Climate information for the poor in Kenya’s drylands

Climate variability and change affect millions of poor people in Kenya, especially in the drylands. Investments are being made in developing Climate Information Services (CIS) tailored to the needs of pastoralists and agropastoralists, to help them adapt to the impact of climate change. The Institute for Development Studies (IDS) Policy Briefing 145 “Improving the impact of climate information services in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands” (2017, 4pp) by Marina Apgar et al reveals that the ultra-poor, who have fallen out of pastoralism, are not benefiting from these services. It recommends that Kenya’s county governments put more focus on: i) adopting an equity lens for integrating CIS in county planning processes, so as to better reach those who can no longer live from pastoralism, and ii) improving the understanding of constraints and enabling conditions for the poor in accessing and using CIS.

This work was carried out under the project “Building resilience and inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa through social learning around climate risks” funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund.

Posted on 20 October 2017 in Pastoralism & Climate Change, Pastoralism & Services