Lodwar, May 30, 2024
The Turkana County Government this week welcomed officials from the African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES) to the county headquarters. The delegation, led by Telvin Muta, a Research Associate from AGNES, and Dr. Benson Kenduiywo (CIAT), engaged with local leaders to discuss strategies for enhancing climate resilience.
The meeting, spearheaded by Deputy Governor Dr. John Erus, included key county officials such as County Secretary Peter Eripete. Senior representatives from various departments were in attendance, including trade, water, industries, urban planning, climate change, and the Attorney General’s office.
In collaboration with AGNES, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT are developing a Green Climate Fund (GCF) concept note titled “Enhancing Climate Resilience and Food Security to Empower Vulnerable Communities in Kenya.” This initiative targets Baringo, Kilifi, Narok, Turkana, and West Pokot counties, aiming to bolster the resilience of communities to climate shocks and enhance food, water, and livelihood security.
Project Objectives
- Improving Access to Climate Information: Providing risk preparedness services against extreme climate events.
- Upscaling Climate-Smart Agriculture: Promoting sustainable practices in crop and livestock farming.
- Increasing Community Investment: Boosting financing at the community level.
- Enhancing Market Access: Strengthening climate-resilient value chains.
Key Discussions
Deputy Governor Dr. John Erus emphasized the need for stakeholder engagement in building climate resilience. “We envision a regional engagement framework facilitated through mechanisms like a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with support from our county attorney. Research is critical in informing interventions and data-driven decision-making,” Dr. Erus noted.
County Secretary Peter Eripete highlighted the initiative’s significance in addressing climate change, suggesting the involvement of additional ministries such as the Livestock Department for a comprehensive approach. “A resource-sharing agreement should ensure sustainable solutions, enabling the Turkana people to thrive in their land,” Eripete added.
Next Steps
- Stakeholder Working Session: A county-level working session will be organized, involving all relevant departments to refine the GCF and RSA activities further.
- Memorandum of Understanding: Exploration of an MoU with the Turkana County Government.
- Focal Point Establishment: The County Secretary’s office, AG, and DCC offices will be focal points for ongoing collaboration between AGNES, CIAT, and the county government.
Follow-up meetings with technical teams are scheduled for Friday and Monday, ensuring continuous progress and engagement in this critical initiative.