningfully reflect on them.

Key Findings

The following were key findings garnered from the appraisal of the options using the MCM approach:

1. The hybrid form of governance was most preferred option which suggests the need for creating and strengthening synergies among the state and non-state actors in various research and development initiatives
2. IMTA and seaweed farming were the most preferred technology options, which shows that the fishers’ community are ready to engage in new practices in the utilization of ocean resources
3. Engendering blue economy policies emerged as the most preferred policy option, although further discussions revealed that the community’s interests were inclined more to integration of new practices into policies.
4. The community’s engagement in seaweed farming had brought transformation in the community especially among various categories of women but still more effort was needed to break social-cultural barriers to allow women harness benefits from the utilization of ocean resources

Conclusions

The MCM approach proved to be a relevant tool for evaluating stakeholders’ perspectives of technology, policy and governance options for supporting implementation of IMTA. The participatory nature of the process created an opportunity for the different stakeholders to engage in decision-making, visualization of their inclination on the preferred options while expressing their uncertainties about effectiveness of the preferred options. In some instances, variations in responses were generated from the various categories of respondents which were proponents based on own knowledge and experiences. The rich array of data and information garnered from the MCM approach will inform further stakeholder engagements especially in defining and addressing gaps in technology, policies and governance mechanisms which is an essential component of project implementation.

References

Bellamy, R. et al. (2013) ‘“Opening up” geoengineering appraisal: Multi-Criteria Mapping of options for tackling climate change’, Global Environmental Change. Elsevier Ltd, 23(5), pp. 926–937. doi: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2013.07.011.

Coburn, J. and Stirling, A. (2016) Multicriteria Mapping Manual, Version 2.0, SWPS 2016-21. Brighton: SPRU – Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex.

Coburn, J., Stirling, A. and Bone, F. (2019) Multicriteria Mapping Manual – Version 3.0. Brighton, UK: SPRU – Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex. http://users.sussex.ac.uk/~prfh0/MCM_Manual.pdf

[1] “criteria” is defined as the numerous factors that participants should consider when comparing and choosing between or comparing, the pros and cons of different options.

Authors: Monroe Dikiny and Maureen Kabasa

Introduction

All regions worldwide are experiencing and will continue to experience the effects of climate change with varying magnitudes and consequences. The United Nations defines climate change as the long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns, and human activities are the main drivers of these changes (McMichael, 2003).

The Earth is currently experiencing warming at an unprecedented rate; according to a report by the World Weather Attributions Group (WWA), the deadly heatwave that hit Africa’s Sahel region in March and April could have been avoided through sustainable human activities (WWA, 2024).

Climate change exacerbates the multiple burdens of malnutrition due to its effects on food security, public health, water supply and quality, food safety, pest outbreaks, and maternal and child health care (Myers, 2017). Addressing the obstacles restricting access to a nutritious and varied diet requires viewing the food system comprehensively, including social protection, risk management, and agricultural extension systems.

To address this issue, international frameworks such as the Paris Agreement have set ambitious goals to limit global warming, peak greenhouse gas emissions, and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 (Robiou, 2017). The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) is committed to adapting, mitigating, and enhancing resilience to climate change through the Climate Resilient Economies (CRE) programme. Through its work, ACTS has emphasized the need for urgent climate action. The CRE programme recognizes that effective leadership can drive policy changes, promote sustainable practices, and allocate resources for climate-resilient agriculture and nutrition programmes. Strong leadership can also influence international cooperation, encourage innovation in food systems, and raise awareness about the interconnectedness of climate change and nutrition security. Leaders can positively impact climate change mitigation and nutrition outcomes by championing climate-smart strategies and advocating for sustainable solutions. This blog expounds on key insights from the ACTS Pathways Academy webinar series held on March 28, 2024. The forum gathered panelists and participants from across Africa to discuss leadership for climate change and nutrition. The webinar aimed to gather insights on how Africa can utilize its leadership structures to enhance adaptation, resilience, and mitigation of climate change and nutritional aspects.

Key Insights

Emphasizing inclusion in climate action

Climate change poses significant challenges; however, the most vulnerable are – and will continue to be – the most affected: those who depend on natural resources, as well as the youth, women, and children (Denton, 2002). Environmental degradation due to climate change exacerbates malnutrition and food insecurity among these populations, compromising their health, education, and overall well-being (Myers, 2017). Women are crucial in food production, distribution, and household nutrition. Empowering women to access resources enhances resilience to climate change and strengthens community resilience. Their voices should be recognized and amplified to shape policies and initiatives related to nutrition and climate action at local, national, and international levels (Meybeck, 2017). Africa’s youthful population presents an opportunity to actively involve the younger generation in advancing sustainable development. Their eagerness and commitment are crucial in driving progress.

Fostering partnerships towards sustainable development

To tackle pressing matters, we must encourage collaboration and forge partnerships that address and maintain environmental stability, social equity, and ethical leadership (Kuenkel, 2016). Organizations and individuals must work with other key economic stakeholders to ensure that Africa is working towards achieving key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) affecting the continent. Such activities should be channeled towards ensuring zero hunger (SDG1), good health and well-being (SDG3), gender equality (SDG5), clean water and sanitation (SDG6),  climate action (SDG13), peace as well as justice and strong institutions (SDG16). Collaborative partnerships with governments, NGOs, businesses, and communities enhance resource mobilization, knowledge sharing, and innovation thus fostering sustainable practices. Governments can take action to mitigate the effects of and support adaptation to climate change by actualizing  Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and creating National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) (Helgeson & Ellis, 2015).

Navigating climate change related challenges and opportunities

Agriculture is the first industry impacted by climate change (Nelson, 2009). Most impoverished households depend on agriculture, so the effects on the economy and society are most noticeable in these homes. Agricultural industries can help mitigate climate change by investing in sustainable farming practices, promoting biodiversity, and supporting smallholder farmers to enhance food security while mitigating climate change. This can include encouraging farmers to venture into beekeeping and growing fruit trees. According to a blog by  KIPPRA (2019), beekeeping and honey production offer numerous benefits. They contribute to biodiversity and boost crop yields by pollinating plants, trees, fruits, and crops. Beekeeping requires minimal capital, does not compete for resources, and promotes environmental conservation, benefiting climate change. Enhancing beekeeping can increase household incomes and provide additional cash for purchasing food.

Implementing successful leadership strategies

Engaging stakeholders at various levels is paramount in effective leadership for advancing climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable food production (Srivastav, 2019). By gathering diverse perspectives and strategically aligning efforts, inclusive practices cultivate collaboration and ensure a comprehensive understanding of needs and priorities. Continuous project-based assessment and learning ensure accountability and effectiveness in leadership efforts (Ewell, 2009). Monitoring impact and identifying areas for improvement are vital aspects of this process. Compelling storytelling is crucial in inspiring action, raising awareness, and mobilizing additional resources. Through these integrated approaches, leaders empower communities, promote inclusivity, and drive progress toward a more sustainable and resilient food production system, embodying the essence of impactful leadership in addressing complex challenges. According to an article on the World Economic Forum, African leaders must take ambitious action on climate adaptation and mitigation to prevent fatalities and loss of livelihoods, particularly among higher-risk communities (WEF, 2024).

Strengthening the know-how skills and expertise

One of the fundamental climate change discourses is anchored in the Paris Agreement. Implementation of the Agreement requires economic and social transformation based on the best available science (Gomez, 2018). The Paris Agreement has been a front-runner discourse in building the capacity and capabilities of different actors involved in climate action. The CRE programme contributes to this goals mainly through capacity-building  in developing countries. This  has been made possible through the ACTS Pathways Academy, which has developed bespoke training and created a short, demand-driven course on climate policy and leadership. This skill is necessary to ensure Africa has able leaders who can give directions toward a sustainable path. This short course focuses on climate policies and policy-making streams that can propel participnats to international climate negotiation platforms.

In conclusion, addressing the nexus of nutrition and climate change requires collective action and inclusive strategies. Empowering the youth, minority groups, and women while leveraging innovative solutions can build a more equitable and sustainable future. Our current issues demand a drastic overhaul of all aspects of our existence, including our leadership structures, modes of production, and consumption patterns. To build a new generation with the vision, values, and technology needed to address issues like poverty, food security, and climate change, we must develop a new strategy and roadmap, align with developing worldviews, and construct an appropriate institutional structure. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) show that increasing productivity while preserving the environment requires innovative technologies and comprehensive approaches.

Reference;

• Denton, F. (2002). Climate change vulnerability, impacts, and adaptation: Why does gender matter?. Gender & Development, 10(2), 10-20.
• Ewell, P. T. (2009). Assessment, accountability, and improvement. NILOA Occasional Paper, 1.
• Helgeson, J., & Ellis, J. (2015). The role of the 2015 agreement in enhancing adaptation to climate change.
• Howden, S. M., Soussana, J. F., Tubiello, F. N., Chhetri, N., Dunlop, M., & Meinke, H. (2007). Adapting agriculture to climate change. Proceedings of the national academy of sciences, 104(50), 19691-19696.
• Gomez-Echeverri, L. (2018). Climate and development: enhancing impact through stronger linkages in the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 376(2119), 20160444.
• https://sdgs.un.org/goals
• https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/18/deadly-sahel-heatwave-sparked-by-human-induced-climate-change-study
• Kehlenbeck, K., Asaah, E., & Jamnadass, R. (2013). Case study 3: Diversity of indigenous fruit trees and their contribution to nutrition and livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa: examples from Kenya and Cameroon. In Diversifying Food and Diets (pp. 257-269). Routledge.
• Kuenkel, P. (2016). The art of leading collectively: Co-creating a sustainable, socially just future. Chelsea Green Publishing.
• Leading Africa’s climate adaptation and mitigation plan | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)
• Meybeck, A., Laval, E., Lévesque, R., & Parent, G. (2017, September). Food security and nutrition in the age of climate change. In Proceedings of the International Symposium organized by the Government of Québec in collaboration with FAO. Québec City (p. 132).
• McMichael, A. J. (Ed.). (2003). Climate change and human health: risks and responses. World Health Organization.
• Myers, S. S., Smith, M. R., Guth, S., Golden, C. D., Vaitla, B., Mueller, N. D., … & Huybers, P. (2017). Climate change and global food systems: potential impacts on food security and undernutrition. Annual review of public health, 38, 259-277.
• Nelson, G. C., Rosegrant, M. W., Koo, J., Robertson, R., Sulser, T., Zhu, T., … & Lee, D. (2009). Climate change: Impact on agriculture and costs of adaptation (Vol. 21). Intl Food Policy Res Inst.
• Robiou du Pont, Y., Jeffery, M. L., Gütschow, J., Rogelj, J., Christoff, P., & Meinshausen, M. (2017). Equitable mitigation to achieve the Paris Agreement goals. Nature Climate Change, 7(1), 38-43.
• Srivastav, A. L., Dhyani, R., Ranjan, M., Madhav, S., & Sillanpää, M. (2021). Climate-resilient strategies for sustainable management of water resources and agriculture. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(31), 41576-41595.

Authors: Erica Atieno, Lindah Kakai, Joel Onyango

Background

Climate change, a pervasive global phenomenon, mainly driven by anthropogenic activities, manifests in far reaching consequences such as extreme weather events, rising sea levels, ecosystem disturbances, and threats to biodiversity.

[1] [2] As we confront this escalating environmental crisis, an imperative emerges – a call for transformative measures to tackle the root causes and alleviate its profound negative impacts. This compels us towards a pivotal shift. One of the key strategies to mitigate climate change is the shift to cleaner and sustainable energy systems, away from the conventional fossil fuels.

The global shift towards a sustainable energy system has gained momentum due to the decreasing costs of renewable energy and the shared commitment to achieving a net-zero future. This drive aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, emphasizing universal access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy. Concurrently, the Paris Agreement, with its objective of restricting the global average temperature increase to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and an even more ambitious target of 1.5 degrees Celsius, further propels the shift toward sustainable energy practices. However, moving towards cleaner and sustainable energies requires more than just technological shifts; it necessitates intricate social and technological adjustments and will significantly impact society[3]. Ensuring the transition is just socially, economically, and environmentally equitable to everyone while limiting risks and maximizing opportunities becomes paramount3, acknowledging the reality that the energy transition may disproportionately affect individuals across various geographies as well as diverse age groups and genders[4].

Just energy transition can be defined as transitioning to green sources of energy in a way that is as fair and inclusive as possible to everyone concerned, creating decent work opportunities and leaving no one behind[5]. It can also be viewed as a shift from coal, fossil fuels and unclean energy sources in a way that addresses the social consequences of the transition, including training and alternative job creation for affected workers and new economic opportunities for affected communities.  This is recognized by global climate change   policies and as well as labour law organizations.  For instance, the Paris Agreement lays emphasis on just transition by acknowledging the need to take into account the imperatives of transitional justice of the workforce and the creation of decent work, in accordance with nationally defined development priorities[6]. Similarly, the International Labour Organization (ILO), also provides guidelines for a just transition, emphasizing the need for managing the transition process to achieve decent work, social inclusion, and poverty eradication.

A just transition is crucial due to heightened challenges faced by certain sectors and communities during this transformative journey. This aligns with broader SDGs, including the principle of leaving no one behind.

What does a just transition look like?

• Fairness to workers and communities: As we move away from industries that depend on fossil fuels, there is need to think about the people and communities who will be affected. A just transition actively looks out for these communities, providing support and new opportunities like job training and alternative employment options.
• Participation of local communities: Recognizing the vital role of local communities, a just transition makes sure they are part of the decision-making process for energy projects. This way, their unique needs and concerns are considered.
• Leaving no one behind: making: Clean energy benefits should not be exclusive. A just transition means creating policies that make clean energy affordable and available to everyone, preventing negative impacts on vulnerable or marginalized groups.
• Including everyone in the change: At its core, a just transition is all about including everyone. It creates an energy shift that benefits everyone, addressing past inequalities and making sure the advantages of clean energy are shared fairly.

In a concerted effort to contribute to this global imperative, the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), in partnership with a consortium that includes the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ), How We Adapt (HWA), and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), are implementing a two-year research project funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The primary goal of the research project is to understand the necessary public policy interventions crucial for solidifying decent work and sustainable livelihoods, particularly for women and youth with a focus on the localization of clean energy value chains, inclusive of Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) capability development in Kenya. The research will explore three overarching questions aimed at informing effective policies in Kenya; and empowering stakeholders to actively participate in achieving localization, decent work, and sustainable livelihoods within the clean energy value chain. Country studies are concurrently being undertaken in South Africa and Ghana by partners within the consortium, with ACTS leading the Kenyan study.

Data for this study will mainly be collected through desk review, firm level surveys and key informant interviews; and the findings will be validated through a peer review workshop. Apart from the report, other key outputs will include research summaries, policy briefs and an advocacy toolkit for trade unions. There will also be local seminar series targeting trade unions/SMMEs and a cross-country conference.

Why now and why Kenya?

This study holds great relevance, influenced by global trends towards decarbonization, decentralization, and digitization in the energy sector[7]. Kenya, in particular, stands out as a pivotal case study for several compelling reasons. Notably, Kenya distinguishes itself as a leader in renewable energy development, with an impressive 84.65% of the energy integrated into the national grid sourced from renewable energy[8]. This remarkable achievement underscores the nation’s steadfast dedication to sustainable energy solutions, effectively reducing the carbon footprint and showcasing the feasibility of transitioning to cleaner energy sources.

Complementing this commitment, several policies have been designed to promote renewable energy adoption. Instruments such as Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) policies which incentivizes renewable energy producers alongside Value-Added Tax (VAT) exemption on solar products have played a role in creating an enabling environment, propelling the growth of the renewable energy sector and aligning with the nation’s broader sustainability objectives.

Institutional fortitude further emphasizes Kenya’s commitment, exemplified by the establishment of the Directorate of Renewable Energy under the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum. This dedicated directorate, alongside supporting institutions like the Rural Energy and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC) and the Geothermal Development Company (GDC), reflects a strategic institutional framework.

Such unwavering commitment has not gone unnoticed on the global stage as Kenya is ranked 46th position worldwide on the Energy Transition Index (ETI), with an impressive score of 57.8 points out of 100.[9] This recognition solidifies Kenya’s position as a global model for environmentally conscious practices, reaffirming its leadership in the ongoing global transition toward a more sustainable and resilient energy landscape.

However, amidst these commendable efforts, it remains crucial to delve into how the policies leverage the localization of clean energy value chains, including SMMEs capability development, to enhance decent work and sustainable livelihoods, specifically for women and youth.

Implications of the research

The research findings hold significant potential to shape policy and regulatory frameworks aimed at fostering a just energy transition in Kenya. Policymakers can utilize these insights to prioritize localization, decent work, and SMMEs capacity-building, while ensuring gender inclusivity and opportunities for the youth. Practical recommendations from the research can inform initiatives to enhance SMME capabilities in the energy sector through tailored training programs, access to financing, and technical support. Additionally, by emphasizing gender inclusivity, the research can drive efforts to mainstream gender considerations, promote women’s participation, and address barriers to their involvement in the energy sector. Further, the research highlights opportunities for youth engagement and entrepreneurship within the energy sector, while also providing insights to inform advocacy efforts by trade unions to protect labor rights and interests, and promote descent working conditions during the energy transition.

[1] Das, S. et al. (2020). Linking IPCC AR4 & AR5 frameworks for assessing vulnerability and risk to climate change in the Indian Bengal Delta. Prog. Disaster Sci. 7, 100110

[2] Kebede, A. S., Nicholls, R. J., Hanson, S. & Mokrech, M. (2012).Impacts of climate change and sea-level rise: A preliminary case study of Mombasa, Kenya. J. Coast. Res. 28, 8–19

[3] Wang, X., & Lo, K. (2021). Just transition: A conceptual review. Energy Research & Social Science, 82, 102291.

[4] UNDP. (2024, January). Just Energy Transition: Governance needs and implications – Testing the application of a conceptual framework. Discussion Paper for COP28. Retrieved from https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2024-01/discussion_paper_-_just_energy_transition_-_governance_needs_and_implications_-_final.pdf

[5]International Labour Organization. (2015). ILO Guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all. Retrieved from https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/green-jobs/publications/WCMS_432859/lang–en/index.htm

[6] Agreement, P. (2015, December). Paris agreement. In report of the conference of the parties to the United Nations framework convention on climate change (21st session, 2015: Paris).

[7] Webb, M., Scott, A., Gençsü, I., & Broekhoff, D. (2020). Urban energy and the climate emergency: Achieving decarbonisation via decentralisation and digitalization. Coalition for Urban Transitions, London and Washington, DC. Tomado de https://urbantransitions. global/publications.

[8] Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA). (2023). Energy and Petroleum Statistics Report for the financial year ended 30th June 2023.

[9] https://www.weforum.org/publications/fostering-effective-energy-transition-2023/global-dashboard/#report-nav

Monroe Dikiny, Mourine Cheruiyot, and Joel Onyango

The energy sector is a critical driver of economic growth in Kenya, with the country’s development goals heavily reliant on access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy. Compared with conventional cooking technologies and fuels, electric cooking (eCooking) is a relatively new choice for many households in Kenya.

The eCooking programme was met with disinterest when it was being promoted actively in Kenya since four years ago. It seemed implausible, and the primary obstacles to the technology’s adoption were supply-side problems, unstable electricity, and cost. Kenya now has 3.3GW of installed power, of which only 2.2GW is being used, while at the same time, Kenyans lack access to clean cooking technology despite the surplus in energy generation. Nonetheless, Kenya has made significant strides toward transitioning households to more clean cooking methods, with a particular focus on eCooking solutions.

The eCooking Community of Practice (CoP), is jointly facilitated by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), Gamos East Africa, Kenya Power, and the Clean Cooking Association of Kenya (CCAK), supported by the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme. The CoP operates through a WhatsApp group and hosts a series of virtual monthly dialogues. During the Monthly Dialogue held on February 27, 2024, insights were shared from a study titled Cooking Diaries 3.0, which examined households exclusively using eCooking appliances in Nairobi and its environs. This study was part of a broader research initiative led by EED Advisory under the MECS program, exploring the implications of eCooking adoption. The dialogue brought together industry players, policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders, to discuss the progress and opportunities for transitioning Kenyan households to eCooking. The topics discussed comprised discussions on available appliances, energy use implications, user experience, and potential off-grid electric cooking solutions. This blog explores key insights from the dialogue held on February 27, 2024.

Key Insights

Significant progress towards transitioning to 100% eCooking

The transition from traditional cooking methods, such as charcoal, to electricity-based cooking solutions has been significant. The study presented at the dialogue assessed energy use and adoption of eCooking appliances in Kenyan households, focusing on the usage of electric coil cookers, electric pressure cookers, and air fryers. Initially, 65.8% of meals were cooked using LPG, which decreased by 11.3 percentage points during the transition phase, indicating a progressive shift towards electricity-based cooking solutions. Electric pressure cookers emerged as the most popular choice among households, reflecting a growing demand for faster and more energy-efficient cooking solutions. Transitioning to electric cooking is essential for several reasons; it reduces reliance on cooking fuels such as charcoal, which are associated with deforestation, air pollution, and health hazards, and most importantly is that transitioning to electric cooking aligns with Kenya’s broader sustainable development goals, supporting efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The data presented not only imply progress in addressing environmental and health challenges but also present opportunities for innovation and investment in the electric cooking sector. Moving forward, continued support and investment in electric cooking solutions can further accelerate the transition towards a cleaner, more sustainable energy future for Kenya.

Challenges with Electric Cooking at the household level

Electric cooking has gained popularity due to its benefits, such as energy efficiency and safety. However, households may face challenges with the technology. One of the most common issues is the slow cooking time associated with electric stoves and ovens. This can be frustrating for people who are used to gas or other types of cooking that offer faster cooking times. Another major challenge is power outages, which can cause significant inconvenience and even food spoilage if the cooking process is interrupted. Therefore, it is essential to have a reliable electricity supply infrastructure to support the widespread adoption of electric cooking technologies and ensure that households can enjoy the benefits of this technology without any significant drawbacks. While electric cooking offers numerous advantages, addressing the challenges associated with the technology, is crucial for its adoption. Regular power outages and especially during cooking hours can impact the efficiency and convenience of electric cooking, potentially hindering its uptake among households. There is a need to explore on innovative solutions and enhance electricity supply reliability to minimize the impact of power outages. By addressing the power outage issues, stakeholders can confidently promote the adoption of eCooking technologies and support sustainable, energy-efficient cooking practices in households across Kenya

Socio-cultural Preferences affect the uptake efficiency

When selecting electric cooking appliances, households prioritize convenience and energy efficiency. This indicates a growing concern for environmental sustainability and cost-effectiveness. However, it is essential to note that individuals also hold diverse views on socially acceptable cooking methods, which may influence cultural norms and personal preferences. Therefore, it is crucial to adopt tailored approaches that cater to different communities’ varying needs and expectations. By offering appliances that prioritize convenience and energy efficiency, stakeholders can encourage greater adoption of electric cooking technologies, ultimately contributing to environmental sustainability and energy conservation efforts. Tailored approaches that take into account cultural norms and individual preferences through vigorous demonstrations and easy recipes can help promote the acceptance and adoption of electric cooking appliances across diverse communities. This may also involve providing education and outreach programs to raise awareness about the benefits of electric cooking and dispel misconceptions.

Safety concerns on eCooking solutions

Households encountered safety concerns with electric appliances, especially hot plates. Addressing these concerns through comprehensive user education, stringent product standards and monitoring mechanisms is imperative. By doing so, households can safely adopt electric cooking technologies. This approach will help create awareness about the safe use of electric appliances and promote a culture of safety at home. In this case, the safety of households using electric cooking appliances is vital. It’s important to note that the current cooking appliances have prioritized safety features and the current doubts are based on the outdated models of the appliances. Demonstrations and showcasing the proper usage of appliances should be good enough to demystify this information. By proactively addressing safety concerns, stakeholders can confidently advocate for ecooking. They can use updated data, impact stories, and various communication channels to showcase the safety features as well as recipes. This will help in effectively passing on this information.

There is innovation in the transitioning to eCooking

In conclusion, the study highlights significant progress in transitioning Kenyan households to electricity-based cooking, aligning with sustainable development goals. Despite initial challenges, households have embraced electric appliances, demonstrating adaptability and resilience. However, further efforts are crucial to optimize electric cooking technologies, address safety concerns, and enhance cooking speed. Here are some call-to-actions:

1. Conduct further research on appropriate electric cooking appliances to swiftly address issues around cooking speed and safety concerns with hot plates.
2. Investigate the potential for induction cookers as a viable replacement for electric coils, given their energy efficiency and safety features.
3. Develop tailored approaches to meet varying preferences and cultural norms, especially among rural households, to enhance the adoption of electric cooking technologies.

Transitioning to electric cooking solutions is a crucial step towards a sustainable energy future in Kenya. However, it requires concerted efforts from policymakers, industry players, and stakeholders to ensure that the benefits of electric cooking are realized by all households, regardless of their location or socio-economic status.

The eCooking CoP is leading initiatives in Clean Cooking

The Climate Resilient Economies (CRE) programme at the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), is embracing collaboration in sustainable energy systems with the promise of achieving greater milestones while minimizing duplication of efforts and maximizing synergies. Instead of functioning in isolation, the ACTS projects possess the opportunity to work together, fostering a collective spirit that propels them towards success. For instance, initiatives like the ‘Just Energy Transition’ and the ‘Evidence for informing optimization and scaling of youth and women led clean energy enterprises and business models in Kenya, Malawi, Uganda & South Africa’ projects stand to have a greater impact by increasing engagement and prioritizing activities geared towards knowledge generation. There is an exciting opportunity to strengthen partner capacities, enabling more effective collaboration and utilization of localized outputs. By embracing these collaborative values, we pave the way for transformative change and long-term development in climate resilience and clean energy innovation.

For additional information:

• https://mecs.org.uk/blog/scaling-up-e-cooking-in-kenya-lessons-from-the-pika-na-power-academy/
• eCooking CoP Monthly Dialogue summary report.pdf

The Sixth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6), convened in Nairobi, Kenya, emerged as a defining moment in the evolution of global environmental policy, marking significant strides towards addressing the planet’s most pressing ecological dilemmas.

This assembly, which brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including UN member states, environmental NGOs, and civil society actors, served as a testament to the world’s collective resolve to forge a sustainable future. Among the key outcomes of UNEA-6 was the unanimous acknowledgment of the urgent need for enhanced global cooperation and stronger governance frameworks to combat environmental degradation and climate change, underscoring the critical nature of international solidarity in the pursuit of sustainability. This blog highlights some of the key resolutions from the UNEA-6, their implications for the future of sustainability, and the learnings from the resolutions.

Key resolutions and their implications for sustainability

Promoting sustainable lifestyles-resolution UNEP/EA.6/L.11. This resolution embodies a comprehensive approach to steering global consumption and production patterns towards greater sustainability. Recognizing the critical impact of individual and collective choices on the environment, it also advocates for a multifaceted strategy to encourage sustainable lifestyles across the globe. It highlights the importance of education and awareness-raising initiatives to enlighten citizens about the environmental consequences of their daily choices, from diet and waste to transportation and energy use. Furthermore, it calls for developing and implementing supportive policies and frameworks that facilitate adopting sustainable practices, emphasizing the role of innovation and technology in providing sustainable solutions. The resolution highlights the necessity of engaging all sectors of society—including governments, businesses, civil society, and the broader international community—in a collaborative effort to reshape consumer behaviours and demand more sustainable options. By promoting circular economy principles, enhancing resource efficiency, and fostering ethical and environmentally friendly supply chains, UNEP/EA.6/L.11 aims to catalyse a significant shift towards lifestyles that are in harmony with the planet’s ecological limits, directly contributing to the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production.

Effective and inclusive solutions for strengthening water policies to achieve sustainable development in the context of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution-UNEP/EA.6/L.16. The resolution presents a forward-thinking approach to addressing the intertwined challenges of water management, climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. It emphasises the need for effective and inclusive solutions to strengthen water policies to ensure sustainable development across global communities. Recognising water as a critical resource that intersects with all aspects of sustainability, the resolution calls for an integrated management approach that encompasses the conservation and restoration of ecosystems, the implementation of green infrastructure, and the enhancement of water quality and availability. It advocates for the engagement of all stakeholders, including indigenous peoples, local communities, and the private sector, in policy-making processes to ensure that solutions are inclusive, equitable, and tailored to diverse needs and contexts. Additionally, the resolution emphasizes the importance of leveraging scientific research, traditional knowledge, and innovative technologies to develop adaptive strategies that can mitigate the impacts of climate change, protect biodiversity, and reduce pollution. UNEP/EA.6/L.16  drives a global movement towards water resilience, highlighting the vital role of water policies in achieving the SDGs, particularly those related to clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), climate action (SDG 13), life below water (SDG 14), and life on land (SDG 15).

Promoting regional cooperation on air pollution to improve air quality globally-UNPE/EA.6/L.13  This resolution signifies a pivotal step towards addressing one of humanity’s most pressing environmental health risks. Recognizing air pollution as a transboundary issue that necessitates cross-border solutions, the resolution calls for enhanced regional collaboration and sharing knowledge, technologies, and best practices to mitigate air pollution and its impacts on health, ecosystems, and climate. It encourages member states to strengthen existing frameworks and develop new partnerships to reduce emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases through innovative policy measures, sustainable technologies, and cleaner production processes. Furthermore, it stresses the importance of integrating air quality management into broader national and regional sustainable development strategies, thereby aligning efforts to combat air pollution with climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and pollution reduction goals. The resolution, reflects a growing recognition of the interconnected nature of global environmental challenges and the need for cooperative, multisectoral approaches to ensure a healthier planet and safeguard the well-being of current and future generations.

Strengthening international efforts to combat desertification and land degradation, restore degraded land, promote land conservation and sustainable land management, contribute to land degradation neutrality, and enhance drought resilience -resolution UNEP/EA.6/L.17. Acknowledging the intricate linkages between land degradation, desertification, and broader socio-economic and environmental objectives, the resolution underscores the urgent need for a global concerted effort to restore degraded lands, achieve land degradation neutrality, and strengthen drought resilience. It calls on member states and stakeholders to enhance cooperation and implement integrated land management practices that combat desertification and contribute to biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and the sustainable livelihoods of millions of people dependent on vulnerable ecosystems. The resolution promotes the sharing of knowledge, innovations, and best practices across borders and sectors, emphasizing the role of sustainable land management as a key driver for achieving the SDGs. UNEP/EA.6/L.17 paves the way for transformative actions that secure the health and productivity of land resources, supporting both ecological integrity and human well-being.

Promoting synergies, cooperation, or collaboration for national implementation of multilateral environmental agreements and other relevant environmental instruments-UNEP/EA.6/L.7. The resolution marks a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing global environmental governance through improved alignment and cooperation among the myriad of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and other relevant environmental instruments. This resolution recognizes the complex, interconnected nature of global environmental challenges and the necessity for a coherent, coordinated approach to ensure effective national implementation of commitments. By advocating for increased synergies, cooperation, and collaboration, the resolution seeks to streamline efforts, optimize resource utilization, and avoid duplication of work among international environmental treaties and programs. It highlights the importance of partnership among governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector in sharing knowledge, expertise, and best practices to support countries in fulfilling their environmental obligations, ultimately leading to more resilient and sustainable global ecosystems.

What do we learn from the resolutions?

1. Global cooperation is crucial: Addressing global environmental challenges requires collaboration and collective action among various stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, and civil society.
2. Sustainable lifestyles are key: Educating and raising awareness among citizens about the environmental consequences of their daily choices is critical in promoting sustainable practices and achieving responsible consumption and production.
3. Integrated approaches are necessary: Addressing interconnected challenges such as water management, climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution requires comprehensive and inclusive strategies.
4. Collaboration across borders is crucial: Addressing transboundary environmental issues requires collaboration and partnerships between countries to reduce emissions and promote cleaner production processes.
5. Policy coherence is essential: Policy coherence and alignment among various environmental instruments are crucial in effective national implementation and achievement of environmental commitments. Cooperation and collaboration among governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector are essential in navigating and addressing complex environmental challenges.

Conclusions

The resolutions adopted at UNEA-6 articulate a clear vision for a sustainable and resilient future, addressing critical issues from promoting sustainable lifestyles and combating air pollution to enhancing drought resilience and fostering collaboration for environmental treaty implementation. These collective decisions stress the urgency of integrated and inclusive action across all sectors and levels of society to confront the environmental crises facing our planet. As such, the overarching call to action from UNEA-6 is for all stakeholders—governments, businesses, civil society, and individuals—to commit to transformative collaboration and implementation of these resolutions. The call emphasises the importance of climate resilience through adaptive and mitigation strategies, highlights the need for environmental sustainability by promoting sustainable consumption, production, and land management practices, and highlights the role of adaptation to climate change by fostering policies that protect water resources and air quality. By focusing on these areas, the call emphasises a multi-faceted approach to sustainable development, environmental protection, and sustainable resource management, thereby exemplifying the essence of building climate-resilient economies.

Further reading on the resolutions

Outcomes of UNEA-6. (n.d.). Environment Assembly. https://www.unep.org/environmentassembly/unea6/outcomes

This blog was originally posted on Water Transformation Pathways Planning website.

Wetlands are valuable ecosystems to humanity. They provide clean water for domestic use, construction materials, and food. Wetlands also protect us from flooding events and help us to combat climate change. 

In Kenya, wetlands such as Yala, in Siaya and Busia Counties and Kingwal, in Nandi County, not only support the livelihoods and well-being of the communities neighbouring them but are also important bird and biodiversity areas. The wetlands provide clean water for domestic use, water for irrigation, fish for food and commercial use, artisanal papyrus products, and grass for construction. They also reduce pollution of Lake Victoria and mitigate flooding.

The wetlands also host a variety of biodiversity. Both wetlands are renowned breeding sites for the Sitatunga antelope (Tragelaphus spekii) that is both rare and endangered. Yala wetland is recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA), hosting at least 172 bird species, some of which are globally threatened or biome-restricted including the Papyrus Yellow Warbler , Papyrus Gonolek and White-winged warbler. Various satellite lakes including Kanyaboli, Sare, Namboyo, and Bob are also important refuges for endemic Lake Victoria cichlids.

The challenge

As human populations increase, the demand for resources from wetlands is increasingly becoming unsustainable because of direct and heavy dependency on the benefits people derive from them, which are called ecosystem services. Wetlands such as Yala and Kingwal are facing unprecedented encroachment for agriculture. In Yala wetland, the encroachment is not only unsustainable but also inequitable. By 2014, 21% of the wetland had been converted to small and large-scale agricultural farming production.

Small-scale agriculture is practised by the local community for subsistence purposes, while large-scale agriculture is practised by a private developer, Lake Agro Kenya Limited, for commercial sugarcane production. From 1,951 ha in 2014, the private investor has been leased an additional land of 3,000 ha in the wetland (on the Siaya County side) by the National Lands Commission for 66 years. The local community, however, has not been allocated additional land for farming, even though Yala wetland is thought to be a community owned land.

The County Government of Siaya has also reported that the leasing of the land to the agriculture company is unconstitutional because it was signed between the ministry responsible for lands at the national government and the private developer instead of between the Siaya county government and the National Lands Commission.

What has been done?

Several efforts have been developed over recent times to deal with the challenges to combat unsustainable use of the wetland and the inequities in terms of access and the distribution of benefits. These have been led by communities, government and development partners. However, the inequities still persist.

 1. Community-driven initiatives

In Yala wetland, the local community has been working closely with the NGO, Nature Kenya on equitable allocation of Yala wetland for farming. During public hearings conducted by the National Lands Commision in 2022, the community together with civic and governmental organizations such as Kenya Wildlife Service and National Environment Management Authority objected to the proposed land allocation to the private investor.

Also, Yala Ecosystem Site Support Group, a community-based organization focusing on wetland conservation, has taken initiative to promote alternative livelihood opportunities such as bee and poultry keeping to reduce anthropogenic pressure and overdependence on the wetland. In Kingwal, some community members have taken personal initiative to restore some parts of the wetland and engage in bee keeping as an alternative livelihood.

2. Donor driven initiatives

In Yala wetland, donors and development partners such as Darwin Initiative, PREPARED Program of USAID/East Africa and MacArthur Foundation provided funding that facilitated development of Yala Delta Land Use Plan and the associated Strategic Environmental Assessment by Nature Kenya. In Kingwal wetland, the Food and Agriculture Organization working in partnership with the County Government of Nandi and the Kingwal Water Users Association have taken initiative to restore some parts of the wetland.

3. Policy-level initiatives

At county level, the County Government of Nandi has enacted a bill on wetland management and conservation (the Nandi County Wetland Management and Conservation Act, 2020) to facilitate better wetland management of all wetlands in the county. Also, Kingwal wetland has a management plan meant to ensure its sustainable utilisation. In Siaya and Busia Counties, Yala wetland has a land use plan that was approved by the County Assembly of Busia in 2023. The County Assembly of Siaya is in the process of approving this plan, which advocates for a balance between agricultural development and conservation of the wetland. In the meantime, both County Governments have signed a joint communiqué on the management of Yala wetland.

At national level, there are existing legal and policy frameworks that intend to enforce the sustainable management of natural resources including wetlands, including the Environmental Management and Coordination (Amendment) Act (EMCA) of 2015. Also, Kenya as a contracting party to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, is obligated to conserve and wisely use all wetlands. Despite legal and institutional arrangements, wetland degradation continues unabated.

Given the above mentioned efforts, our research project, Water Transformation Pathways Planning (Trans-Path-Plan) Kenya Node aims to pro-actively influence transformations in Kingwal and Yala wetlands away from undesirable trajectories towards more equitable and sustainable directions to ensure multiple ecosystem services provision. We will carry out Transformations Laboratories (T-Labs) to address these challenges.

The project is part of a larger initiative called Trans-Path-Plan: Water Transformation Pathways Planning, involving eight countries worldwide and is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The future intentions of the project are to highlight the power dynamics prevalent in institutions and policies that can directly or indirectly affect the decision-making processes necessary for effectively balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders to reduce adverse impacts on nature-society interactions.

How can T-labs be used to steer transformation towards equitable and sustainable developments in wetlands?

A Transformation Laboratory (T-lab) is a participatory and transdisciplinary process that creates a safe space that cultivates creativity and innovation among stakeholders to address a complex problem. T-labs are specifically designed to guide transformations in socio-ecological systems towards sustainability, by supporting changes in the conditions that made these systems unsustainable. They include a set of stakeholders who may have different roles and perspectives, but who have an interest in solving the problem and some ability to provoke change.

T-labs aim to produce socio-ecological innovations that help to create a more just and sustainable outcome for people and other parts of nature.

In the context of Yala and Kingwal wetlands in Kenya, T-labs can play a crucial role in guiding the development of equitable and sustainable pathways for wetland management in various ways. First, inclusive pathways through engaging a wide range of stakeholders such as the local communities, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, researchers and other relevant participants is important to collectively define the challenges and opportunities associated with wetland management. In this instance, T-labs can also help in framing the problems associated with wetland degradation in a way that considers ecological, social, economic and equity dimensions. This involves identifying the root causes and interconnections among issues.

Secondly, the T-lab supports different suites of methodologies such as  visioning exercises to understand the problem andhelps all the stakeholders in the wetlands have a shared use/value. Using scenario planning techniques, stakeholders can explore different future scenarios for wetland utilisation; how they would like the wetlands to be or look like in future, where they are now, and how they are going to get there. This helps the stakeholders to understand the possible consequences of different pathways and enables them to think beyond the day-to-day reality of problem solving and imagine an achievable medium to long-term future.

Thirdly, T-labs enable innovation and generation of solutions by providing a space for brainstorming and co-designing innovative solutions; with examples of sustainable agricultural practices, alternative livelihood options and various conservation strategies. Based on insights generated, policy and institutional reforms can then be formulated, which could involve strengthening existing laws or proposing new regulations that address the specific challenges faced by the wetlands.

T-Labs can be further used for capacity building and community empowerment by identifying capacity gaps among stakeholders and developing strategies for knowledge sharing, especially within the local communities that depend on the wetlands. This could involve providing local communities’ training that would also allow for indigenous knowledge integration, enabling access to resources, and providing a platform for them to actively participate in decision making processes to ensure that traditional knowledge and local priorities are considered for preservation of cultural and ecological values.

Moreover, adaptive management can help in recognizing the dynamic nature of wetland ecosystems and the uncertainties due to climate change. T-labs should then be able to provide approaches and strategies that are flexible and responsive to changing conditions. Monitoring and evaluation frameworks can be developed to track progress towards the desired outcome in indicators related to equity, sustainability and biodiversity conservation.

T-labs are therefore a powerful tool for steering transformation towards equitable and sustainable developments in wetlands like those in the Yala River Basin. They enable collaborative problem solving, innovation and co-creation of pathways that balance the needs of people as well as the environment. Through this, T-Labs guides transformations through supporting changes in the conditions that made these systems inequitable and unsustainable towards equity and sustainability. However, the success relies on inclusivity and continuous engagement of all relevant stakeholders.

The team successfully held the first T-lab for the Yala wetland in December 2023 where a visioning exercise was conducted with participants farming the challenge collectively and identifying initiatives that are emerging and are “seeds” that could be nurtured to address the challenges identified. For Kingwal wetland, the first T-lab workshop will be held in early April 2024. The outcome of these workshops will be published in a separate blog.

Problem policy brief, which is the first output of the Transpath project under Stream 1 (Transdisciplinary research on cases) activities, for the two wetlands will be developed by December 2024.

We are thrilled to share reflections on the project outcomes and the valuable lessons learned during this transformative journey. Our mission was ambitious, aiming to institutionalize the matchmaking service at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) and the Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC), while also paving the way for a national-level integration in Kenya.

The first objective was to embed the matchmaking service within JOOUST and KCIC, creating sustainable frameworks for collaboration and innovation. Through dedicated efforts, we successfully established a matchmaking platform that fosters collaboration between academia and industry ensuring the continued success of climate innovation initiatives. Moving beyond the confines of individual institutions, our second objective

The project also aimed to institutionalize the matchmaking platform at a national level Collaborating with key stakeholders and leveraging existing networks, we laid the groundwork for scaling up the matchmaking service to a national level. However, due to time contraint, this objective was not executed. The third objective focused on enhancing the functionality of the web-based matchmaking application. We aimed to create a robust, user-friendly platform that facilitates seamless connections between students and  enterpreneurs. Furthermore, our commitment to open-source principles led to the development of a version accessible to the public, promoting widespread adoption and adaptation.

Through collaborative efforts with JOOUST and KCIC, we witnessed the successful integration of the matchmaking service into their ecosystems. This has resulted in increased cross-disciplinary collaborations and a more dynamic and resilient local innovation ecosystem. While the process of national-level institutionalization was not possible, we have made significant strides in garnering support from key stakeholders.

The improvements made to the web-based matchmaking platform have led to a more user-centric and efficient platform. The open-source version TransCIIT website is now available to the public, fostering a culture of knowledge-sharing and collaboration in the climate innovation space. Engaging and involving stakeholders from diverse backgrounds is essential for the success and sustainability of such projects. Their input, support, and commitment play a pivotal role in the institutionalization process.

The dynamic nature of innovation ecosystems requires a flexible and adaptive approach. Being open to adjustments and learning from challenges has been instrumental in achieving project objectives. The power of collaboration cannot be overstated. By fostering partnerships between academia, industry, and government, we have created a ripple effect that extends beyond the project’s initial scope.

The TransCIIT Phase 3 project has not only achieved its set objectives but has also laid the groundwork for a sustainable and inclusive climate innovation ecosystem in Kenya. As we reflect on the outcomes and lessons learnt, we are inspired to continue our commitment to fostering transdisciplinary collaboration and driving positive change in the face of climate challenges. The journey may be ongoing, but the impact is already transformative.

Following the completion of the matchmaking activities between the students and entrepreneurs and the development of the matchmaking platform the next phase involved the institutionalization of the matchmaking service at the national level through a policy workshop and institutional level at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) and at the Kenya Climate Innovation Center.

The lessons learnt from matchmaking events and working together were essential in the institutionalization efforts of the matchmaking service. During this institutionalization event, project participants  shared the benefits of the matchmaking service that shows the need to draw from academic and practice-based knowledge systems in the co-production of knowledge with key stakeholders. The project team shared on the reflections and lessons learnt and the success stories. Participants were guided on how to use the Web-based matchmaking application, which is available to the public courtesy of the funding from the British Council.

The institutionalization event was combined with the university innovation event and ran for two days from February 5-6, 2024 at the JOOUST main campus in Bondo. The innovation event took place on February 5, 2024 while the institutionalization event took place the following day on February 6, 2024. More than 250 participants attended the two events. Participants in both events included students and entrepreneurs from the matched projects, representatives from a partner university (Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology), the university management, members of the Senate, Directors, and Chairs of departments and students governance (SAJOOUST). Additionally, more than 100 students from seven high schools in Siaya County attended the event. The primary goal of the innovation event was to cultivate a dynamic culture of creativity, collaboration, and forward thinking within our academic community. By bringing together students, faculty, and staff from diverse disciplines, we planned to stimulate interdisciplinary learning, promote hands-on problem solving, and inspire a mindset shift towards innovation.

The two day event was opened by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Finance and Planning (DVC-PAF), Prof. Aggrey Thuo, who represented the Vice Chancellor of the university. Prof. Thuo talked about the importance of innovation in university growth. Prof. Thuo reiterated that the two-day event was aligned with the mandate of the University, which is teaching, research and outreach.  The first day of the event was marked with students and faculty displaying their innovations. Dr. Leonard Wakoli led the invited guest on an exhibition tour of high school and JOOUST exhibition stands. Among the exhibitions were the electricity project from human waste, the insect for food and feeds project, the silkworm project and the TransCIIT project among others. The judges spent a better part of the day visiting the stands to judge the best innovations among the high school category and the university category. The judging team included Dr. Ann Kingiri from African Center of Technology Studies and Mr. Ernest Chitechi from Kenya Climate Innovation Center. We want to thank TransCIIT project for sponsoring the awards to the top three innovations from the high school category.

The second day was dedicated to the TransCIIT institutionalization event. The Dean, School of Informatics and Innovative Systems and the PI of TransCIIT project, Prof. Ogara welcomed the guests. The director, Research, Extension and Outreach, Prof. Julius Manyala gave a keynote speech. Mr. Ernest Chitechi, from the Climate Innovation Center (KCIC), provided a background and the major achievements of TransCIIT phase 3 project.  Dr. Rob Byrne, from the University of Sussex, joined the meeting virtually. He discussed the objectives and expected outcomes of the workshop. Dr. Ann Kingiri, from the African Centre for Technology Studies, (ACTS) discussed the integration of transformative innovation policy thinking in climate innovation ecosystem (CIE). Mr. Phanuel Mutuma, the matchmaking application developer led the audience in demonstrating how the Web based application works including logging in as a student or entrepreneur and identifying a job opportunity based on the needs of the entrepreneur needs or the skills of the students.   This was in fulfillment of the second project objective – to develop a Website to facilitate matchmaking between students and entrepreneurs. The functionality of the match making application clearly demonstrates the thinking, creativity and expertise of the Web designers and the team who worked very closely to translate what was done in the physical into a workable web application. The application allows both entrepreneurs and students to create accounts and upload their profiles. It has provisions for students to summarize their expertise, which are made visible to the entrepreneurs. Likewise, entrepreneurs’ business needs are made visible to the students. Entrepreneurs can then search the database of students and select the best match based on the expertise/skills displayed. They have the option to select as many students as possible and later narrow down the list to the best possible match. Likewise, students have the choice to select entrepreneurs based on the business needs displayed. If satisfied with the match the application allows them to contact through email. If any party changes their mind, regarding the match the application allows them to drop the match and select another one. We believe that this application has the potential to enhance academia and industry relationship. The demo section was followed by a Q&A session where the audience were given an opportunity to give their input to help enhance the matchmaking application. Mr. Ernest led the moderated discussion on the application, use, adoption, and sustainability of the Web based matchmaking application. Two students from JOOUST and 2 entrepreneurs shared their matchmaking experience. Prof Solomon Ogara engaged the audience through a discussion on institutionalization of the matchmaking service.  The institutionalization event adopted the “shared experience” to share the students’ success stories with their matched entrepreneurs. The 30 min window would not allow all the students to share their experiences working with their entrepreneurial partners. Therefore, two students (male and female) were selected to share their experiences, challenges and lessons learnt from the matched projects. Mr. Cleopa Tiema worked closely with Mr. Jones Oyugi, an entrepreneur working on developing of methanol for the automotive industry.

Despite the project ending in February 2024, some of the students have continued to work with the entrepreneurs on a volunteer basis while others have been absorbed as business associates. Our masters student, Mr. Cleopa Tiema is among the students who have been absorbed as business associates with the entrepreneurs they were matched with.  This is something the project team never envisioned at the beginning of the project. Both the entrepreneurs and students have benefited through this partnership in that students had the opportunity to implement their ideas while entrepreneurs benefited from free technical expertise from the student. This aspect builds into one of the three core functions of the University – outreach. Community outreach is an important component in assuring improved economic outcomes for people in need. Universities can collaborate with non-governmental organizations from around the neighboring communities to provide students with opportunities to volunteer their time and expertise to help local business enterprises. Academia can address the business needs in class and allow students to brainstorm ideas or projects they can do to create an impact in the innovation ecosystem.

Listening to the comments of the participants and reflecting on the presenters in this event the positive impact of this project is certainly evident. The matchmaking application can be used for industrial attachment and teaching practice activities to link students to the schools and organizations based on the needs of the schools and organizations and the expertise of the students. The positive response from the audience was an evidence of the level of interest towards this application. Colleagues from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology expressed interest in using this application in one of their projects.

In the heart of Nairobi, the city in the sun and where innovation interconnects with academia, a groundbreaking phenomena unfolded on January 30th, 2024. This was a momentous occasion celebrating the institutionalization of the Transforming Climate Innovation Ecosystems through Inclusive Transdisciplinarity (TransCIIT) matchmaking Web portal within Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC).

In today’s rapidly evolving world, the intersection of academia and industry holds the key to addressing some of the most pressing challenges we face, particularly in the domain of climate innovation. As we strive for sustainable solutions, there’s a growing need for platforms that seamlessly connect master students with climate innovation enterprises, not only to tackle business challenges but also to provide invaluable practical work experience..

Imagine a scenario where eager and ambitious master students are seeking real world applications for their expertise while climate innovation enterprises grapple with complex business challenges. Now envision a platform that acts as a conduit, bringing these two groups together in a harmonious collaboration that benefits everyone involved.

Following the launch of the matchmaking service during the TransCIIT Phase 2 in September 2022, this platform has served as a catalyst for innovation and learning. For master students, it offers a unique opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge in a practical setting, gaining hands on experience and insights into the challenges and intricacies of the climate innovation landscape. It’s a chance for them to make meaningful contributions to real world projects while honing their skills and expanding their professional networks.

For climate innovation enterprises, the benefits are equally compelling. By tapping into the pool of talented master students, they gain access to fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and specialized skill sets that can help them overcome business challenges and drive sustainable growth. It’s a win-win situation where enterprises receive valuable support while providing students with invaluable learning opportunities.

I want to encourage us to reflect on the profound impact that collaboration and knowledge exchange can have on shaping the future of our continent and beyond. KCIC is looking at availing this platform to the larger climate innovation ecosystem through forging partnership with other innovation hubs and universities.

Through this platform, we aim to embrace diversity, creativity, and the spirit of entrepreneurship, recognizing that it is through our differences and unique perspectives that we can unlock new opportunities for growth and development..

In the words of Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Ernest Chitechi

Corporate Services Manager

Kenya Climate Innovation Center

Authors: Gillian F. Achieng and Joel Onyango

Achieving sustainable development and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is of vital importance to climate action. In a world grappling with the urgent need for transformative change, the pursuit of sustainable development has emerged as a rallying call for a harmonious coexistence between humanity and the planet.

[1] Central to this mission is the imperative of climate action, a dynamic force capable of steering our global trajectory towards a more sustainable future. Embedded within this pursuit are 17 SDGs aimed at addressing a myriad of challenges facing our world. The crux of this transformative journey lies in understanding and leveraging the profound connection between climate action and the realization of these SDGs. As we stand at the crossroads of environmental stewardship and societal progress, it is imperative to delve into the intricacies of this interplay, unravelling the potential of climate action to propel us toward a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable world.[2] This blog underscores the need to understand and utilize the deep connections between climate action and the SDGs to navigate toward a future that is more equitable, resilient, and sustainable for both humanity and the environment.

Climate action is not just an independent goal but is intricately linked with and instrumental to the success of other SDGs. At the heart of this symbiosis is Goal 13: Climate Action, serving as both a standalone commitment and a linchpin interwoven with various other SDGs.[3] Mitigating climate change goes beyond temperature reduction; it safeguards life below water (SDG 14) and life on land (SDG 15), emphasizing the inextricable link between environmental preservation and sustainable development. Moreover, the marriage of climate action with SDG 9, Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, propels a technological renaissance.[4] This shift not only reduces carbon footprints but also stimulates innovation, laying the foundation for sustainable economic growth. Climate resilience initiatives, closely tied to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), ensure food security by fortifying agricultural systems against the unpredictable impacts of climate change. In general, tackling climate change is about more than just reducing global temperatures; it’s about initiating a widespread transformation across various sectors, leading to environmental preservation, technological advancement, and sustainable economic growth.[5] This message underscores the interconnected nature of climate action and its fundamental importance in achieving overall sustainable development.

The broad-reaching impact of embracing renewable energy not only combat climate change but also spur economic growth and job creation. Embracing renewable energy sources and sustainable practices, as promoted by SDG 7 and SDG 12, not only reduces carbon footprints but also aligns with the overarching mission of eradicating poverty (SDG 1) and fostering prosperity for all (SDG 8).[6] The ripple effect extends to sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), as climate-conscious urban planning and green infrastructure become integral components of resilient urban landscapes. Furthermore, climate action intertwines with SDG 9, Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, as the transition to a low-carbon economy stimulates technological advancements with far-reaching benefits.[7] These innovations not only mitigate climate change but also contribute to economic growth and job creation. Climate resilience initiatives, often linked with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), ensure food security by fortifying agricultural systems against the impacts of climate change.[8] This highlights the interconnectedness of SDGs and the comprehensive benefits of prioritizing renewable energy and sustainable practices in our pursuit of a more sustainable and equitable world.

In conclusion, achieving sustainable development through climate action is not only a moral imperative but a strategic necessity. As we stand at the nexus of climate action and sustainable development, it is imperative to recognize the interconnectedness of these efforts. By addressing climate change comprehensively, we not only protect the environment but also lay the groundwork for achieving the broader spectrum of SDGs.[9] This intersectionality underscores the urgency for collaborative efforts from governments, businesses, and individuals to propel our world toward a future where ecological balance, social equity, and economic prosperity coexist harmoniously. In essence, climate action is not merely a task confined to one goal; it is the linchpin that unlocks the potential for holistic, sustainable development on a global scale.

As we navigate the challenges and opportunities of our time, it is clear that the path to a sustainable future requires a concerted, collaborative effort. The interconnection between climate action and the SDGs is not just a framework for global development, but a call to action for each one of us. We must recognize the power of individual and collective action in driving significant change. Embrace renewable energy and sustainable practices in your communities and businesses. Advocate for policies that support clean energy (SDG 7), responsible consumption (SDG 12), and innovative infrastructures (SDG 9). Every step towards reducing our carbon footprint contributes to a larger movement against climate change and its myriad impacts on poverty eradication, economic growth, and creating sustainable cities.

[1] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-021-01098-3

[2] https://sdgs.un.org/sites/default/files/2023-09/UN%20Climate%20SDG%20Synergies%20Report-091223B.pdf

[3] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-47746-w#:~:text=Sustainable%20Development%20Goal%20(SDG)%2013,climate%20change%20and%20its%20impacts.

[4] Ibid

[5]https://www.researchgate.net/publication/376678718_Challenges_for_Zero_Hunger_SDG_2_Links_with_Other_SDGs

[6] https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/climate-action/

[7] Ibid

[8] https://www.un.org/en/our-work/support-sustainable-development-and-climate-action

[9] https://www.un.org/en/ecosoc/docs/pdfs/fina_08-45773.pdf

Authors: Gillian Faith Achieng and Joel Onyango

Introduction

Climate change presents significant and complex challenges for global economies, as it affects not only industries but also communities and ecosystems. As we confront the urgent need for adaptation, climate resilience economies have emerged as a transformative approach.

A climate-resilient economy is characterized by its ability to manage environmental hazards and adapt and prosper in response to evolving climatic conditions.[1] Like many other countries, Kenya is grappling with the severe reality of climate change, and recent events underline the critical need for climate-resilient economies. Unprecedented flooding has hit the country hard, serving as a stark warning of how often and how badly extreme weather events are becoming worse. In light of climate-related challenges, communities increasingly turn to climate resilience economies as a lifeline rather than merely a strategic approach.

Impacts of Recent Flooding: The recent flooding in Kenya has wreaked havoc on communities, displacing about 40, 000 people and causing widespread damage to infrastructure and agriculture.[2] An estimate of the total loss in the country was quoted at millions of shillings.[3] The region’s susceptibility to climate-related catastrophes is underscored by the flash floods and river overflows that have resulted from the heavy rainfall, which has been exacerbated by changing climate patterns.[4] These occurrences cause disruptions to daily routines and highlight the socioeconomic vulnerability of areas without adequate resilience strategies.

Pathways towards climate resilience

1. Building Climate Resilient Economies in Kenya: Kenya’s response to recent flooding underscores the urgency to develop climate-resilient economies. To mitigate future climate risks, it is vital to incorporate green technologies, including sustainable agricultural practices and renewable energy.[5] A nation’s capacity to adapt and endure disruptions can be enhanced through the diversification of industries, which entails investing in climate-resilient sectors, thereby diminishing reliance on vulnerable sectors.
2. Community-Centric Approaches: Community engagement is further emphasised in Kenya’s pursuit of establishing a climate-resilient economy in the aftermath of the flooding.[6] The expertise of local communities regarding their surroundings is of great value and plays a crucial role in the formulation of successful adaptation strategies.[7] By providing education, training, and inclusive decision-making processes to these communities, it is possible to empower them and guarantee that resilience initiatives are sustainable and contextually appropriate, thereby cultivating a sense of collective ownership and accountability.[8]
3. Adaptive Infrastructure for the Future: Kenya’s flooding experience demonstrates the essential importance of adaptive infrastructure in resilient economies to climate change. It is vital to invest in infrastructure that can withstand extreme climatic conditions. This includes flood defenses, resilient structures, and enhanced water management systems. Kenya can strengthen its capacity to withstand forthcoming climate-related challenges by integrating climate considerations into urban planning and development.
4. Global Collaboration and Policy Advocacy: Climate challenges are intricately intertwined, and the necessity for global cooperation is underscored by the recent flooding that occurred in Kenya.[9] Policymakers and leaders must champion policies that incentivize sustainability and climate resilience. Global collaboration enables nations to share knowledge, pool resources, and adopt optimal methodologies, fostering a more sustainable and resilient future.

Conclusion

The development of climate resilience economies is not only a response to the immediate threats of climate change. The proactive strategy of developing climate resilience economies extends beyond addressing the immediate threats of climate change; it also contributes to establishing a prosperous and sustainable future. In addition to mitigating the adverse effects of climate change, economies can establish a more sustainable and resilient future for future generations by adopting green technologies, encouraging community participation, and allocating resources to adaptive infrastructure. Kenya’s battle with recent flooding serves as a poignant reminder that climate resilience is not just a choice but a necessity for communities’ well-being and economies’ sustainability. Developing economies resilient to climate change entails more than just mitigating its effects; it entails actively contributing to creating a more sustainable, equitable, and adaptable global community. As Kenya confronts the consequences of the flooding, pursuing climate-resilient economies transcends being a domestic concern and assumes the status of a global imperative

Recommendations

The current flooding crisis in Kenya highlights the critical requirement for a comprehensive In a nutshell, the call to action entails supporting the formulation and execution of comprehensive climate resilience policies on a national scale, alongside allocating resources towards ongoing educational endeavours that enable local communities and policymakers in Kenya to effectively adjust and respond to the consequences of climate change, specifically the escalation of flooding incidents. policy on climate resilience that effectively tackles the repercussions of extreme weather occurrences. The development and implementation of policies that emphasize climate adaptation and resilience should be a top priority for the Kenyan government. This includes sustainable land-use planning, investments in early warning systems, and infrastructure enhancements. To promote the use of renewable energy sources and ensure food security in the face of climate change, the policy should additionally incorporate climate-resilient agricultural practices. A coordinated effort involving numerous sectors and stakeholders is also essential for guaranteeing the efficacy of such policies. To protect communities and the economy from the growing dangers caused by climate change, advocates may organize for the development and execution of these measures.

A call to action for continuous learning and capacity-building initiatives is essential for communities, local governments, and relevant organizations in Kenya. Given the recent flooding, educating communities about climate-resilient practices, disaster preparedness, and adaptive strategies is of the utmost importance. It is advisable to coordinate community engagement activities, training programs, and local seminars in order to effectively distribute information pertaining to resilient infrastructure development, water management, and sustainable land use. Furthermore, the establishment of a learning-oriented culture within governmental establishments will facilitate the development of more efficient response mechanisms. NGOs and international organizations may help finance and support educational programs that equip communities and decision-makers to address climate change.

[1]https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jfr3.12746

[2]https://www.cp24.com/kenya-raises-alarm-as-flooding-death-toll-rises-to-76-with-thousands-marooned-by-worsening-rains-1.6662645?cache=yesclipId10406200text%2Fhtml%3Bcharset%3Dutf-80404%2F7.583574%2F7.495965%2F7.632243%2F7.632243%2F7.632243%2F7.632243

[3] https://nation.africa/kenya/news/death-and-destruction-as-floods-maroon-homes–4440210

[4] https://reliefweb.int/report/kenya/climate-risk-resilience-unpacking-economic-impacts-climate-change-kenya-november-2023

[5] https://www.suedkenya.org/post/integrating-climate-risk-into-resilience-planning-the-case-of-isiolo-kenya

[6]https://pubdocs.worldbank.org/en/107731532335172942/8-Kenya-Climate-Change-Adaptation-programme-proposal-full.pdf

[7] Ibid

[8] Ibid

[9]https://cgspace.cgiar.org/bitstream/handle/10568/132775/p15738coll2_136953.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Authors: Dr. Dorcas Kalele, Isaiah Omolo, Dr. Catherine Kilelu

Background

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, every year, about 1.3 billion tonnes of food are lost or wasted across the food supply chain. It’s estimated that 40% of total food produced in Africa is lost between production & consumption due to lack of effective refrigeration, which accounts for millions of tons of annual food loss. At the same time, 1 in 10 people globally remain malnourished. Apparently, the scale of food loss and waste not only causes harm to human health but also to economies, businesses, consumers, and the environment. As a fact, the production of this wasted food uses natural resources (land, water, fertilizers etc.) and contributes to climate change, accounting for approximately 8%-10% of global greenhouse gases emissions (GHGs), by emitting methane into the atmosphere.

The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) together with climate change commitments, The Paris Agreement (2015), provide clear strategies and efficient means to improve food security and sustainability by 2030. Specifically, one of the key targets in the ‘SDG 12’ calls for countries to reduce their ecological footprint by changing the way they produce and consume goods and resources. The target calls for countries to half per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels as well as reduce food losses along production and supply chains by 2030. To achieve the target, it is imperative that countries strive to introduce technologies and innovative solutions, together with good production and processing practices that serve to manage food quality and reduce food loss. Apparently, realization of the ‘SDG 2’ ‘Zero Hunger’ remains a global challenge and is further compounded by the impacts of climate change on food systems. It is thus essential to plunge into the scope of these challenges and the global benefits of reducing food loss and waste, while thinking of sustainable solutions at the individual, local, national and global level.

The ‘Groundbreaking’ ACES

The need to develop innovative, game changing solutions for sustainable cold chain in Africa birthed the Africa Centre for Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-chain (ACES). ACES is a unique integrated Centre of Excellence established in 2020 by the Governments of the United Kingdom (UK) and Rwanda, The Centre for Sustainable Cooling (UK), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United for Efficiency (U4E) initiative and the University of Rwanda (UR). Academic partners include the University of Birmingham, Cranfield University, London South Bank University, Heriot-Watt University, and Wageningen University. ACES brings together a world-leading collaboration between governments, academics, industrial partners, stakeholders, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to develop and accelerate the uptake of sustainable, smart cold chain and cooling solutions in the agriculture, dairy, fisheries, and health sectors throughout Africa. The Centre is focused on the productive use of energy, taking a needs-driven, system-level approach to economically empower farmers, increase export revenues, enhance job creations in rural areas, ensure food and energy security, improve vaccine and pharma supply chains, mitigate climate and environment impacts of cooling technologies and food loss, and foster resilient low-carbon development.

‘HUB’ and ‘SPOKE’ MODEL

ACES will serve as the hub for a network of Specialized Outreach and Knowledge Establishments (SPOKEs) across Africa to showcase how solutions can be deployed in practical, real-world applications and provide the on-site and outreach learning, training and knowledge transfer and technical assistance centers to support local community uptake. It will provide an avenue to demonstrate and implement proven solutions and business models, delivering economic security for marginal farmers while accelerating the transition to low/zero carbon and climate neutral cold-chain and cooling. The first SPOKE model is being developed in Kenya by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) with aim to develop and disseminate expertise on resilient cooling and cold-chain solutions with further SPOKEs being planned in other countries within Africa. SPOKEs will run a novel “Try Before You Buy” initiative, to be set-up and operated by ACTS, to engage the farmer communities and co-operatives, enabling them to experience the value of cold-chain (through improved quality and market connectivity) and helping them develop robust business models.

ACES Forum 2023

ACES held a landmark 2-day Forum at the ACES Institute Rubirizi Campus, Kigali, Rwanda on 17^th -18^th October. The Forum featuring experts from governments, research and academia, non-profit organizations, and private sectors, provided an incredible platform to navigate the cold chain space and explore the World’s First Cold Chain Campus, new facilities under development, Refrigeration Training Centre, Sustainable cold-chain training and graduate programs and a Smart-Farm Initiative. The Forum gave the stakeholders a chance for deep-dive discussions, insights, and networking opportunities. It also provided an opportunity for learning and knowledge exchange with highlights from the progress with ACES, SPOKEs and forge mechanisms for further works, collaboration, and engagement in the space of creating dynamic opportunities for guiding the future of cooling and cold chain systems in Africa and beyond.

Key highlights from the Forum

High profile keynote addresses were made by several stakeholders during the plenary sessions and the breakout discussions featuring industry experts, some of which are outlined here; in his opening remarks, Prof. Toby Peters, Professor in Cold Economy, University of Birmingham stated that “Cooling is not a luxury, rather it’s a necessity, a critical infrastructure as vital as a water pipe, electricity cable or a road”. Indeed, this proofs the fact that cold-chain system is vital for a well-functioning society and economy since it underpins the access to safe and nutritious food and health, but also the ability to eradicate poverty, bring economic growth and enhance adaptation to the increasingly high temperatures and heat waves.

Hon. Dr. Jeanne d’Arc Mujawamariya, Minister for Environment, Rwanda stated that “It is crucial that we focus our efforts to build the adaptive resilience that will deliver sustainable, equitable and resilient societies in a warming world.” This aligns with the fact that sustainable cooling is one of the key considerations for countries in the climate change pledges, the SDGs and thus an important consideration during design for energy, urban, agricultural and health service projects. She commended the ACES programme for offering the rightly needed platform that will contribute to safe, resilient, nutritious, and affordable food and vaccine/health supply chains with climate-friendly solutions.

The CCH was termed as an integrated, systems-level approach that seeks to understand and design sustainable cooling services targeting the broad portfolio of diverse rural women and men farmers as well as small and medium enterprises (SME) owners. Dr. Catherine Kilelu, Director of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Security Program at ACTS, reiterated that “there is need to understand market systems and dynamics to design and deploy a CCH based on demand and opportunities in markets.”

Professor Toby Peters reiterates “It is not a matter of feeding the world, but equally about economically empowering smallholder farmers…achieving this calls for a paradigm shift in the way we think about cold-chain.”  The necessity of fostering essential international cooperation to attract expertise and unlock new partnerships, resources, and financing was termed essential. This is especially key to support integration of local communities, build their capacity through a bottom-up approach which enhances improvement of existing systems, appraise them on business models that can support financial stability through utilization of cooling hubs to reduce food loss and wastage for enhanced food and nutrition security for a sustainable future.

In a nutshell, the SPOKEs and CCH have the potential not only to accelerate the transition to inclusive, accessible, sustainable, and resilient cold-chains by tapping into clean energy options and refrigeration, reducing food loss and waste but also offer an out of the box opportunity to integrate improving vaccine/health supply chains, thereby bringing broader social and economic development, especially to rural communities. The CCH model will be a transformative model that can transform the ‘farm to fork’ narrative of business-as-usual scenario through delivering sustainable cooling and cold-chain solutions especially in rural communities, in developing regions, that requires a robust system-level engagement through a multi-stakeholder collaboration at local, national, regional, and global levels.

This blog is based on discussions held during the showcase event under the TransCIIT3 project which was held in September 2023 at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies (KSMS), Nairobi, Kenya. The showcase event was held to demonstrate the functionality of the TransCIIT matchmaking platform.

In addition to the project students and entrepreneurs, the event was attended by policymakers, researchers, academia and industry players. The event was held in conjunction with the Transformative Innovation Policy  (TIP) workshop which was hosted by the Trilateral Chair programme.

Background

TransCIIT Phase 2 attempted to address the business needs of selected entrepreneurs by finding suitable Master’s students who can help you address a problem that you are facing in your business through a researcher-entrepreneur mentorship relationship. These issues were either technical or business issues related to marketing, finance, policy, research, or something else. This support is being made possible through a small consolidation grant received from the British Council that supports the further development/ scaling-up of TransCIIT Phase 2 activities. TransCIIT Phase 3 runs until November 2023 and thereafter the collaborating institutions, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) and Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC), African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), University of Johannesburg (UJ) and University of Sussex – Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) will provide direction on how the institutionalisation of the matchmaking service will be done at institutional and national level.

Building on the positive outcomes from the TransCIIT Phase 2 experience, and learning from it, the priority issue of TransCIIT Phase 3 is to work to achieve the institutionalization of the matchmaking service at the university/intermediary and national level in Kenya. The project also seeks to enhance the functionality of the developed web-based matchmaking application and to generate an open-source version available to the public. Successful institutionalization will benefit not only more master’s students and entrepreneurs, but it will also benefit those organizations that incorporate the matchmaking service within their operations (universities, intermediary organizations, other post-secondary education organizations), relevant government departments seeking to promote sustainable development of the innovation ecosystem and, ultimately, Kenyan citizens who need the products and services climate innovations can provide.

Introduction

Prof. Ogara emphasized the need to shift mindsets away from only seeking jobs, and towards job creation. He was glad colleagues had solutions for entrepreneurship training. He discussed plans to institutionalize the platform by bringing it to committees and engaging relevant deans. The goal was different training that linked students to entrepreneurs for attachments. He asked participants to share their experiences before introducing the matching platform demonstration. He thanked all involved in the project and discussed continuing collaboration between universities and industry. Participants were thanked and the importance of institutionalizing such programs was emphasized to shift mindsets towards entrepreneurship and collaboration between universities and industry. Dr. Byrne provided context about the TransCIIT 3 project. He explained it came from a British Council call focused on building university partnerships to support entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems in addressing challenges like climate change and youth unemployment. He situated the project within the framework discussed in earlier presentations about harnessing R&D and innovation ecosystems to confront societal challenges. The goal was working within Kenya’s innovation system to link climate entrepreneurs and postgraduate students.  Dr. Byrne outlined the five project partners and overall/specific objectives of exploring a matchmaking service pilot between entrepreneurs, students, and developing a website to facilitate future matching. He depicted Kenya’s national innovation system and where the project aimed to work – with MSMEs, startups, and students. This was presented as an often-neglected part of innovation systems focused more on world-changing inventions than incremental innovations impacting lives. Dr. Byrne briefly discussed project implementation through matchmaking events and follow-ups to finalize matches between needs and skills ensuring support was offered for guaranteed project completions.

Mr. Ernest thanked the TransCIIT project for the opportunity to collaborate. He said Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) focuses on fostering university-private sector collaboration and saw the value of linking students and entrepreneurs. He looked forward to further collaboration with Strathmore University on institutionalizing the matching platform and scaling engagement with more entrepreneurs and organizations.

Demonstration of functionality of matchmaking platform

The website developer, Mr. Phanuel Mutuma gave a demonstration of the matching platform Some key elements about the platform are highlighted as follows;

• Entrepreneurs can add projects, invite students to projects, and view invited/completed projects.
• Students can view invited projects, apply to projects, and see their project status. Projects can include details like location, expertise needed, economic benefits, etc.
• Students and entrepreneurs can communicate directly about projects.
• The platform aims to facilitate matching needs and skills across different countries/locations.
• An open-source tool can be customized, with the potential to add other functions over time.
• The demonstration showed how it could connect entrepreneurs to needed expertise through a virtual platform.

Question and Answer (Q&A) sessions

Prof. Renson Muchiri, KCA University asked about addressing intellectual property issues, and financing the process long-term, especially initial support for startups. Accessibility of resources was also raised. Mr. Ernest suggested entrepreneurs to consider what needs protection (innovation itself vs trade secrets) and use defensive protection like open sourcing to deter patents.

Ms. Patricia, an entrepreneur, questioned when financing should come in – early to support testing ideas, or later once potential is proven? It’s a challenge as some need funding at initiation while others are grounded with proven ideas. Determining the right point of support was discussed. t was noted the project paid students’ time to demonstrate skill value. Moving forward, universities could fund students, or a national/organizational fund be used. Scarcity-induced innovation was also discussed. It was also noted that some ideas just need proving, while others like bio-ethanol production were close to commercialization. A two-step process or proving viability first may help determine funding time. Connecting innovators to resources like KCIC incubators early could help test ideas. The challenge of assessing ideas at different stages was also acknowledged. The issue of financing was further discussed, with the suggestion that it should be a mutual agreement between entrepreneurs and students. The matchmaking process provides an opportunity for students to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-world situations and gain experience. The use of trade secrets and defensive protection was suggested to protect innovation without disclosing too much information.

Ms. Pauline raised questions about the limitations of geographical location in matching entrepreneurs with students. Prof. Hanlin clarified that their team is designing a new platform that will allow entrepreneurs and students from anywhere in the world to connect and share information.

Remarks from some TransCIIT project beneficiaries

• Ms. Rose, a climate entrepreneur, discussed her packaging business and challenges of increasing demand. She was grateful for opportunities given to her through the project.
• Mr. Richard, a student, appreciated applying classroom knowledge to help entrepreneurs. He discussed supporting projects in extraction and waste conversion.
• Mr. Jones, a bio ethanol entrepreneur discussed developing a process to produce fuel from sunflower and the challenges faced in attaining a high-percentage product and how a student, Mr. Cleopas Tiema helped refine the process.
• Mr. Simon discussed collaborating with a student on social media and branding for their organic waste project through the matching platform and now works with the organization.

Remarks from British Council

Monica Blagescu, Head of Education, British Council thanked everyone for their contributions and noted the TransCIIT 3 project was one of 10 supported through their consolidation fund.

• She provided further details about the scale and impact of the overall program, which included multiple projects across Africa focusing on areas like incubation, acceleration, digital/physical platforms, mentorship, curriculum development, and policy environments.
• It was noted that while individual projects created pockets of impact, together the approaches and tools developed could be adapted, adopted, and applied more broadly. Continued commitment to supporting work beyond project lifespans was emphasized. Appreciation was expressed for partnerships with organizations in multiple countries that enabled facilitating contributions to wider processes and impact.
• Monica hoped the tools and approach from TransCIIT 3 could continue informing stakeholders. Thanks were given to all involved in making the partnership successful and progressing the work. Continued sharing of experiences and future opportunities was welcomed before the representative concluded.

Conclusion & closing remarks

Prof. Dennis Ochuodho, Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC), JOOUST, thanked all the participants and acknowledged that many interesting things had been discussed. He recognized it had been a great learning experience for him as an ecologist, noting concepts from ecology like ecosystems and communities were now being used in other contexts. The DVC specifically thanked their funders among them, the British Council for supporting most of their activities with the students. He highlighted opportunities participants had through the British Council like attending the Kenya innovation week.

Prof. Solomon Ogara concluded the demonstration session by emphasizing the importance of institutionalizing projects like TransCIIT 3 to shift mindsets towards entrepreneurship and collaboration between universities and industry. He discussed plans to bring the agenda to committees and engage deans.

We are now into phase three of our project, Transforming Climate Innovation Ecosystems through Inclusive Transdisciplinarity (TransCIIT). In a series of blogs posted on the ACTS website, starting with an overview, you can read how TransCIIT phase two unfolded.

For phase three, our main goals are to refine the student-entrepreneur matchmaking service we piloted in phase two and start to institutionalize the service in Kenya: (1) in other organizations, and (2) at the national level.

From our experience of piloting the student-entrepreneur matchmaking in 2022, it is clear there is an aching need for such a service in Kenya, and probably elsewhere in Africa, given that the innovation challenges of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) receive little support in standard science, technology and innovation (STI) policy interventions, and postgraduate students struggle to find opportunities to apply their knowledge beyond the classroom. TransCIIT phase two was able to develop a basis upon which to address this aching need. But we must learn from this experience, refine the intervention, and seek to institutionalize it beyond the project partners Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST).

We have now started this learning process by, first, interviewing the students and entrepreneurs involved in phase two and, second, by running a focus-group discussion that brought those same participants together. The results of these two investigations are currently being analyzed and will be disseminated in future blogs. For now, the headline findings are that the matchmaking website we developed in phase two is useful but could be significantly improved, and the broader matchmaking service worked well for both students and entrepreneurs but could also be significantly improved. The details underneath these headline findings will help us to refine the matchmaking service. The results from our investigations will provide the evidence we can bring to discussions with innovation ecosystem stakeholders in other organizations and at the national level. Reflections on these discussions will also be disseminated in future blogs.

As we progress through the remainder of phase three – up to the end of January 2024 – we can work with the evidence, materials, and experience we have gained so far, and in discussions with various stakeholders, to promote the adoption of the matchmaking service among other higher education institutes (such as JOOUST) and ecosystem intermediaries (such as KCIC). We can bring policy actors into this broadening network so that we can work with them to define a strategy – and perhaps a roadmap – of how to embed such a service at the national level. Succeeding at the national level is a significant challenge but one that could be eased if we can align with other policy initiatives of similar intent and/or if we can take advantage of relevant policy windows of opportunity. In the latter case, given the focus of TransCIIT on women and youth employment, the opportunity lies in offering Kenyan policymakers a way to address an important national development goal.

Beyond moving the TransCIIT matchmaking service out to other organizations and up to the national level in Kenya, we hope to work through our South African partner University of Johannesburg to pilot the service in South Africa. Suppose the matchmaking service finds a similarly welcome response to what we have experienced in Kenya. In that case, we can expect to learn more about how the service could be promoted and institutionalized in many more contexts across the African continent.

There is lots to do and our ambitions are high, but the results so far are encouraging. As with the path we travelled in 2022, we invite you to follow our experience by reading this blog series.

Dr. Nicholas Odongo

Dr. Odongo joins ACTS as a Research Fellow supporting the Science Technology Innovation Knowledge and Society (STIKS) programme.He is an economist and public policy researcher in the areas of policy analysis & strategy, impact evaluation,government & governance,environmental policy & climate change, and development economics. He holds a B.A. Economics from Moi University,an M.Sc. Public Policy from the KDI School of Public Policy and Management and a Ph.D. Policy Studies from Korea University He is mainly involved in the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) work where his primary research work includes refining STI policy ecosystems, research frameworks modeling, research results synthesis, and Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL). His other research interests include governance reforms especially on accountability, participatory democracy & collective public action; sustainable community development within the context of resilience and climate change; and social impact research.

Dr. Caroline Mbaya

Dr. Mbaya joins ACTS as a Research Fellow and Head of Gender, Youth and Inclusive Development Programme. She holds a PhD in Entrepreneurship and SME Management; and MSc. Research, both from the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain; MBA in Finance, from University of Nairobi, Kenya; and a B.Com in Accounts & Marketing from Daystar University, Kenya.She has 15 years industry experience in Finance, Policy Design and Monitoring and Evaluation. She is a published academic in the field of Gender and Female Entrepreneurship on which she has conducted extensive research. She has been involved in policy formulation in the areas of Youth Development,Women Empowerment and Gender Based Violence at local government level.

Mr. Michael Malenya

Mr. Malenya, who joins ACTS as a Strategic Business Development Manager, Michael holds an MBA from the United States International University in Nairobi and a Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science from the University of Nairobi.He is currently pursuing a Post Graduate Certificate in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK, and a Diploma in Insurance from the Chartered Insurance Institute, London. Previously he served as the Director of Business Development and Scaling at Farmbetter, where he was the strategic lead, defining its direction based on user needs and revenue potential. He also served as the Head of Sales and Business Development at Sendy, where he achieved remarkable success in launching Sendy Fulfilment and expanding its operations to Uganda,Ivory Coast, and Nigeria.

Promotions

Ms. Jane Wanjeri

We are happy to announce that Jane has been promoted from the position of a Finance Officer to that of Senior Finance Officer. She joined ACTS as an Administration Intern on 14^th November 2011. Since then she has risen through the ranks to her current position. Her new position entails preparing budgets for fundraising proposals, pre & post award grants management, general ledger management,supervising and training the Finance Assistant/Finance Officer. She will also be charged with preparing donor financial reports and ad-hoc reports for management; while also supporting project & annual statutory audits, managing grants receivable and payable schedule and payroll management.

Ms. Elizabeth Muthusi

Elizabeth, who joined ACTS on June 2022, has been promoted from an Intern to the position of Finance Assistant. As an Intern, she was mainly charged with facilitating payments, and filing returns. In her new position, she will be charged with journal entries, bank reconciliations and account statements.

Technically referred to as Specialized Outreach and Knowledge Establishments (SPOKEs), the centres will be deployed in strategic locations across Africa to demonstrate solutions, provide technical assistance and cascade knowledge to the local markets.

Plans are underway to establish the first specialized knowledge centre on cooling and cold-chain solutions in Africa.

The centre – to be set-up and operated by ACTS – will aim to develop and disseminate expertise on resilient cooling and cold-chain solutions.

It will be used to demonstrate solutions and cascade knowledge to local markets in order to accelerate deployment of sustainable smart cold-chain including Community Cooling Hubs (CCH).

Technically referred to as Specialized Outreach and Knowledge Establishments (SPOKEs), the centres will be deployed in strategic locations across Africa to demonstrate solutions, provide technical assistance and cascade knowledge to the local markets.

The initiative is part of the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold-Chain (ACES), which will serve as a “hub” to undertake collaborative research, test new equipment, develop knowledge, capacity building and training programmes.

Working with governments, industry, academia, communities and wider stakeholders, ACES is a comprehensive, one-stop hub for state-of-the-art technical assistance and knowledge transfer along the ‘farm-to-fork’ continuum.

The SPOKE in Kenya, to be located at Konza Tehnopolis, will focus on the agriculture and health sectors, with the potential to scale up throughout Africa and create a template for roll-out into other markets throughout Africa.

Specifically, the centre will develop, test, demonstrate and deploy fit-for-market pathways to net zero smart cold-chain and cooling at scale in Africa; improve knowledge on post-harvest behaviour of food to optimise systems and maintain nutritional and physiological quality.

A simplified framework of the SPOKE model for cooling solutions.

It will also provide technical business assistance and training to small-holder farmers and rural communities and Build the skilled engineering workforce for installation and maintenance. In addition the center will conduct research on future-proof, localised solutions for food loss reduction, exchange lessons learned via a huband- spoke model and build public awareness on the benefits of using sustainable cooling.

What has been done so far?

A beneficiary of the AI4D Africa scholarship project has developed a unique AI model that can easily determine causes of deaths for patients who die out of hospital.

Consequently, the government of Tanzania is now changing how it collects, compiles and reports mortality statistics.

Dr. Mahadia Tunga, who was funded by the AI4D Africa Scholarship project, recently graduated with a Phd in Data Science from the University of Dar es Salaam. The Project is funded by IDRC and SIDA.

Development of the model was prompted by the high number of people who die out of hospital and whose causes of death are not recorded – or wrongly attributed.

The model is based on a list of about 500 questions developed by WHO, which is administered by community health volunteers in Tanzania to collect data on the symptoms leading to death for those who die out of hospital. This process is known as verbal autopsy. This data could then be used by physicians to determine the causes of death.

Out of a list of 500 questions in the WHO questionnaire, she identified the minimal set of optimal questions that could be used to establish the causes of death and also to reduce the time someone interviews.

“These questions record signs and symptoms to determine the causes of death. Currently it takes at least 45 minutes and is very tedious and time consuming,” she said.

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She developed the AI model using existing data to determine cause of death for those who die out of hospital. To validate the accuracy of the model, the Ministry of Health compared results of the verbal autopsy generated by the model with those verified by the physicians. The model registered 97% accuracy.

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Previously, the Ministry of Health in Tanzania compiled verbal autopsy and medically certified reports separately.

“Previously, to compile mortality statistics, physicians had to go through the questions to determine the cause of death, which was tedious and could be also be biased. It also came with the risk of double counting,’ she explained

This methodology has now changed: This year’s report will integrate both sets of data – medically certificated reports and verbal autopsy generated by the model – into one national mortality statistics report.

Dr. Mahadia Tunga being conferred a PhD degree in Data Science at Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology in Tanzania. Her studies were partly funded by the AI4D Africa Scholarship project.

She is now working with the Ministry to use the verbal autopsy based on the model to generate causes of death in real time rather than wait for the physician to go through the data and determine the causes of death.

“Previously, CHVs had to share the results with the physicians to determine the cause of death after every year but this tool will give the results instantly. The government will be able to know the causes of death in real time and plan for interventions based on morbidity patterns instead of getting the results a year later,” she said.

The Role of AI4D Africa Scholarship project

According to Dr Tunga, this model would not have been developed as quickly as it was without support from the AI4D Africa Scholarship project.

“Conducting this kind of study is expensive. It required the researcher to go to the field and understand how the data is being collected, validation, getting permits, engaging Ministry officials. It helped me a lot with regard to financial and also credibility of the work. This support also made me complete my Phd studies in record 3 years or less,” she said.

She is now engaging with WHO verbal autopsy working group to work out how they can incorporate narratives on the verbal autopsy reports to improve their quality.

Under the umbrella of the Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Security (AFNS) Programme at ACTS, the policy dialogue provided an opportunity for an enthralling discussion on strategies for creating an enabling policy environment for up-scaling solar dryers in Kenya.

A panel discussion during the policy dialogue on the potential of solar dryers to reduce post-harvest losses held in Nairobi, Kenya.

A cross-section of government officials, farmers, regulators, private sector, financial institutions and cooperatives converged in Nairobi to discuss the potential of solar dryers to reduce post-harvest losses (PHL), curb carbon emissions and unlock opportunities for dried food in Kenya.

Under the umbrella of the Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Security (AFNS) programme at ACTS, the occasion witnessed a thrilling convergence of minds and ideas on strategies for creating an enabling policy environment to support up-scaling of solar dryers in Kenya.

This comes in comes in the backdrop of a burgeoning global population with the attendant increase in demand for food. In this context, mitigating post-harvest losses not only ensure food security but also paves way for economic prosperity in communities reliant on agriculture. Meanwhile, with traditional food drying methods heavily reliant on fossil fuels, the carbon footprint associated with food preservation is undeniable.

The dialogue – opportunities and Challenges for Enhancing the Market for Quality, Low-cost Solar Drying Technology in Kenya – is part of a project implemented by ACTS, KIRDI and UNEP, funded by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) through the Seeding the Future Global Food System Challenge.

ACTS expects to deploy 500 affordable quality solar dryers across Kenya over the next 5 years.

Speaking during the event, Dr. Catherine Kilelu, the head of AFNS programme, noted that the technology is key for enhancing food and nutrition security in Kenya.

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“To benefit from these innovations, there is urgent need to drive wide-scale market adoption as a strategy to scale impact of these benefits,” – Dr. Kilelu, ACTS.

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And whereas the potential for solar dryers is huge, several challenges hinder their adoption: limited knowledge/ awareness related to technology options, financial constraints, and sub-optimal performance of the technologies in the market due to lack of quality standards.

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“When you look on the drying rate, solar drying is better and has several advantages including faster drying rate, better protection of products; it reduces the risk of prolonged drying and product spoilage thus improving product quality,” – Dr. Fred Ogutu, KIRDI.

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So far, 17 Science Granting Councils (SGCs) have plugged into the RIM project, 11 of which have already launched their calls for proposals while four councils have identified projects to fund.

Research and Innovation project manager at IDRC, Dr Ellie Osir, talking to SGCS from East Africa during a workshop in Mombasa, Kenya.

A project geared towards supporting Science Granting Councils (SGCs) in Africa to fund and manage research and innovation projects is fast gaining ground.

Barely eight months into implementation, the Research and Innovation Management (RIM) project funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), has covered significant ground as councils launch calls for proposals and identify projects to fund.

So far, 17 councils have plugged into the RIM project, 11 of which have already launched their calls for proposals while four councils – Kenya, Uganda, Senegal and Cote D’Ivoire- have already identified projects to fund. Two councils –Nigeria and Senegal – are working to launch their calls.

It is envisaged that over 60 research and innovation projects across Sub-Saharan Africa will be funded under the RIM initiative. Meanwhile, councils are also refining their respective research and innovation frameworks which will guide implementation of selected projects. In this respect, the ACTS project implementation team recently held meetings with SGCs in east and southern Africa to guide them on refining their respective frameworks.

The two workshops specifically aimed to enable councils to understand the importance of research and innovation framework, explore the key elements of research and innovation framework and learn how to design such a framework.

In addition, the workshops to discuss the effective methods for managing and evaluating research and innovation projects, facilitate sharing of the best practices among the Councils and understand the importance of synthesizing research results and developing knowledge products for effective communication and dissemination.

In addition, the workshops to discuss the effective methods for managing and evaluating research and innovation projects, facilitate sharing of the best practices among the Councils and understand the importance of synthesizing research results and developing knowledge products for effective communication and dissemination.

During a meeting with SGCs from East Africa, IDRC representative, Dr Ellie Osir, emphasized the need for conceptual coherence for the projects to be funded while ACTS Executive Director, Prof. Tom Ogada, asked councils to be clear on what they expect to achieve through the projects. Consequently, SGCs from both blocks have developed draft frameworks which will be further refined to reflect their national development priorities as well as SGC monitoring and evaluation frameworks.

The RIM project aims to strengthen the capabilities of SGCs in SSA to effectively fund and manage research and innovation projects. It is implemented by a consortium led by ACTS in collaboration with the Association of African Universities (AAU) and Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD), Senegal.

Ethiopian Network for the Economics of Learning, Innovation, and Competence Building Systems (EthiopiaLics) has been launched. EthiopiaLics is the latest entrant in the vibrant continental Network for Economics of Learning, Innovation, and Competence Building Systems (AfricaLics), which brings together scholars, researchers and policy analysts in these areas.

It seeks to bridge the knowledge gap, facilitate competence building and transfer, and foster mentorship between established and upcoming scholars through training and mentorship programs. This network will serve as a platform for Ethiopian researchers and scholars in the field of Innovation and Development and operates as an Ethiopian chamber of AfricaLics.

Announcement of the new outfit was made during the 5th AfricaLics Conference held last year in Yaoundé, Cameroon. It is an initiative of the Department of Technology and Innovation Management (TIM) at Adama Science and Technology University (ASTU), in collaboration with Addis Ababa University, University of Gonder, and Haromaya University.

Members of EthiopiaLics and Secretariat pose for a photo after the launch.

EthiopiaLics aims to bring together scholars, researchers, and policy analysts working in the areas of development, innovation, learning, and competence building to address challenges and facilitate solutions for Ethiopia and the region. The network is dedicated to promoting research activities and projects focused on innovation and economic development.

For further information you can read the workshop report.

The Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), has granted additional grants to support the 2023 cohort of students under the Visiting Fellowship Programme (VFP). These funds will cover the expenses for the students for a three month fellowship stint in at the University of Johannesburg. The three month period will allow them to engage in rigorous academic activities and collaborate with scholars.

The VFP plays a crucial role in enhancing the research capacity and academic qualifications of African Ph.D. students working in the field of innovation and development. By increasing their exposure to international knowledge and providing them with invaluable mentoring from both African and international scholars,this programme equips the students with the necessary tools and expertise to excel in their respective fields.

A cross-section of Visiting Fellowship Programme (VFP) scholars during a previous meeting.

We express our deepest gratitude to Sida for their unwavering support and commitment to enhancing research capacity in Africa. Their contribution towards the 2023 cohort’s experience at the University of Johannesburg is truly invaluable and will have a lasting impact on the student’s academic and professional journey.

The Blue Empowerment (BE) project is implementing comprehensive and inclusive business models that will enable women in Kenya’s coast to fully exploit economic existing opportunities in the region.

This inclusive business models are meant to build women’s a capacity to exploit the region’s economic potential in fishing, small-scale agriculture and tourism. This is expected to gradually unlock economic opportunities for women and uplift their socio-economic status.

This will be done by providing financial literacy training, microcredit facilities, and savings programs tailored to the specific needs of women. The project will also offer sustainable fishing practices and empowering women fisherfolk by providing training, modern equipment,and market linkages. Meanwhile, women will be trained on sustainable farming practices, access to markets, and value added processing techniques.

Participants of the inclusive business model training in Kwale County during one of the activities.

There will also be training on hospitality, customer service, and product development with specific focus on tourism and handicraft sectors. This will create opportunities for women to establish their own guest houses, tour guiding services, or craft enterprises, enabling them to generate income and showcase their cultural heritage to tourists.

Finally, by equipping women with skills in business management, marketing, and digital literacy, they will have the capacity to seize economic opportunities and overcome gender-based barriers. Additionally, mentorship programs and networking opportunities foster an environment of support and mentorship, empowering women to thrive as successful entrepreneurs. The first phase of training was held in June 2023 where communities in Kwale, Kilfi were taken through fundamental components of the business models.

Apart from Training, the project will be creating a networking platform that connect coastal women with potential customers, suppliers, and collaborators to facilitate valuable business relationships. The project has also leveraged access to financial resources, such as grants specifically designed for women entrepreneurs, to alleviate the barriers they face in accessing startup capital. Lastly, the project is facilitating collaboration and partnerships within local (sub-county) business units and promoting women’s participation in relevant industry associations and networks, to support women-led business thrive and access new opportunities for growth and market expansion.

By combining these elements, the project aims to enhance the capacity for entrepreneurship among coastal women, enabling them to create sustainable businesses and contribute to the economic development of their communities. The project continues seeking partnerships that would accelerate the positive impact realized so far in Kwale, and Kilifi counties in Kenya, and we invite you to be part of the transformation.

BE Project Officer, Bernadette Nazi, guiding one of the trainees during the inclusive business models training in Kilifi County.

A consortium led by ACTS has won a competitive bid to establish and operate a Green Digital Innovation Hub (gDIH) in Kenya. The hub will support Kenya’s digital transformation while promoting sustainable development, the circular economy, environmental protection, and climate change mitigation.

While making the announcement on 30th June, 2023, the GIZ Digital Transformation Centre (GIZ-DTC-SKIIVE) team in Kenya revealed that the ACTS Consortium emerged winner mainly due to their ‘exceptional capabilities and dedication to driving sustainable innovation’.

The GIZ-DTC-SKIIVE project team and the ACTS consortium will spearhead the development of the hub, ushering in a new era of sustainable technological advancements. Together, they aim to drive meaningful change, promote environmental consciousness, and foster innovation that paves the way for a brighter future.

The consortium will collaborate closely with the GIZ-DTCSKIIVE project team to embark on a transformative journey. Through support of the GIZ/GFA, nine delegates – including three members of the consortium – visited four digital innovation hubs in Slovenia, Netherlands and German to have first-hand experience on the management and operations of the hubs.

Currently, the ACTS-led consortium is developing a business plan which will outline the strategic framework for the Green Digital Innovation Hub, ensuring its long-term success and impactful contributions to the sustainable technology landscape.The hub will be launched in December, 2023.

ACTS Executive Director, Prof. Tom Ogada, said the consortium has what it takes to achieve the objectives of the hub.

“As a consortium, we are extremely delighted to have won the call for proposals to establish the Green Digital Innovation Hub. The vision of the hub resonates and aligns very well with the aspirations of the individual member organizations of the consortium. We are therefore committed to using our expertise and resources to deliver effectively on the mandate of the Hub and to ensure it significantly contribute to the growth of the innovation ecosystem in Kenya,” he said.

The ACTS consortium will also oversee the incorporation of a non-profit entity, solidifying the commitment to a purposedriven approach and fostering a collaborative environment within the hub. Additionally, an implementation plan will be meticulously devised, ensuring the seamless execution of initiatives, and maximizing the potential for transformative outcomes.

Sylvia Mukasa, the Digital Innovation Hub Expert of the GIZ-DTC-SKIIVE project team congratulated the ACTS Consortium for emerging the winner.

“We extend our warmest congratulations to the ACTS Consortium for their outstanding achievement as the winning consortium of the Green Digital Innovation Hub. Their selection exemplifies their remarkable accomplishments and perfectly aligns with our shared vision of building a sustainable and connected world” – Sylvia Mukasa, GIZ-DTC-SKIIVE.

Other members of the consortium are Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA), Konza Technopolis, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI), and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO). It also includes Vilgro Africa and AMSCO Development Solutions Limited.

NETFund Resource Mobilization Manager, Chrispine Onyango, ACTS Climate Resilient Economies (CRE) Programme Lead, Dr Joel Onyango, AfDB Climate Change and Green Growth expert, Winnie Mutai and Climate activist, Michael Khaduyu, during the launch of the ACTS Pathways Academy, a resource centre for informative training to foster skills, knowledge and collaborations on STI.

Alvin Toffler – a renowned American writer and businessman- predicted that the illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.And true to his words, today’s fast-paced and dynamic professional environment demands continuous learning and up-skilling for professionals and executives alike. With the ever-evolving demands of the global market, there arises a need for a cutting-edge and comprehensive training platform that empowers individuals to thrive in their careers.

Enter ACTS Pathways Academy, an exciting professional platform specifically designed to provide access to borderless, flexible, informative training to foster skills,knowledge and collaboration on STI.

Whether you’re a seasoned executive seeking to stay ahead of the curve or a budding professional aspiring to carve a successful path, ACTS Pathways Academy promises to be your ultimate catalyst for growth and success.

The unveiling of the Academy aligns with ACTS’s mission to strengthen the capacity and policies of African countries and institutions to utilize STI for sustainable development.

A rich menu of courses
The Academy will offer training for both professional and executive training courses; the former is designed to build knowledge, skills and competence in individuals, a group or team while the latter will aim to improve leadership and management performance. Whereas professional courses will provide opportunities for employees to refine skills, learn new capabilities as well as expand their networks, executive courses are expected to transform trainees by challenging them to understand their strengths and talents.

Climate Change Modelling for decision-making
This course provides knowledge and practical skills on how climate models are constructed, run, interpreted and applied in decision-making. It will also include modules on climate systems, climate change scenarios and the practical programming required for climate modelling and data analysis.

Climate Change Finance
This training programme has been designed to build capacity to increase ability to access climate finance and efficiently utilize and manage resources while ensuring gender inclusivity as well as provide knowledge on some innovative ways that can be used to mobilize additional climate funding.

Climate Policy and Leadership
This programme aims to build the capacity of individuals to participate in international climate negotiations, influence national policy programming and understand the negotiation processes with the intention of increasing the involvement and participation of African leaders in global climate governance.

Welcome to the latest edition of the ACTS Newsletter!

As a beacon of innovation and knowledge in Africa, ACTS takes immense pride in presenting a collection of inspiring stories that exemplify relentless pursuit of knowledge underpinned by science technology and innovation (STI). Join us in this exhilarating journey as we champion research and application of STI in Africa, in a way that illuminates a brighter path towards a more prosperous continent.

First, we feature a groundbreaking initiative that will reshape professional and executive training in Africa. The ACTS Pathways Academy (APA) offers cutting-edge programs to equip professionals with the skills and knowledge to thrive in the modern business landscape.
Meanwhile, find out how inclusive business models are transforming the lives of coastal women in Kenya and why Sida has granted additional funds to boost the Visiting Fellowship Programme (VFP).

In another inspiring development, an ACTS-led consortium is set to establish a Green Digital Innovation Hub (gDIH) in Kenya. This strategic endeavor aims to foster sustainable technology solutions that address pressing environmental challenges. Our Research and Innovation (RIM) initiative is also gathering pace as Science Granting Councils (SGC’s) gear up to launching more than 60 research and innovation projects.

Also, ACTS is setting up the first-ever knowledge centre on cooling and cold-chain solutions in Africa that will offer crucial expertise and insights to meet the continent’s unique cooling requirements. Did I mention how AI4D Africa scholar is influencing compilation of mortality statistics in Tanzania? Amazing stuff!
And fi nally, we share news about the launch of the Ethiopian Network for the Economics of Learning, Innovation, and Competence Building Systems (EthiopiaLics) and welcome three new staff members to the ACTS team.

We hope these stories inspire you to stand at the forefront of change, where passion and knowledge fuse to shape a thriving future for all.

Mr. Alfred Oduor, Editor

Introduction

This blog is based on the key highlights and discussions held during the focus group discussion workshop held on 18th July at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies (KSMS), Nairobi. The event was organized by the TransCIIT, phase 3 project funded by the British council. The overall objective of the workshop was to consolidate experiences, learnings and recommendations from students and entrepreneurs towards the institutionalization of the matchmaking service at institutional level & national level. It was a hybrid event with 17 participants who attended in-person while 5 attended virtually via zoom.

In phase two, the main focus was the matchmaking service. In the current phase 3, we are building on what was done in phase two. The FGD gave the project team an opportunity to hear from the participants. We recognize the fact that we have a pool of talents in our institutions, and this debunks the theory that our universities are not producing well-rounded, qualified human resources also recognize that entrepreneurs can tap into this huge talent in our universities and of course the students start benefit from the hands-on experience. We plan to bring in policy players e.g., Kenya National innovation Agency (KeNIA) and other similar organizations to explore the possibility of launching the matchmaking platform at national level. There are plans to explore how the matchmaking service could be adopted at organizational and national levels in Kenya, and possibly in South Africa through the University of Johannesburg. There is potential to translate this kind of learning to South Africa as well and potentially the matchmaking service or a version of it could be adopted across Africa.

The objectives of the workshop are as follows; Elicit stories from students and entrepreneurs of their experiences of the matchmaking process and matched projects from Phase 2 of TransCIIT; Stimulate reflections on, and discussions of, the matchmaking experience; Develop recommendations for future matchmaking; Identify how the matchmaking service could be adopted at organisational and national levels in Kenya. We expected the following outcomes from the event; A set of stories detailing specific experiences of the matchmaking service, including positive and negative experiences; An evidence base of the matchmaking service pilot for supporting further development of the service and for its institutionalisation at organisational and national levels in Kenya; Ideas for strengthening the matchmaking service; Ideas for how to institutionalise the service in Kenya.

Background

Climate innovation Ecosystem (CIE) Context
Climate innovation Ecosystem (CIE) has multiple stakeholders/actors who enhance the efficient functioning of the ecosystem. There is a growing demand for climate solutions from businesses (innovations). These innovations are essential for addressing climate change. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are among the most innovative enterprises in building climate resilience. SMEs challenges include poor access to knowledge, expertise, skills, information, innovation-supportive infrastructure, enabling policies. The climate innovation ecosystem (CIE) context provides a framework to seek synergies among multiple stakeholders.

Transdisciplinarity
Transdisciplinarity is pragmatic approach to problem solving through integrating knowledge, skills, and expertise from various stakeholders. Transdisciplinarity is key to building strong systems (in this case CIE). Inclusive transdisciplinarity means not only working across academic disciplines, and with policymakers and private sector entrepreneurs, but also finding ways to enable youth, women, informal sectors to be active and equal participants in the evolution of the CIE. Matchmaking, in our case, is bringing the entrepreneurs based on the needs, the gaps they have, and academics (postgraduate master students) based on their expertise. Match making between CIE entrepreneurs/practitioners and academics (post graduate students) is one way of promoting transdisciplinary actions (research). The project looks at innovation from a very holistic perspective – solutions that are coming out of that ecosystem, not just products, but activities and engagements that result to value addition. Transdisciplinarity provides a framework to seek synergies among the multiple stakeholders who are functioning in that system. It also provides a framework to seek synergies and complementalities between who has the skills and who doesn’t have the skills, what are the gaps and the skills that are needed by the enterprises.

We are all brought together in this space by innovation system thinking, or national system of innovation. System components (actors, institutions, and networks) provide support to the system towards its efficient functioning. Enhancing the functionality of the system and bringing the actors to work together and support each other – that’s transdisciplinarity. We have demonstrated that from the selection we did from the work from the beginning, we understood their gaps and the challenges the enterprises were experiencing. Then we tried to match them with masters students from Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST). By matching them, they were able to work together to provide support and gain practical skills in the process. Some of the benefits that are expected to can accrue from this process include; a) Low carbon technology transfer, the final ultimate agenda for this purpose is to enhance climate change resilience; b) New financing instruments to the private sector; c) Regional cooperation (Kenya cooperating with other actors outside the Country); d) Knowledge management and capacity.

Application of transdisciplinarity in research

Transdisciplinarity can be applied in research in various ways, first, you need to span the ecosystem, you need to understand what is happening with that ecosystem, understand the stakeholders, what are their needs. Subsequently, you conceptually embed what you’ve learnt from the previous step in the data collection tools, methodology and research. This is then followed by knowledge sharing by bringing all actors together and applying the concept in different ways, depending on the field of interest.

Experiences and learnings and recommendations from students and entrepreneurs towards the institutionalization of the matchmaking service at institutional level and national level

Most of the participants highlighted their pleasant experience in the project.

• There’s a high demand for a matchmaking service – the project links industry with academia.
• This linkage has been missing for a long time.
• Graduates aren’t taught enough or prepared enough for the business world or the working world.
• Increased understanding of both sides. Graduates or academia are able to understand industry or business vice versa. Academia and industry are now at par, they are talking to each other.
• Most SMEs’ struggle to raise funds for business activities e.g., website development, registration of domain name, employment of staff etc. Entrepreneurs could approach angel investors to invest in the start-ups/ SMEs.
• Great mentorship and learning of practical skills. Students learnt to practically implement the knowledge that they learnt in university by engaging with the entrepreneurs.
• Short duration of project. Most participants mentioned that the project timeline was too short.
• Needed more time to work on the matched projects.
• The matchmaking platform increases employability of the youth hence they’re able to stay away from vices e.g., drugs
• The project provides a platform to create new practical knowledge to address actual needs of entrepreneurs.
• The matchmaking services provides entrepreneurs with an opportunity to tap into affordable expertise.
• The matchmaking process has enhanced exposure & networking between the students and entrepreneurs.

Recommendations

• More people from various fields to be added to the platform so that entrepreneurs can have a wider variety of students’ expertise to choose from.
• The matched students and entrepreneurs should be in close proximity. Some of the participants mentioned that the distance between the students and entrepreneurs impeded their collaboration.
• Involve angel investors and other actors to provide financial aid to entrepreneurs and the students.
• Widen the scope of the matchmaking platform to other countries.
• Non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to be incorporated to protect the entrepreneurs’ data.
• Need to ensure sustainability of the matchmaking service. Details on what happens after the matched projects to be provided. Need for a long-term engagement policy.
• Incorporation of other actors from different sectors e.g., county governments, industry actors, investors, financial institutions.
• The focus of the platform should move away from academic to building industry that could support institutions, either in research, market development or other areas.
• Student profiles on the platform need to clearly indicate their expertise.
• Need for a sustainable mechanism for knowledge transfer and practical experience that will be used by the student after graduation.
• Introduction of incentives for both students and entrepreneurs.
• Network with government departments and financial institutions (corporate social responsibility) for resource mobilization.
• Add page on website to prompt different actors to contribute resources towards to enable these entrepreneurs to scale up and create value for the entire community.

Conclusion

There is a high demand for a matchmaking service between academia and industry in Kenya. Industrial placement of students in the university is very problematic because most higher education institutions lack career offices. The matchmaking service enables students to connect to entrepreneurs where they are able to learn to practically implement the knowledge that they learnt during their coursework. The students are then able to give back through provision of expertise to address the needs of the entrepreneurs.

There’s a need to expand the scope of the ecosystem actors – the platform could have a greater impact if it was taken up by more actors e.g., TVETs (Technical and Vocational Education and Training). Sometime, the expertise that is required by the entrepreneurs may not be found at university level. The project aims to bring on board TVETs to the platform in the near future. Involvement of policymakers will also be crucial in the eventual institutionalization of the platform at a national level.

A Blog by Martin Wang’endo (ACTS) and Michele Mayuba (Ryculture)

Background

Some of the common phrases used by those who get a chance to escape the confines of the concrete jungle are, “The air just feels different!” “I feel a little healthier!” and “I feel so relaxed!”.

One common factor that can be experienced and related to these emotions is the serenity of the green lush vegetation out of a city. The green vegetation and fresh air has an inexplicable calming effect. A recent study has intimated that a safe and serene environment is actually an antidote for stress: It can lower blood pressure and stress hormone levels, reduce nervous system arousal, enhance immune system function, increase self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and improve mood (Robbins, 2020). It provides a great opportunity to reflect and meditate, while further offering emotional and psychological comfort. Forests and a healthy environment; forest ecosystem which consists of a biological community consisting of all the living organisms (including humans) in a particular area and the nonliving components, such as air, water, and mineral soil, with which the organisms interact (forest ecosystem), have been known to have a positive effect and contributes greatly to our health. The forest ecosystem including the water bodies therein also provides us with our most basic needs of water, food and medicine (US EPA, 2017).

Our concerted efforts, as we work to reduce the impacts of climate change, for the benefit of our environment and ecosystem play a major role in ultimately improving our physical and mental health. This year on the 21^st of March, 2023, the world commemorated the International Day of Forests. This event was themed “Forests and Health”. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention defines mental health as our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Mental health affects how we think, feel, and act. It determines how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. However, mental health is increasingly being linked to climate change and the environment. There is increasing evidence that the environment affects one’s sense of social support, comfort, and level of motivation to daily life and activities. External factors such as crime, racism, and pollution have been shown to greatly and negatively influence people’s health and safety, which can have a profound impact on mental well-being. As mentioned earlier, a healthy environment definitely has a more positive impact on your physical and mental health (Lindberg, 2023).

Slowly, we are appreciating the importance of having a healthy work and personal environment to decompress from the urbanized fast life. Although many people take up different hobbies to help decompress and feel grounded in their lives, one important constant and effective decompressor has always been green spaces. On 25^th March 2023, Ryculture Health and Social Innovation, in partnership with the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), held an intimate activity at the Nairobi Arboretum. This event was to commemorate the International Day of Forest, with a focus on the Nexus between Climate Change and Mental Health with a theme on Promoting Mental Wellbeing through Healthy Environments. This was relevant due the rise in mental health disorders in the general public. The activity brought together people from diverse backgrounds, a large number of youth, some elderly, and it incorporated a range of physical and mental exercises, focus group discussions and nature walks. The focus group discussions were the highlight of the event, where the event participants got to engage in various topics about life such as relationships, family, career and education.

Key highlights

1. Promoting mental wellbeing involves creating healthy environments (both physically and psychologically) free from judgment for people to express themselves and relieve their stress. In the middle of the debate of how relationships have evolved from the African traditional setting and the laughter on various embarrassing family moments common in many African homes, the general thoughts shared were such as, “The air just feels different!” “I feel a little be healthier!” and “I feel so relaxed!”. We got to understand that gardens and parks within Nairobi city, such as Jeevanjee Gardens and Uhuru Park are key in providing us little “forests” in the middle of the concrete jungle to enable us to decompress. It is important to take advantage of these green spaces not only to appreciate nature, but also to improve our wellbeing.
2. Green spaces and more so a healthy environment have a direct relationship to mental health; There is growing evidence to suggest that being in nature has positive effects on people’s mental health. Studies have shown that green spaces can lower levels of stress (Wells et al, 2003) and reduce rates of depression and anxiety, reduce cortisol levels (Park et al, 2010) and improve general well-being, it is broadly conceived that the natural environment can as such enhance positive human health, especially mentally.
3. The buck stops with the youth. As the day was well spent and commemorated, it was further emergent that the youth stand to either bear the brunt of a future with an unhealthy ecosystem and environment, or will be the greatest beneficiaries.
4. The involvement of the youth in active conservation of the environment constitutes meaningful engagement. The youth present broadly agreed that even though in the past, society has not trusted the youth and included them in the decision making process, actively and practically participating in activities such as conservation efforts builds more confidence and trust in the youth. In this way more youth are not only meaningfully engaged, but are now considered valued stakeholders in the decision making processes such as environmental conservation that ultimately benefit the youth and societies’ health.

Conclusion

The generation of youth are constantly coming into terms with the fact that as the ‘future’ of the global societies and even more so in Sub Saharan Africa – where the youth comprise of over 70% of the population (United Nations, 2022) – they need to be more actively involved and engaged in all activities that have to do with conservation of the environment, for their own benefit and keep check on the progressive adverse effects of climate change. As more youth are becoming aware of such relationships as that of a healthy environment and mental wellbeing, it is a call to action to all of us in society to build the capacities of the youth, to provide them with knowledge and awareness on integral topics, and to create enabling environments that allow for these generation to participate in conservation efforts. This needs to go even a step further to research and data that can inform policy on all these activities involving and including the youth to meaningfully engaging them.

Further Reading

Lindberg, S. (2023). How Your Environment Affects Your Mental Health. [online] Verywell Mind. Available at: https://www.verywellmind.com/how-your-environment-affects-your-mental-health-5093687#:~:text=How%20does%20environment%20affect%20mental

Park, B.J., Tsunetsugu, Y., Kasetani, T., Kagawa, T. and Miyazaki, Y. (2009). The physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 15(1), pp.18–26. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12199-009-0086-9

Robbins, J. (2020). Ecopsychology: How Immersion in Nature Benefits Your Health. [online] Yale E360. Available at: https://e360.yale.edu/features/ecopsychology-how-immersion-in-nature-benefits-your-health#:~:text=These%20studies%20have%20shown%20that.United Nations (2022). Young people’s potential, the key to africa’s sustainable development | office of the high representative for the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states. [online] Un.org. Available at: https://www.un.org/ohrlls/news/young-people%E2%80%99s-potential-key-africa%E2%80%99s-sustainable-development

US EPA, O. (2017). Ecological Condition. [online] www.epa.gov. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/report-environment/ecological-condition#:~:text=An%20%E2%80%9Cecological%20system%E2%80%9D%20(ecosystem.

Wells, N.M. and Evans, G.W. (2003). Nearby nature: A buffer of life stress among rural children. Environment and Behavior, 35(3), pp.311–330. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916503035003001

By Dr. Lawrence Nderu

Storytelling is an essential communication tool and can be used as a contextual bridge between play and written narrative. This is something that I discovered when I sat with a five-year-old for the first time and found that I needed new stories to keep up with the child’s appetite for them. I turned to OpenAI for new stories and found several relevant solutions.

As we move towards 2030, which is only eight years from now, the positives and negatives of AI will become more evident. Today’s “hype” will have matured, and every new development will be in our local shops. We will see AI cameras, shopping recommendations, loan application forms, and job interviews, all powered by AI. As with any new or not-so-new development, AI has positive and negative aspects.

One such positive aspect is the work done by researchers and students at the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS). At their supervisor’s meeting held in October 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya, I noticed the many excellent ideas that were being researched and developed. It is essential to consider how we can optimize Africa’s AI efforts and the ongoing research work in Africa and worldwide for the benefit of our people.

However, there are also negative aspects to consider. One such aspect is the question of who holds the data that is the main ingredient for AI. Can we trust other entities to use our data for only the good? The digital divide is a reality in the world and specifically in Africa. We must create awareness at the basic levels of what AI is all about. Creating awareness is the bare minimum. We will need Africa’s top brains to take the challenge of going deeper into these areas and creating solutions for the motherland.

Another critical aspect to consider is the need for favourable funding models. Investing in tech solutions requires unique models; we need funding to have a real problem in our continent. Ideas will be generated in Africa, actualized elsewhere, and with minimal benefits to our people. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the need for research and development.

With more than 28 countries represented in the ACTS scholarship program and many other efforts going on, AI must be for the good of the world and specifically for Africa. It is vital to ensure that funding models are not biased and that everyone shares the benefits of AI. We must also consider the ethical implications of AI and ensure that it is used for the betterment of society.

In conclusion, while AI has many positive aspects, we must also be aware of the negative aspects and work to mitigate them. By creating awareness, investing in research and development, and ensuring that funding models are not biased, we can ensure that AI is used for the world’s good and specifically for Africa. With the work of researchers and students at the African Centre for Technology Studies and other efforts, we can look forward to a bright future for AI in Africa.

Dr. Lawrence Nderu is a Lecturer at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT- Kenya), School of Computing and Information Technology (SCIT) in the Department of Computing and a supervisor under the AI4D Africa project.

By Dr. Neema Mduma

Crop diseases are substantially problematic for agricultural yield management and a major threat to food security. On addressing this challenge which facing agricultural sector in Tanzania, Dr. Neema Mduma, a lecturer at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) in Arusha, Tanzania, is developing a mobile application for early detection of diseases affecting maize and banana.

She is a Post doctorial researcher under the Artificial Intelligence for Development Africa (AI4D Africa) funded by IDRC & SIDA.  Dr. Mduma is currently supervising two Masters’ scholars (Christian Elinisa and Flavia Mayo) admitted at the NM-AIST  with support from the AI4D Africa project implemented by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS). Dr. Mduma is leading the project which focuses on applying machine learning on addressing challenges facing agricultural sector particularly in crop diseases. Crop diseases are substantially problematic for agricultural yield management and a major threat to food security. Compounded with insufficient information to correctly diagnose crop diseases, can lead to significant economic loss and yield inefficiencies. However, identifying the diseases rapidly is still a difficult task in many parts of the world including Tanzania due to the lack of the necessary infrastructure.

“My research is focused on developing the Deep Learning Techniques for Early Detection of Crop Diseases. I have decided to work on this area due to the fact that, deep learning techniques when accurately trained, provide convenient solutions to the problem as compared to the traditional approaches. However, training deep learning models require large amount of data, and most developing countries including Tanzania are still lacking sufficient data to facilitate research activities in this field. Therefore, this project aims to generate datasets that will facilitate machine learning activities and develop deep learning techniques for early detection of maize and banana diseases. The model will then be deployed in a mobile based application to allow stakeholders to easily interact with the developed solution.”

There are numbered of crops which are highly affected by diseases however, Dr. Mduma decided to focus on maize and banana. This is because maize and banana are among the important staple food and cash crops which are largely produced by smallholder farmers with more than 70 million people producing throughout the humid and sub-humid tropic of Africa. Regardless of their importance in the household food security and subsistence, these crops are largely affected by diseases particularly maize lethal necrosis and maize streak for maize and black sigatoka and fusarium wilt race 1 for banana. Automated detection and quantification of plant diseases would enable more rapid gains in plant breeding and faster scouting of farmers’ fields. However, training a deep learning model to accurately detect a given disease from images taken in the field requires a massive amount of human-generated training data. Since, there are lack of publicly available datasets to facilitate machine learning activities in Africa, this project proposed to generate datasets for maize and banana images and develop deep learning techniques for early detection of crop diseases. The expected outcome of the proposed study is a mobile application for small-holder farmers to easily identify and detect crop diseases for early intervention. Furthermore, the datasets generated from this project will be shared in machine learning open access platforms to facilitate research and teaching at different initiatives in Africa and globally.

“The application developed from this project will help small-holder farmers and agricultural extension officers to early detect maize lethal necrosis and maize streak for maize and black sigatoka and fusarium wilt race 1 for banana. The technological solution developed from this project, will help agricultural stakeholders to have early disease detection tool which will help them to opt for reliable control measures for more productivity.”

Dr. Mduma and her students have started to disseminate preliminary findings of this project through different platforms. On 25^th November 2022, Christian Elinisa and Flavia Mayo presented their papers in the 1^st International Conference on Technological Advancement in Embedded and Mobile Systems (ICTA-EMOS) titled, “Mask R-CNN Model for Banana Disease Segmentation” and “Convolutional Neural Network Deep Learning Model for Early Detection of Streak Virus and and Lethal Necrosis in maize: A case of Northern-highlands, Tanzania” respectively. The papers will be published in Springers and the book of abstract can be accessed in this link: https://icta-emos.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/10112022_UOL_NM-AIST_Book-of-Abstract__DS.pdf

The preliminary findings of this project were also shared in the ICTA-EMOS poster sessions.

Flavia Mayo (left) and Christian Elinisa (right) and in the ICTA-EMOS poster session

Poster session in the ICTA-EMOS with conference General Chair, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jorge Marx Gómez from the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg (Germany)

The preliminary findings of this project were also disseminated in the Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS) conference, Women in Machine Learning (WiML) and Black in AI Workshops in New Orleans, Luisiana (USA) in December 2022.

Authors: Erica Atieno, (ACTS) , Lindah Fatuma, (ACTS) and Deborah Murphy, (IISD)

Climate change is one of the main global challenges against sustainable development with experts warning of grave consequences for vulnerable populations in developing countries who face the harshest threats and, therefore, likely to suffer disproportionately because of its negative effects.

This trend is projected to continue taking a heavy toll on development prospects of most African countries. Significantly, the impacts of climate change have far-reaching and direct implications across all sectors of the economy, including food security, human health, and biodiversity (Das et al.,2020). Thus, the dependence of African economies on climate-sensitive sectors, particularly agriculture and natural resources, coupled with low adaptive capacity and high poverty levels makes the continent prone and highly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. (Thornton et al.,2006).

Adaptation is one of society’s primary options for dealing with climate change. As temperatures rise and the effects of climate change worsen, nations must act quickly to adapt to the new climate reality or face significant costs due to the impacts of climate change. A significant amount of resources and coordinated efforts among different stakeholders ranging from the public sector to the private sector is required to address these challenges. So far, multilateral development banks (MDBs) are the prominent public sources of public adaptation financing for developing countries (USD 14.9 billion in 2015-16); followed by the relatively small contributions of bilateral donor governments and their agencies (USD 2.4 billion in 2015-2016) and the financial mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), including the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund (USD 0.4 billion in 2015-2016) (Tall, et al., 2021).

Although public finance is crucial in the implementation of adaptation efforts, private sector sources of funding are required to supplement and close the adaptation funding gap especially in light of the limited public resources (CIF, 2016).  Participation of the private sector in adaptation financing in developing countries is still relatively lower than it is in developed countries due to concerns on bankability, limited capacity and high risks of investments.

The most common financial instruments that have been used in climate finance include grants, concessional and non-concessional loans. Apart from these traditional financing approaches, there is need to utilise a variety of innovative climate finance instruments that overcome common risks, close market gaps and address some of the concerns that hinder the private sector from financing adaptation actions. Innovative financial instruments have special features that can help developing countries fill the adaptation funding gap by:

1. Mobilising additional public funding e.g. through imposition of taxes and levies;
2. Mobilising additional private funding e.g. through public private partnerships or blended financing, and
3. Enhancing efficiency in financial flows, such as through the use of result-based financing and output-based aid subsidies.

Innovative Financial Instruments: A Case Study of Kenya Microfinance Water Service Project

At the forefront of improving knowledge of innovative financial instruments to scale-up investments in adaptation in developing countries, the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) recently explored the potential of innovative financial instruments in financing adaptation through a 3-year project – Mobilizing Development Finance for Strategic and Scaled-up Investment for Climate Change Adaptation – funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in partnership with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).

Through the project, ACTS documented success factors, challenges and key lessons for replicability and scalability on the use of innovative financial instruments for climate change adaptation in developing countries focusing on  Kenya Microfinance Water Service project. The project utilised a blended financial approach that involved a strategic mix of financial instruments – grants, credit guarantees, output-based aid (OBA) subsidies and loans – to finance rehabilitation and establishment of water infrastructure in the rural and peri-urban areas. The project aimed to enhance access and increase efficiency to water supply to enhance the adaptive capacity of communities to climate change. The blending of financial streams leveraged commercial financing from the private sector to improve the risk-return profile of the initiative. Multiple sources of funds bridged the gap between the supply and demand of private finance, a key challenge that exists in adaptation financing (Fayolle et al.,2019).

However, the project experienced four key challenges as outlined below:

• Limited capacity by the local banks to handle project financing;
• Limited bankability of loan applications;
• Governance issues in terms of leadership wrangles in managing the community water projects;
• Competition from other service providers whereby the local authority argued that water should be a free service without considering the sustainability of the projects.

On the other hand, several factors enhanced the success of the project:

• Blending of finances which enabled utilisation of multiple sources of funds, such as community equity, a commercial loan, and OBA subsidies, which encouraged the mobilization of domestic financing;
• A risk mitigation instrument in the form of a partial credit guarantee scheme provided some degree of comfort to the lender;
• Consumer willingness and ability to pay for services which enabled selection of viable projects that could sustain themselves in the long run; Provision of technical assistance to the projects for project development and implementation support.

As a result, due to the above success factors, the project enhanced access to and efficiency in water supply services in 35 water projects, reaching 190,119 beneficiaries as of February 2013 and a positive economic rate of return of US$2-US$10 for every US$1 invested (GPOBA,2015). Indications also pointed to a high potential of the project being replicated in other subnational and national jurisdictions.

Replicability and Potential for Scalability

The project was later scaled up with additional funding from the European Union which clearly demonstrates its replicability and scalability potential in other developing countries and other sectors of the economy. The blending of finances and the results-based financial approach through the use of subsidies has been adopted by various projects and commercial banks. This demonstrates its potential to be utilised in other African nations to help unlock private sector investment in adaptation financing.

To enhance successful replicability and scalability of the model in other countries, it would be important to build the internal capacity of commercial banks and other institutions where gaps exist, de-risk adaptation investments through the use of incentives such as subsidies and credit guarantee schemes, align policy frameworks with adaptation investments and invest in data and knowledge sharing to create awareness and enable investors to make informed decisions.

References

• Das, S., Ghosh, A., Hazra, S. Ghosh, T., de Campos, R.S. & Samanta, S. (2020). Linking IPCC AR4 & AR5 frameworks for assessing vulnerability and risk to climate change in the Indian Bengal Delta. Progress in Disaster Science, 7, 100110.
• Thornton, P., Jones, P.G., Owiyo, T.M., Kruska, R.L., Herrero, M., Kristjanson, P., Notenbaert, A., Bekele, N., Orindi, V., Otiende, B., Ochieng, A., Bhadwal, S., Anantram, K., Nair, S., Kumar, V., & Kulkar, U.  (2006).  Mapping climate vulnerability and poverty in Africa. Report to the Department for International Development submitted by ILRI, TERI and ACTS.
• Climate Investment Funds (CIF). 2016. Private Sector Investment in Climate Adaptation in Developing Countries: Landscape, Lessons Learned and Future Opportunities.
• Fayolle, V., Fouvet, C., Soundarajan, V., Nath, V., Acharya, S., Gupta, N., & Petrarulo, L. (2019). Engaging the private sector in financing adaptation to climate change: Learning from practice. Action on Climate Today Learning Paper, February.
• Global Partnership on Output-based Aid (GPOBA). (2015). Kenya Micro-Finance for Water Service Project – Kenya. Project completion report. GPOBA, World Bank.
• Tall, A., Lynagh, S., Blanco Vecchi, C., Bardouille, P., Montoya Pino, F., Shabahat, E., Stenek, V., Stewart, F., Power, S., Paladainces, C., Neves, P. & Kerr, L. (2021). Enabling Private Investment in Climate Adaptation and Resilience. World Bank Group and Global Facility for Disaster Reudciton and Recovery.

By Prof. Rebecca Hanlin, African Centre of Technology Studies (ACTS)/ University of Johannesburg

When we think of match-making, I expect many of us think about online dating websites or mothers’ setting up their children with ‘appropriate’ potential future spouses.  However, the concept of match-making has moved in recent years into the business sector.

Trade missions often run matching services between businesses in different countries while government enterprise departments or business associations run matching services for businesses from different sectors.  Traditionally, such efforts have been conducted face-to-face but, just as in the dating world, these activities are increasingly moving online.

In Kenya business match-making regularly takes place through Chambers of Commerce (e.g., the American Chamber of Commerce runs a matching service between Kenyan and US businesses), while companies like B2B consulting in Kenya help match companies together (B2B standing for ‘business to business’).  Some of this is sectoral, and so, in the agriculture space, Innovation Norway ran a business match-making service in 2020 to bring together companies in the agri-tech space from different African and European countries together.

In a similar vein, the TransCIIT project has run a match-making pilot to assist Kenyan climate innovation entrepreneurs meet and work with talented Kenyan students who are looking for practical experience and can fill gaps in the knowledge and expertise needed by entrepreneurs.  Details of the project are outlined in one the project blogs available here.

The student-entrepreneur match-making service is not the first of its kind.  If you Google ‘student entrepreneur match-making’ several articles come up about programmes set up in the US in particular.  However, if you Google this and add the words ‘Africa’, ‘Kenya’ or ‘South Africa’ very little comes up.  Similar services e.g., Harambee in South Africa or the Digital Skills for an Innovative East African Industry programme, are focused mostly on getting young people into jobs.

The TransCIIT project does this i.e., helps young people with their employability either through getting work experience in the case of the students or working towards making entrepreneurs’ businesses more viable and sustainable.  However, it is also unique in that it is focused more on students when they are students and not waiting until they have finished their studies.  It is also focused on Masters’ students and not undergraduate students.  Specifically, the project focuses on supporting the students with opportunities for practical experimentation with the skills they have learnt in the classroom.  Despite a lot of rhetoric to the contrary, many university degree programmes on the African continent are still too heavily focused on theory and insufficiently focused on the practical application of theory.

At the same time, the project is focused on providing entrepreneurs with the opportunity to fill gaps in their businesses.  Students have worked with entrepreneurs to build systems (be they related to accounting, business plans or social media strategies) that can be progressed after the student has returned back to their studies.  As such, this project has resulted in two-way learning: student to entrepreneur and entrepreneur to student.

Just like the dating world, the project has also moved the match-making process for the future online.  The project team have worked with an IT consultant to develop a matching website which allows students to submit their expertise profiles and entrepreneurs to post their business dilemmas/ needs.  Students and entrepreneurs then self-match if one party identifies a skill that they need or dilemma they can solve.

As this current project draws to a close the website is left as a legacy of the project. It is hoped that existing partners, Kenya Climate Innovation Centre (KCIC) and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST), will continue to use it to match students and entrepreneurs together.  In South Africa, project partners are also investigating how they can utilise the match-making service website.

Just as the Netflix show, Indian Matchmakers, has bought into focus and debate match-making in the dating world, we are pleased that the TransCIIT project has allowed us to bring to the fore the potential of student-entrepreneur match-making in the business world.

By Rob Byrne, SPRU, University of Sussex

12^th September 2022

Now that our TransCIIT* project has finished, we can reflect a little on what it has achieved and what this may mean. But, before getting to those reflections, it may be useful to recap briefly what the project did.

The full name of TransCIIT – Transforming Climate Innovation Ecosystems through Inclusive Transdisciplinarity – tries to convey the bigger challenge to which our small project was attempting to contribute constructively. It is generally acknowledged that innovation ecosystems across Africa need to be strengthened in many ways. Science, technology and innovation (STI), if nurtured and harnessed well, are expected to make significant contributions to African efforts to achieve the kind of transformative change necessary to realise sustainable development. Effective climate change action is one the imperatives of sustainable development and productive linkages between universities and private firms are crucial for ensuring STI is focused on addressing the problems citizens encounter in any given context. But, more than this, transformative change for sustainability means attending to how STI is conducted, who is involved, and who benefits; it is not just about getting climate innovations to market. This is why we have been concerned in TransCIIT with inclusivity and transdisciplinarity. We have taken inclusivity to mean nurturing the talents of young and female entrepreneurs and students. And transdisciplinarity means bringing together actors from academia, the private sector, policy, and those active as intermediaries, to focus on meeting societal challenges.

Within the frame of this bigger picture, using funding from the Innovation for African Universities (IAU) Programme, TransCIIT sought to connect a small number of climate innovation entrepreneurs with master’s students, working only in Kenya. The central, and simple, idea of TransCIIT is that climate innovation entrepreneurs – especially those who are young and/or female – while building their businesses, meet many challenges they do not have the resources to address. Meanwhile, master’s students are developing specialist skills and knowledge in their courses but have little chance to apply these in real-world problem-solving. If they were to get the opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge, they would not only help to solve real-world problems, but they would also enhance their capabilities along with their confidence and employability. Over the past eight months (January to August, 2022), the activities of TransCIIT have centred on establishing entrepreneur-student matched pairs (nine were established), for which each student agreed with each entrepreneur a business problem that needed solving, overseeing these matched projects to completion, and developing a proof-of-concept website that could be used post-TransCIIT to facilitate this kind of matchmaking service.

All nine matched projects have now completed, covering a range of business sectors and solving – or at least addressing – a range of business problems. And we now have a functioning proof-of-concept website to assist the matchmaking process. On 5 September, we held an online event to showcase TransCIIT’s activities, the nine matched projects, the website, and to discuss TransCIIT’s legacy. There is no space here to discuss the details of the showcase event, but questionnaire responses afterwards suggest it was received extremely well – as an event but, more importantly, in terms of what the participants thought about such a matchmaking service and what they hoped to do post-project. As the lead for TransCIIT, I have to say that I am not only delighted by what we have achieved together (the TransCIIT team but, more significantly, the entrepreneurs and students in their matched projects, and the website developer, Phanuel Mutuma), I am also relieved! We suffered various delays to this phase of TransCIIT, partly because of personal and partly because of administrative reasons. And, as with most projects these days, COVID-19 played its part in slowing things down. The experience of these delays suggests lessons for how to mitigate risks in highly ambitious – and short – projects, and it suggests lessons for project funding models. But these are not reflections I shall consider in this short piece. Instead, as I said at the outset of this blog, I wish to reflect on what TransCIIT has achieved and what this may mean.

One of the enduring impressions for me from the experience this past eight months is from the matchmaking event we held in May. This two-hour online event involved all the entrepreneurs and students who had expressed interest in the service we were piloting and so it is reasonable to assume they felt some degree of enthusiasm for the idea. But they grasped the opportunity so tightly and agreed matches so quickly that it was obvious to us in the TransCIIT team that this service could be in high demand, were it offered more widely. As if to underline this impression, during an in-person meeting at our project partner KCIC’s offices in Nairobi (a meeting arranged as part of the AfricaLics PhD Academy, not for TransCIIT, although the TransCIIT team were present), the discussion between entrepreneurs and PhD students turned towards how the entrepreneurs would really like to be able to make use in their businesses of the skills and knowledge the students possessed. We had not mentioned TransCIIT in this meeting, and we had not asked a question that might have prompted such a discussion. The desire expressed by the entrepreneurs emerged entirely organically. It felt to us that TransCIIT was indeed responding to a bottom-up (latent) demand.

From the comments and feedback expressed in the showcase event, it seems that the matched projects worked in many (if not all) ways for both the entrepreneurs and students. Unsurprisingly, tightly limited resources were perhaps the most important constraint. We were able to pay the students for their time and to provide support for data packages for everyone to meet online along with some travel costs for a few in-person meetings. But we were unable to provide any substantial financial support for the entrepreneurs, such as for investing in equipment. If this kind of service were to be scaled up, these additional sorts of support might be worth considering.

Beyond the benefits of the project to entrepreneurs and students, our partners KCIC and JOOUST said they too see the service as one to continue to develop. KCIC, as a business incubation intermediary working in the climate change action domain, see the potential of being able to connect their SME clients to students who can help solve business problems as an important addition to the services they already provide. And JOOUST, whose master’s students participated in the project, can see the benefit for them in providing better – and more attractive – education and training on their courses.

In terms of the legacy of TransCIIT, there are some points worth raising here. One, several students can now see opportunities to make use of their skills and knowledge post-education as consultants and so may themselves become entrepreneurs. Others will make use of their experience in the matched projects to demonstrate their value to potential employers. Some students have been so enthused by their interactions with the entrepreneurs that they wish to continue their work voluntarily. Two, several entrepreneurs expressed their satisfaction with what the students were able to do for them, saying that they have been able to make huge strides forward in their businesses. They said they were delighted to have been able to get this opportunity and hoped it would be further supported.

So, I think it is reasonable to be pleased with the outcomes of the TransCIIT project, even as we acknowledge its challenges and limitations. There is plenty that we have learned and plenty more to reflect upon as others consider taking up what we have piloted. We believe we have demonstrated the value of a matchmaking service, that a small number of entrepreneurs and students have already enjoyed tangible benefits, that at least two organisations – KCIC and JOOUST – will seek to develop the ideas, and that the matchmaking website can act as an example platform for helping to scale up the service. There will be challenges for institutionalising this, especially in terms of who will pay for students’ time, for additional costs, and potentially for more substantial support for entrepreneurs. Based on what we have seen in the TransCIIT experience, it must be clear that an argument for the government to use some of its R&D budget to fund this kind of service would be strong. The domain of SMEs is often neglected in efforts to support innovation, with much interest instead focused on science-intensive work seeking exciting inventions. There is nothing wrong with this kind of effort but SME innovation activities and the infrastructure that enables these needs serious attention as well.

Our TransCIIT project has made a small contribution to part of the innovation ecosystem bigger picture, ambitious though the project was, given its time and resource constraints. I wish to thank everyone for the part they played in the project, especially the students who worked so hard to complete their matched projects in such a short time. And, on behalf of the TransCIIT team, I would like to offer my best wishes to the entrepreneurs and students as they take forward their individual plans. TransCIIT has been a short but eventful journey for us all.

*TransCIIT includes five partner organisations

• KCIC: Kenya Climate Innovation Center
• JOOUST: Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology
• Plus three partners who already collaborate in the Trilateral Research Chair on Transformative Innovation, the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Sustainable Development
• ACTS: African Centre for Technology Studies
• University of Johannesburg
• University of Sussex

By Solomon Ogara, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) and Ernest Chitechi, Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC)

The showcase event was held online on 5^th September, 11:00 am – 1:30 pm EAT. More than 26  Innovation ecosystem (IE) stakeholders and matched project participants (entrepreneurs and industrial fellows) participated in the event. Participants included students and entrepreneurs from the matched projects, representatives from partner organizations, the British Council, IAU programme, government ministries and parastatals, other stakeholders and the project team. The main aim of the showcase event was to present the results of the matchmaking project.  The event included matched project posters presentations, reflections & lessons learnt, a showcase of pilot matchmaking website and discussions on the project legacy.

The showcase event began with opening remarks from Dr. Ann Kingiri from ACTS. Dr. Byrne gave an overview of the IAU program as well as the aims of the IAU programme as follows: i) to support the development of Africa-UK university partnerships that build institutional capacity for higher education engagement in entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems in selected African countries, and ii) to strengthen entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems and improve support for young people seeking to develop job creation entities and sustainable enterprises. The programme is implemented by City University (UK) and other partners and has been running for a period of one year, with phase 1 in  September-December 2021, while phase 2 (January-September 2022). In Phase 1, the project focused on defining a problem and designing an intervention to address the problem. Phase 2 involved implementation of that intervention. In phase 2 eight (8) masters students (5 male and 4 female) from Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Kenya, were matched with 9 business enterprises (7 male owned and 2 female owned). The student backgrounds include: Information Technology (5), Human Resource (1), Analytical Chemistry (1), and Strategic Management (1). The enterprises include waste management; agribusiness, electronic waste recycling, textile and bioethanol fuel production. The paired matches are short projects to be implemented between July and August 2022. Students assigned to specific entrepreneurs based on skills required to address the entrepreneurs business needs such as business operations, business and marketing plans/activities, social media Logos and branding, e-commerce website and content creation, entrepreneur training and Ethanol production.

The event adopted the use of Miro board to share the students’ success stories with their matched entrepreneurs. The two hour window of the event would not allow all the students to showcase their matched projects. Therefore, two students (male and female) were selected to showcase challenges and lessons learnt from the matched projects. Ms. Merrilyn Chizanga worked with Ms. Rose Shikuku of Fibertext Green Paper Enterprise that delas with production of packaging materials from banana fiber. The entrepreneur faced the following challenges: i) poor sales, ii) lack of social media presence, iii) lack of branding, and iv) lack of production equipment to automate the production process. The entrepreneur handled all the firm activities manually. The key accomplishment during this period included: i) development of business and marketing goals, ii) drawing up a business and marketing plan together with the entrepreneur, iii) digitization of the business innovation through creation of social media accounts (social media presence with a following of at least 300 potential clients -Twitter, Instagram, Facebook), iv) building the Industrial Partners capacity on resource mobilization to expand business, for example, how to search for and apply for small grants to fund and expand the innovation. In the process Merrylyn assisted the entrepreneur to apply for 4 Grants, v) designed a Logo for product branding. The observation here is that the matchmaking project clearly demonstrated that students have skills and expertise they can apply to make positive impact on the business climate ecosystems.

Mr. Richard Sijenyi worked with Mr. Zack Brian Ouma of Oxbow Technologies – dealers of e-waste to clean the environment while creating value chains to empower communities for livelihoods and economic sustainability. The key accomplishment during this period included: i) assisting the company to change from sole proprietorship to partnership, ii) registering the company, ii) establishment of board of directors, iii) development of marketing information, documents and branding, for example, website, email address, physical office space, business cards established and acquired, iv) creation of  office space complete with two interns to manage acquired office, v) establishment of collaborations with other partners including World Electrical and Electronics Equipment Centre, Circular innovation Hub, and Kenya Climate Innovation Center. Among the challenges faced were: i) financial challenges for enterprise startups not catered for and as a result, some activities could not be completed due to lack of a budget. This affected/inhibited some expected outcomes of the project, ii) project duration was too short. Engagements were rushed and even curtailed. This impacted expected outcomes,  iii) political activities in the country and the general elections, and iv) inadequate project fund allocation for administrative and facilitation for industrial fellows.

Despite the project ending in September 2022 some of the students have committed to continue working with the entrepreneurs on a volunteer basis beyond the project period in order to implement some of their proposals. This is something the project team never envisioned at the beginning of the project. Both the entrepreneurs and students will benefit through this partnership in that students will have the opportunity to implement their ideas while entrepreneurs will benefit from free technical expertise from the student. This aspect builds into one of the three core functions of the University – outreach. Community outreach is an important component in assuring improved economic outcomes for people in need. Universities can partner with non-governmental organizations from around neighboring communities to provide students with opportunities to volunteer their time and expertise to help local business enterprises. Academia can address the business needs in class and allow students to brainstorm ideas or projects they can do to create an impact in the innovation ecosystem.

The second major activity during this event was to demonstrate how the Website could be used to match students and entrepreneurs based on identified business needs. This was in fulfillment of the second project objective – to develop a Website to facilitate matchmaking between students and entrepreneurs. The Website is a Web based match making application that can be viewed in mobile devices as well. The functionality of the match making application clearly demonstrates the thinking, creativity and expertise of the Web designers and the team who worked very closely to translate what was done in the physical into a workable web application. The application was developed by Mr. Phanuel Mutuma, a former IT graduate from Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology. The technical expertise then went into Website development clearly demonstrates the talent we have in our Universities and that could be used by entrepreneurs. The application allows both entrepreneurs and students to create accounts and upload their profiles. It has provisions for students to summarize their expertise which are made visible to the entrepreneurs. Likewise, entrepreneurs’ business needs are made visible to the students. Entrepreneurs can then search the database of students and select the best match based on the expertise/skills displayed. They have the option to select as many students as possible and later narrow down the list to the best possible match. Likewise, students have the choice to select entrepreneurs based on the business needs displayed. If satisfied with the match the application allows them to contact each other through email. If any party changes their mind regarding the match the application allows them to drop the match and select another one. We believe that this application has the potential to enhance academia and industry relationship.

Listening to the comments of the participants and reflecting on the presenters in this event the positive impact of this project is certainly evident. The lessons learnt from this showcase will be useful in improving any future similar activity.

1. Although TransCIIT was quite ambitious despite the limited resources and time available – the project was a success. The enthusiasm of the students and entrepreneurs for this service was obvious during the showcase event.
2. Both students and entrepreneurs pointed out the challenges with completing projects in the planned 30 days.
3. The commitment of all team players including students and entrepreneurs from the beginning to the end contributed partially to the success of the showcase event.
4. Broader IAU programme efforts to build a community helped us too, including forging some new connections.
5. The Showcase event clearly suggests there is a huge latent demand for this matchmaking application which can be scaled up or institutionalized. Both entrepreneurs and students can benefit from such a service, but so too can universities and innovation ecosystem intermediaries.
6. The Showcase event has demonstrated some of the possibilities and developed a matchmaking tool, but it will need others to escalate this further.
7. Policymakers can use the Showcase event to develop more effective innovation policy geared towards enhancing the academia and industry collaboration.
8. Universities can use this tool to enhance the employability of their graduates and develop closer connections to other parts of the national innovation ecosystem. Intermediaries can see how they could improve the services they offer to their innovation ecosystem clients.
9. The matchmaking application can be used by Startups firms focused on multidisciplinary approach to source and share ideas, providing consistent guidance, consultancy and mentorship.

By Faith Wandera, African Centre for Technology Studies and Ann Numi, African Centre for Technology Studies/Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology

Nine projects were implemented under the Transforming Climate Innovation Ecosystems through Inclusive Transdisciplinarity (TransCIIT) Project. The focal areas of the projects included energy, agribusiness, fashion, packaging and recycling. The project outcomes ride on digital solutions to address planning, management, human resource, visibility and resource mobilisation challenges faced by climate innovation enterprises.

The students started by defining the enterprise needs, described how the needs would be addressed using technology, and identified the adoption issues before elaborating the specific actions required. The approach used by the students hinges on the analysis of the value chains of different products in order to identify the deficiencies. Digital and technological approaches were then used to devise solutions that address the identified deficiencies thereby enabling the products to be fully deployed in the market. The approach contributes to different outcomes in developing climate innovation solutions.

Project Outcomes

The project outcomes are classified into short-term and long-term.

Short term outcomes

Matchmaking service benefits

The pilot match-making service (MMS) in Kenya was between ten entrepreneurs and ten postgraduate students working under the supervision of project team members.  This outcome relates to Work Package (WP) 1: Match-making pilot. Entrepreneurs and students recognised the benefits of attending a matchmaking event and making use of the MMS. The capacity of entrepreneurs to improve their business planning skills, electronic media presence, resource mobilisation and branding knowledge was enhanced.

Feedback from the students and entrepreneurs highlights the importance of the MMS for start-ups and the ability to apply academic knowledge to real life situations. The TransCIIT project demonstrates a promising model based on the Innovation for African Universities (IAU) programme structure (3 months of problem identification and 9 months of intervention). This model worked for the TransCIIT project, but there was consensus that a longer period was desirable.  There is a latent demand for MMS in Kenya and the potential for institutionalisation exists.

Awareness creation

Raising awareness is an outcome under WP4 (Communications), and was achieved through different channels including social media, blogs, email inquiries, advertising, electronic and print media. Advertising the MMS helped raise public awareness among women and youth entrepreneurs leading to increased interest, positive responses, and ease of recruiting students. A summary of the nine Blogs that communicate various aspects of the Project is presented below:

• Blog 1 – Overview of TransCIIT matchmaking project: contributes to clear understanding among ecosystem stakeholders of the intentions and plan of the TransCIIT matchmaking project.
• Blog 2 –  Reflections on the Entrepreneur survey: improves the understanding of the status – needs, gaps, opportunities and nature – of entrepreneurs’ requests for skills and knowledge.
• Blog 3 –  Reflections of the matchmaking event: informs ecosystem stakeholders how well the pilot worked, and associated challenges.
• Blog 4 –  Reflections of the matchmaking process: promotes understanding among innovation ecosystem actors in Kenya and beyond, of the value of the MMS and how the service can be implemented.
• Blog 5 – Overview of matched projects underway: increases awareness of and interest in all the matched projects and the actors involved.
• Blog 6 – Reflections/stock taking on the matchmaking project to date: increases awareness among ecosystem stakeholders of the matchmaking process, matched projects, and how the service can be improved.
• Blog 7 – Reflections on matched project outcomes: raises awareness among ecosystem stakeholders of the matched project outcomes, the benefits gained, problems encountered, and what this means for improving the matchmaking service.
• Blog 8 – Reflections on the showcase event: raises awareness of the event, understanding of the MMS and ways the service could be improved.
• Blog 9 –  Reflections on the whole of the matchmaking project: is based on final report and promotes an understanding among innovation ecosystem actors in Kenya and beyond of the value of the matchmaking service and how to implement it.

Capacity building and Learning

The project actors experienced some learning and capacity building that could be leveraged to further develop the project legacy. The project elicited the desire to enhance collaboration between industry and academia with respect to climate innovation entrepreneurship. The passion of some students to continue working with entrepreneurs on a voluntary basis beyond the has been ignited.

The lessons from the TransCIIT project are likely to be useful for other projects such as the Kenya Industry and Entrepreneurship project (funded by the World Bank). The basic and informal support offered is different from the formalised industry-academic support offered in other projects. The need to bridge the disconnect between technical and academic knowledge with the needs and practical knowledge held by entrepreneurial firms, particularly small businesses is pertinent.

The desk review of experiences on transdisciplinary projects provides useful lessons relating to knowledge co-creation, project co-benefits, strategy, managing expectations and power dynamics applicable to other match-making initiatives in Kenya and Africa.

Long-term (beyond the Project) Outcomes

Student, entrepreneur benefits and economic growth

The TransCIIT Project contributes to reducing the unemployment of youth by enhancing student skills and consequently their employability. Entrepreneurs acquired valuable knowledge through interaction with students, that contributes to robustness and viability of business plans. The focus on youth and women promotes inclusivity attributed to the increased productive interactions between academia, entrepreneurs, policymakers and citizens and is important for more inclusive economic growth on the African continent. This is particularly relevant for addressing the challenges faced by young and female entrepreneurs. Noticeable enthusiasm has been generated among the students and entrepreneurs, despite the limited time and resources at the disposal of the project team.

Match-making beyond the Project

The website developed during the project is part of the project legacy and demonstrates proof-of-concept. It will be available for use as a match making tool for similar future MMS between entrepreneurs and students. The TransCIIT Project more or less sets the pace for developing tools for use in transdisciplinary projects, and future projects are challenged to develop additional tools. The number of documented transdisciplinary projects that bring together students and entrepreneurs are limited, both in Kenya and Africa. It is envisaged that the Project experience will be advanced through collaboration with University of Johannesburg centre for entrepreneurship & approach beneficiaries of the IAU programme such as the Witz innovation hub.

Institutionalisation of MMS

The showcase and the next steps events were designed to contribute to institutionalising matchmaking at national level under WP 3. The showcase event demonstrates the benefits of the MMS to stakeholders outside the innovation ecosystem. There is a possibility of scaling up the Project experience by engaging further with higher education institutions, public and private sector entities. This encompasses the prioritization of policy engagement and dialogue with decision makers at institutional and national levels.

Partnerships

The Project contributes to building international partnerships, improving visibility and positioning participating institutions for future collaboration opportunities. It promotes the championing of entrepreneurship and innovation within the higher education space and supports its development across Sub Saharan Africa. It also enables partner organisations to develop respective brands as leaders within the international and African higher education space.

Working with the broader IAU programme community was useful for knowledge exchange.  Much as the TransCIIT Project was a partnership between Kenya, South Africa and UK, new linkages were established with the IAU community through webinars and informal communication. The project challenges innovation scholars to build supportive infrastructure for innovation as opposed to stimulating exciting innovations.

Issues encountered and implications

The time allocated to completion of projects proved to be limiting. This implies the need to factor in more realistic timelines for future similar projects. The resources available for the project did not adequately meet the needs of the students and entrepreneurs. This is a useful lesson on plan activities within the resources available and being realistic about what can be achieved within the stipulated time.

By Ernest Chitechi, Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC)

Transforming Climate Innovation Ecosystems through Inclusive Transdisciplinarity (TransCIIT) project

Innovation is the engine for economic development, and jobs creations, and helps to combat climate change. Climate change presents immense challenges to developing countries, Kenya included but also tremendous opportunities. With many climate enterprises already scaling up with the help of incubators and accelerators, a key next step involves identifying the most promising ones and helping them accelerate their growth, create more jobs, and possibly export products or services with support from institutions of higher learning.

Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) is therefore highly supportive of efforts by transforming climate innovation ecosystems through the inclusive transdisciplinarity (TranCIIT) project which looks at understanding what role universities could play in establishing strong relations in the Climate Innovation Ecosystem.

Partnerships between academia and industry are not a new thing. Although their profile has grown in recent years. For the past few decades, more organizations are turning to universities for early-stage research. One of the biggest obstacles is the limited time and resources academics and industry professionals have to connect with one another. Without university-industry matchmaking, finding and building connections requires massive amounts of engagement from both parties.

The TranCIIT project began by investigating how to establish stronger relations between the full range of actors in Kenya’s climate innovation ecosystem (CIE). This rested on the premise that Kenya’s climate Innovation Ecosystem faces systemic challenges. Entrepreneurs particularly youth and women running micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) were found to be lacking enabling policies, and have poor access to knowledge, expertise, skills, information, and innovation-supportive infrastructure.

KCIC which supports the growth and development of innovative sustainable business models and technologies for sustainable economic growth and employment creation in Kenya was tasked with the responsibility of identifying entrepreneurs who would then be matched with university students.  The survey involved the development of a questionnaire that was shared with 12 enterprises shortlisted by KCIC. The questionnaire sort to identify the business and or technical challenges and or needs faced by the entrepreneur. The entrepreneur was to describe the problem in detail to enable the partners to identify a suitable master’s student to meet the identified need.

Out of the twelve entrepreneurs shortlisted 10 were able to submit the questionnaire although one was not matched because their biggest need was financing which was not part of the project components. Our goal of the survey was to help to identify business or technical needs faced by entrepreneurs and match them with a better-skilled master’s student to lead transformational change in the business operating environment.

Some of the enterprises that submitted the questionnaires included;

Cellubioclag Distillers Ltd is a venture engaged in producing Bioethanol from a wild cellulosic perennial plant feedstock. The entrepreneur wanted to understand the entrepreneurial development and industrialization of wild cellulosic and how this will significantly increase the uptake of clean cooking alternatives while demonstrating the value of the plant in the restoration of degraded and marginal lands unsuited to food crops. The company was seeking an expert in bioethanol fuel production who could assist with refining the production method.

Impact Botanics Africa Ltd offers over twenty-three organic products divided into nutritional, personal care, and herbal teas and spices. These products include Honey, Chia seeds, Flax seeds, Baobab fruit powder, Pumpkin seed flour, Stevia, Himalayan salt, Hibiscus tea, Moringa, Purple tea, Chamomile tea, Ginger, Lemon grass, Shea butter, Coconut oil, Avocado oil, Baobab oil and Moringa oil among others. The company deals with communities in the ASAL areas providing them with an alternative economic activity by harvesting baobab seeds, farming of Moringa trees and other drought-tolerant crops, and promoting climate adaptation, the products are sold majorly to health-conscious customers who are looking to promote healthy living. The firm was in need of branding, packaging, social media content creation and management, and e-commerce.

Rucos Kenya is a sole proprietorship business that offers farmers farm inputs such as sunflower seeds with an aim of aggregating and adding value to this product. The company has contracted a pool of 200 farmers who plant the sunflower and bring the harvest to the company thereafter the company produces sunflower seedcake and extracts cold pressed sunflower oil which they now sell to the local community The Company was looking to diversify their products to the neighboring counties and the export market as they look to capitalize on their product offering. The company was seeking support to develop a workable input distribution strategy that can enable the company to reach more farmers and support the smallholder farmers to produce more through Good Agricultural Practises.

Pinekazi limited is a waste management company that utilizes pineapple waste and value add the waste into affordable footwear for the export market, the company has a working agreement with Delmonte company limited who provide the waste, and the company has already developed a final product for mass production and is in the process of fundraising to set up a factory for commercialization for production of the minimum viable product. The company was seeking support for business development services to help the company develop a business development strategy.

Lake Basin Agrottech has developed Biofert, an organic fertilizer, developed through the process of vermicomposting and biochar from rice straws and rice husks. Biofert is rich in carbon and micro-nutrients that are required by rice and other crops, it also helps in managing rice wastes hence protecting the environment. It has shown signs of improving soil structure and fertility. The organization needed support in the development of the business model for the company, product branding and setting up and managing social media platforms and enhancing its web presence.

Kibuye Market Waste Management is a community-based organization producing organic fertilizer, for soil fertility improvement to enhance food security. The product offers retention and improvement of soil fertility, the product is aimed at replacing chemical fertilizers because it is less harmful to the environment and human health aiming at sustainable food security. The company was asking for assistance in the development of a marketing plan and product branding as also set up of social media marking platforms.

Fibertext Green Paper Limited has developed a biodegradable packaging material made from banana fibers. The product is naturally water resistant, fire resistance, and UV resistance. The products are also non-permeable and will not transmit grease, oils, solvents or moisture, even at low thickness. They were seeking expertise in social media and website development to enhance brand visibility.

Gare Holdings are developing organic fertilizer they were seeking support in the development of the Mobile App and SSD Code.

Some of these challenges identified threaten the potential to scale some of the climate innovations for the benefit of Kenyans.

By Faith Wandera, African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and Ann Numi, African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)/Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST)

Transforming Climate Innovation Ecosystems through Inclusive Transdisciplinarity (TransCIIT) project

The TransCIIT project aims to support the development of Africa – UK, University Partnerships that build institutional capacity for higher education engagement in entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems in selected African countries. It takes cognizance of the fact that climate change threatens ecosystem services and endangers jobs, often those of the most vulnerable, perpetuating exclusion and inequality. The project will investigate approaches on how to establish strong relations between the full range of actors in Kenya’s Climate Innovation Ecosystem (CIE). Two objectives are embedded in this approach: active participation of young people and women (inclusivity), and productive interactions between academic, practitioner, policymaker and citizen perspectives (transdisciplinarity). Phase 2 of the TransCIIT Project was kicked-off on 3^rd January, 2022 and will be concluded on 30^th September, 2022. This phase is an ‘action research’ project expected to generate evidence to form the basis for a journal article. Phase 2 comprises five Work Packages (WP); WP1 (Matchmaking pilot); WP2 (Website development); WP3 (Project Legacy); WP4 (Communications); and WP5 (General Project management).

WP1: Matchmaking Pilot

The matching process was concluded quicker than anticipated. Nine entrepreneurs were matched with eight projects (one student was assigned to two entrepreneurs). Prior to the matching, a survey was sent out to the entrepreneurs where they were asked to describe 1-3 issues they needed to be addressed. Issues had to be addressed within the allocated time frame (2 months) and can be addressed by Masters students. An online matchmaking event was then conducted where the students were matched with the entrepreneurs based on their expertise. Students from different disciplines were selected (Energy/ engineering, Marketing, Business, ICT). Management of the project activities is through Project supervision teams. Project mentors and business leads from KCIC have been assigned to the matched projects based on their expertise and background. These are supported by business advisors from Kenya Climate Innovation Centre (KCIC). Supervisory meetings are held regularly to ensure the student activities are monitored and mentored to ensure progress of the matched projects.

WP2: Website development

The TransCIIT Project is setting up a matchmaking website which conforms to specifications by the project team. It will function on multiple devices (computer, tablet or mobile phone). The website will be available for matchmaking by entrepreneurs and students beyond the life of the project. It will communicate learning from the matchmaking pilot and serves as proof-of-concept for adoption post-project.

A website developer was contracted to design and test a matchmaking website, working on the basis of a specification provided by the project team. The website is being developed to be functional, secure and easy to use matchmaking website that can be used on multiple devices (computer, tablet or mobile phone) is developed and tested. The web-based matchmaking tool to be made available for entrepreneurs and postgraduate students to use beyond the life of the project. Matchmaking website is still under development and is to be tested in August 2022.

WP3: Project Legacy

Most activities for this WP occur towards the end of the project, including a showcase of the project outcomes and a next steps event. Part of the Project legacy includes the University of Johannesburg engaging the Centre for Entrepreneurship in South Africa and replicating the project in South Africa (Wits Innovation Hub). The latter has a narrow focus on digital innovation. A next steps meeting with innovation ecosystem stakeholders to be held on 25 August 2022.

WP 4: Communications

One blog is already online: https://www.acts-net.org/foresight-africa-blog/addressing-climate-entrepreneurial-needs-in-kenya-for-transformative-innovation. Another on “TransCIIT project matchmaking event” will be uploaded soon. Other project activities include  show case event and next steps events and social media campaigns, and a special report in the electronic and print media.

WP5: General Project Management

A meeting schedule has been developed for use in coordinating progress, supervision and management. Monitoring and evaluation will be based on feedback obtained from the matchmaking process using the tool designed for the Innovation in African Universities, available on HiveBrite. There are preliminary indications of the impending demand for the matchmaking service provided by the TransCIIT Project.

Assessment, challenges and lessons

So far both students and entrepreneurs are satisfied with the project. None of the risks identified during project design have been encountered as yet. The upcoming election on 9th August 2022 is an impending risk that could be mitigated by rescheduling some of the planned events during the period.

Achievements

The project has been able to identify 9 entrepreneurs to be involved in the matchmaking process and project activities through the help of KCIC.

The project worked with Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST), one of the project partners, to identify suitable students to be involved in the matchmaking process and project activities. Masters students in various fields of study (Business, ICT, Marketing, Project management, Energy) were be targeted. A number were identified ahead of the match making activity.

The matched projects commenced in early July. Project mentors and business leads from KCIC have been assigned to respective matched projects. Students have been submitting reports of their progress on a weekly basis.

The development of the matchmaking website is progressing well. The website developer is now making a few changes to the website based on comments received from the project team. Dry runs of the functionality and security of the website to be done soon. Website to be open for matchmaking after dry runs and approval from the project team.

The project team have developed 2 blogs (1 blog uploaded to the ACTS website, the other one to be uploaded soon). The other blogs are under development.

Challenges

The project has experienced some delays. First, two of the project members recently suffered close family bereavements and this impacted their ability to participate in the early part of phase 2. Other project members stepped in to mitigate this disruption but there was a delay in getting the project fully underway. Second, COVID-19 and other health-related impacts have played a part in delaying the setting up of the finance arrangements for the project. Specifically, finance staff at Sussex have been affected, delaying the setup of the collaboration agreement and budget. These processes are now being progressed. This delay will however not impact the planned deliverables.

Other challenges include miscommunication of the project provisions to the entrepreneurs. Some entrepreneurs have requested for financial support to address their current challenges. This issue have been cleared out by the project team. Another issue to do with project timelines. Some students have highlighted the need to extend the timeline of the matched projects. This issue was discussed in the latest progress meeting.

Emerging lessons

Overall Project timelines are too tight, especially considering the period for contracting, which is lengthy, administratively expensive, and could potentially paralyse activities.

Specific lessons learnt so far during project implementation; 1) One month may be too short to implement matched projects depending on issues to be addressed; 2) Expectations of entrepreneurs on what the project has to offer need to be managed; and 3) The project needs to clearly articulate what the students deliverables.

An opportunity to collaborate with “Accelerating strategic collaborations between African Universities and the private sector to drive more research-backed innovations initiative” has been identified.

What lies ahead?

No data has been generated yet but it is forthcoming on: the success of the matched projects; entrepreneur/student experiences; benefits of matchmaking (Innovation Ecosystem perspective; and institutionalisation an national level. No recommendations or conclusions have been generated yet, but these will be provided in the last quarter.

By Faith Wandera, African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and Ann Numi, African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)/Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST)

Transforming Climate Innovation Ecosystems through Inclusive Transdisciplinarity (TransCIIT) project

Innovation in African Universities (IAU) Programme through the Transforming Climate Innovation Ecosystems through Inclusive Transdisciplinarity (TransCIIT) Project is implementing a match making service for entrepreneurs and masters students. The match is between needs of entrepreneurs engaged in climate change enterprises and master’s students with business training background that could help the businesses succeed, hence a Transdisciplinary approach.  It focuses on challenges faced by youth and female entrepreneurs while dealing with climate change, thereby promoting inclusivity. The target is to promote a green agenda in impoverished communities in post-Covid in Kenya. Anticipated benefits accrue to Masters students who could apply the acquired expertise to real world problems while enhanced skills make them attractive to prospective employers. Entrepreneurs stand to benefit from enhanced profits and efficiency of climate innovations and businesses. Economic and social benefits translate to the achievement of sustainable development goals and adaptation/mitigation of the effects of climate change.

Eight (8) masters students (5 male and 4 female) have been matched with 9 business enterprises  (7 male owned and 2 male owned). The student backgrounds include: Information Technology (5), Human Resource (1), Analytical Chemistry (1), and Strategic Management (1). The enterprises include waste management; agribusiness, electronic waste recycling, textile and bioethanol fuel production. The paired matches are short projects to be implemented between July and August 2022. Students assigned to specific entrepreneurs based on skills required to address the entrepreneurs needs.

A description of the work underway for each project follows below:

CelluBioClag Distillers Ltd

CelluBioClag Distillers Ltd is a bioethanol fuel production firm that produces biofuels from Dracaena wild cellulosic perennial plant feedstock. The firm’s innovation for bioethanol fuel production from wild cellulosic non-food perennial plants feed-stock is a breakthrough. The firm uses a cellulosic biomass non-food raw material as opposed to the human food stuff used by the other ethanol producers. This ensures that the biofuel production is done in a sustainable and efficient approach. It also demonstrates the value of the wild plant farming development to restore degraded and marginal lands unsuited for food crops contributing to the 10% world forest requirements. The firm’s entrepreneurial development and industrialization for bioethanol fuel production will significantly increase the amount and efficiency of ethanol in the local and international markets sustainably.

Through their entrepreneurial development and industrialization for bioethanol production, CelluBioClag Distillers Ltd aims to significantly increase the efficiency and volumes of ethanol production in the local and international markets in a sustainable manner. The firm emphasizes the value of Dracaena plant farming development to restore degraded and marginal lands unsuited to food crops contributing to the 10% world forest requirements resolution and agricultural economic revolution.

Main challenges encountered; The firm lacks the required equipment for the juice extraction, fermentation & distillation. Moreover, they require appropriate laboratory equipment e.g., the refractometer to assist in the determination of the alcohol percentage. They also require dehydrating agent to facilitate the  removal of water traces in the product. The firm also requires relevant knowledge in bioethanol fuel production to facilitate the efficient production of  bioethanol fuel production. Access to this knowledge will inform bioethanol fuel production processes and attainment of market value standards.

TransCIIT support; The project has provided a student industrial fellow to meet the following objectives; Develop a prototype of business plan including the entrepreneur’s need; Set up the experimental design for ethanol production; Test the quality and quantity of ethanol produced from the pretreated biomass using the employed methods.

Impact Botanics Africa Ltd

Impact Botanics Africa Ltd was first registered as Richant Food Processors in 2013 and after four active years in the industry, we changed our name to Impact Botanics-Africa Ltd in September 2017 as we sought to expand our range of products to satisfy the growing needs of an expanding clientele base.

In an era of increasing lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, a great majority of the global population is turning to herbal/organic products both for nutritional enrichment and as natural remedies for healthy living. Further, the global organic personal care industry is one of the fastest-growing as consumers are increasingly embracing organic options. Recognizing this, we at Impact Botanics-Africa, are committed to sourcing, developing, and delivering the best quality organic products for nutrition and personal care for our valued customers in a timely, convenient and reliable manner. With a strong grassroots network spanning the entire East African region, we are able to source consistent, reliable and high-quality raw product which is then taken through value addition processes in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.

As a nature-inspired, science-driven, and youth-led social enterprise, we are committed to delivering quality products to the consumer, value to the farmer, sustainability to the environment, and fulfillment to our dedicated team of professionals. Service delivery through reliable information and consumer support forms a core part of our philosophy and we are constantly connected to our clients to ensure we deliver a truly enriching consumer experience.

Main challenges encountered; Development of a robust retail and digital marketing strategy. As a company we sell products along three lines: Bulk, Wholesale and Retail. As we seek growth and remain responsive to emerging trends in eCommerce and logistics we need a detailed plan that can guarantee us the best results going forward.  We need help in delineating and segmenting products, customers and locations. Further we need assistance in identifying the best channels for advertising and optimizing such channels. Lastly, insights into high impact and penetrating graphic design. This is our most pressing problem as an entity as we have embarked on a plan to solve other technical problems through other channels and strategies.

TransCIIT support; The project has provided a student industrial fellow to meet the following objective;

Development of effective digital marketing strategy for advertisement of products.

Gare Holdings Limited

Gare Holdings Limited is a startup dealing with Organic Fertilizer and Animal Feeds industry. We have incorporated both natural and mechanical processes in our production line. We practice Black Soldier Fly farming and produce superior quality NPK fertilizer as well as high quality animal feed protein source in form of BSF larvae.

Main challenges encountered; “Our top most need is market penetration. We have reached the level of producing enough 100% liquid organic fertilizer that has been tested by Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) and they recommended the product to be of adequate nutritional composition. We have also been able to test its efficacy with Tomatoes, Coriander, Onions, Kale, and Spinach, all with excellent results. Our main desire now is to enter the market and therefore need an efficient sales and marketing strategy.”

TransCIIT support; The project has provided a student industrial fellow to meet the following objective; Development of a marketing strategy to promote increased sales of firm’s products.

Muafrika Consulting

At Muafrika Consulting, we are involved in the provision of Onsite human waste and waste water management solutions in rural areas of Coastal Province of Kenya. We have also identified an opportunity for the production of Fuel Efficient Briquettes and Bio Gas production Using Human Waste. There is a great opportunity for clean affordable cooking energy and our project has great potential since the raw materials are depletable hence the project ensures the establishment of a circular economy.

Main challenges encountered; “We need to develop an Android Mobile App for ordering, customer mapping and feedback. Development of an SSD Code for client feedback, orders and product reviews. Integration of our website with the mobile payment platforms. Development of a Bulk SMS software for one on one marketing, Updates on mew products and improvements, communications of offers and discounts.”

TransCIIT support; The project has provided a student industrial fellow to meet the following objective; Digitalization: Development of a strategic plan, marketing plan, financial Manual HR Policy and social media Digital Marketing.

Kibuye Market Waste Management CBO                                                                                          

At Kibuye Market Waste Management CBO, We ensure zero hunger through sustainable waste management. Where we convert waste generated from the market into charcoals briquettes, pellets, animal feeds, biogas, bio-fertilizer and compost manure. We also does table banking and loaning among the members to keep our activities moving. We donate our farm produce to children’s home and lower schools

Main challenges encountered; “Lack of marketing plan/branding of product/ marketing. The problem started immediately after our first production, sometime around December 2014. We had the final product especially the organic fertilizer in our stores but started grappling with sales; no customers to sell to. The challenge has been with us throughout the years as the organization hardly makes sales and this has dealt a heavy toll on the organization’s operations as it is not effectively sustainable. The organization is not making profit despite production. We strongly believe there is dire need to work on our marketing plan, branding our products and marketing effectively of which we lack the technical know how.”

TransCIIT support; The project has provided a student industrial fellow to meet the following objective; Marketing and branding. Development of a social media marketing and branding strategy.

Fibertext Green Paper Limited

Fibretext is a waste technology company that upcycles non-fruit parts of the banana plant into packaging products, growing incomes for farmers and reducing the environmental impact of banana production. Fibertext Green paper Ltd is the number one company in producing and supplying high quality, biodegradable, environmentally friendly packaging products.

Main challenges encountered;

“We have had issues regarding marketing our products. Being new on the market, we have had issues with mapping customers as well as branding. We have tried to solve the problem but not to its fullest due to lack of expertise and resources. This problem affects our sales and generally the revenue of the company.”

TransCIIT support; The project has provided a student industrial fellow to meet the following objectives; Marketing; Development of a business plan to include a Marketing plan; Digitize the business innovation.

Assess progress on website already under design; Design Logo and Brand Product.

Oxbow Technologies

Oxbow Technologies is a Kenyan Social Enterprise and IT Consulting company focusing on future technologies, the environment, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a strong bias in electronic waste recycling.

Main challenges encountered; Creating awareness on firm activities (electronic waste recycling) and setting up a recycling plant. This has been hindered by limited financial resources.

TransCIIT support; The project has provided a student industrial fellow to meet the following objective; Bridging company set up gaps; Polish Of Business Plan And Prepare Model Canvas; Improve marketing Strategy; Development of new business model canvas.

RUCOS Kenya

We are an agribusiness form that supplies farm inputs  and technical assistance. We encourage farmers to adopt climate resilient crops and sustainable agricultural practices.

Main challenges encountered; The county has been experiencing rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall patterns, increasing cases of floods and prolonged droughts which threatens crop yields hence farmers and consumers risk a setback into poverty, hunger. Malnutrition and food insecurity. Small scale farmers in the region have limited resources and knowledge on how to adapt to climate change.

We require support to develop a workable input distribution strategy that can enable the company to reach more farmers and support the small holder farmers produce more through Good Agricultural Practices.

TransCIIT support;The project has provided a student industrial fellow to meet the following objectives; Review company set up and bridge gaps; promotion and branding of the company products; improve business plan and prepare model canvas; Develop marketing strategy.

Pine Kazi

Pine Kazi is a new and innovative social business venture focused on converting previously discarded pineapple waste into eco-friendly fashion products such as shoes and bags which are sold to eco-conscious millennials around the world. The business was founded by three passionate entrepreneurs in Kenya on August 28th, 2019. Their mission? To change the world by offering a sustainable approach to fashion. Upon founding Pine Kazi, Olivia Okinyi, Angela Musyoka and Mike Langa identified two major problems in their community: a lack of jobs for unemployed youth, and a lot of pineapple waste that was being thrown away or burnt. Pine Kazi decided to use its passion for social entrepreneurship to establish a brand that would create a positive impact on the environment and ensure opportunities the community would benefit from. As such, Pine Kazi’s target market is eco-conscious millennials aged 18-35 years old – in other words, people who value sustainability as an important fashion choice.

Main challenges encountered;

“The current problem we are facing is business development and coming up with winning strategies that we can use to enter the market and position our brand.”

TransCIIT support; The project has provided a student industrial fellow to meet the following objective; Creation of an e-commerce website.

Project mentors and business leads from KCIC have been assigned to the matched projects. Supervisory meetings are held along the way to ensure the student activities are monitored and mentored to ensure progress is made. The matched projects commenced in early July. Project mentors and business leads from KCIC have been assigned to respective matched projects. Students have been submitting reports of their progress on a weekly basis.

Some of the challenges that have been experienced during implementation of the matched projects include miscommunication of the project provisions to the entrepreneurs. Some entrepreneurs have requested for financial support to address their current challenges. The project team emphasized that the project would only provide student expertise to the entrepreneurs. Another issue that has been cited is short project timelines. Some students have highlighted the need to extend the timeline of the matched projects. The students were given up to the end of August 2022 to complete the matched projects.

A showcase event to present the results of the matchmaking projects will be conducted in September 2022. The event will include matched project posters presentations, reflections & lessons learnt, a showcase of pilot matchmaking website and discussions on the project legacy. Innovation ecosystem (IE) stakeholders and matched project participants (entrepreneurs and industrial fellows) will be invited to the event.

By Solomon Ogara, Dean, School of Informatics and Innovative Systems, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST), Kenya

Transforming Climate Innovation Ecosystems through Inclusive Transdisciplinarity (TransCIIT) project

We at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) are excited to have been selected to pilot this noble project on how to implement a matchmaking service between the various and evolving business needs of young climate entrepreneurs and the specialist skills of master’s students through the Transforming Climate Innovation Ecosystems through Inclusive Transdisciplinarity (TransCIIT) project. Indeed, the partnership between the young climate entrepreneurs and university students is instrumental to advancing research and knowledge and imparting skills among the workforce in these businesses. This collaboration is certainly a catalyst to innovation and growth in climate innovation ecosystems. Universities are known to contribute to the theory while the industry is constrained by profit. As a result, universities and the industry run parallel to each other. Therefore, creating partnership  between the two has the potential to contribute to the betterment of both the industry and universities.

TransCIIT project provides an opportunity of the much needed collaboration between universities and industry. This project seeks to  pilot a service in Kenya that matches the needs of climate entrepreneurs with the skills of master’s students, thereby exploring how to develop and strengthen university-industry linkage and contribute to building innovation systems that can nurture transformative change. The project is implementing a tangible response to the need for understanding what role universities could play in establishing strong relations in the climate innovation ecosystem (CIE).

TransCIIT brought together eight entrepreneurs with business focus ranging from packaging, production of organic fertilizer, sustainable waste management, and many more. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) in Kenya is privileged to have been selected to pilot this program. In this project, entrepreneurs identify their business needs which is shared with masters students from different disciplines but with specific expertise that match the business need of the entrepreneurs. Among the business needs identified by the entrepreneurs were customer mapping, branding, drawing strategic marketing plan, providing technical assistance  and capacity development, developing business models, web marketing and digital advertising.

We adopted a transdisciplinary approach and inclusivity in the selection of master students at JOOUST. Recruitment of masters students in the project was done competitively and with due consideration of gender and persons with disability. This was an open call with information shared widely with the respective heads of different departments in different schools and on the social media platforms. Deans of four schools responded with names of students who met the requirements. Students from the following schools submitted their information to the JOOUST representative: School of Informatics and Innovative Systems, School of Business and Economics, School of Biological, Physical, Mathematics and Actuarial Sciences and School of Agricultural and Food Sciences. TransCIIT organized for several virtual meetings to bring together the entrepreneurs, students, and the team comprising of members from African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC), University of Johannesburg (UJ), and the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the University of Sussex in the UK.

Despite the challenges of conducting online matchmaking event the team developed strategy that worked so well. The online matchmaking event began with an introduction of the team members, entrepreneurs, and the students present. The activity was broken into two sessions. During session 1, eight breakout rooms were organized and  designated by business name. Each entrepreneur was joined to the room with their business name and the students were added to each room according to the pre-matched list. Meanwhile, the TransCIIT team were on standby to provide assistance when needed. During session 2, the students whose expertise matched the needs of the entrepreneurs were allowed to continue their conversations with their matched entrepreneur. However, the students who did not have a match were swapped to another room to look for potential matches as the TransCIIT team provided assistance when needed. At the end of the session all the eight students found a potential match among the entrepreneurs.

The next phase required the students and the entrepreneurs to develop a work plan to be submitted to one of the TransCIIT team members for close monitoring of the matched project’s progress. This was done in order to ensure that the stated business needs of the entrepreneurs and the opportunity for each master’s student were met. The matchmaking event was indeed successful with eight masters students from different disciplines and gender finding a match with different entrepreneurs.

By Rob Byrne, Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU), University of Sussex

Transforming Climate Innovation Ecosystems through Inclusive Transdisciplinarity (TransCIIT) project

For any effort to develop transformative innovation policy, there must exist some form of innovation system that can be nurtured to achieve its implementation. Two kinds of actors often said to be key to such an innovation system are universities and profit-seeking firms. However, despite well-established theory on the importance to innovation of these two kinds of actors and the linkages between them, there remains much to do to realise this part of innovation systems across many African countries. With funding from the Innovation in African Universities (IAU) programme, our Transforming Climate Innovation Ecosystems through Inclusive Transdisciplinarity (TransCIIT) project is seeking to pilot a service in Kenya that matches the needs of climate entrepreneurs with the skills of master’s students, thereby exploring how to develop and strengthen university-industry links and contribute to building innovation systems that can nurture transformative change. But, in line with the transformative ambitions suggested by the TransCIIT project’s full name, we are seeking not only to explore how to develop and strengthen university-industry links but also to promote what we have called inclusive transdisciplinarity. By this we mean promoting the active and equal participation in Kenya’s climate innovation ecosystem of small and medium-sized enterprises run by female and/or young entrepreneurs.

TransCIIT brings together five partners, each with their own capabilities relevant to innovation system building in general and the needs of Kenya’s climate innovation ecosystem in particular. One is the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), which is a well-established science, technology and innovation (STI) ‘think tank’, who have existing strong links to the project’s other two partners in Kenya – Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) and the Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC). Also on the African continent, the project includes the partnership of the University of Johannesburg (UJ) who, through the Trilateral Research Chair on Transformative Innovation (TRCTI), provide important expertise on innovation systems and informal sector entrepreneurship. And part of the TRCTI along with UJ (and ACTS), the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the University of Sussex in the UK is leading the project, connecting it with the work of the Transformative Innovation Policy Consortium (TIPC).

So far in TransCIIT, we have identified a group of entrepreneurs and a group of master’s students who are interested to participate in our pilot matchmaking service. On 17 May 2022, we brought these entrepreneurs and students together in an online matchmaking event during which they could talk directly to each other to see if they could agree in principle paired matches that could be further specified as short projects each student could undertake to solve or address the business challenges of the entrepreneurs. At the time of writing, we have nine in-principle matched projects that we aim to help progress to full implementation, and to completion by around the end of July 2022. Alongside these matched projects, we are looking to develop a proof-of-concept website that could be used to facilitate this kind of matchmaking service after TransCIIT has finished, which should be around September 2022. And, after the matched projects are complete, we aim to showcase the results and to discuss with policymakers and other innovation ecosystem stakeholders in Kenya, how the policy environment can help to institutionalise this kind of service across the country with lessons, perhaps, for other countries in Africa.

There is no space to describe the details of the various steps we have so far taken in the project and so we aim to share these details in separate blogs, each written from different perspectives within TransCIIT, and to produce other blogs as the rest of the project unfolds. Our project will not in itself transform Kenya’s climate innovation ecosystem, but we do hope to generate lessons on how to do so and to share these widely. As such, we invite you to follow KCIC, JOOUST, ACTS, UJ and SPRU on our TransCIIT journey and to share your own thoughts on what we are doing and what you may be doing yourselves in similar kinds of transformative innovation spaces.

Author(s): Emily Bolo, Tom Randa, Dr. Joanes Atela, Paul Osogo, & Salome Okoth.

Introduction

It is often said that health is wealth and it’s the desire of everyone, the society, and the community to be healthy.

However, this desire is usually less realized as human and ecosystem health are often negatively impacted in our daily interactions and operations. Most interestingly, many households cook with or spend on some unclean cooking fuels periodically oblivious of the fact that the choices of cooking fuels determine the health of the individuals, households, and society progressively. Imagine if all the households would be using clean cooking fuels? A relatively healthy society it would be.

Unfortunately, this is not the reality as close to 4 million people die prematurely every year from illness attributable to household air pollution from inefficient cooking practices using polluting stoves paired with solid fuels and kerosene. The World Health Organization report on Household air pollution and health 2021 further reveals that close to half of these indoor air pollution-related deaths are specifically due to pneumonia among children under 5 years of age. What would society be like in the future if the young are continually exposed to these killer unhealthy cooking fuels? Indeed, the burden of an unhealthy society is costly to an economy, including the family unit.

At the National level, more than 21,500 Kenyans die each year from cooking with traditional fuels like charcoal and firewood. The health risks are greatest in rural areas, where 90% of households use wood stoves. It is also in the record that 80% of households rely solely on either charcoal or firewood as their primary cooking fuel, with 68 billion shillings ($660 million) of charcoal consumed each year in Kenya. This presents a growing and persistent risk of exposure to health at the household level despite the increased rate (75%) of electric access and the growing access to alternative cleaner fuels such as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). For instance, the LPG gas import and distribution infrastructure has considerably increased since 2013 but the market penetrations are relatively low. This could be attributed to the relatively high costs with the price increases by more than 24% in the recent year. This is a setback as many households who cannot afford it resort back to the use of unclean cooking fuels and in the process risk their household health even further.

In recent years, the increasing access to electricity in Kenya generally presents an opportunity to adopt e-cooking methods. The continually changing or rather increasing prices of other alternative clean fuels are alarming and render the adoption of e-cooking an ideal option at the household level and in commercial enterprises. It has been proven that e-cooking is relatively cheaper for most meals in Kenya based on a study conducted by Jon Leary through Modern Energy Cooking Services in Kenya. Furthermore, the opportunities and possible challenges such as cultural and opinion considerations that might slow down the pace of e-cooking adoption have been explored through a Techno-policy analysis done for e-cooking through the Modern Energy Cooking Services in Kenya. Overall, there exists a great opportunity to explore the e-cooking space in Kenya not only for its cost benefits but also for the associated health benefits for the households and society.

A memorable moment

Nearly two years ago, I (Emily), a young researcher in the Modern Energy Cooking Services Program – Kenyan Chapter, witnessed first-hand an event that revealed how the choices of cooking fuel could negatively impact the health of a household member. We lived in one of the estates in Nairobi and usually used LPG for most of our cooking needs with charcoal being used occasionally for meals requiring longer boiling times. This is a common practice in my neighbourhood in Nairobi, Kenya. On Saturday, my immediate neighbor who had a daughter chose to prepare dinner using LPG as usual. Little did she know that her cooking gas was almost running out and needed to be refilled? Before she could complete preparing the meals for her family dinner, she ran out of cooking gas and opted to use the charcoal stove because she didn’t have enough money to refill the LPG. It is a usual practice in most urban Kenyan households to use the charcoal stove outside the household for cooking, mostly on the balconies.

My good neighbor is also a Christian and had a religious meeting to attend that evening. She trusted her fully grown daughter in her 20th year with the household cooking. She quickly stepped out and allowed her daughter to continue with the evening dinner preparation outside the house. After completing the cooking event, the daughter decided to transfer the cook stove into the house to keep warm as she waited for her mom to come back before they enjoy dinner together.

This was their culture as they keep each other company and catch up after a long day of different engagements. In the process of waiting, she fell asleep since her mother had taken longer than she expected. Upon her return, my neighbor found her daughter lying unconscious and she screamed for help. We had to come in as neighbors to help but unfortunately, most people were clueless about what to do for the first aid.  Having some ideas about a possible inhalation of the poisonous emissions from the charcoal stove, I quickly went online and got some articles that gave us some clues on what to do to remedy carbon monoxide poisoning. Luckily enough, she regained her consciousness as we administered the receiving first aid.

e-cooking adoption Opportunity

The incident came back fresh to my mind when I recently learned of the e-cooking appliances. This was after joining the MECS program and having the very first experience through a couple of the Kenya Power and Lighting Company weekly demonstrations dubbed Pika na Pawa. The incident got me thinking, what if my neighbor could have been aware of electric cooking then and had any of the e-appliances like an induction cooker? Could all the harm that her daughter was exposed to have been avoided. Is there an opportunity to do better, and enhance the adoption of e-cooking in Kenya? Definitely yes. We all then have a role to play to bring different stakeholders together and promote e-cooking awareness, technology accessibility, and affordability for a progressive and sustainable adoption.

The MECS Kenyan Team base at ACTS joined by Jon Leary (Gamos) visited the e-cooking demonstration Centre on 7^th February 2022. During the Demonstrations, I practically witnessed the very few units of electricity consumed to prepare specific meals. For example, only 0.687 units were used in the preparation of chicken stir fry, which translates to around Kshs. 14 (1 unit = Kshs. 20). Considering that my neighbor did not have enough money to refill her gas when she needed it most, an induction cooker would have been her best option. She would have completed making her food within the shortest time possible and at a little cost. Her daughter was lucky as she survived the ordeal. Many similar cases have been heard throughout the country where the victims never survived the carbon monoxide poisoning.

The MECS Kenya team is partnering with the KPLC and other partners to establish and operationalize the e-cooking hubs in different parts of Kenya. This they intend to do by bringing the electrification and cooking sector partners with the supporting collaborators both in the public and private sectors to exploit the e-cooking opportunities in Kenya.

POLICY IMPLICATIONS – WHY DOES IT MATTER

In the recent past, the use of clean cooking methods has been greatly promoted in attempts to minimize smoke exposure and has received a lot of attention in academic and policy discussions considering what is at stake. The health, climatic, environmental, and educational impacts attributed to the use of biomass fuel are immense. For example, WHO reports that the number of people who die every year, approximately 4.3 million, due to smoke emitted from traditional cooking methods is more than the deaths caused by malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis combined, thereby qualifying it among the most dangerous environmental health risk. Besides, one of the main causes of deforestation and forest degradation is biomass production to meet the cooking needs of households, something that significantly contributes to global warming. The effects of climate change are already being felt throughout the world as evident from the extreme weather conditions, changing patterns of rainfall, rising sea levels, and decline in agricultural production. Given that Kenya as a country and sub-Saharan Africa heavily relies on agriculture, it is disproportionately being affected by climate change when equated to other regions. Finally, the use of biomass negatively impacts not only the well-being of women and children but also their educational goals since much of the time that would have been spent learning is considerably channelled to firewood collection. Worth noting is that many of these problems can be alleviated, to some degree, through the adoption of clean cooking technologies, a project that MECS-ACTS has been spearheading. As such, academicians, researchers, and relevant stakeholders need to come together and present to policymakers vital information that will help them see the need why laws promoting e-cooking have to be implemented. Only then, will the adoption of e-cooking and other clean cooking technologies be embraced at a speedy rate for the benefit of households and the country at large

Conclusion

A great e-cooking opportunity exists in Kenya that needs to be tapped. The MECS-ACTS partnership with KPLC is instrumental in facilitating the e-cooking adoption through demand simulation. The cooking sector in Kenya well represented by the Clean cooking Kenya Alliance also brings on board all the actors and partners in the cooking sector to the conversation of e-cooking adoption in Kenya. The private sector mostly drives the technological development and transfer while the MECS Kenya team is keen to offer research evidence, possible financial models, and policy support as well as community dialogues regarding e-cooking adoption in Kenya towards the attainment of the 7^th sustainable development goal. Given the harmful health effects associated with the use of traditional cooking methods as evident from the case presented, a conscious decision has to be made on the choice of cooking method to be embraced. Therefore, Kenyan households and commercial enterprises ought to fully transition to the use of clean cooking options such as e-cooking to not only improve the general health of the population but also contribute significantly to climate change mitigation from the local level. If change has to be realized, it has to start with you and me. It is doable and affordable.

By Joel Onyango, Maureen Kabasa

When people think about capacity building in Africa, the first thought is always inadequacy of expertise to enhance the capacity within the African context.

But when you think about it, Africa has all it needs in terms of capacity to train and to enhance the skills required to build a continent that will serve its growing needs. One year ago, ACTS started a trial of building capacity of African professionals using existing African expertise. At the beginning, we had to contend with the fact that we might need to get people from other places to bridge the expertise gaps.

So, our journey started by assessing what could be associated with climate action. We first conducted a demand assessment, where we talked to over two hundred professionals in climate change both informally and formally, and in our consultation, it emerged that we needed expertise especially in climate finance, climate science (including mitigation, adaptation, and resilience technology), climate policy and leadership, and climate modeling. Knowing that these were the gaps that needed to be plugged in terms of expertise, we went ahead to find out the capacity of institutions when it came to these kinds of capacity building initiatives. In this initiative, we spoke to institutions within the COMESA region. We talked to administrators, instructors, and students of climate science, and professionals and practitioners of climate action. Using all this information, we then developed modules within the expertise that existed and delivered these modules in form of hybrid trainings with virtual and in-person sessions. The trainings attracted over fifty participants mostly from the COMESA region, including 40% women, and 30% of people aged below 35years mainly from Ethiopia and Zimbabwe. This blog focuses on four lessons that we learned in the development of demand driven training courses, delivered by African expertise for African contextual solutions on climate action.

• We have the expertise; distribution is the chasm. Like in many value chains, the quantity of commodity is often not the issue, but getting it to the people who need it most! Africa has a broad range of expertise in climate action. Within the COMESA region alone, there are over 10,000 trained professionals on climate action, but the distribution is skewed in favour of countries with better climate change interventions, policies, and procedures. Kenya for instance has professionals in various climate change subjects, and advanced climate change policies, procedures, and initiatives. Other countries such as Zimbabwe, are accelerating their climate action initiatives, and need their capacity to be built rapidly; in Ethiopia, there seem to be expertise in some areas and little on others. Herein, the challenge lies: where expertise is likely to be better in Kenya, and urgently needed in Zimbabwe and some areas in Ethiopia! This implies the need for framework that allows for shared expertise, which is easily reachable, accessible, and in the right context. One of the opportunities that exists is utilizing the online tools and resources, with the capability to match the expertise gap, and training in real time, and using local case studies. The online opportunities bridge the distribution chasm and with the changing times they give a for knowledge to be shared regardless of time, space and situation
• Context is everything, it builds understanding. There is a lot of information on climate change science, technology, leadership, and models. The information is broad, and useful for a wide range of actors, and has been used to pioneer innovative global climate actions. However, the context in which the information is available, makes the utility of the information problematic. For instance, the scale in which climate data is available, and usable for climate modeling – and there forecasting, makes a lot of the information to be seen as irrelevant. There needs to be a systematic approach to contextualize information used in training, to enhance its utility by the trainees. Having case studies and examples relevant to trainees, enhances understanding among actors and professionals, and allows for the learners to take up more within their different roles in the climate change space.
• Pace is to delivery, as content is to knowledge. People learn at different speeds, and the pace chosen, is as important as the mode in which the learning material is delivered. This means that the speed at which learning material is shared with learners, need to fit within their learning environment to ensure that the learners can understand the content. A match between an optimum pace during training delivery, and the quality of the content contributes substantially to the quality of the outcome of the training, and the knowledge impacted to the learners. One of the solutions to balance this, is to co-create the content with the target learners. This ensures that the structure (and therefore the pace) of delivery is optimized, while on the other hand, allowing for the content to contribute to actual knowledge. The other way to curb this to “move with the pace of the ‘slowest’ learner” in the words of Dr Mutai Bethwel, one of instructors on climate modelling during the demand driven training. This ensures that all the learners – irrespective of how fast they learn – are on board.
• Some things cannot be taught online. The virtual learning space has come with a lot of benefits to both teachers and learners in many spheres. There have been courses developed and delivered online, where learners attributed the new knowledge to the opportunity presented by the online space. This has also substantially reduced the cost of delivering or getting enrolled into courses. However, there are some courses, especially in Africa, that still needs the in-person interaction. The in-person interactions have a way of ensuring staggered and personalized learning, even in adult education, with often instant results in the output of some trainings. Nonetheless, we need to take advantage of the advantages of both the virtual and in-person spaces, if we are to enhance capacity within the continent, through hybrid training delivery models.
• Sustainability is not an option: Whilst ensuring that knowledge systems conform to context and targeted to the climate change space, having partnerships and resource mobilization strategy at different levels is important in ensuring continuity of great initiatives. However good an idea, without material, financial and human resources, it is inadequate to contribute to action. Therefore, there is need to sustain such initiatives over time, and which requires more than money to happen. Besides money, partnerships and strategically positioning oneself/institution/nation is key to this regard.

From the foregoing, we have highlighted four learnings from delivering training on climate change. While the learnings may not be exhaustive, they provide a guiding niche towards innovating climate change education in Africa. The lessons have been instrumental in unveiling the Africa Centre for Technology Studies Virtual Academy, which will focus on demand driven training, with mixed delivery strategies, contextual examples and co-developed asynchronous and synchronous trainings on Climate Change Resilience; Gender and Inclusive Development; Science Technology and Innovation; Agricultural, Food and Nutrition Security; and the Digital economy.

By Joel Onyango, Eileen Lara, Richard Randle-Boggis, Christine Lamanna, Cassilde Muhoza, and Anne Kuria

The agrivoltaics concept is anchored on the co-utilisation of land for agricultural production, solar energy generation, and water harvesting.

Agrivoltaics idea for ‘harvesting the sun twice,’ and using the same land over, is an extraordinary opportunity for rural Africa. In East Africa, the Agrivoltaics project – funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) and the University of Sheffield – has demonstrated its value for multiple stakeholders in energy, agriculture, water, and micro-climate creation. It is exciting, for many stakeholders in arid-and-semi-arid areas, to be able to harvest the solar irradiance – that makes many a visitor uncomfortable – for energy in often off-grid areas, use the water harvested for irrigation and animals, produce food beneath the panels, or create a ‘cooler’ shade for animals. Talking and listening to many stakeholders, the opportunities available for agrivoltaics technology is unmatched in bringing together the core perspectives of day-to-day living. However, this interest is not matched by the agency the stakeholders have in efforts to accelerate the practice and uptake of the technology. Does this mean that the agrivoltaics excitement and interest is halted? Perhaps? Partners in the Agrivoltaics project – African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and Centre for Research in Energy and Energy Conservation (CREEC), together with Center for International Forestry Research – World Agroforestry Centre (CIFOR-ICRAF), University of Sheffield, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Latia Farm Kenya and Sustainable Agriculture Tanzania (SAT) – are set to change this narrative by building the agency of stakeholders  to accelerate and sustain the uptake of  agrivoltaics solutions. The strategies to change this narrative have been very well received among stakeholders with interest in (and ‘some’ influence on) agrivoltaics development.

At the primary level, is the push to change the perception on current vs future cost of agrivoltaics, as well as influencing public opinion on the practicality and suitability of this technology in the region. The team has set up demonstration centres in Kenya (in collaboration with Latia Farm) and Tanzania (together with SAT Tanzania) to show how useful, practical, and viable agrivoltaics systems can be. Latia Farm team, who have been using this technology, confirmed that the agrivoltaics system has reduced their electricity bills by 55%. And in comparison, with their regular land-based production units, they have been able to harvest a full tank of water (which they can use to irrigate their farm). Moreover, the Latia Farm has demonstrated that crops yield from the agrivoltaics system – though with mixed results – is encouraging, and the farm is able to break even! By sharing their impact story, Latia farm, as an agrivoltaics system user, has elicited the interest of stakeholders on agrivoltaics.

What was to be an introduction to agrivoltaics, and launch of the Latia Farm’s agrivoltaics system, turned out to be an opportunity for stakeholders to reframe energy and agricultural production and utility systems. Stakeholders have begun to appreciate the need to consider energy as an enabler for agriculture by integrating agrivoltaics into the development agenda – and situating it strategically within the climate action agenda. For instance, the County Government of Kajiado has been charged and challenged to consider developing a county level legislation or strategy that would support the agrivoltaics agenda. And ACTS and the agrivoltaics project team, are keen to follow-up on this process towards reframing energy-agriculture system as a single problem, rather than a diversity of problems.

The advent of the nascent yet transformative agrivoltaics solutions needs thought leadership, and a ‘home’ to keep the momentum at peak. Through networking opportunities, as well as dialogues and formation of community of practice, as a praxis opportunity, is a formidable first step. For instance, dialogue among regulators, SMMEs, researchers and practitioners offer an opportunity for stakeholders to deliberate on the bottlenecks for agrivoltaics! Issues relating to ownership and sustainability of off-grid agrivoltaics systems as well as alternative use of agrivoltaics set-ups for aquaculture, forestry and apiary, and scale and initial investments needed for agrivoltaics have also emerged. This demonstrate the transformative change for agrivoltaics agency when an agrivoltaics community of practice is initiated for the search of both off- and online conversations and solutions.

It is important to think about systematic capacity building for the engineering, automation, agronomical and socioeconomic capacities to support scaling of agrivoltaics and continue building agency for stakeholders. Also, there is a need to move from talk-shops to actual workshops. The transition from talk to work, needs a sharable curriculum across institutions in a way that can lead to fundamental and optimised institutional configurations and scaling business models. The optimisation requires integration of agrivoltaics development in subnational and national planning, including embracing the diversity of stakeholders needed to enhance agency of action beyond the current level of interest.

Moving from interest, to influence, needs agency! The agrivoltaics project in East Africa, has demonstrated the value of harvesting the sun twice agenda. This has enhanced interest in agrivoltaics in the project’s initial phase. As the phase gathers pace, the project aims to accelerate the potential for adoption of agrivoltaics technology in both small and large-scale systems. However, this requires review of the policy environment, institutional collaboration, and development of business models. In addition, it is important, to track the success of agrivoltaics, learn from the pitfalls, and act along national development agenda and visions, as well as the SDGs and global climate action. Every individual can support this action in a bid to strengthen the agrivoltaics movement and transform the agro-energy sectors and rural livelihoods in Africa.

By Lindah Fatuma, Maureen Kabasa and Joel Onyango

Climate change is a global phenomenon, which has affected economies differently through high temperatures, droughts, floods among others.

For instance, developing countries are more vulnerable to climate change compared to developed countries¹. This is attributed to the fact that developing countries have limited capacity, technologies, and finance to tackle the eventualities caused by climate change².  Therefore, it is imperative to capacity build developing countries particularly institutional and resources to deal with the challenges of climate change.  In this regard, implementation of the Paris Agreement, Sustainable Development Goal 17.9 of agenda 2030³, regional and local climate change mitigation and adaptation plans emphasizes climate-related capacity building for developing countries and encourages the developed countries to support actions that build capacity⁴.

Climate change is also not gender-neutral where different ages and genders are disproportionately affected and this is due to the differential roles that society has gendered.  Youths and women are more vulnerable to climate change impacts posing extreme threats to the tasks and responsibilities women hold in households and society as a whole⁵.  Despite this, women play a crucial role in climate change mitigation and adaptation hence their interaction with males and the environment needs to be assessed and opportunities that can reduce their vulnerability explored to enhance their adaptive capacities⁶.  Therefore, to achieve climate-related capacity building for developing countries as well as strengthening individual, institutional and systemic capacity a gender-sensitive action plan is key. This encourages gender balance in decision-making on delivery and access to means and tools of implementation for mitigation and adaptation actions⁷.

This blog explores reflections following a webinar on Capacity building of technical institutions involved in climate change education, training, and scientific research (CAPCET) project in the COMESA region. The webinar brought together researchers, scholars, and climate practitioners to give their perspective on the training demands within the continent and reinforce findings of the needs assessment carried out in Ethiopian Environment and Forest Research Institute (EEFRI) and Environmental Climate, Sustainable Development Institute (ECSDI) at the University of Zimbabwe.  The assessments aimed to identify gaps in skills and competencies required to deliver relevant courses on climate change through a status survey on continental demand training areas and linking them with institutional (managerial and individual) needs to offer training solutions at the institutional, national and continental level.

This webinar aimed to not only make participants aware of the project as well as starting a discussion on approaching climate change differently from a demand perspective rather than just offering solutions because they have worked in other areas. Through presentations and plenary sessions, important ideas were presented to improve climate change education, training and scientific research in Ethiopia and Zimbabwe and the entire continent.

Climate change capacity building with a difference: The CaPCET initiative

Due to the limited climate change capacity in the continent, the CaPCET project gears to offer climate change education, training, and scientific research services in the COMESA region. The goal of the project is to enhance the capability of professionals and institutions in the area of climate change and to ensure they are better prepared for Climate Change Action, moving the climate change agenda forward. COMESA, the funding organisation of the project has commissioned the African Center for Technology Studies (ACTS), Institute Climate Change & Adaption (ICCA) at the University of Nairobi, and the Tetralink Taylor & Associates EA Limited (TTA) in collaboration with the two selected institutions (EEFRI and ECSDI) to implement the stipulated activities towards climate capacity building. The project approach is demand-driven capacity building development. It involves the following model: scoping through a landscape assessment to identify the target clients and the priority capacity gap;  Identification of partners where the EEFRI and ECSDI were identified and selected on a competitive bid; demand assessment to understand the continental market gaps; Needs assessment to identify the individual climate need; co-development and co-delivery of the curriculum; dissemination of the modules and manuals; and ensuring the sustainability of the curriculums even after the end of the project. Key messages emerged from the webinar that reinforced the CapCET project goal.

Climate change is contextual and the different contexts need to be understood and taken into consideration in space and time

Climate change has multiple dimensions such as context or spatial dimension and time dimensions. In terms of context dimension, climate change is a global, regional and local phenomenon where the developing countries are seen to be more vulnerable to climate change effects as compared to the developed countries. This is due to inadequate capacity among developing countries to address the evolving effects of climate variability. Different policies and strategies have been developed in global, regional, and local contexts to curb the impacts of climate change.  In addition, men, women youths, and person’s disabilities are disproportionately affected by climate change.  Global, regional and local efforts have also been made to mainstream gender in different policies for instance in the Nationally Determined Contributors (NDCS) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPS). However, gaps still exist in terms of gender dimension. Hence, understanding the context of climate change will enable the development of impactful and context-specific climate change actions.

Capacity building is considered a pathway to improving climate change vulnerabilities among developing countries and across different genders. International agreements and regional strategies such as the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and the Paris agreement (2015) are emphasizing the capacity building of individuals, institutions, and systems. This is through approaches such as developing relevant climate change aspects of education and public awareness; and communication of relevant climate information, motivating better climate actions and capacity-building initiatives. In this regard, emphasis on gender-sensitive as well as interactive delivery and dissemination of climate information should be encouraged to achieve gender equality by allowing both males and females to make an informed decision on the different climate spaces and ideas while appreciating their different roles and responsibilities inclusively. Therefore, it is important to have contextual climate action, ensure inclusivity and deliver climate change messages in different possible ways to reach all audiences regardless of their gender, age, or physical ability. This will intern lead to coherent policies, contextual solutions and contribute to gender mainstreaming to reach the climate goals.

Demand-driven climate change is the solution to the different climate-related problems

Different countries have varied climate needs that have to be solved individually. The CapCET project saw a need to not only give any training on climate change but build capacity on what is needed by the technical institutions and demanded by the market. The capacity building encompasses the individual, institutional, and systemic levels. Incorporating all three levels addresses the climate change challenges effectively to achieve the goals sustainably. Of importance is ensuring capacity support is given to the priority areas by doing a gap analysis. In this regard, the CAPCET project conducted a climate change training needs assessment at EEFRI and ECSDI whose was to identify gaps in skills and competencies required to deliver relevant courses on climate change through a status survey.

The presentations highlighted from both Ethiopia and Zimbabwe recognized the fact that most individuals have already received some form of climate change education through training or research. However, they still lack the practical skills to implement climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. Through this, the CapCET project identified gaps in practical skills that it seeks to fill. In Ethiopia, climate modeling, climate policy, leadership, and climate finance were identified as key training gaps while in Zimbabwe climate mitigation and adaptation and climate finance were the top training needs. Climate finance was common in both countries because most of the individuals have not received training on financing options, which is important for climate implementation and sustainability. In addition, the deliberation in the planetary discussions also highlighted nature base solutions, development of bankable proposals financial strategies, and Technology Need Assessment (TNA) to be one of the critical training components that institutions and individuals require, to foster the achievement of climate actions that countries pledge under Paris Agreement.

The webinar appreciated that there are multiple delivery models (formal and informal) for the training and education of climate change. However, to ensure inclusivity in climate change capacity building, a blended delivery model is sufficient coupled with considerations of the needs of the target audience, therefore, giving demand-driven climate awareness

What next

Climate change has been a problem for decades. However, efforts have been made at different spaces to address the phenomenon. Even with this, there is still more to be done and recognition of the different contexts of climate change is a great start for context-specific solutions. The CapCET project recognizes that there is no one size fits all solution as the needs of different countries are varied on different levels, what works for one may not work for the other. Therefore, assessing the needs of different countries and individuals is key for demand-driven solutions.

With the climate context and the needs in mind, the CapCET project will co-develop and co-deliver the demand-driven climate modules together with the selected institutions. The outline is based on the general context and case studies using relevant tools. Dissemination of the key messages and the modules will be done through different platforms including dialogues touching on relevant climate issues to inform policies. Sustainability is key and ensuring that the CapCET demand-driven model is viable even after the end of the project is important. Fundraising strategies will be co-established and documented in the sustainability plan. In summary, the CapCET project will ensure the development of context/need-specific modules, ownership through co-development and co-delivery, and continuity through co-documentation of a sustainability plan. Throughout the process, inclusivity has been and will be at the core of the implementation. As emphasized in the presentations and the plenary sessions “co-development and co-delivery of modules build partnerships and ensure effective climate mitigation and adaptation.”

References

1. Busby, J. W., Smith, T. G. & Krishnan, N. Climate security vulnerability in Africa mapping 3.01. Polit. Geogr. 43, 51–67 (2014).
2. Kissinger, G., Gupta, A., Mulder, I. & Unterstell, N. Climate financing needs in the land sector under the Paris Agreement: An a[1] G. Kissinger, A. Gupta, I. Mulder, and N. Unterstell, “Climate financing needs in the land sector under the Paris Agreement: An assessment of developing country perspectives,” L. Land use policy 83, (2019).
3. Goal 17 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs. https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal17.
4. Isabirye, B. E. & Diversity, G. Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in ECA / SADC / COMESA region : Opportunities and Challenges Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in ECA / SADC / COMESA region : Opportunities and Challenges Didas N . Kimaro , Alfred N . Gichu , Hezron Mogaka. (2020).
5. Nagel, J. Gender and Climate Change. Gender and Climate Change (Routledge, 2015). doi:10.4324/9781315675275.
6. Edvardsson Björnberg, K. & Hansson, S. O. Gendering local climate adaptation. Local Environ. 18, 217–232 (2013).
7. Gender and Climate Change Capacity-building | UNFCCC. https://unfccc.int/topics/gender/gender-and-unfccc-topics/gender-and-climate-change-capacity-building.

By Mourine Chepkemoi (ACTS), Jon Leary (Gamos Ltd.) and Shukri Abdulkadir (Loughborough University).

The MECS Kenya team joined forces with Clean Cooking Association of Kenya (CCAK ) and the Ministry of Energy during their Clean Cooking Week this week, 29 November – 3 December 2021.

In her remarks in the opening session, Mourine Chepkemoi of the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) explained our strategic objective of bringing actors from the electrification sector into the clean cooking sector to develop new partnerships to explore the emerging opportunities for eCooking in Kenya.

Mourine Chepkemoi, Research Fellow, ACTS addresses the clean cooking sector in the opening session (image credit: Jon Leary, MECS).

ACTS, the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) and Jikoni Magic worked together to deliver a powerful mix of live cooking demonstrations throughout the week designed to challenge false perceptions around cooking with electricity by allowing attendees to see, smell and taste for themselves just how easy it is to cook with electricity, how delicious the food can be and how little it really costs.

Below are some highlights of our activities throughout the week

Day 1-2 Cooking Exhibition at KICC:

The team showcased a range of modern energy-efficient appliances at an exhibition booth, which we co-branded as KPLC/MECS/Jikoni Magic. These included induction cookers, air friers and Electric Pressure Cookers (EPCs). We were delighted to see that almost half of the exhibitors were also showcasing eCooking appliances, with our partners Burn, Groupe SEB and Biolite all present.

David Njugi, CCAK; Wairimu Njehia, KPLC; Jon Leary, MECS, Mourine Chepkemoi, ACTS; Agnes Kalyonge, Jikoni Magic at the MECS Kenya exhibition booth (image credit: Jon Leary, MECS).

Day 3 Field Trip to KPLC’s Pika na Power demonstration centre:

The MECS Kenya team visited KPLC’s modern demonstration kitchen in Electricity House where participants were able to see, smell and taste delicious Kenyan dishes cooked with modern energy-efficient appliances in a very interactive session. The team used plug-in energy meters to record exactly how much electricity was used to cook each dish. The 20 participants were shocked to see that we cooked 5 different dishes for just 52 KSh (0.54 USD) using energy-efficient appliances. The demonstration highlighted the value of energy-efficiency by also using a hotplate, which used a whopping 64 KSh (0.64 USD) to cook just 1 dish! Burn, Groupe SEB, Strathmore University, Jikoni Magic and other MECS partners were present to showcase their appliances and share their experiences of working in the emerging eCooking sector. Further, regular attendees of the Pika na Power cooking class were able to share their perceptions and experiences of cooking with energy-efficient appliances.

Agnes of Jikoni Magic and Beatrice of Burn Manufacturing demonstrate the Von and Ecoa EPCs respectively (image credit: Jon Leary, MECS).

Day 4 ‘Emerging clean cooking technologies’ Webinar:

Irene Wanjohi of KPLC, Jon Leary of MECS and Anne Wacera of Strathmore University took part in a panel discussion which explored the viability of emerging clean cooking technologies, such as electric cooking, bioethanol and other modern fuels which can play a key role in Kenya’s transition to clean cooking. The panel highlighted the emerging opportunities and challenges for these new technologies, such as erratic taxation regimes and lack of awareness amongst both consumers and the rest of the clean cooking sector. Irene highlighted KPLC’s role in supporting the clean cooking sector to meet its 2028 goal of universal access, emphasising their focus on educating consumers on the broad range of energy-efficient appliances now available. Jon Leary drew attention to the potential of integrating smart-metering into eCooking appliances to tackle the high upfront cost of energy-efficient appliances with carbon financing and PayGo business models. Anne spoke about the need for standards to be accompanied by capacity building for testing, repair and consumer labelling to ensure Kenyan’s have confidence in the appliances they invest in.

Burn’s ecoa builds upon the deep connection Burn Manufacturing has developed with low income households across the country through the market research, sale and after-sales service they have delivered for their popular Jikokoa family of improved biomass stoves (image credit: Jon Leary, MECS).

It was inspiring to hear eCooking resonate throughout the whole event. 5 years ago, electricity would not even have been mentioned in such a forum, but there was increasing recognition throughout the week of the vital role that eCooking will play in supporting Kenya to meet its goal of universal access to clean cooking by 2028.

• “If we now have 70% of households are connected to electricity, how do we get them to start cooking with it?” David Njugi, CCAK CEO
• “Isn’t it time that our plans for electrification also included clean cooking so that we know that out of all the MW we are generating, how many are going to be used in the kitchen and that we also make sure that our clean cooking policy includes electric cooking” Jechoniah Kitala, CCAK Chairman

David Njugui, CCAK CEO highlights the emerging opportunities for eCooking in Kenya (image credit: Jon Leary, MECS).

Although we are working from a low baseline, with 0% of Kenyans using electricity as their primary cooking fuel and only 3% even owning an eCooking appliance, the future looks bright for eCooking in Kenya. This week highlighted several opportunities to take forward the discussions and turn them into action:

• Launch of the eCooking Community of Practice – David Njugi, CCAK CEO announced the formation of a new Community of Practice that will be co-convened by CCAK, ACTS and KPLC. This partnership between the clean cooking and electrification sector will create a shared space for ongoing dialogue that can identify and explore new pathways for action for the emerging eCooking Sector. The eCooking Community of Practice will complement the monthly eCooking dialogues already being convened by ACTS with a WhatsApp group for ongoing dialogue. The Community of Practice  will bring together solar companies, mini-grid developers, electrical appliance distributors, cookstove manufacturers, CSOs specialising in consumer awareness, health sector experts and many more.
• Kenya’s eCooking Strategy – Faith Odongo, Senior Deputy Director for Renewable Energy announced the Ministry of Energy’s plan to carry out a specific eCooking Sector Study, which will lay the foundation for the development of a dedicated eCooking Strategy designed to rapidly accelerate the uptake of eCooking in Kenya. Both will be supported by MECS with funding from FCDO and UKPACT and will feed into a broader Clean Cooking Strategy that will lay out a roadmap for the transformation of cooking across Kenya in time for the ambitious target of 100% clean cooking by 2028.

Faith Odongo, Senior Deputy Director for Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Energy engages with Agnes Kalyonge, Director of Jikoni Magic and Wairimu Njehia, Manager of KPLC’s Pika na Power programme (image credit: Jon Leary, MECS).

Many thanks to all our partners who made this such a successful week, in particular KPLC, Groupe SEB (Tefal, Moulinex), Fresh Fri, Burn (eCoa), ACTS, Strathmore University, CCAK and the Ministry of Energy.

By Joanes Atela, Victoria Chengo, Joel Onyango (ACTS)

Cooking with electricity presents a strategic opportunity for a large scale clean energy transformation in Kenya in line with SDG7’s goal to achieve universal access to energy.

With over 73% of households already connected to electricity and plans for reaching those remaining (KPLC, 2018), there is a real opportunity now for eCooking. This blog underscores how strengthening the linkages between Kenya’s well-established clean cooking sector and its thriving electrification sector is key to unlocking opportunities for transforming the clean cooking agenda.

The clean cooking challenge

In Kenya, over 70% of the population still depend on biomass energy forms for cooking (ESMAP, 2020), with most people depending on firewood, charcoal, and kerosene (GLPGP, 2019). Kenya has put in place multiple efforts towards achieving a clean cooking transition from biomass to cleaner options such as improved jikos. This has also been followed by the emerging efforts by the private sector and Government to support the uptake of LPG through initial subsidies and strengthening the distribution chain.

The country’s efforts towards clean cooking have historically followed the narrow techno-centric path where clean cooking is seen as an isolated venture rather than a wider developmental issue. This meant that, in practice, technologies such as clean cook stoves, LPG, etc., were deployed with little connections to the wider developmental opportunities, such as the increased access to renewable energy. With the exception of LPG, most of the historically promoted clean cooking options have overtime failed to produce long-term transformation and the anticipated economic, health, environmental, and gender benefits.

The opportunity for e-cooking in Kenya

The ambition to achieve universal clean cooking in Kenya is developing at a time when the country’s electricity supply is rapidly expanding, presenting a fresh path towards sustainable growth. The country has made enormous progress on electrification, with coverage increasing from 29% to 73% in just 5 years (KPLC, 2018). The Last Mile Electrification programme has extended the national grid into rural areas and densified the network to reach low-income households. The majority of Kenya’s grid electricity i.e., over 70%, is generated from renewable sources, with geothermal being the most significant source (GoK, 2021).

The increased electricity connectivity combined with the ambitious clean cooking targets present a new window of opportunity around electric cooking. Cooking with electricity (e-cooking) provides Kenya with an opportunity to connect clean cooking into the progress made by the country’s thriving electrification sector, thereby supporting the achievement of both the electricity access and clean cooking dimensions of SDG7 simultaneously. Brokering strategic partnerships between actors in the electricity access and clean cooking sectors could play a vital role in catalysing this transition.

Some of the intervening opportunities to catalyse e-cooking

First, a key challenge to e-cooking adoption in Kenya is the lack of integrated partnerships and coordination between clean cooking and electrification programmes. Strengthening partnerships and coordination between these stakeholders could unveil new opportunities for addressing the bottlenecks constraining e-cooking adoption.

Second, Kenya has a rich policy ecosystem which is supportive of the transition to e-cooking across sectors, but there is still some mismatch in priorities in various policy-agencies within the energy sector. Some agencies are already promoting e-cooking e.g., KPLC, but others are still championing traditional options such as clean cookstoves. There is also weak coordination across agencies. Kenya’s new Integrated Energy Plan could potentially address this issue, provided it offers clear messaging. The Plan provides a framework for linking clean cooking to opportunities in the electrification sector and to create multi-sectoral benefits.

Third, the country still relies on just a few companies to develop e-cooking appliances. This has meant that either e-cooking appliances are not easily available in various outlets or are expensive especially for the low-income earners who are largely still stuck with traditional cooking fuels. To address this concern, there is need to strengthen partnerships between local actors and emerging international players involved with e-cooking appliances. Furthermore, linking them to financiers could help to spread the high upfront cost into manageable repayments, as well as advocate for policy incentives that could expand the manufacturing and supply capacity.

Fourth, e-cooking is still perceived to be expensive due to the high initial costs especially for the low-income earners. Developing or tapping into existing pro-poor financing instruments such as Pay-as-you-Go and soft loans could help unlock the relatively big market for e-cooking available in the low to middle income earners who form 80% of energy users in Kenya. Achieving this might require brokering or strengthening partnerships between local groups such as women groups with microfinance entities, e.g., SACCOS. Further, linking e-cooking entrepreneurs to large financial platforms can spur the development of start-ups and business models that can create consumer and supplier confidence. Exploring additional opportunities in the climate change space, e.g., e-cooking emission reduction standards, can attract GCF funding and align e-cooking to mitigation and resilience building.

Finally, although there are a number of well-established awareness platforms facilitating knowledge exchange and better coordination for stakeholders in the clean cooking and electrification sectors, respectively (e.g. the Clean Cooking Association of Kenya and the African Mini-grid Developers Association), there is little coordination and awareness between these two sectors. Addressing this challenge through stakeholder engagement may include building on existing platforms to create national and county level e-cooking knowledge exchange platforms (or e-cooking hubs). These platforms could offer research data, stakeholder databases including who is doing what, projects/initiatives, opportunities, etc, and engage mainstream and social media as well as food bloggers to widely disseminate information to the public. A community of practice could build on the e-cooking platform to further accelerate the adoption of e-cooking.

Conclusion

This blog highlights that stakeholders are key to unlocking and enabling opportunities for transforming the clean cooking agenda, not just as a standalone pursuit, but by connecting it to Kenya’s successful electrification sector. The blog demonstrates the multiple opportunities to enhance the adoption of e-cooking and transform the clean cooking agenda for Kenya by brokering strategic partnerships between actors in the clean cooking and electrification sectors.

This blog captures the main findings of an e-cooking Techno-policy Report and Stakeholder Engagement Strategy developed by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS).

Featured image: Hannah Blair/CLASP/Efficiency for Access

Authors: Maureen Kabasa, Jackson Wachira and Joel Onyango

In this blog, we  explore the relationship between the climate change agenda and development in Africa, problematizing the capacity development gaps associated with climate change awareness and response programs. We argue that  if done right,  capacity building programs offer an opportunity for contributing to both climate change mitigation and adaptation.

We highlight some of the opportunities and challenges  associated with capacity building  concluding that there is need to contextualise and engender the delivery models for climate change capacity building initiatives.

Climate change and Africa development

Climate change (CC)  is an evolving problem globally with the causes attributed to anthropogenic factors since the industrial revolution in the 1800s. African countries continues to be hardest hit by adverse impacts of climate change due  to their  higher vulnerability and weaker capacity compared to their developed counterparts.  According to the World Bank, the agricultural sector has particularly been affected especially in the sub-Saharan Africa as most thethe bulk of the population in this region depend on rain-fed agriculture as the main source of  livelihood.  Yet, researchers such as Fankhauser et al, 2005 [1] argue that the models to quantify climate change effects on the economy and GDP may be underestimating the losses associated with climate change.  This is so as the climate change impacts on the economy are often measured by the extent to which the social welfare of a given period is affected by the climate variability of the that period. The dynamic effects through which climate change may affect economic growth and subsequently future welfare is ignored by this static approach. Notwithstanding, conscious efforts to address climate challenges have been made at the global, regional, and local scale to contribute to climate action. The fight against climate change is increasingly being viewed as a collective responsibility that requires countries (both developing and developed) to reduce their carbon foot print. If parties to the Paris Agreement comply with the ambition to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C and no more than 2.0°C relative to pre-industrial era, the global economic gains will be approximately US$ 17,489 billion per year by the year 2100[2]

The UNFCCC emphasizes capacity building as one of the ways to build resilience and promote climate awareness through training, education, and research [3]. However, many developing countries lack proper institutional capacity-building arrangements including climate change courses that create awareness and address the emerging challenges posed by the same at the national and the local level [4]. To be better equipped to offer optimal capacity support among institutions, the needs of the institutions have to be assessed for a clear picture of the demand, institutional and individual gaps in terms of capacity building. The assessment will inform better curriculum development and delivery, dissemination, engagement and policies that are sustainable across geographies and over time.

Climate Change Awareness

Discussions on climate change have taken place on a global and regional stage to address climate change at different levels. The UNFCCC has been on the forefront of championing agreements and ensuring access to scientific research related to climate change. These achievements have contributed to policies that govern mitigation and adaptation strategies as well as climate financing. The Paris agreement is one of the global climate achievements that sought to ensure collective action from both the developing and developing countries. To reduce green-house gases (GHGs), the agreement addressed climate financing, encouraging the developed countries to fund climate change mitigation and adaptation actions in developing countries.  [5][6].

The IPCC has been at the center stage of assessing scientific researches on the drivers of climate change, the impacts, future risks and options for adaptation and mitigation as the scientific arm of the UNFCCC. The climate reports provide the scientific community as well as governments with the most up to date scientific data to inform further scientific inquiries and  development of climate policies at all levels [7]. The Kyoto protocol extends the UNFCCC with the recognition that the developed countries contribute to the highest GHGs emissions therefore binds these industrialized countries and economies to limit the emissions in accordance to the agreed individual emission targets. The protocol emphasizes that these countries adopt policies on mitigation measures and periodically report on the progress. The most important element of the Kyoto protocol is the establishment of flexible market trade mechanisms based on trade permits. Through these mechanisms countries primarily meet targets nationally but additional means to reduce emissions are provided through the market-based mechanisms i.e., International Emissions Trading (IET); Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM); and Joint implementation (JI) [5] .

The global climate management policies have informed plans at the continental and national levels. In Africa, development communities have played a huge role in climate mitigation and adaptation. The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are some of the communities that have actively implemented initiatives on climate mitigation and adaptation. These communities are embedded under a Tripartite arrangement in which the climate change mitigation and adaptation programme was initiated in 2010 to achieve social and economic resilience sustainably. Specifically, these communities aim to: apply climate change solutions; enhance adoption of climate smart agriculture; develop climate change mitigation strategies and avail them to the member states; strengthen capacity for national research and training institutions; and implement research programmes [8] .

The COMESA, EAC and SADC have different roles to achieving climate mitigation and adaptation in the continent. In summary, COMESAs initiative on climate change aims at “achieving economic prosperity and climate protection” by addressing CC impacts to build social and economic resilience for present and future generations. The focus of COMESA in the continent is to support Africa to adapt to CC safeguarding natural ecosystems that play an important role in carbon sequestration [8][9]. The EAC has contributed to climate action by developing a protocol on Environment and Natural resource management, The East African Community Climate strategy, Policy and Master Plan and East African Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Strategy. Additionally, SADC has a CC adaptation strategy on the water sector ranging from water governance and governance to infrastructure development as well as a protocol on forestry that focuses on environmental protection through sustainable forest management practices, forest policy implementation. The global discussions having created more attention on the challenges of climate change progress in terms of strategies and initiatives have been made at different levels [8]. 

Response to Climate change

Climate change is a complex and dynamic challenge that requires planning and preparations for the uncertainties from both the known (on environment, health, economy and society) and unknown / future risks. Hence, building resilience awareness on the strategies and plans that contribute to climate change is crucial. Research has been done by ecologists, geologists, environmentalists, economists, sociologist, conservationists and policy makers on many disciplines of climate change on the risks associated with climate change, mitigation and adaptation strategies and climate related policies. These researches have contributed to capacity building by educating different stakeholders to implement climate change actions. Importantly they have been a baseline for innovation of climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies by analyzing the gaps.

Climate adaptation and mitigation plans, and strategies go hand in hand to ensure climate resilience through disaster risk management, improved health, and social protection. These strategies have been adopted in the region with the support of the national, regional, and global spaces. Although there have been other impacts of climate change agriculture has been affected most especially in the sub-Saharan Africa where the economy and livelihoods depend on agriculture necessitating activities that promote green agriculture to ensure food security. According to FAO [10], Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is an integrative approach that aims to address challenges of climate change through a set of three core principles including sustainably increasing agricultural production and incomes, adapting and building resilience to climate change and reducing GHGs from agriculture as much as possible. Practices that promote conservation agriculture, soil and water conservation, and irrigation and drainage are prioritized within communities in the region as mitigation and adaptation strategies. Agroforestry, afforestation, and reforestation practices have also been implemented at the community level giving the people the power to take charge of climate change.

Efforts from COMESA, EAC, and SADC have been realized through adoption of these practices with support from different institutions governed at different policy domains. These policy responses are made at the national level to find a balance between investment in development and promulgation of new technologies and investment in encouraging and enabling societal behavioral change or adoption of new technology. For instance, every country has a National Adaptation Plan for climate change mainly under the Ministry of Environment that has the primary mandate for climate action. Within the national plan guidelines and policies governing climate change are outlined but the implementation should be an intersectoral responsibility. Therefore, suitable institutional arrangements and the involvement of different sectors is crucial for the success of climate stakeholder engagement. The positive responses in research, capacity building and policy have been boosted by the capacity building initiatives implemented mainly in the developing and least developing countries

Role of Capacity Building Initiatives

To enhance knowledge sharing and coordination, capacity building initiatives have been implemented globally and regionally. These initiatives which are as a result of global agreements have been implemented in the regional scale creating the partnership between the developed and the developing countries in the fight against climate change threats. The Paris agreement having made its contribution in the direction to better climate action in terms of mitigation, adaptation and financing. It encourages that each party decides its own contribution as stipulated in the agreement. Transparency being the foundation of the Paris agreement is a prerequisite to building trust and accountability and ultimately raising climate ambition[11].

To operationalize a capacity building initiative that ensures transparency, the Paris Agreement requested the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to support the establishment and operation of the Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency (CBTI). The main aim of the CBTI is to: strengthen national institutions for transparency-related activities in-line with the national goals; provide tools, training and assistance in article 13 of the agreement[12]; and assist in the improvement of transparency over time. The key considerations in the implementation of this initiative incorporate: alignment with article 13 of the Paris agreement and COP outcomes; alignment with the Nationally Determined Contributions; address the assessed climate needs; inter-ministerial and inter-sectoral coordination; feedback of data and information into policy development; and linkage with global coordination platform. As at November, 2019 this initiative begun the implementation of 29 projects, of which 4 were global projects that aimed to improve knowledge sharing, coordination and facilitate additional capacity building in 18 least developed countries and Small Islands developing states[11].

The World Health Organization (WHO) has made technical and institutional capacity building the foundation in its implementing countries. In all the countries it supports, it ensures national ownership and building of community practice in climate change and health at all levels. WHO endeavors to provide and disseminate information on threats of climate change to human health while reducing carbon emission[13]. Detailed guidance, tools and training manuals on a wide range of topics on climate change and health are available under the WHO toolkit of climate change and health resources allowing modular capacity building [13][14]. Trainings and educational materials on relevant topics on climate change and health are organized globally, regionally and locally as part of the overall initiatives on climate change and health. Pertaining to institutional capacity building, WHO promotes multi-sectoral approach to dealing with climate related health impacts [13][15].

The sustainable development goals are the guiding principles towards a viable environment, satisfied society and equitable economy that every country aims to achieve. The goal target 17.9 of agenda 2030 for sustainable goals recognizes the importance of capacity building aiming “to enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted capacity building in developing countries to support national plans to implement all sustainable development goals including north – south, south-south and triangular cooperation” Target 17.8 also makes reference to capacity building in the context of ensuring maximum implementation of the “technology and science, technology and innovation capacity-building mechanism for least developed countries by 2017”. The SDGs have been fundamental in climate mitigation and adaptation by directing the mitigation strategies towards achieving sustainability [16],[17]

Opportunities and Challenges for Capacity Building Initiatives

The key institutions: – academia/research, regulatory/governments, indigenous/local communities and financing have come together for a common goal on the fight against climate change negative impacts. The government has played a role in the implementation of climate plans and initiatives that communities have adopted with the help of climate experts and advocates. Researchers have dedicated their time on scientific outputs on the drivers of climate change, the impacts, the future risks and the possible mitigation and adaptation strategies which have informed policy makers, governments and extension officers to work towards climate action. The local communities endure the impacts of climate change most and for an improved climate action climate education should start from them as some researchers and practitioners argue. Placing them as the major stakeholders by employing the bottom-up approach through recognizing their traditional knowledge would be more beneficial as opposed to tackling it from the governments, top-down approach [18].

Though collaborative efforts have been made by the researchers, government and local communities  to deal with climate change impacts, the challenge lies in the lack of proper institutional capacity in terms of the availability of modules and manuals on emerging issues on climate change [8][19]. The different institutional levels involved in climate change are contextual and the message of climate change towards climate action needs to be passed differently using different tools. The availability and easy access through new technological methods will improve climate education and awareness for strong climate action and responses. A research done on 13 countries both developed and developing, shows that policies have been standardized from the global context in-terms of adoption of mitigation and adaptation strategies forgetting needs may vary and an exclusive focus on the national adaptation policies are necessary[5].

There exist opportunities presented for climate change mitigation and adaptation that can be operationalized by the national climate programmes to the grass root level. In the developing countries specifically the COMESA region they include: Financial opportunities from the funding institutions (Multilateral and bilateral banks) for climate change initiatives; carrying out needs’ assessment for various actors in governance, leadership, knowledge, accountability, institutional arrangements and public and private collaborations; training in various areas i.e., climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, institutional arrangements, value addition, carbon assessment and marketing; policy opportunities to facilitate formulation of policies that improve climate change mitigation and adaptation and encourage multi-sectoral partnerships; development and delivery of curriculums that take into consideration emerging issues and understand that every student is an individual as they are not the same; and enhance capacity building from the grassroots to the top levels.

With the numerous opportunities there are still challenges retrogressing the climate action initiatives. The gaps revolve around institutional arrangements, finance, capacity building and knowledge sharing, technology and infrastructure and integrated planning and data management. Specifically: lack of sustainable funding especially from the national governments; misuse of the existing funds from the developed worlds and local agencies through corruption; capacity limitations in terms of lack of proper institutional arrangements to tackle climate change; weak inter-sectoral collaborations from the public sector, private sector to local communities; poor involvement of the local communities who are more vulnerable to climate change; and gender inequality in the context of climate change mitigation and adaptation and capacity building are some of the setbacks.

Conclusion

It is a fact that climate change has presented challenges globally, regionally and locally. With efforts being made to deal with these challenges, collaborative and inclusive efforts from different stakeholders from the environmentalists, sociologists, communities, financing organization to governing bodies is necessary to realize climate goals. Proper institutional arrangements with respect to governance, support structures and administration play an important role in adapting new technologies and incorporating emerging issues into modules and manuals for better awareness in this dynamic times. Climate capacity building on education research and training need to be improved as a base for information sharing on climate change matters from the risks to mitigation and adaptation strategies. Assessing the institutional needs towards proper development and delivery of curriculum is a progressive means to ensuring education, training and research is human centered and learner friendly for dissemination to a wider audience. It is within this background that the African Center for Technology Studies (ACTS) in collaboration with Institute of Climate Change and Adaptation (ICCA) and Tetralink Taylor & Associates (TTA) have launched the Capacity Building of Technical Institutions Involved in Climate Change Education, Training and Research Services (CapCET) programme. With funding from the COMESA secretariat, the CapCET project aims to bridge the capacity gaps taking into considerations the underlying issues like gender actions, developing strategic modules and developing case studies from current relevant initiatives. Specifically, the will (a) assess institution’s needs; (b) develop a human-centered curriculum; (c) deliver the curriculum through a learner-focused approach (d) ensure the modules are running for the long-term; and (e) disseminate the modules through online libraries, webinars, and conferences.

Further Reading

1. S. Fankhauser and R. S. J. Tol, “On climate change and economic growth,” Resour. Energy Econ., vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 1–17, 2005, doi: 10.1016/j.reseneeco.2004.03.003.
2. T. Kompas, V. H. Pham, and T. N. Che, “The Effects of Climate Change on GDP by Country and the Global Economic Gains From Complying With the Paris Climate Accord,” Earth’s Futur., vol. 6, no. 8, pp. 1153–1173, Aug. 2018, doi: 10.1029/2018EF000922.
3. “Capacity-building to Boost Climate Action | UNFCCC.” https://unfccc.int/news/capacity-building-to-boost-climate-action (accessed Mar. 05, 2021).
4. F. Mugabe, “Building Adaptive Capacity to Cope With Increasing Vulnerability Due to Climatic Change,” Epidemiology, vol. 19, no. 1. p. S229, 2008, doi: 10.1097/01.ede.0000291941.47172.4c.
5. F. Alves et al., “Climate change policies and agendas: Facing implementation challenges and guiding responses,” Environ. Sci. Policy, vol. 104, no. November 2019, pp. 190–198, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.envsci.2019.12.001.
6. L. Gomez-Echeverri, “Climate and development: Enhancing impact through stronger linkages in the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” Philos. Trans. R. Soc. A Math. Phys. Eng. Sci., vol. 376, no. 2119, 2018, doi: 10.1098/rsta.2016.0444.
7. S. Beck and M. Mahony, “The IPCC and the new map of science and politics,” Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, vol. 9, no. 6. 2018, doi: 10.1002/wcc.547.
8. B. E. Isabirye and G. Diversity, “Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in ECA / SADC / COMESA region : Opportunities and Challenges Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in ECA / SADC / COMESA region : Opportunities and Challenges Didas N . Kimaro , Alfred N . Gichu , Hezron Mogaka,” no. December, 2020.
9. E. Human Rights Law in Africa, “Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa),” Hum. Rights Law Africa Online, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 623–631, 2012, doi: 10.1163/221160604×00396.
10.  “Climate-Smart Agriculture | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.” http://www.fao.org/climate-smart-agriculture/en/ (accessed Mar. 05, 2021).
11. “Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT) Update on CBIT Support and Early Findings Transparency Day at the Capacity-building Hub,” 2019.
12. Unfccc, “ADOPTION OF THE PARIS AGREEMENT – Paris Agreement text English.”
13. “Building capacity on climate change and human health.” https://www.who.int/activities/building-capacity-on-climate-change-human-health (accessed Mar. 11, 2021).
14.  “Toolkit on climate change and health.” https://www.who.int/activities/building-capacity-on-climate-change-human-health/toolkit (accessed Mar. 13, 2021).
15. “Trainings and educational material.” https://www.who.int/activities/building-capacity-on-climate-change-human-health/toolkit/trainings (accessed Mar. 13, 2021).
16. “Capacity-building .:. Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform.” https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/capacity-building (accessed Mar. 11, 2021).
17. “Goal 17 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs.” https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal17 (accessed Mar. 13, 2021).
18. D. Conway et al., “The need for bottom-up assessments of climate risks and adaptation in climate-sensitive regions,” Nat. Clim. Chang., vol. 9, no. 7, pp. 503–511, Jul. 2019, doi: 10.1038/s41558-019-0502-0.
19. X. Tan et al., “Research on the status and priority needs of developing countries to address climate change,” J. Clean. Prod., vol. 289, p. 125669, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125669.

Multilateral development banks (MDBs) have pledged to and are working to increase financing for adaptation in developing countries. For MDBs, alignment with the adaptation goals of the

Paris Agreement means scaling up finance for adaptation in a way that helps developing countries achieve their international commitments as well as national economic and social objectives, including COVID-19 recovery. The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) is partnering with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) on a research project that is exploring options to scale up MDB investment in adaptation. Initial research findings in Kenya, Nepal, and Peru highlight that MDB’s efforts to close the adaptation finance gap require input from developing country governments and alignment with nationally determined adaptation priorities.

Blog:

Lost in the daily coverage of the global COVID-19 pandemic is the ongoing, insidious impacts of climate change. The year 2020 is tied with 2016 as the hottest year on record, and the past six years have been the hottest six years on record. Climate change is contributing to catastrophes around the world, including intense and prolonged rainfall and flooding that claimed over 285 lives and affected more than 800,000 people in Kenya in 2020.

The African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) has partnered with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and institutions based in Nepal and Peru to undertake research that will help governments manage the effects of climate change. The Mobilizing Development Finance for Adaptation research project, which is managed by IISD and funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), is addressing one of the biggest roadblocks to the implementation of adaptation actions: the lack of financing.

We are specifically looking at the role that multilateral development banks (MDBs), such as the World Bank, can play in helping developing countries address their adaptation financing gap. MDBs provide and leverage large-volume financing under attractive terms, and these banks have committed to increasing their investment in adaptation and aligning their financing portfolios with the adaptation goals of the Paris Agreement. In a high-level statement in 2019, nine MDBs committed to a collective effort to double the total level of adaptation finance provided to clients, meaning that MDBs will allocate USD 18 billion annually for adaptation by 2025.

MDBs are well placed to work with developing country governments to scale up finance for adaptation in a way that helps them achieve their international climate commitments as well as national economic and social objectives, including COVID-19 recovery. However, MDBs cannot act alone. A recent IISD report indicates that a critical factor for achieving scaled up MDB support for adaptation is specific requests from developing country governments. MDBs are demand-driven institutions, and the engagement of ministries that lead on both adaptation and finance can help to integrate adaptation considerations in MDB investments. Additionally, research in Kenya, Nepal, and Peru points to three different strategies to encourage MDB investment in climate adaptation and lessons learned for each of them.

Kenya: Informing MDB investments with climate change adaptation plans

Kenya has identified its adaptation priorities and the costs of implementing these adaptation actions through national action plans that are cascaded locally through subnational county governments. These plans include the country’s second national climate change action plan, the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and an NDC investment plan.

Professor Tom Ogada, Executive Director of ACTS in Nairobi, explains: “An enhanced understanding of the costs of climate change and benefits of adaptation across government ministries – including treasury and environment – has informed consultations between the government and MDBs. The climate vulnerabilities and adaptation needs already identified by Kenya have informed the design of recent World Bank projects in the housing and agriculture sectors.”

Nepal: Using the MDB investment plan to push national adaptation plans forward

In Nepal, COVID-19 has delayed government processes to formulate the country’s NAP. A World Bank initiative to develop an adaptation investment plan for Nepal offers an opportunity to support national processes. The Prakriti Resources Centre (PRC) in Kathmandu is examining MDB investments in adaptation in Nepal and helping the government identify opportunities to use the World Bank project to further national adaptation processes. Raju Pandit Chhetri, Executive Director of the PRC, indicates: “The research is critical to improving our understanding of how MDB investment can be scaled up and aligned with Nepal’s adaptation priorities, and how MDB processes can help the government meet international climate change commitments.”

Peru: Engaging MDBs in the making of climate adaptation strategies

Many developing countries are receiving technical assistance through NDC support programs established by MDBs, which can be used to address adaptation concerns. Diego Calero, Project Manager at Libélula in Lima, notes the importance of engaging MDBs in the development of these national climate adaptation strategies. “While these are national processes led by the government, MDBs are more likely to understand a country’s adaptation priorities and direct investment to these priorities if they are engaged in these processes.” For example, the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) NDC Invest program is supporting the Peruvian government in designing a “climate-smart economic revival” as the country seeks to respond to the high impact of COVID-19. The work includes updating the country’s national climate change strategy, which includes a vision for long-term adaptation that can guide future MDB investment.

Progress is being made

ACTS recently examined the investment portfolio of the World Bank in Kenya. This Initial research shows that allocations of finance for adaptation relative to mitigation and overall investment portfolios have increased since 2013. Similar to research findings in Kathmandu and Peru, much of MDBs’ finance for adaptation is in sectors that are important for COVID-19 recovery, including infrastructure, water, and agriculture.

We will continue to work with IISD and its partners to identify strategies to encourage government officials to request MDB financing for adaptation. Our research is exploring how best to align adaptation processes with national economic development and planning efforts, and how to improve understanding of the benefits of incorporating climate resilience in investment decisions, especially with officials from treasury and planning. MDBs have committed to scaling up finance for adaptation, and our research will help developing countries direct MDB investment toward nationally determined priorities.

Link to IISD project webpage:

Mobilizing Development Finance for Strategic and Scaled-up Investment in Climate Adaptation https://www.iisd.org/projects/mobilizing-development-finance-strategic-and-scaled-investment-climate-adaptation

Acknowledgement: This blog was written under a project managed by the International Institute for Sustainable Development that is funded by Canada’s International Development Centre (IDRC).

By Leonard Mabele, CB4ICT Project

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) – Kenya’s National Regulatory Authority (NRA), has been deeply engaged on studies to validate the draft of the regulatory framework for Television White Spaces (TVWS) in the country. These studies were spearhead by researchers within the country led by Strathmore University and working with international partners as well.

The studies were funded by the former UK Department for International Development (DFID) in December 2019 and ran from January to June 2020, receiving an extension until October 2020. DFID merged with the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) in September 2020, creating the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Notably, the CA has a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Strathmore University until 2022 exploring research in spectrum innovation alongside cybersecurity. The research on spectrum innovation covers work on TVWS, Long Term Evolution (LTE) as well as 5G within the umbrella of dynamic spectrum access (DSA) together with technical concepts of software-defined radios (SDRs) and cognitive radios (CRs). It also involves joint development of capacity on spectrum management skills.

The rise in the spectrum demand due to the proliferation of more wireless devices such as phones, tablets, personal computers etc. and the rapidly growing Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem requires a new spectrum management paradigm that can guarantee efficient utilisation of spectrum. Primarily, global studies point towards a situation where spectrum allocated to incumbents is not fully utilised based on time, frequency and location. That is, the channels allocated to the licensees remain unused a good fraction of the time or are not even utilised in some locations altogether. CA, as one of the forward-thinking NRAs on the continent, has already identified this gap and has been leading collaborations with other NRAs in Africa and other continents to leapfrog efforts that can drive opportunistic spectrum usage. Strathmore University, on the other hand, has been conducting studies for over three years with partners in the UK, Ghana, Zambia, Malawi and Kenya on dynamic spectrum access, specifically on TV White Spaces. Hence, this shared vision of Strathmore University and the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has been the torque leading the wheels of spectrum innovation to deliver the first DSA-based regulatory framework for the country. Potential applications that are envisioned to be the long-term fruits of this framework include provision of fixed wireless broadband connectivity to the rural homes, businesses, public services such as education and healthcare as well as IoT applications.

Throughout these studies, the two partners have worked on investigation of spectrum sharing for Fixed Broadband services in the UHF Television (TV) band (470-694 MHz) as an enabler of rural wireless Internet access. Field studies were conducted in Kisumu, Kitui and Laikipia counties to determine the spectral opportunity in the same UHF TV band. Engagements with the public as well as relevant stakeholders were additionally carried out in these studies to obtain the necessary views on the first step towards spectrum sharing for Kenya.

In this article, a summary of that draft regulatory framework for Kenya on TVWS is highlighted. The draft framework is to be released by the end of November 2020. The framework immensely borrows from the model rules developed by the dynamic spectrum alliance (DSAL). Other guiding standards on it include the European Telecommunications and Standards Institute (ETSI) harmonised rules, the ITU Geneva 2006 (GE06) agreement for Digital Broadcasting as well as the IETF’s Protocol to Access TV White Space Database (PAWS).

The Regulatory Approach

‘White Spaces’ refer to radio spectrum that is either allocated for licensed use but not assigned to a particular licensee due to limited demand, or not being used by licensees at all times and in all geographical locations. The white spaces in the frequency band of TV broadcasting services is known as TV White Spaces (TVWS). TVWS can hence, shortly be defined as the unused TV channels assigned to TV broadcasting. Unlike other countries such as the USA, where utilisation of TVWS is in both UHF and VHF bands at a bandwidth of 6MHz,  the draft of the Kenyan rules spell out that the utilisation of the TVWS will operate in the UHF band only – 470-694 MHz at a bandwidth of 8 MHz. This is also a UHF band in the ITU region 1, which includes Europe, Africa, Middle East west of the Persian Gulf including Iraq, the former Soviet Union and Mongolia. The operation will be on a non-protected and non-interference basis by the radio equipment to be deployed, i.e. the white space devices (WSDs). This approach is sensible enough as it needs to be remembered that the UHF band – 470-694 MHz (which houses 28 channels – CH21-CH48) is primarily allocated to the broadcasting services (formally referred to as digital terrestrial television – DTT) who pay for the operating license and hence have to be protected from any interference. The utilisation of the “white spaces” between these bands is therefore a secondary and opportunistic usage but highly desired due to the gigantic value it provides through the provision of wireless Internet access. TV white spaces are particularly suitable for delivering Internet access to the rural and underserved sub-urban areas due to the great propagation characteristics and penetration features they possess, particularly in the UHF band.

Protecting the incumbents has enormously been at the centre stage of allowing spectrum sharing for TVWS utilisation. This is the same for all the other shareable spectrum bands, including 5G. The traditional licensing model gives high priority to the providers who pay to use the spectrum on an exclusive basis; they therefore must be guaranteed the desired quality of service without interference to their service pipeline.  In the era of dynamic spectrum access (DSA), three approaches can be used to establish the regulations that protect the incumbents. These are the use of spectrum sensing, the beacon reception model and the use of the geolocation databases. CA has adopted the use of the geolocation databases (mostly referred to as white space databases – WSDB) to protect the DTT service providers from the WSD interference.

Just like the way services are provided by the network facilities providers (NFPs) or the Internet Service Providers (ISPs), the geolocation databases will be delivered by providers who must meet the requirements stipulated by CA. The CA has developed the procedure for qualification of geolocation databases, which accompany the draft framework to act as the requirements for provision of geolocation database services. The procedure outlines a 3-stage approach process that includes application, evaluation and testing and finally qualification. The geolocation databases will be expected to have the ability to receive periodic updates from the CA’s spectrum database, perform coexistence calculations and provide transmission parameters to the WSDs for non-interference operation. A bit similar to the UK approach, the CA will implement a listing server that lists the approved databases to operate in Kenya as well as the operators. All of this, in line with the PAWS protocol which the database providers adhere to in the development of their service.

The white space devices (WSDs) will be expected to meet the minimum technical specifications and be Type Approved prior to installation by NFPs. They shall be authorised to operate at specific locations and times determined by the geolocation database(s) used. The WSD operational requirements and channel usage parameters will be obtained from the geolocation databases through the interfacing (described within PAWS) that the master WSDs will have with the databases. A master WSD will provide its location and operational characteristics to a geolocation database that has information on licensed DTT transmissions. The geolocation database will then use the information to determine the channels available for secondary use by the WSD and the associated power levels. The database will perform calculations for the location and technical characteristics provided by a WSD and will communicate the available channels and powers to the master WSD to initiate transmission. The consumer premises equipment (or the slave WSDs) will obtain the operating parameters from the geolocation database through the master WSD. A master WSD must periodically reload the list of qualified databases at least every 24 hours. In the initial communication to the geolocation database, the master WSDs will not use TVWS channels. An illustration of the TVWS network where the master interfaces with the geolocation database is shown in figure 1.

The licensing model adopted in the draft is the lightly licensed one. In the lightly licensing approach, the service providers will require an annual authorisation and will be expected to pay an annual fee within the range of KES. 10, 000 per master WSD in addition to a nominal fee and the fees they will have to pay to the geolocation database providers. Moreover, in this approach, the WSDs will be fully managed through the geolocation databases. In the event of harmful interference, CA will request cease of transmission on the interfering WSDs. WSDs that are not able to verify their operational parameters with the geolocation databases will also be expected to cease transmission. This will be the same for the client WSDs(CPEs or slave WSDs) that can verify their operating parameters with the master WSD(s).

Figure 1: An illustration of the TVWS network where the master interfaces with the geolocation database

Technical Highlights

Under the lightly-licensed regime, the white space devices (WSDs) will need to comply with the minimum technical and operational requirements to mitigate the risk of harmful interference to the incumbents (DTT service providers). The primary device to obtain the operational parameters will be a master WSD. Borrowing from the ETSI standard, type-A and type-B devices (fixed and portable WSDs) will be allowed to operate with integral or external antenna and integral or dedicated antenna respectively. All the WSDs will hence have a unique serial number provided by the manufacturer, the model number and the identifier of the device manufacturer. This will allow ease of identification of the devices by the geolocation databases, which will be able to provide the particular channels and powers being used by the specific WSDs.  Based on the emission class of the WSDs, the database(s) will be able to calculate the operational parameters.

Operational parameters generated by the geolocation database(s), will be the instructions of operation to the WSDs. These instructions include:

1. The lower and upper frequency boundaries within which a WSD may transmit.
2. The maximum permitted Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) spectral density.
3. Limits on the maximum total number of DTT channels that may be used.
4. The time interval during which the operational parameters are valid.
5. The time interval within which a master WSD must check with a geolocation database that the operational parameters are valid.

Once a WSD obtains the operational parameters, it will have to report to the geolocation database(s) what the actual operating parameters are. These are referred to as the Channel Usage parameters. These parameters include – the location of the WSD(s), the lower and upper frequency boundaries and the maximum in-block EIRP spectral density.

An illustration of the UHF band with the DTT (broadcasting services) coexisting with services in adjacent bands is shown in figure 2. For TVWS transmission, the channels to be used by the WSDs will be limited in power to protect the DTT transmission. Similar power limits will be used to manage the out-of-band (OOB) emissions from WSDs to the 450-470 MHz mobile services. The 9 MHz guard band protects the services of the mobile networks in the 700 MHz. Cross-border emissions will be protected in alignment with the GE06 Agreement to which Kenya is a party and will be restricted to the trigger field strength levels of 21 dBµV/m for channels 21-34 (470-582 MHz) and channels 35-51 (582-718 MHz). This approach will ensure that Kenya does not cause harmful interference to the DTT services of its neighbours due to its WSD transmission.

Figure 2: The UHF band with DTT band coexisting with adjacent UHF services

The details of the white space availability based on frequency, height, space and time as well as the key definitions and requirements of TVWS use are discussed in detail in the draft framework. Additionally, coexistence calculations were also carried out in the DFID-funded project leading to a deviation in the thermal noise power limit for the 8 MHz bandwidth from the one provided in the DSAL rules. The coexistence calculations compute spectrum allocation parameters for WSD taking into account geolocation, device requirements for the WSD as well as the DTT protection information. All these are deeply covered in the draft framework and in the DSAL model rules. Moreover, more paper publications are being worked on and will be shared in the coming days by the researchers from Strathmore University, experts from CA and consultants from Kaiote who worked on the simulations of the calculations.

Conclusions

This summary is a part of the broader document on the draft regulatory framework for TV White Spaces in Kenya. In a way, it also touches and includes some links to other relevant documents that have been instrumental in the development of the regulatory framework for Kenya. It is worth noting that the framework also received inputs from various stakeholders seeking clarifications and pointing out items that required corrections. As an evolving approach to managing underutilised spectrum in order to address the digital divide problem, CA has developed a blueprint that can lead to more activities leading to dynamic spectrum access with the overall objective of ensuring efficient utilisation of the lucrative resource – radio frequency spectrum. Strathmore, on the other hand is launching a new masters course on spectrum management in the coming days. Among other significant topics, the course will cover the novel way of spectrum sharing and dynamic spectrum management approach. Moreover, it is in its final stages to complete the setup of the spectrum research division that will look at spectrum innovation, particularly in shareable bands and the scalability of the Internet of Things (IoT).

Information security and cybersecurity have been used synonymously in the context of information systems security management. It is, however, very common to hear the word cybersecurity being floated in almost every discussion in the information systems world. For this blog, we shall consider cybersecurity and information security to mean the same thing.

As such, we define cybersecurity to be the risks, real or perceived, emerging from the development, deployment, and consumption of ICT assets in any generic setup.

Cybersecurity has become the next frontier for information systems experts to worry about. With the advent of the internet of things, artificial intelligence, and their reliance on Big data, security related to these three concepts has proven to be a nightmare for both policymakers and all other stakeholders. The quest to keep everyone safe while ensure the full benefits of being connected to the entire world has generated a lot of conversations. Some entities such as the European Union have found it wise to come up with privacy and responsible usage safeguards such as the GDPR^[1].

The link between AI and Cybersecurity has never been so clear as it is in the current dispensation of the digital age. With the advent of AI being launched in virtually all aspects of our lives, the quest to make these deployments as safe as possible has gained ground. AI relies heavily on information systems and the underlying data to drive it. Therefore, Big data comes into the picture. Harvesting this data while maintaining the tenets of user rights and privacy becomes an important demand from everyone involved. This is where we submit that cybersecurity becomes an important area to us within the context of AI.

While everybody has focused on the more obvious areas of cybersecurity such as threats to global and national security, business continuity, household and individual privacy, very few have looked into one critical part that we believe will dictate a successful cybersecurity strategy. This critical part is the generation that will in foreseeable future, play a key role in shaping what we will know as cybersecurity mitigation.

Generation X and Generation ALPHA have been studied at great length in terms of character and behavior in a bid to understand them and help in building a futuristic ready market for business enterprises. Phycologists and marketing enthusiasts have gone to great lengths to explore the two generations to better profile them in the most effective potential clientele^{[2],[3], [4], [5]}. This has revealed a generation with ready access to technology in this digital age with Generation ALPHA seamlessly transitioning to the digital age from a very tender age. The question therefore that cybersecurity experts need to ask themselves is what this phenomenon portends to the future of cybersecurity. It is from this premise that we analyze possible pathways for the future of cybersecurity research within the context of both good and bad, and provide an overview of what we can think of in terms of strategic investment in both generations.

Artifical Inteligence front

Interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) has grown in all sectors both nationally and globally. From business to health, communication to social ventures, even on national to global defense, AI has found its way and is making great strides. Africa is not left on the sidewalk as well. With the growth of access to the internet in Africa^[6],[7], the need to be at the same level as other continents have also grown. Therefore, the development, deployment, and consumption of AI has become more of a necessity than a need. With this in mind, there also increased calls to start investing on what has minimally been covered in the form of responsible AI. Responsible AI has minimally been focused on as opposed to focusing on research dwelling on how to make AI more efficient and respond to the market-oriented audience. It is our submission that the generations that can either be impacted more by AI or help shape AI in the future are Generation Z and Generation ALPHA. We, therefore, highlight a few areas that can shape research in the area of AI within the context of Generation Z and Generation ALPHA.

AI impact on Generation Z and Generation ALPHA

Understanding the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the future generation can be best gauged by understanding the effect on the current Generation Z and Generation ALPHA. This is mainly because of the dynamic characteristics that both generations exhibit. This area of research can look into possible research pathway on how AI has or will impact Generation Z and Generation ALPHA, and how both generations will shape AI to respond to societal and economic as well as health-related AI development, deployment, and consumption. The general approach in this pathway can lead us to better understand better the latent and peripheral aspects of AI which would also include looking into cultural components of AI vis a viz Generation Z and Generation ALPHA.

AI Governance

Responsible Artificial Intelligence is not limited to the development and deployment of AI, but also how future generations are molded to support the efforts towards ensuring responsible consumption. This may be possible if there is good data on how AI is consumed by Generation Z and Generation ALPHA cohorts and the impact they have on their day to day interaction with society. These can shed light on very important variables to be considered with the governing bodies to formulate sustainable policies to govern the consumption of AI. The research area may therefore discuss possible research pathways that address governance and how AI stakeholders can take advantage of Generation Z and Generation ALPHA. This would be crucial to shaping the governance of responsible AI to foster safer AI development, deployment, and consumption.

Cybersecurity front

It would be fair to say that cybersecurity will remain a critical area of concern in many generations to come. This is predicated on the continuous growth of internet access expounded by the extensive unfettered access by persons of all ages including many younger age members of our society. Therefore, we can all agree that Generation Z and Generation ALPHA thus become a crucial centerpiece to future research on cybersecurity.

That being said, Generation Z and Generation ALPHA hold a key position to shape how cybersecurity strategies will be put in place today if we want to have a secure cyberspace tomorrow and in the far future. As such, we highlight possible entry points for cybersecurity or information security researchers to consider as part of this effort.

Cybersecurity Governance

How we govern information security to ensure safe cyberspace is dependent on many factors. However, we submit that the key cornerstone to enable robust cyberspace governance is Generation Z and Generation ALPHA. These are the two groups that are least understood in terms of their impact on the strategies for cybersecurity, yet they are the most informed today on cyber content due to the ready access. By investing in research that delves deeper into their world, we submit that this will open other knowledge points for better and effective cybersecurity governance. Policymakers will be in a better position to be informed on what aspects to factor in for the development and deployment of policies based on evidence. Policy implementors would also understand how best to tackle aspects of management and compliance because of the deep understanding of the audience. This would bring in the missing 360 degrees component of cybersecurity strategic development.

Cybersecurity Culture

This is another pathway that would be very critical to the future success of making cyberspace safe for all in Africa. Researchers have the opportunity to understand how Generation Z and generation ALPHA can play a role in shaping the future of Cybersecurity or Information Security culture and compliance culture. We submit that by investing in this kind of research, we will generate the much-needed knowledge that buttresses the already established efforts to have responsible AI, and also increase the safe environment for productive Internet of Things deployments and consumptions. This will also put Generation Z and Generation ALPHA in a critical position to shape the mindset of future generations to come.

Role of African Center for Technology Studies (ACTS)

African Center for Technology Studies (ACTS) understands what needs to be done because of its experience in policy research and advisory role in a Pan African context. With the critical roles already played in the past through the STEM and STI thematic areas in all capacities including but not limited to capacity development, policy research, policy advisories among others, we believe that ACTS should also play a key role in developing research streams in these areas. We must admit that these are not exhaustive pathways of research in the area of AI and Cybersecurity, but we consider them the gateway to other equally robust research topics to be considered. This will not only help build the much-needed knowledge base to advise African entities on Cybersecurity and AI topical issues but also build its clout as an institution to go to in these topical issues both within Africa and globally.

References

[1] General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR)

[2] Reference 1

[3] Reference 2

[4] Reference 3

[5] Reference 4

[6] Internet World Stat

[7] Statista

The exchange of climate information by speaking, writing, or using some other medium, messaged in a practical and useful context contributes to climate communication. This has become increasingly vital in translating science and research, into practice and policy.Timely delivery and access of climate information, and how it is received, becomes important in management of drought, floods, pests, and effects of diseases.

Climate information is described as scientific weather and climate forecasts at lead times from daily to seasonal forecasts and climate projections decades ahead. ICT tools such as mobile phones and community radios are considered the most cost-effective tools in the rural communities and offer a new avenue for the dissemination of climate information to a wider reach of people to enhance their livelihoods. This blog post serves as a formal announcement of an upcoming Webinar on Climate Information Communication for Local Adaptations that will bring these issues into perspective.

About the Upcoming Climate Information Communication Webinar

10^th September 2020 marks the date for this upcoming webinar on Climate Information Communication.  This webinar has been made possible through the collaboration of three key industry players namely:  Kenya Climate Innovation Centre (KCIC), the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and the African Researchers Consortium (ARC). The aim of this webinar will be to contribute to the development of a policy options that facilitate the uptake of climate information communication, by exploring the future of how best climate information can be communicated in Kenya for the rural community; the gender factors to consider in climate information communication; and the policy implication of the dynamics on technology, and local community development in disseminating and communicating climate information.

A foresight into the key topics of discussion in the Webinar

This upcoming Webinar will explore the following key topics in depth:

The current face of climate information communication in Kenya now and the future of climate communication technology: What is the current situation in terms of climate communication especially in the rural community now?  How does the future of climate communication technology look like, in for instance, five years to come? What is the linkage between information and communications technologies (ICTs) and climate change adaptation?

Forward-thinking leaders have already recognized the role of ICTs in Climate Communication. Dr. Almaz Yohannis, a PhD Research Fellow at the Capacity Building for ICT Development (CB4ICTD) that is affiliated to ACTS, is the lead organizer of this Webinar. She poses remarkably interesting questions connected to this topic. She asks; “How can we disseminate localized climate information and in a format that locals will understand?” “How effective are ICT tools such as radio and mobile phones in dissemination of climate information in our rural communities in Kenya?” This upcoming Webinar will answer these questions and delve deeper into this interesting subject!

Gender Considerations for climate Information communication: Is gender a factor to consider in communicating climate information in Kenya?  There are many individual, social, and cultural factors that influence public understanding of the communication of climate information issue.  This topic will explore how views on climate change differ between men and women. A large body of research shows a small, but consistent, gender gap in environmental views and climate change opinions. On average, women are slightly more likely than men to be concerned about the environment and have stronger pro-climate opinions and beliefs. Scholars have proposed several explanations for this gender gap, including differences in gender socialization and resulting value systems (such as, altruism, compassion), perceptions of general risk and vulnerability, and feminist beliefs including commitment to egalitarian values of fairness and social justice. Read more about this here. In view of this then, is it safe to say that climate communication is more valued and appreciated by women? This webinar will focus on such discussions and create a clarity of thought around this area.

The policy implication of the dynamics on technology, and local community development in climate communication: What are the National and County policies on climate change and ICT specifically on applicability and messaging of Climate information Systems? The Kenyan government has formulated the National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCSR) and the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) 2018-2022, to guide adaptation planning in the country to minimize the negative impacts and optimize on the opportunities presented by climate change. However, for the proposed measures to be effective and widely adopted they must be supported by ICT for development and incorporate gender issues. Climate change is one of the most complex challenges that humankind will face in the next decades. As the change process seems to be irreversible, it becomes urgent to develop sound adaptation processes to the current and future shifts in the climate system. In particular, it is likely that the biggest impacts of change will be on agricultural and food systems over the next few decades, (M. E. Brown, C. C. Funk,2008). It is therefore imperative that clear policies are formulated around climate communication and its necessity. Participation in this upcoming Webinar will make you a key contributor in the development of a policy brief on climate communication that is a major issue of concern in our country.

The Keynote Speakers in the Webinar

This upcoming climate communication webinar has assembled a pool of experts in the industry that will be running the breakout sessions and discussions. They have made a commitment to seeing the objectives of this Webinar come to fruition. They include:

• Ann Kingiri
• Almaz Yohannis
• Joel Onyango
• Edward Mungai
• Climate Communication Policy Experts

To Wrap Up

Would you like to be part of this change-focused event on climate communication in practice? What is your most preferred topic of discussion in this upcoming Webinar? The registration process is ongoing. To register, follow this link to fill out the registration form and book a slot in the Webinar that will be held on 10^th September 2020.

Would you like to stay updated on this and other key events in the industry? Are you looking for a platform to interact with and connect with other like-minded individuals and experts in the industry around the World? Join us today and become a Member of the largest Consortium of African Researchers.

For further information on this Webinar, please contact; Dr Almaz Yohannis on Tel – +254 721 630 474 | Email ayohannis@uonbi.ac.ke or Ms. Lucky Moraa on Tel – +254 713918866 | Email lucky@researcharc.org.

Author:

• Lucky Moraa (ARC)

Contributors:

• Joel Onyango (ARC)
• Almaz Yohannis (CB4ICTD)
• Vincent Ogaya (KCIC)

By Leonard Mabele, iLabAfrica Research Centre, Strathmore University

The unveiling of Kenya’s Digital Economy Blueprint in May 2019 promises a great economic transformation driven by a number of factors such as Digital Skills, Infrastructure, Innovation-driven Entrepreneurship, Digital Government among other factors.

With the vision of a digitally empowered citizenry living in a digitally enabled society, the Kenyan government stands to nurture an ecosystem that can rapidly grow to bridge the digital divide and create more opportunities for its citizens ahead of other countries within the region. The Big Four Agenda which covers Agriculture, Healthcare, Manufacturing and Housing sectors is emphasised in the preamble of the document even as Kenya strategically moves towards achieving the ambitiously outlined vision 2030. One thing that cuts across all the pillars described in this Blueprint is the strategic adoption and use of technology to deliver valuable returns. Joe Mucheru, the Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of ICT, notes that the adoption of new technologies is creating well-paying jobs for professionals of diverse backgrounds translating into improvement in quality of life and increased connectedness.

The mention of the term “Digital Economy” calls for integration of various technologies working in tandem for the different applications to spur the economic growth and as Joe Mucheru points out, most of these technologies have not been in existence for many generations. In fact, 70% of them are just emerging. Some of these emerging technologies include Big Data and Analytics, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain among others which are already delivering immense returns to a number of companies globally. In the quest to achieve a sustainable digital economy, any country would require these technologies to be sufficiently developed and be easily customisable to fit within its population. This would definitely rely on the capacity of various industries/companies to develop this and also continually investigate on their improvement. What if this requires a huge cost of Research and Development (R&D)? What if companies do not have enough capacity in terms of skill to deliver on this?

These foregoing two questions are just among the many questions that established industries and even startup companies are battling with on delivering emerging technology-solutions that can leapfrog the achievement of the indicators of a digital economy in this era. The global experience obtained from companies such as Google, Microsoft, IBM, Apple, Intel among other companies elucidates that there is a huge cost involved in keeping the R&D units ahead of time to develop relevant and sustainable digital products and solutions. Moreover, a number of companies also do not have employees whose life is to sharpen their skills on building the digital economy-dependent emerging technologies as their return on investment might nosedive and fail to keep the company (ies) alive.

This observation therefore beckons for a more society-inclusive approach that can guarantee growth of knowledge within an economy and also ensure that the operation of the various companies stays financially sustainable. The collaboration between the industry and academia hence becomes a key model to build upon in order to achieve a desired digital economy. A paper titled “The Rise of Computing Research in East Africa: The Relationship Between Funding, Capacity and Research Community in a Nascent Field” written by Marsh et al explains that a framework that provides funding to researchers within an academic setup exploring Computer Science-based studies can easily result to development of commercial products enabling the digital economy to flourish. The collaboration done by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and companies such as Mathworks and Google is a great example of commercialisation of higher learning and research to drive digital economies. In Kenya, the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) is leading Strathmore University (SU), University of Nairobi (UoN) and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) to enhance industry-academia linkages to achieve sustainable innovation for the industry. If the digital economy blueprint stands a great chance of practical realisation in Kenya, the industry-academia collaboration forms a good ticket to locally develop enough capacity to build the emerging technologies and also investigate the business models alongside regulatory frameworks that can not only drive the achievement of the blueprint but also lead to growth of new knowledge locally as well as create jobs and grow innovative startups in the era of these emerging technologies.