Territorial approach to adaptation to climate change in Kenya

Turkana and Marsabit counties are two of the least developed regions in Kenya. Over 90% of the roughly 1.2 Mio inhabitants live close or below the absolute poverty level. The majority of the population are dependent on regular food aid. Due to a dry climate and marginal endowment of natural resources, nomadic livestock herding (pastoralism) is the livelihood basis for the majority of the population in both counties.

The land use systems have been resilient to drought in past decades, but are coming increasingly under severe pressure. Climate change is leading to more frequent droughts and less reliable rainfall. The results are degradation of the vegetation cover, erosion and loss of soil fertility, and ultimately increasing scarcity of natural resources. Increased competition by the growing population for the remaining pasturage and water resources is exacerbating existing conflicts. A growing number of people can no longer exist under the predominant pastoral farming system.

Target groups for the project are pastoralists, agropastoralists and settled inhabitants (men, women and young persons) from selected sub-counties in Marsabit and Turkana. In addition, there are other ethnic groups which occasionally spend time in the intervention region with their herds.

Key technical tasks of the international long-term expert include:

• Overall advisory function for the implementation of the Energy and Climate Fund (ECF) module in Turkana and Marsabit counties

• Development and implementation of customized concepts and interventions to  strengthen resilience and adaptability of pastoral and agro-pastoral livelihood systems

• Guidance of national experts

• Advising the partner organisations at county and national level

• Coordination and cooperation with key actors of the partner, GIZ, the German development cooperation, international organisations, NGOs, private sector, etc.

• Desgin of high level advisory and change processes in a complex environment.

Additional overall project management functions:

• Preparing and adapting the plan of operations to support the GIZ officer responsible

• Identifying the need for short-term assignments within the available budget, planning and steering the assignments, and supporting the local and international short-term experts

• M & E of the activities carried out and evaluation of the results

• Ensuring project administration is in place for the German contribution

• Responsibility for carrying out checks on the use of funds and financial planning in consultation with the officer responsible for the commission at GIZ

• Supporting the officer responsible for the commission in updating and/or adapting the project design on the basis of the five success factors of Capacity WORKS

• Reporting to the partner institutions and GIZ (also contributing to the reporting of GIZ to BMZ).

• Supporting the officer responsible for the commission in preparing the phasing-out or
 follow-on phase.