GCF Board approves USD 34.5 million project towards ending drought emergencies in Kenya

The 23rd GCF Board meeting approves one project proposal and one Direct Access Entity application developed and submitted with the support of the BMU/IKI funded GCF Readiness Programme jointly implemented by UNEP, UNDP and WRI.

Approval of a project for Kenya aiming to ending drought emergencies

At the 23rd Board Meeting of the Green Climate Fund held from 6 - 8 July, 2019, the GCF Board approved a grant of 23.2 million USD for the project proposal entitled "Towards ending drought emergencies: Ecosystem based Adaptation in Kenya's arid and semi-arid rangelands". The project was submitted by International Union for the Conservation of Nature (Accredited Entity). The project includes 11.4 million USD of co-financing from the Government of Kenya, Conservation International, IUCN, National Drought Management Authority, and Water Resources Authority. 

The project will strengthen climate change adaptation in Kenya's arid and semi-arid lands. Such lands occupy 89% of the country and are home to about 36% of the population and 70% of the national livestock herd. Livestock contributions account for 80% of household incomes in arid lands and 65% in semi-arid lands. Drought has been shown to reduce economic growth in Kenya by 2.8 percentage points per year for three years, with 72% of the losses concentrated in the livestock sector. Frequency and intensity of drought is increasing because of climate change.

The project will be implemented in 2 landscapes encompassing 11 counties, which have devolved powers under Kenya's new constitution. The project will benefit 620,000 people in 104,000 households and will protect or restore 500,000 hectares of rangelands in a landscape of 2.5 million hectares.

Further information

http://www.gcfreadinessprogramme.org/