INTEGRATING COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS (CB0s) IN CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGY, POLICY & PLANNING IN KENYA
Latewa International-NGO
| Advocating for Social Justice for Marginalized, Underserved and Special Groups in Kenya | Non-Profit Organization |
Outline
1: Introduction
2: Understanding Community Based Organizations (CBOs)
3: Kenya’s Climate Change Landscape
4: The Role of CBOs in Climate Strategy
5: Case Studies: CBOs making an impact
6: Challenges faced by CBOs
7: Opportunities for integration
8: Strategies for effective collaboration
9: The role of technology in enhancing CBO capacity
10: The Way Forward
11: Conclusion
Integrating Community Based Organizations (CBOs) in Climate Change Strategy, Policy and Planning in Kenya
1. Introduction
The Climate Crisis in Kenya
Kenya, like many African nations, is at the frontline of the climate crisis. From prolonged droughts to unpredictable rainfall patterns, floods, and rising temperatures, the effects of climate change are disrupting lives and threatening livelihoods. Particularly vulnerable are rural communities whose economic lifeblood—agriculture, pastoralism, and fishing—is directly tied to the natural environment. As the country grapples with these growing challenges, it has become increasingly clear that top-down approaches alone are insufficient. Kenya’s climate crisis isn’t just a policy issue—it’s a lived experience, especially for those in remote and underserved areas.
While national and international efforts have advanced climate policy frameworks and secured global funding commitments, the gap between high-level strategy and local impact remains wide. Policies often fail to penetrate the grassroots level, leaving vulnerable communities with little support to adapt or respond. That’s where Community Based Organizations (CBOs) step in—offering a bridge between policy makers and the people on the ground.
Why Localized Climate Action Matters
Local problems require local solutions. It's a cliché because it's true. No one understands the environment of a community better than the people who live there. In Kenya, different regions experience climate change differently: drought-ridden Turkana has different needs than flood-prone Kisumu. A one-size-fits-all policy doesn't cut it.
This is why localized climate action is essential. Strategies must be informed by real, on-the-ground experiences and the adaptive solutions that communities have developed over time. When CBOs are involved in climate policy and planning, they bring this nuanced understanding to the table. They help design policies that are not only effective but also practical, equitable, and sustainable.
2. Understanding Community Based Organizations (CBOs)
What Are CBOs and Their Core Functions?
Community Based Organizations are non-profit, non-governmental groups formed by local people to address specific needs within their communities. Unlike large NGOs, CBOs are often small, informal, and deeply embedded in the communities they serve. Their missions can range from women’s empowerment and education to healthcare, agriculture, and—importantly—climate and environmental resilience.
Key characteristics of CBOs include:
Because they operate at the grassroots level, CBOs can often reach where governments and larger NGOs cannot. They are trusted messengers and implementers, making them ideal partners for any meaningful, sustainable climate initiative.
The Unique Position of CBOs in Grassroots Mobilization
CBOs have a unique superpower: they mobilize communities like no other institution can. Whether it's rallying farmers around sustainable practices, training youth in conservation techniques, or organizing women’s groups for tree-planting drives, CBOs engage people in ways that feel personal and empowering.
This ability to mobilize is critical for climate action. People are more likely to change behaviors or adopt new strategies when encouraged by someone they know and trust. Government policies may propose climate-smart agriculture, but it's the CBOs that walk farmers through how to compost, conserve water, or adopt drought-resistant crops.
In short, if the climate fight is won on the ground, then CBOs are the foot soldiers leading the charge.
3. Kenya’s Climate Change Landscape
National Climate Policy Framework
Kenya has shown commendable leadership in climate governance. It was one of the first African countries to enact a standalone Climate Change Act (2016). The Act established institutional frameworks such as the National Climate Change Council, the Climate Change Directorate, and mechanisms for county-level climate actions.
Additionally, Kenya’s National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) lays out detailed strategies for mitigation and adaptation across key sectors like water, agriculture, energy, and health. Internationally, Kenya has also submitted its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen resilience.
But policy on paper is not policy in practice. The biggest bottlenecks lie in implementation, particularly at the county and community levels. This is where integration of local actors—especially CBOs—becomes not just beneficial, but essential.
Gaps in Policy Implementation at the Local Level
Despite strong frameworks, several gaps persist in turning national climate strategies into local action:
Without community participation, policies risk being ineffective or even counterproductive. For instance, introducing new agricultural techniques without community buy-in can lead to rejection or misuse. Similarly, infrastructure built without local consultation may be unsuited for the area’s ecological or social context.
Integrating CBOs into strategy and planning processes helps fill these gaps, ensuring that climate policies are not just nationally impressive—but also locally impactful.
4. The Role of CBOs in Climate Strategy
CBOs as Local Knowledge Hubs
Community Based Organizations are more than grassroots mobilizers—they are powerful repositories of local knowledge. In many rural Kenyan communities, CBOs act as the institutional memory of environmental changes and adaptive responses. From rainfall trends to soil degradation patterns and traditional drought coping mechanisms, these groups often have a deep, lived understanding of environmental shifts.
For example, in Eastern Kenya, CBOs working with pastoralist communities have recorded and analyzed local migration patterns and livestock health trends over the years. This kind of qualitative and observational data can significantly complement scientific data, providing a fuller picture of how climate change is manifesting on the ground.
By integrating this local intelligence into policy and planning, governments can:
In essence, CBOs serve as two-way conduits—translating government strategies to communities, and community needs to decision-makers. This kind of knowledge-sharing loop is vital for effective climate planning and resource allocation.
Bridging the Gap Between Policy and Practice
Policy without action is just ink on paper. While Kenya’s national climate strategies are robust, their implementation often struggles to take root at the grassroots level. Here, CBOs provide a much-needed bridge between ambitious national goals and everyday realities.
Let’s say the government launches a campaign promoting climate-smart agriculture. It’s the CBOs that will likely host training sessions in village centers, distribute drought-resistant seeds, and monitor the adoption of practices like composting or agroforestry. They are on the frontlines, translating technical jargon into practical guidance, and ensuring follow-through.
More importantly, they provide feedback. Through community feedback mechanisms, CBOs can alert policy makers to what’s working and what’s not—whether it's a lack of irrigation tools, skepticism around new techniques, or better alternatives already being practiced locally.
Without this loop, policies risk becoming out-of-touch directives, rather than evolving, responsive strategies. The integration of CBOs makes climate policy iterative, participatory, and grounded in reality.
5. Case Studies: CBOs Making an Impact
Grassroots Reforestation Initiatives
One of the most visible contributions of CBOs in Kenya’s climate space is in reforestation. In counties like Nairobi, Murang’a, Embu, and Nyeri, local organizations such as Green Belt Movement offshoots, Latewa INGO, Greener Cities, YMR PETRA, LEWMO and youth environmental groups are leading large-scale tree planting campaigns.
But this isn’t just about planting trees—it’s about community ownership. These CBOs don’t just deliver seedlings; they educate on the importance of indigenous trees, organize community planting days, and even track tree survival rates. Some have developed monitoring tools using mobile apps to ensure accountability and effectiveness.
The result? Thousands of hectares reforested, increased rainfall retention, improved soil quality, and even alternative livelihoods through fruit trees and herbal products.
These efforts align with Kenya’s goal of achieving 10% forest cover, but with the added benefit of strong community engagement—something national efforts often struggle to secure.
Water Conservation Projects in Arid Regions
In arid and semi-arid areas such as Turkana and Makueni, water is life—and CBOs are innovating to protect every drop. Organizations like Maji na Ufanisi and smaller community water cooperatives have built sand dams, implemented rainwater harvesting systems, and promoted soil bunding techniques to minimize runoff.
These solutions may seem simple, but their impact is profound:
By involving community members in construction and maintenance, CBOs ensure these solutions are locally owned and maintained. They train village committees in repair, cost-sharing, and even water budgeting—building resilience from the ground up.
Climate-Resilient Agriculture Programs
Climate-smart agriculture is more than a buzzword—it’s a necessity. And CBOs in counties like Kisii, Kitui, and Nakuru are leading the way with practical, scalable solutions.
Projects often include:
What sets CBO programs apart is contextualization. They don’t push generic packages—they listen to farmers’ concerns, test solutions collaboratively, and adjust based on feedback. This adaptability not only improves outcomes but also builds trust—a crucial currency in community-led development.
In some cases, CBOs partner with academic institutions and agronomists to combine scientific research with traditional farming knowledge, creating truly hybrid models of agricultural resilience.7.
6. Challenges Faced by CBOs
Limited Funding and Resources
One of the most persistent challenges for Community Based Organizations in Kenya is inadequate funding. Unlike international NGOs or government bodies that receive consistent financial backing, many CBOs operate on shoestring budgets—often relying on sporadic grants or community contributions to stay afloat. This limits their ability to scale projects, hire skilled personnel, or invest in the tools necessary for impactful climate work.
Consider this: a CBO working on reforestation may have the community support and know-how to plant 10,000 trees—but with limited resources, they can only manage 1,000. A water project may be designed to serve five villages but ends up covering just one. Inadequate funding doesn't just limit scope—it stifles innovation and sustainability.
Furthermore, grant application processes are often complex, time-consuming, and biased toward larger, more established organizations with experience in proposal writing. Many grassroots CBOs either miss out on these opportunities or are discouraged from applying altogether.
To empower CBOs meaningfully, funding mechanisms must be made more accessible, equitable, and responsive to local realities.
Lack of Recognition in Policy Circles
Despite their critical role, many CBOs are invisible in formal policy dialogues. They are often excluded from strategic consultations, budgeting sessions, or planning forums where important decisions about climate action are made.
This lack of recognition creates a disconnect—where policies are designed without grassroots input, and implementation suffers due to misalignment with local needs. It also affects morale. Community leaders who tirelessly mobilize for climate resilience feel overlooked and undervalued.
Several counties in Kenya are trying to bridge this gap by establishing County Climate Change Funds (CCCFs) and participatory planning structures. However, these efforts need to be scaled nationally and institutionalized in a way that mandates CBO inclusion in climate governance processes.
Capacity and Technical Know-How
While CBOs bring passion and local insight, many lack the technical expertise required for complex climate projects. This includes areas like:
Without capacity-building support, even well-intentioned initiatives may fall short of impact. Additionally, lack of access to modern tools—such as GIS mapping, mobile data collection apps, or digital reporting platforms—puts grassroots CBOs at a disadvantage.
Bridging this capacity gap is not just about training sessions. It’s about long-term mentorship, peer learning, and resource sharing that empowers CBOs to match their deep local knowledge with technical rigor.
7. Opportunities for Integration
Participatory Policy Design
If CBOs are to be truly integrated into climate planning, the first step is institutionalizing participation. Kenya’s devolved governance system offers a unique opportunity to embed community voices in county-level development plans.
This can be done through:
When CBOs help design policies, they are more invested in their success—and better equipped to ensure community compliance and adaptation.
Capacity Building and Technical Training
Empowering CBOs with the skills and knowledge they need must be a national priority. This means moving beyond one-off workshops and into structured, funded programs that include:
International development agencies, NGOs, and the Kenyan government should co-create these programs with CBOs themselves—ensuring relevance and practical value.
Investing in CBO capacity is investing in localized, long-lasting climate resilience.
Financial Inclusion and Grant Access
It’s time to rethink how climate funds are disbursed. Instead of trickling down from national agencies or large NGOs, climate finance should flow directly to grassroots organizations—with simplified application processes, fair evaluation criteria, and ongoing support.
Mechanisms such as:
Additionally, establishing climate funding literacy workshops can help CBOs learn how to identify, apply for, and manage climate funds more effectively.
8. Strategies for Effective Collaboration
Multi-Stakeholder Engagement Platforms
Effective climate action requires collaboration across sectors and scales. Establishing platforms where CBOs, government agencies, private sector players, researchers, and development partners can co-create solutions is vital.
These platforms could take the form of:
Such engagement fosters mutual respect and knowledge exchange, ensuring that CBO voices are not just heard but valued.
Decentralized Decision Making
True integration means empowering communities to make decisions that affect their climate future. Decentralization isn’t just a governance principle—it’s a climate resilience strategy.
CBOs should be:
This creates a sense of ownership, builds local leadership, and ensures that climate solutions are contextually relevant and culturally appropriate.
Leveraging Indigenous Knowledge Systems
Kenya is rich in traditional knowledge systems that have helped communities adapt to climate variability for generations. From rain prediction based on animal behavior to crop rotation and seed preservation practices, these insights are invaluable.
CBOs are often the custodians of this knowledge and can act as mediators between traditional wisdom and modern science.
Integrating indigenous knowledge into climate planning does more than improve outcomes—it honors the identity and dignity of local communities.
9. The Role of Technology in Enhancing CBO Capacity
Digital Tools for Data Collection and Reporting
In today’s data-driven world, the ability to collect, analyze, and report climate data is critical for designing effective interventions and securing funding. Unfortunately, many CBOs operate without access to even the most basic digital tools, which significantly limits their influence and scalability.
But this is beginning to change.
With the increasing availability of mobile technology and open-source software, CBOs can now:
For example, platforms like KoboToolbox, ODK (Open Data Kit), and SurveyCTO have empowered grassroots organizations across Kenya to gather reliable field data at low cost. When paired with simple analysis tools like Google Sheets, these digital solutions become powerful allies in both implementation and advocacy.
When CBOs can demonstrate impact with evidence, they’re more likely to:
The digital divide is narrowing—and it’s equipping grassroots actors with new forms of digital agency.
Mobile Platforms for Awareness and Education
Beyond data, technology is transforming how CBOs communicate, educate, and mobilize. Mobile phones—now ubiquitous across Kenya—have become vital tools for spreading climate awareness, even in remote regions.
CBOs are using:
These tools enable faster response to climate events, greater community participation, and more consistent behavior change. Importantly, they also bridge language and literacy barriers, ensuring that no community is left behind.
In areas where internet access is available, some CBOs have even launched community-based websites and digital newsletters—further amplifying their voice and reach.
Technology doesn’t replace community—it amplifies it, and when placed in the hands of grassroots leaders, it becomes a force multiplier for climate action.
10. The Way Forward
Institutionalizing CBO Participation
For Kenya to build a truly resilient and inclusive climate strategy, the role of CBOs must move from informal to institutional. That means formally recognizing CBOs as:
County governments should adopt guidelines and policies that require CBO consultation in climate-related decisions. National institutions should develop CBO registries and directories to track engagement and facilitate coordination.
Institutionalizing participation sends a clear message: grassroots voices matter—and they are vital to the success of Kenya’s climate ambitions.
Monitoring and Evaluation of CBO Contributions
To sustain trust and accountability, CBOs must also participate in structured monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems. This doesn’t have to mean complicated spreadsheets or technical reports—instead, the focus should be on:
With support from NGOs, universities, and tech companies, CBOs can build M&E systems that are participatory, adaptive, and empowering.
Ultimately, recognizing and scaling CBO contributions will be critical in achieving Kenya’s climate goals—from mitigation and adaptation to sustainable development.
11. Conclusion
Community Based Organizations in Kenya are not just playing a supporting role in the climate story—they are center stage. With deep local roots, trusted relationships, and an unshakable commitment to change, these groups are driving climate action where it matters most: on the ground.
Yet, to fully unleash their potential, they need more than applause—they need integration, resources, and respect. National strategies must recognize the irreplaceable value of CBOs, and climate finance mechanisms must open their doors to the grassroots.
Technology, partnerships, and participatory governance offer a roadmap for transforming how Kenya addresses the climate crisis. And at every turn, CBOs are ready—not just to follow policy, but to shape it.
Kenya has an opportunity to lead the world—not just in climate policy, but in climate democracy, where every voice counts, every village matters, and every action adds up.
Dpo at Mwakombe Thomas enterprise
5moThanks for sharing, Latewa