AICCRA Country Kenya

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/115662

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Scaling resilience through use of co-designed radio programs in Baringo County, Kenya
(Brief, 2024-12-01) Bullock, Renee; Majiwa, Hamilton; Saalu, Faith; Mundia, Julius; Mugi, Reginah; Ojulong, Henry; Mutai, Samuel; Peter, Akeno; Kukat, Lilian; Aturoit, Irene; Mossop, John; Kanyakera, Jacob
In the arid and semi-arid lands of Kenya, livestock keeping has been a cornerstone of livelihoods for centuries and, while it continues to be relevant, in recent decades landscape changes and climate related shocks and stresses are compounding increasing pressures in most livestock dependent households and communities. As the incidence of droughts and uncertain rain increases, finding pasture and water has become more difficult. Subsequently rates of food insecurity and precarity are rising. Pastoralists and agro-pastoralists are seeking knowledge on climate adaptation and are implementing innovative practices to better cope with changing realities that shape many aspects of their daily life. Diversification into food and crop production is one option that can support increased resilience to climate shocks. While maize is a commonly grown crop across Kenya, farmers in drylands often encounter challenges during production, primarily stemming from poor harvests caused by the crop’s vulnerability to harsh climatic conditions, leading to crop failure. On the other hand, drought tolerant crops (DTCs) perform well under low rainfall conditions and support livelihoods in many arid and semi-arid locations, as experience in lower eastern counties has shown. Widely considered to be “women’s” crops, DTCs such as sorghum and millet often rely disproportionately on women’s labor inputs. Women are typically responsible for most stages of their production including planting, weeding, harvesting and postharvest management, such as threshing, winnowing and storage. However, decision-making about production — including consumption and selling — may not always be in the hands of women. Men assume control over harvests and this decision-making power can increase with commercialization of these crops. Efforts to address these inequitable relations and behaviors include socio-technical bundling that combines technical information about climate smart
Peer learning to scale uptake of climate smart practices in Baringo County, Kenya
(Brief, 2024-12-22) Renee Bullock; Hamilton Majiwa; Faith Saalu; Julius Mundia; Daniel Mbithi; Samuel Mutai
There is an increased relevance and urgency to support uptake of climate smart agriculture and more so in drylands where water is already scarce. Changes in rainfall patterns and decreased rainfall have been reported in Kenya. Scaling climate smart practices in combination with support from climate information can improve resilience capacities of households and communities in the face of climate change. In the face of increased demand for agricultural information and the reduced capacity of extension systems, many extension providers have been using farmer to-farmer extension (F2FE) that is defined as the provision of training by farmers to farmers (Scarbourough 1997, in Franzel, Kiptot, and Degrande :277). Peer to peer learning approaches are a mutual learning and training strategy that supports collaborative learning. The approach facilitates peers’ learning and, like other peer education approaches, aims to induce behavior changes related to a particular issue of concern (Heidenreich and Breukers 2020). Peer education can have impacts upon peers themselves as well as at the broader societal level by “stimulating collective action that contributes to individual change as well as changes in programs and policies” (Kerrigan and Weiss, 2000). This brief details activities from a peer-to-peer learning event that brought together farmers and agro-pastoralists from dryland counties to learn from each other about climate information services and climate smart agricultural practices that can enhance resilience. Due to low literacy rates and low exposure to new practices, exchange visits are envisioned as an important way to share skills and build capacities with community members from Baringo county locations.
Consolidated Report: KMD/ILRI OND 20204 Radio Talk Shows
(Report, 2024-12-26) Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD); International Livestock Research Institute
ILRI supported Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) for Radio talk shows for dissemination of OND 2024 seasonal Agro-weather advisories. The talk shows were County-based and used local FM stations. There were three talk shows (1-1 1.2 hr each) where County staff from KMD, Agriculture and livestock departments attended. The officers used the adverts to provide advisories to farmers within the County in relation to the OND2024 rainy Season.
Seed Distribution Report for Kitui, Makueni, Taita Taveta and Baringo Counties
(Report, 2024-12) International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
Towards scaling up validated climate-smart technologies and addressing critical gaps in climate resilience and food security in Kenya’s drylands, the Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) project continues to enhance access to climate-smart innovations. A key focus of this effort is the dissemination of drought-tolerant and high-yielding seeds, crucial for improving food security among vulnerable smallholder farmers in these regions. On 31st August 2024, the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) issued a rainfall outlook for the October-November-December 2024 'Short Rains (OND 2024SR), predicting below-average rainfall for the Southern-eastern lowlands counties, including Kitui, Makueni and Taita Taveta. In response, and to strengthen farmers' preparedness for the OND 2024 season, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), through the AICCRA project distributed drought-tolerant crop (DTC) seeds to beneficiary farmers in Kitui, Makueni and Taita Taveta Counties. The seed distribution exercise was carried out between 7th and 12th October 2024. Farmers received a variety of DTC seeds, including sorghum (Gadam and IESV 24029 SH), pigeon pea (ICEAP 01552, Mituki, Egerton Mbaazi 1, 3,4), pearl millet (KAT PM3) and green gram varieties (KS 20, Biashara, N26 and Karembo). The seed distribution was carried out in collaboration with county extension officers and Trainers of Trainers (ToTs). Earlier in September 2024, the ToTs registered new farmers as beneficiaries, particularly targeting those who had not previously received seeds through the AICCRA project. This ensured a wider reach of the drought-tolerant crops across the targeted wards. For the effectiveness of the seed distribution exercise, ToTs who conducted the registration process informed all registered farmers in advance to collect their seeds at designated points as planned.
AICCRA: Strengthening Systems for Delivery of Climate Information Services (CIS) and Agro-Advisories to Farmers in Kenya
(Report, 2024-12-30) Chesoli, Rose
Climate change continues to pose significant challenges to Kenya’s agriculture sector, particularly for smallholder farmers. Kenya's climate is shaped by its diverse topography, spanning coastal lowlands to highland plateaus and mountains (Edame & Fonta, 2011). This geographical variation gives rise to a spectrum of climatic and ecological zones, encompassing hot and humid coastal regions, arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) characterized by low rainfall and high temperatures, cool to temperate highlands with distinct wet and dry seasons, and variable climates in the Rift Valley (Government of Kenya, 2018). Overall, the country's water for domestic and agricultural use is derived from rivers and streams whose recharge depends on rainfall. However, climate change has led to shifts in rainfall seasonality, manifesting as delayed onsets and reduced durations of the rainy season impacting the availability of freshwater in Kenya (Government of Kenya, 2018). These challenges have resulted in reduced crop yields, food insecurity, and economic instability, especially in the ASALs. The northern and eastern parts of the country have faced successive seasons of poor harvests, characterized by delayed rainfall and inadequate distribution, leading to a reduction in the planted areas. Furthermore, the lack of timely and relevant climate information further hampers the farmers’ ability to adapt and mitigate the impacts of these events. Studies indicate that creating awareness on climate change and increasing farmers’ access to climate information services (CIS) and agro-advisories can promote resilience to climate impacts on food production (Appiah et al., 2025) (Ngigi & Muange, 2022). The Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) in collaboration with other public entities such as Kenya Agricultural Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Kenya National Disaster Management Authority (KNDMA), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), and the private sector partners, provide early warning weather and climate information. These services help farmers make informed decisions on crop selection, risk minimization, and coping strategies. However, despite these efforts, significant gaps persist in delivering and accessing climate information. Smallholder farmers—who account for 70% of Kenya’s population—still struggle to access timely and accurate climate information. This limitation pinpoints the need for more effective systems and processes for managing and disseminating climate information and early warnings. The Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) project in Kenya has been working with KMD, KALRO, MoALD, and Kenyan climate experts to enhance the delivery CIS and agro-advisories to farmers in Kenya. The purpose of this collaboration is to enhance access to timely, relevant, and actionable information for smallholder farmers to mitigate climate risks, minimize crop losses, and improve productivity.
Kenya Cluster— AICCRA Household Survey Report 2024
(Report, 2024-12-30) Chesoli, Rose
The Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) program is dedicated to fostering a climate-smart future for Africa by leveraging science and agricultural innovation. The program seeks to make climate information services (CIS) and climate-smart agriculture (CSA) technologies accessible to more than seven million smallholder farmers across Senegal, Ghana, Mali, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Zambia. By improving access to and adoption of these innovations, AICCRA empowers farmers to anticipate and mitigate climate-related hazards, thereby safeguarding livelihoods and promoting environmental sustainability. In Kenya, AICCRA is led by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in collaboration with ABC, ICRISAT, and IRI. The program focuses on enhancing farmers' access to and utilization of CIS and CSA technologies. From November 4 to December 7, 2024, a survey was conducted in eastern Kenya to assess farmers' access to and use of CIS and CSA, evaluating their impact on knowledge, attitudes, skills, and practices (KASP). The survey also examined the benefits of CIS and CSA adoption, resilience to climate hazards, dissemination effectiveness, and short-term outcomes such as income, productivity, food security, and resilience.
Women, the unsung heroes of rangeland management in Arbahajan Ward, Wajir County, Kenya
(Blog Post, 2024-01-08) Mukalo, Irene
With CGIAR Research Initiative on Livestock and Climate, AICCRA and partners are building capacities in Kenya for participatory rangeland management (PRM), resulting in significant impacts in good governance, including women's participation and community commitment to restoring lands.
Undertaking a Participatory Rangeland Resource Assessment in Arbahajan Ward, Wajir County, Kenya
(Video, 2024-12-16) The International Livestock Research Institute (ILTI)
Participatory rangeland management is a step-by-step process to build capacity of rangeland communities to better manage their land and resource in the face of new challenges. This film describes how to do a PRM participatory rangeland resource assessment - the first step in the Implementation stage before rangeland management planning takes place.
Enhancing Kenya Agricultural Observatory Platform (KAOP) by integrating AICCRA’s AgDataHub
(Report, 2024-12-21) Akshatha, Annaiah; Dhulipala, Ram
The Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Project (KCSAP), through the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) and Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD)3 launched a digital platform called Kenya Agricultural Observatory Platform (KAOP) in 2018. The KAOP offered users and farmers access to market intelligence, 16-day weather forecasts and good agricultural practises (GAP). Though this information was useful, the platform lacked climatological data, satellite imagery data as well as data from other publicly available sources. The AgDataHub designed and developed under AICCRA Kenya was able to aggregate these datasets from different sources and integrate this seamless into the KAOP platform and enhancing its datasets and functionalities. The KAOP with AgDataHub referred to as the "new KAOP", will offer advanced data resources, enabling users to generate actionable CIS for practical applications. Integration with AgDataHub has boosted KAOP’s functionality and user experience by providing better access to weather forecasts and market information, enhancing its value for farmers and stakeholders. Below is a brief description of the new information that is now available on KAOP.
Supporting Wajir communities to carry out participatory rangeland management
(Blog Post, 2024-08-26) Tam, Kristen; Nganga, Irene; Flintan, Fiona
Participatory Rangeland Management (PRM) builds the capacities of communities to better manage, govern and restore their lands. In 2023, as part of the International Livestock Research Institute's contribution to AICCRA in Kenya, local NGO Resource Conflict Institute (RECONCILE) worked with local government and community representatives to establish PRM for resident pastoralists in Arbajahan ward in Wajir county.
Stakeholder Mapping in Kenya reveals key community changemakers in management of rangelands
(Blog Post, 2024-01-15) Akivaga, Allan; Mukalo, Irene
Being scaled through AICCRA activities in Kenya, participatory rangeland management (PRM) is a community-led process developed by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and partners to strengthen local management institutions, promote greater involvement of women and support communities to develop and implement a rangeland management plan. A key part of scaling includes stakeholder mapping, which assesses those who use and interact with the rangelands to facilitate a deeper understanding of the key changemakers.
REC SWAG Meeting on Mainstreaming Climate Risk Management Curriculum in Kenya’s Agricultural Extension and Advisory Service
(Report, 2024-12-20) Dinh, Dannie; Hansen, James; Grossi, Amanda; Dinku, Tufa
The Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) project aims to enhance access and use of climate information services (CIS) and validated climate-smart agriculture technologies in Africa, to help these countries strengthen the resilience of their agricultural sectors to the threat posed by climate change. Strengthening the capacity of next users, particularly agricultural extension and advisory service (EAS) providers who work to support farmers in Senegal and five other target countries, is crucial for achieving this goal. AICCRA has worked with national partners to co-develop and transfer curricula, to equip EAS providers to use localized climate information and tools in their work with farmers, to foster agricultural resilience. AICCRA organized a three-day consultative workshop (Nairobi, April 2023) with agricultural EAS providers, and key national institutions (Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO)) to co-design a short course curriculum on Climate Risk Management in Agricultural Extension (CRMAE) for Kenya’s EAS provider community. In November 2024, the CRMAE curriculum was presented during the Joint Agricultural Sector Consultation and Cooperation Mechanism Sector Working Group on Research, Extension, and Capacity Building (REC-SWAG) at Lake Naivasha Resort, Naivasha, Kenya to validate and endorse the curriculum’s integration in Kenya. This report summarizes the workshop process and outcomes.
Progress update on the AgDataHub KAOP Data Dashboard
(Report, 2024-12-20) Akshatha, Annaiah
AICCRA Kenya initiative has been deploying sophisticated digital platforms and tools to enhance the use of CIS. The overarching objectives of these digital platforms is to provide customized digital advisories that help mitigate climate risks and enhance decision-making for farmers and stakeholders. At the heart of this initiative is the creation of a national-scale AgDataHub, jointly managed by the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD)3 and the Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organization (KALRO)4. AgDataHub-KAOP serves as a central repository, seamlessly integrating data from diverse sources with varying spatial and temporal resolutions. This integration enables the platform to deliver tailored, actionable insights aligned with Kenya's administrative divisions. By streamlining data management and optimizing resources, AgDataHub-KAOP significantly reduces the costs and efforts associated with traditional advisory systems. This approach ensures the delivery of precise, data-driven recommendations for both crop and livestock management, empowering farmers to adapt to climate variability and improve productivity.
User Engagement with the AICCRA-KMD Mobile App and web Dashboard
(Report, 2024-12-20) Akshatha, Annaiah
The AICCRA-KMD mobile application developed collaboratively by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and KMD under the AICCRA project in 2023. The KMD mobile App is an innovative, Android-based tool designed to enhance field data collection and agro-advisory services. This app empowers stakeholders to gather agro-meteorological data while providing weather and climate information from platform like KAOP. Moreover, designed as a user-friendly platform, the app serves to collect vital agro-meteorological and rainfall data directly from the field, leveraging manual rain gauges installed in farmers' fields across Kenya. The AICCRA-KMD mobile app is specifically tailored to support County Directors of Meteorological Services (CDMs), Ward Agricultural Extension staff (WAES), member of Cereal growers’ association (CGA) and selected volunteer observer farmers (Enumerators) across the eight KCEP-CRAL Counties to gather daily rainfall and weekly crop information. CDMs utilize the AICCRA-KMD app to register rain gauge locations, while selected farmers (enumerators) are responsible for recording daily rainfall and capturing weekly key crop-related information, such as Crop types and varieties, Pest infestations, Disease prevalence, Weather-related hazards, Crop yields. The app is operational in eight KCEP-CRAL counties -Embu, Kilifi, Kitui, Kwale, Makueni, Machakos, Taita Taveta, and Tharaka-Nithi. It allows real-time data upload, ensuring seamless integration with a web-based dashboard for data visualization and analysis. This system minimizes errors in data collection, streamlines analysis, and facilitates informed decision-making for climate resilience and adaptation. The app is available on the Google Play Store, ensuring easy access for registered users. Its secure login system ensures data integrity and user accountability, fostering a reliable and efficient data ecosystem. By leveraging the AICCRA-KMD Mobile App, stakeholders can make data-driven decisions, enabling Kenya's smallholder farmers to better adapt to climate variability and build resilience. The app reflects a significant step forward in integrating technological advancements into agricultural practices for sustainable development.
Climate Data Tools (CDT) and Automatic Weather Station Data Tool (ADT) Training for the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD)
(Report, 2024-12-24) Faniriantsoa, Rija
The Automatic Weather Station Data Tool (ADT) is a web-based tool initially developed by the IRI in the context of Rwanda. The ADT helps to address challenges in accessing and processing Automatic Weather Station (AWS) data collected by different systems and networks such as Vaisala, Edkon, and KOICA, which are on different servers and in different formats, by enabling data quality control, processing, and visualization. In March 2022, the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) conducted a workshop to install ADT for the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) and provide training in its use. Upon KMD’s request, the IRI conducted a additional training on Climate Data Tool (CDT) and Automatic Weather Station Data Tool (ADT) at the Institute for Meteorological Training and Research (IMTR), Nairobi, from December 2 to December 13, 2024. The training was given to KMD and IMTR staff.
Climate Risk Management in Agricultural Extension – Kenya Reference Guide
(Training Material, 2024-12) Hansen, James; Dinku, Tufa; Trzaska, Sylwia; Grossi, Amanda; Huyer, Sophia; Moore, Maya
This is a reference guide to the course on Climate Risk Management in Agricultural Extension in Kenya. This 2-week course aims to equip agricultural extension workers to access, understand and incorporate climate information into their professional work. It is designed to provide foundational knowledge on climate and agricultural decision making; and practical tools to analyze climate-related risks, use appropriate weather and climate information to support agricultural decisions, communicate complex climate information effectively with farmers, and integrate climate services into agricultural extension activities. This course is designed for agricultural extension professionals who actively support farmers with information, advice and other services. It targets extension agents working at the ward and sub-county levels within Kenya’s public sector agricultural extension service, and non-government extension and advisory service professionals with a comparable background. Course activities require working knowledge of web browsers, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Virtual Training Session on Enhancing Data Collection and Climate Monitoring with the KMD Mobile App and Web Dashboard
(Report, 2024-12-03) Akshatha, Annaiah
The AICCRA-KMD Mobile Application is a cutting-edge, Android-based tool developed through a collaborative effort between the Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), and the CGIAR Initiative on Digital Innovation (CGIAR-DI). Designed as a user-friendly platform, the app serves to collect vital agro-meteorological and rainfall data directly from the field, leveraging manual rain gauges installed in farmers' fields across Kenya. The AICCRA-KMD mobile app is specifically tailored to support County Directors of Meteorological Services (CDMs), Ward Agricultural Extension staff, and enumerators in the efficient collection and management of critical climate and crop data. CDMs utilize the app to register rain gauge locations, while field enumerators are responsible for recording daily rainfall and capturing key crop-related information, such as Crop types and varieties, Pest infestations, Disease prevalence, Weather-related hazards, Crop yields. This data, collected across the eight KCEP-CRAL counties Embu, Kilifi, Kitui, Kwale, Makueni, Machakos, Taita Taveta, and Tharaka-Nithi is uploaded in real-time through the app and made accessible via a web-based dashboard for visualization and analysis. By minimizing unintentional errors in data collection and streamlining analysis, the app empowers stakeholders to make informed decisions, improving resilience and adaptation to climate variability. The app’s availability on the Play Store ensures easy access for registered users, while its secure login system maintains data integrity and user accountability. To strengthen the implementation and ensure the success of this initiative, a virtual training session was organized on 30th Sep to 2nd Oct 2024. The session was a joint effort by KMD and ILRI under the AICCRA project and aimed to build the capacity of the following key stakeholders a) County Directors of Meteorological Services (CDMs): To oversee and coordinate the data collection framework b) Enumerators: To collect rainfall and crop-related data from the field c) Ward Agricultural Extension Staff: To provide supervisory support, ensuring data accuracy and sustainability. The training’s overarching objective was to enhance the use of the AICCRA-KMD Mobile Application and Web Dashboard, reinforcing the initiative's framework for reliable agro-meteorological data collection and long-term sustainability. This effort not only strengthens the existing agricultural value chains but also improves access to climate-smart decision-making tools for farmers, extension workers, and policymakers.
Enhancing Data Collection and Climate Monitoring with the AICCRA KMD Mobile App and Web Dashboard
(Manual, 2024-11-22) Akshatha, Annaiah
The AICCRA-KMD is a Data Collection Android Mobile App is a collaborative effort between KMD and ILRI under Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA). AICCRA- KMD app is used by 8 County Directors of Meteorological Services (CDMs), 72 enumerators, and 71 Ward Agricultural Extension staff.
Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA): Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for Pilot of Climate Smart Agricultural Innovations and Climate Information Service Technologies in Kenya 2023
(Report, 2023-05) Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT; International Livestock Research Institute
The Accelerating Impact of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) project activities in Kenya are focused on improving the quality of Climate Smart Agricultural (CSA) practices and information services in the Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) areas of Kenya. The project seeks to increase awareness and uptake of selected climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices and improve access to Climate Information Services (CIS), especially by women and the youth. AICCRA-Kenya is also focused on piloting CSA innovations and CIS technologies in farmers’ fields to expand the awareness and application of relevant climate adaption innovations among farmers. In line with this plan, the Alliance of the Bioversity International and CIAT (Alliance) is collaborating with the Africa Conservation Tillage Network (ACTN) and the universities of Murang’a, Chuka, and Taita Taveta to scale out the uptake of validated CSA and CIS and strengthen the resilience of Kenya dryland agriculture and food systems. The delivery model is to set up farmer-led demonstration farms to serve as a platform to introduce innovative farming techniques, showcase best practices, and enhance the skills of local farmers. The planned CSA demonstrations will occur in Murang’a, Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Taita Taveta and Makueni counties between July and December 2023.
Socially inclusive climate information services in Kenya: Mid-year report 2023
(Report, 2023-06-18) Miriti, Philip; Bullock, Renee
This report summarizes three activities that were implemented to support socially inclusive scaling of climate information services (CIS). These activities included a workshop, radio programs and field visits. A workshop titled ‘Strengthening climate networks to support community capacities’, two piloted radio programs and field visits to climate observers are described. Collectively, these activities build capacity and learning with and among climate networks.

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