The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), in collaboration with the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLGA) and Akiba Mashinani Trust (AMT), supported representatives from Nairobi to visit Homa Bay to present the Mukuru approach for locally led planning in informal settlements. Subsequently, a delegation from Homa Bay visited Mukuru to get a better understanding of the process.
During the meeting in Homa Bay, held from 20-23 November 2023, H.E Governor Gladys Wanga announced her enthusiastic support for locally led planning for climate resilience in informal settlements in her county. Subsequently, the GCA announced support to implement the process under its Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP). The planning process will be linked to investments under the African Development Bank’s Kenya National Urban Water and Sanitation Program (Phase I).
The three-day exchange in Homa Bay was chaired by H.E. Gladys Wanga and brought together representatives of relevant sectoral departments in the County, including the Department of Public Works, Transport, and Infrastructure, Department of Lands, Physical Planning, Housing and Urban Development, Department of Water, Irrigation, Sanitation, Environment, Energy and Climate Change, and Department of Agriculture and Livestock Production. Representatives from AfDB, the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and non-government organizations working in Homa Bay also participated.
GCA Global Lead for Locally Led Adaptation, Anju Sharma, presented the AAAP, and noted that the locally led Mukuru planning approach informed the process for People’s Adaptation Planning, which the GCA is supporting in several countries in Africa and in Bangladesh. She highlighted the critical importance of a strong and equal partnership between the local government, communities, and non-government organizations for the approach to be successful.
Jane Weru, Director, AMT, described the Mukuru approach, and its relevance to Homa Bay.
Representatives from the County Government gave presentations on existing adaptation projects in the County including the Financing Locally Lead Climate Action (FLLoCA) program, recent climate risk assessment conducted in the county, and land tenure conflicts in urban informal settlements.
It was acknowledged that one of the main challenges for successfully designing adaptation projects for urban informal settlements in Homa Bay is the lack of up-to-date data on the settlements, and information on the climate risks they face. The existing climate risk assessment conducted in Homa Bay did not put a spotlight on urban informal settlements. Participants underscored the need to update risk assessment by ensuring the meaningful participation of local communities.
GCA Senior Specialist Nicholas Tandi described GCA’s experience in conducting climate risk assessments in urban informal settlements in African cities.
Babati Mokgethi, Senior Urban Development Officer, AfDB, presented the Bank’s Urban and Municipal Development Fund (UMDF), created for cities in Africa to structure and finance urban infrastructure projects, and to provide technical assistance and mentorship to improve governance, fiscal management, and planning. Local governments in Kigali, Marrakesh, Lungi, Tunis, Kampala, and Tshwane receive support from the UMDF to make the cities climate-resilient, livable, and productive.
In depth discussions on the Mukuru process and its application to the Homa Bay context followed, including on local leadership for resilience building, and community co-planning processes.
The visitors also participated in a field visit to climate vulnerability hotspots in Homa Bay to identify potential areas for the planning process.