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Kilifi County is facing various challenges due to climate change. Change in weather patterns resulting in flooding, high temperatures, severe droughts and rising sea levels are just some of the effects of climate change in the county.

Despite ongoing mitigation and adaption actions to these effects, communities and biodiversity are still facing challenges. To bolster the capacity of policymakers, conservationists and the community to better adapt to climate change, the Regenerative Seascapes for People Climate and Nature (ReSea) Kenya team held a capacity-building workshop in Kilifi, Kenya, to equip local actors with the knowledge and skills necessary to implement Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for climate adaptation effectively.

The workshop, facilitated by ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��’s Wendy Atieno, Christopher Roy and Bonface Busolo, with the support of Global Affairs Canada, focused on the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Global Standard on Nature-based Solutions, a comprehensive framework designed to standardize the implementation of NbS activities and ensure their effectiveness in addressing societal challenges while conserving biodiversity.

The workshop, attended by representatives from government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and community-based groups, aimed to promote understanding of the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Global Standard, develop participants' capacity to assess, design, implement and monitor NbS projects in line with the Standard and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders to facilitate the successful implementation of NbS initiatives in Kenya.

Key topics covered during the workshop included the role of NbS in addressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, poverty and gender inequality, the eight criteria of the Standard, including their implementation and indicators, case studies from successful NbS projects implemented in Kenya and other countries and the tools and methodologies needed to assess the potential of NbS projects and monitor their performance.

Participants had the opportunity to engage in interactive discussions, group exercises, and hands-on activities to reinforce their learning. The workshop also provided a platform for networking and knowledge sharing among participants.

The training developed participants' capacity to assess, design, implement and monitor NbS projects in line with the Standard (Photo credit: ReSea Project)

Speaking during the workshop, Mr Antony Kanundu, Director Climate Change, Kilifi County said, “We have great opportunities in Kilifi in terms of NbS and the good thing is that these things are not new. The communities have this in their own small way. Then it’s about bringing the science and the technology and the knowledge about NbS so the community can upscale what they are doing to that perspective of NbS.”

In terms of prospects that NbS provides for the community and the county’s economy, Zena Mohammed, Director Revenue Enhancement and Resource Mobilization explained, “NbS can be used to empower the community and at the same time, contribute to our revenue streams in the county. When the community is empowered through NbS that means they improve their livelihoods. Through the activities that they are supposed to undertake, let’s say Nature-based enterprises, like ecotourism, the county can empower them to partake in those activities while at the same time the county can benefit from the revenue sources (from such activities).”

On what she foresees when it comes to implementation of NbS, Bahari Hai Conservation’s Queen Elizabeth Hare explained, “It needs a holistic approach. They are 8 criteria but once you break them down, you must use the tools in them before you go out and implement any process. I’m positive and looking forward. I have hope for the sustainability for the future of nature.”

Brendan Muli and Edward Mwamuye all from community-based conservation organizations expressed their satisfaction with the training explaining that while they had been using NbS to focus on addressing one social challenge like poverty, they have now seen that it can be used to tackle matters such as governance and biodiversity loss as well as economic empowerment and even go further to assist them in project proposal development. “The trainers have been able to ensure that we as the trainees are able to grasp these new ideas of NbS and they have given us opportunity for us to digest and equip ourselves and we are ready to go in terms of [implementation],” remarked Mwamuye.

The capacity-building workshop is a significant step towards strengthening the implementation of NbS in Kenya and ensuring that these initiatives contribute effectively to sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. By equipping local actors with the necessary knowledge and skills, the workshop has empowered them to play a vital role in shaping the future of Kenya's natural environment.