Kenya’s grassroots green financing program is entering a critical phase where local communities are expected to demonstrate their strategies in implementing projects that can sustain them amidst the challenges posed by climate change. Managed by a Treasury subsidiary office, the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) program has identified a significant knowledge gap across all 47 counties in terms of understanding and effectively addressing climate change impacts.
Climate action experts emphasize the need for more frequent guidance and support for county implementation units and local communities engaged in climate action projects. This support is crucial to ensuring the success and sustainability of these initiatives, especially given the pressing climate challenges faced at the local level.
Against the backdrop of Kenya hosting the fourth International Symposium on Climate Justice, which spans two weeks, efforts are focused on increasing the number of climate change professionals at the grassroots level. This includes initiatives like the annual ‘green’ school, known as the Nairobi Summer School, held at Chuka University in Tharaka-Nithi County. Partnering with climate change organizations and local universities, this school aims to enhance climate change education and capacity-building among youth.
The FLLoCA program has made a significant investment by selecting 98 students from all counties to undergo training, aiming to bolster local understanding and action on climate change. According to Peter Odhengo, the program coordinator, the focus is on empowering youth with the necessary academic qualifications to strengthen climate change units within counties. Many of these units currently face challenges due to a lack of technical expertise, with staff often selected without consideration of academic qualifications.
The Nairobi Summer School scholarship program received over 4,000 applications globally, underscoring the high demand and interest in climate change education. The rigorous selection process prioritized candidates with at least a bachelor’s or master’s degree, with a strong commitment to youth empowerment under the age of 35.
Looking ahead, the trained youth will undergo further specialized climate change training and a six-month attachment within their respective county Climate Change Units. This initiative aims to bridge gaps in technical expertise and provide crucial support to local climate action projects, potentially leading to employment recommendations and enhanced operational capacities at the county level.
The symposium, with broad international representation, highlights global efforts to address climate justice issues, underscoring Kenya’s commitment to fostering dialogue and collaboration on climate change action across Africa and beyond.
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