National launch of Climate Smart Governance (CSG) Dashboard and strengthening Multi-scale Polycentric Governance (MPG) Tool in Kenya

Alahacoon, N.; Amarasinghe, U.; Amarnath, G. 2024. National launch of Climate Smart Governance (CSG) Dashboard and strengthening Multi-scale Polycentric Governance (MPG) Tool in Kenya. Report of the Workshop on the National Launch of Climate Smart Governance (CSG) Dashboard and Strengthening Multi-scale Polycentric Governance (MPG) Tool in Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya, 26-27 November 2024. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Initiative on Climate Resilience. 19p.

Kenya’s climate, influenced by topography, varies from tropical along the coast to semi-arid and arid in the interior. The country experiences bimodal rainfall patterns, with long rains from March to May and short rains from October to December. However, climate change has disrupted these patterns, increasing the prevalence of extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, landslides, and cyclones. Rainfall variability has intensified, with wetter northern regions contrasting sharply with drier southern areas. This heightened variability and Kenya's reliance on rainfed agriculture underscore its vulnerability to climate hazards, which have far-reaching impacts on its economy, environment, and population.

The Kenyan government has implemented strategic frameworks such as the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2015– 2030 and the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) 2018–2022 to address these challenges. Recognizing the need for robust tools to guide decision-making, Kenya has introduced the Climate Smart Governance (CSG) Dashboard and the Multiscale Polycentric Governance (MPG) Tool guide. These platforms support data-driven decision-making, project tracking, and investment planning, aligning with Kenya’s sustainable development objectives.

The launch of the CSG Dashboard marked a significant milestone in Kenya’s climate resilience journey. During the event, officials from the State Department for Forestry, the National Environment Management Authority, the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis, and the International Water Management Institute actively participated. In his welcome address, Dr Joshua highlighted Kenya’s strides in climate resilience and expressed confidence in the CSG Dashboard’s potential to address emerging challenges. Dr Niranga emphasized the importance of data-driven decision-making and introduced the CSG Dashboard’s modules, including Country Overview, Climate Outlook, Project Tracker, and Geo-Intelligence Tools. He demonstrated the Dashboard’s role in supporting climate mitigation and adaptation efforts through a detailed presentation. Dr Upali Amarsinghe introduced the CGIAR Research Initiative on Climate Resilience (ClimBeR) program, highlighting the Governance for Resilience (G4R) workstream, reinforcing the commitment to advancing climate resilience through innovative tools and collaborative approaches.