GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY
PROJECT CONCEPT NOTE FOR PIPELINE ENTRY
1. Country:
Kenya
3. Project Title:
Agricultural Productivity and Sustainable
Land Management in Kenya
2. GEF Focal Area:
Land Degradation
OP #15
4. Implementing Agency:
World Bank
5. Executing Agencies:
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute
(KARI) in collaboration with Ministry of
Environment, National Resources and
Wildlife, NEMA, Kenya Forestry Research
Institute (KEFRI), Ministry of Agriculture
(MoA) and Ministry of Livestock
Development (MoLD)
6. Total Project Cost:
US$ 70 million
7. Financing Plan:
US$ 10 million (GEF)
US$ 50 million (IDA APL)
US$ 10 million (Government of Kenya)
US$ tbd (Rockefeller Foundation)
US$ tbd (EU)
US$ tbd (FAO)
8. Project Duration:
6 years
9. Background
The current Kenyan population is estimated at 30 million with a 3% annual growth rate; one of
the highest in the world. Agriculture plays a critical role in national economic growth and
development and is recognized as one of the three productive sectors outlined in the Economic
Recovery Strategy of June 3003 (the other sectors are tourism, trade and industry). However,
the sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has progressively declined from
37% in the early 1970’s to about 25% at the end of 2000. Growth in agriculture and improved
rural incomes has a significant and direct impact in reducing overall poverty. Furthermore,
population pressure and lack of growth in other sectors have caused increasing pressure on
natural resources, resulting in a very fragile ecosystem, declining soil fertility, productivity and
general environmental degradation.
Decades of national and foreign investment in Kenya, in the form of human, scientific and
financial resources have not been commensurate with output when considering economic
development and improved livelihoods and poverty levels have continued to rise. This anomaly
has been attributed to inadequate attention to natural resource management (NRM) resulting in
a fragile ecosystem which is unable to sustainability support development. Land degradation
due to various factors: deforestation, over-grazing, loss of soil/fertility due to inadequate
application of soil amendments and soil and water conservation measures, stream/riverbank
cultivation, destruction of water catchments and wetlands, biodiversity loss, overgrazing, loss of
productivity and livelihood opportunities have all been cited as major causes for low crop
productivity in Kenya.
Kenya continues, however, to rely heavily on the agriculture sector. The sector supports the
livelihoods of nearly 75 of the 80% of Kenyans who live in the rural areas. Increased
population has resulted in migration to fragile ecosystems such as the arid and semi-arid
lands and the subsequent degradation of the environment. Population pressure has also
resulted in the fragmentation of land into uneconomical parcels and in the cultivation of land
that is vulnerable to soil erosion such steep slopes and riverbanks and other ecologically
sensitive areas including wetlands, and encroachment and destruction of forests. The
consequences are: deforestation, loss of biodiversity, erosion, siltation, destruction of critical
watersheds and wetlands, frequent droughts, drying of rivers and streams, reduced water
quantity and quality, and, perpetuation of the poverty cycle.
Bold steps have to be taken to reverse the degradation pattern through both the application of
proven technologies, and the development of appropriate incentives to encourage sustainable
land management and stable livelihoods.
10. Project Objective
The proposed project seeks to promote sustainable use of natural resources for higher
productivity and incomes for the rural farmers of Kenya and the maintenance of critical
ecosystem functions in fragile areas. The project’s key development goal is to contribute to
the modernization of Kenya’s agricultural sector and improvement of the lives and
livelihoods of its rural communities through the development , acquisition and application of
improved and profitable agricultural technologies and production practices.
To achieve this goal, the Development Objective (DO) of the project would be to: (a)
facilitate the development of a pluralistic, demand responsive and accountable research
system, building on the existing blocks; (b) support reforms in extension towards a multiservice providers and demand driven system with an increased role of the private sector and
community-based learning and extension organizations and (c) develop institutional and
financial mechanisms and programs that empower producers, processors and other market
agents to influence the planning, design, implementation, funding and monitoring and
evaluation of research, extension, training and capacity building activities.
The Global Environment objective is to mitigate land degradation in selected priority
watersheds in order to ensure continued ecosystem functions. This will be accomplished
through the promotion of sustainable land management technology packages and practices
that have local and global benefits. This will involve the integrated utilization of soil, water,
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air, floral and faunal bio-diversity for physical and socio-economic development, paying
particular attention to environmental integrity.
Specific Objectives:

To evaluate the current socio-economic status (livelihood patterns) and natural
resources management practices within selected watersheds/catchments (Cherangani
Hills, Yala River Catchment, Lake Bokoria catchment, Taita Hills, and
Kinale/Kikuyu).

To develop, promote and scale-up sustainable land management best practices and
technologies to achieve greater productivity, of crops, trees and livestock in order to
enhance food security income and ecosystem integrity in the selected
watersheds/catchments.

To evaluate the impact and assist in designing policies that influence the incentives
for the farmers and communities to adopt improved land management practices.

To enhance the institutional capacity of stakeholders to undertake participatory and
multidisciplinary sustainable land management practices and extension of best
management practices.

To facilitate the exchange of information on best practices in sustainable land
management among farmers, communities, scientists, development partners, and
policy makers.

To promote public-private sector partnerships in sustainable land management for
maximizing environmental services and economic empowerment of communities.
The project will be an integral part of the Kenya Agricultural Productivity Program (KAPP).
However, as KAPP concentrates more on institutional issues this project will concentrate on
the usually hard to quantify issues of natural resource management, alternate livelihoods and
community empowerment and capacity building. It will also complement and draw synergies
from other on-going or planned Bank operations in the sector such as the Arid Lands Project,
Western Kenya Integrated Ecosystem Management Project (WKIEMP). Furthermore,
broadening the scope of the project to embrace the entire technology generation and
application continuum would help not only to fully address technology adoption constraints,
but also serve as an entry point for the Bank to provide a comprehensive support to the
Government’s sector-wide reform agenda. This project is further inline with the Kenya CAS
which calls for the provision of increased services to people living on fragile lands (especially
drylands).
This project is also intended to address some of the constraints limiting efforts to combat
desertification as outlined in the Kenya National Action Program (NAP). In particular, this
project will address: ‘uncoordinated and frequent shifts on mandate of dryland development
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from one agency to another, inadequate involvement of communities in programming and
decision making, and inadequate policies and regulatory framework’. The project will also
support NAP identified activities for knowledge sharing and awareness raising, capacity
building and community involvement.
Finally, the objectives of this project are consistent with the aims and objectives of NEPAD
(the New Partnership for Africa’s Development). In particular, the overall objectives of this
project, to ensure sustainable land management and build the capacity of stakeholders,
directly reflects the objectives of NEPAD to, “place African countries…on a path of
sustainable growth and development”. This project also corresponds to NEPAD priorities on
agriculture, the environment and empowerment through empowering communities to
improve the uptake of sustainable land management technologies and investing in best
practice land management technologies. In particular, this project will support Thematic Area
1 of the NEPAD Action Plan for the Environment concerning combating land degradation
and desertification.
11. Project Description
The project aims to achieve the following expected outputs:

Inventory of the baselines, constraints and opportunities to adoption of SLM practices
(soil and water conservation, nutrient management) including integration of crops,
trees and livestock developed.

Methods of restoring and sustaining land management and best management practices
for increased net benefits developed, adopted and scaled-up.

Understanding of the socio-economic and policy factors which affect land
management and adoption of sustainable land management best practices deepened
and methodology and models to assess impacts of policies on natural resource
management developed.

Institutional capacity of stakeholders to undertake participatory and multidisciplinary
land resource management activities sustainably enhanced.

Exchange of information on land resource management and best management
practices among farmers, communities, policy makers and the global fraternity
markedly fostered.

Better marketing channels for farm produce and value-added products for improved
livelihoods (on-farm/off-farm linkages strengthened).
In order to facilitate the achievement of the above outputs, the project will consist of three
components.
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Component 1. Promotion of Best Management Practices and Best Management Technologies
for improved livelihoods:
KARI and other sister institutions such as KEFRI have over the years developed many SLM
practices and technologies that are suitable for scaling-up. These include soil and water
conservation measures, water harvesting techniques, reseeding of degraded lands, high yielding
and ecologically adapted crop and livestock varieties and genotypes, soil fertility maintenance
practises etc. (see matrix).
Assessment of changes in land use and restoration to sustainable levels: An integrated
approach to natural resources management in the utilisation of soil, water, air, faunal and
floral biodiversity for physical and socio-economic development, would provide the most
sustainable means towards improved agriculture productivity and environmental stability.
However, it is important that all the stakeholders understand adequately the consequences of
past and present changes in the farming systems on agriculture and socio-economic
development with associated changing natural environment. This would be approached
through conducting environmental impact assessment (EIAs) in selected areas where
environmental stability is threatened using known techniques such as reference to old land
use maps from GIS and remote sensing in relation to current demographic changes. This
approach would assist in the development and promotion of priority interventions for the
country.
Soil erosion control: Reducing the amount and concentration of sediments containing
nutrients and toxic materials being washed from crop lands into water sources (thereby
contaminating both domestic and international water ways) will result in community access
to cleaner water for both domestic use and irrigation.
Water harvesting: Three quarters of the country is classified as arid and semi arid, yet people
have migrated to these areas and are practising farming with poor results. To empower these
farmers, water harvesting and storage should be encouraged both for domestic and livestock
uses.
Reseeding of denuded pastures and De-stocking: The drier areas are characterised by low
quality fodder species during the rainy season which quickly dry up during the hot spells. It has
been shown in previous studies in Kiboko through Agricultural Research Support Programme
(ARSP II) activities funded by the EC that such pastures can be greatly improved by a deliberate
reseeding process using selected indigenous grasses and legumes. Furthermore, higher
production of reseeded pastures allows for harvesting of grass seeds for expanded reseeding as
well as harvesting of better quality hay for livestock. Community interest in improving pasture
through such measures is increasing and the demand for better quality grass seeds is also rising
giving a potential for commercialisation and expanded reseeding scheme. It would be expected
that there will be higher carrying capacity as well as reduced rate in resource degradation.
There is need to continue collection of forage germplasm in the ASAL to provide study
materials for future breeding and improvement of indigenous fodder species.
Sustainable management of wetlands: The role of water in human habitation cannot be over-
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emphasized. Unfortunately, the majority of the Kenyan population rely on untreated river water
for domestic and livestock use. While Kenya is basically an agricultural country, there are a
wide range of agro-industrial and other conventional manufacturing industries using the same
water and releasing toxic or potentially toxic wastes back into the same rivers. Expertise will be
sought for appropriate technologies for the utilisation of the swamps and irrigated areas if
found lacking.
Riverbank protection and water catchment areas: Many streams and rivers in Kenya are drying
and disappearing as farmers cultivate all the way to the edge of the rivers and destroy their
sources. This not only accelerates erosion, but it also leads to destruction of critical riparian
habitats, loss of species, flooding, siltation of waters, and less water. Many riparian areras and
catchments have been degraded and the project will attempt to rehabilitate areas which are
already severely eroded using suitable techniques and indigenous species. Suitable agroforestry species and grasses will also be encouraged.
Promotion of crop and livestock productivity and integration: Sustainable promotion of crop
and livestock production to very large extent depends on adequate soil and water conservation
measures and judicious use of organic and inorganic fertilizers. There is a wealth of theoretical
and practical information on inorganic fertilizers, as well as improved crop and livestock
varieties and genotypes bred for specific ecological zones. The uptake and wide adoption of the
various recommendations has however not been commensurate to the research efforts.
Conservation and utilization of indigenous trees and other germplasm: In spite of the current
rate of deforestation, Kenya is still richly endowed with a wide range of high value tree
germplasm, ranging from timber tree species, through fruit and fodder tree species to
medicinal tree species. Some of these species have potent medicinal ingredients; there is need
for novel methods of germplasm conservation, regeneration and propagation/multiplication.
Trees such as Jetropha carcus, Prunus africana, Gum arabica are native to the tropics and
have high economic value. Adaptability of Herbal hibiscus which is being used in beverages
could be explored.
Biodiversity conservation: Biodiversity conservation of plant genetic resources will form a
major area of concern. Inventories will be compiled of various species and their uses (e.g.
treatment of livestock diseases). Tree and crop improvement and diversification will conserve
and enhance biodiversity. This component will identify, document, evaluate and test existing
best practices, pilot selected technologies that enhance conservation, restoration and
sustainable use of biodiversity and disseminate, promote and facilitate the adoption and
implementation of best practices and proven technologies. This will foster improved and
integrated soil, water, nutrient, vegetation and livestock management technologies to achieve
greater productivity of crops, trees and animals to enhance food security and ecosystem
resilience.
Component 2. Promotion of Alternative livelihoods systems
This component will identify, develop an inventory and document economically viable
livelihood options. It will create an environment conducive to the adoption of improved plant
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nutrient technologies through programs that promote a more efficient procurement,
distribution, and marketing of inputs and programs that enhance effective utilization of farm
outputs through the development of micro enterprises. It will increase the local awareness
and use of the indigenous products, processing and enhanced marketing strategies, develop
markets for non-timber forest products and other products, and examine ways to add value to
the outputs from the farm in order to increase the farmer’s income.
For the rural communities to get out of the poverty cycle, they need alternatives to their
current livelihood. The project will promote value adding and alternative sources of
livelihoods such as apiculture, promotion of trees such as Jetropha carcus, date palm, Herbal
Hibiscus, Gum Arabica, Prunus Africana etc which have products that can be sold locally
and internationally. Farmers who plant maize every season with minimal returns will be
encouraged to diversify into more high value crops. Matching of adopted and adapted crop
and livestock varieties to niches where they are best suited will be encouraged.
Component 3. Community empowerment and capacity building
KARI though the Agricultural Technology and Information Response Initiative (ATIRI) has
demonstrated that empowering farmers does result in better uptake of technologies. This
project will strive to continue empowering farmers, community based organizations,
extension providers and the implementers both in knowledge and resources to better
implement natural resource programs.
Component 4. Institutional and policy analysis
Legislative and policy frameworks will be examined in order to identify inconsistencies,
perverse incentives and opportunities for further policy support for sustainable land
management. Through a participative process involving government agencies and national
level institutions, this component will seek to remove the broader policy and legal barriers to
improved land management.
12. Geographic focus of the project
Kenya has in the recent past been faced with calamities such as floods and droughts which
have a direct relationship with environmental degradation. Water scarcity both in quantity
and quality is also a major problem in Kenya as a result of destruction of water catchment
areas and forests. Impacts of bad management practices are felt by both up and down stream
users. The project will therefore focus on 5 watersheds across the country (as opposed to plot
type of trials) which are environmentally threatened by lack of environmental management
and human encroachment. Commercial timber, firewood, inappropriate crop agricultural
practices and other human interference are causing general land degradation. The drier the
environment, the more fragile are the ecosystems. The land use changes in such areas require
the backing of technological innovations for sustainable utilization of such resources such as
soil and water conservation measures, proper livestock carrying capacity and maintenance of
biodiversity.
a) Kinale/Kikuyu catchment: The Kinale/Kikuyu catchment is situated in Kiambu district
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in the Central province. The climatic condition of the area is determined by the altitude,
which ranges from 800 m to 2,500 m above the sea level. Rainfall varies from 700 mm to
1,500 mm. The annual rainfall is bimodal, with one rainfall season in March-May and the
second in October-December. The physiography of the area ranges from the mountains, foot
ridges to high level structural uplands and plains. The geology is exclusively tertiary volcanic
rocks with various series of volcanic deposition during the formation of Rift Valley. The
predominant rocks are volcanic ashes, tuffs and basalt. The soils are variable and mainly well
drained, moderately deep to deep, clay soils, locally known as Kikuyu loams (ando-humic
Nitisols). The soils have moderate acidity to high acidity and low supplies of bases such as
calcium and magnesium. The level of nitrogen and organic matter varies from low to
adequate. Where acidity is high, there is a problem of aluminum toxicity. In very steep areas,
shallow soils are found, which are gravelly clay loam to clay, comprising mainly Cambisols,
Acrisols and Luvisols. These soils are intensively cultivated.
The catchment houses the Kinale Forest, one of the few indigenous forests. During the recent
past, people have been settled in the areas and allocated parcels of land within the forest. The
results has been massive destruction of the forest to clear land for cultivation and search of
fuel wood, cultivation on steep slopes without adequate soil and water conservation measures
and use of inappropriate crop varieties leading to crop failure. The broad land use systems
include agroforestry, tea and coffee. The cropping systems are monocropping, intercropping
and irregular crop rotation. Cultivation of horticultural crops is also increasing because of the
ready markets in Nairobi and beyond. The soil productivity depends on human activities and
management systems. The common management systems that can be promoted in the
watershed include taungya systems, bench terraces, agro-forestry, high value crops, and
integration of crop and livestock for better land management.
Proposed BMP and BMTs for NMR issues:
 Promotion of BMPs for restoration of the forest and the subsequent reduction in soil
erosion;
 Sustained use of soil fertility management inputs;
 Promotion of BMP and BMTs for the integrated conservation of soil and water.
b) Tugen Hills Catchment (including Perkerra/Lake Bogoria): This is located in the
Baringo district Rift Valley province. The average rainfall of the area is about 654 mm. The
rainy season occurs in March-June and July-August periods. The area is a part of vast
piedmont plain at the foot of Tugen hill, where Pekerra River has deposited considerable
amounts of alluvium during Quaternary times. The alluvium deposits are erosional products
of the Tugen hills. The Pekerra River is incised in its alluvial plain to a depth of 5 meters. It
is the source of water for Marigat Township and irrigation. The soils are mainly well drained,
stratified non calcareous to moderately calcareous loam to clay. In places the soils are
imperfectly drained, firm and very compact, cracking and moderately sodic (Eutric and
Calcaric Fluvisols. This group of soils have poor physical status although well supplied with
nutrients. Some soils have high silt and clay content. The high silt and clay content coupled
with low organic carbon and high sodium concentration reduce the soil permeability, thereby
creating waterlogging conditions during rainfall or irrigation. The crops are mainly irrigated
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and these include: kales, onions, bananas, water melons, maize and cow peas.
This area is inhabited by pastoralists. There is need for better management of grazing lands to
suit the pastoralists and avoid the loss of ecological productivity through overgrazing. Destoking would also alleviate the pressure exerted on the land and vegetation. Additionally,
ethno-veterinary practices are more common in pastoralist areas due to lack of
veterinary/medical services. It will be beneficial to take stock of such practices/concoctions
used with a view to validating and making recommendations on therapeutic doses. These
areas are also natural farms for some of the plant materials/organics as well as high quality
honey all of which are in great demand by industrialists such as gum arabica, herbal hibiscus,
Jatropha carcus and these could be inventorised and sustainably exploited for purposes of
alternative livelihoods and diversification.
Proposed BMP and BMTs for NMR issues:
 A rapid appraisal of environmental status and monitoring of trends in land resource
management;
 Development of a checklist of key biodiversity loss, medicinal plants and other flora
and fauna;
 Appropriate grazing and livestock production systems (e.g. reseeding of grazing lands
and de-stocking) to reduce the negative effects of livestock on soil erosion and
compaction and the disruption of hydrological flows;
 Alternative livelihoods such as apiculture, Jojopa, herbal hibiscus, honey, hides and
skins etc. to reduce pressures on pasture land;
 Land resources inventory;
 Introduction herbaceous vegetation to cover the soil during the dry seasons in order to
reduce soil erosion and the siltation of waterways.
c) Taita Hills Cathcment: Taita hills are situated in Taita Taveta district, coast province.
The Taita hills have considerable potential for agriculture resulting from high rainfall and
young soils, which are little weathered, well drained and fertile. However, the high potential
area (LH2, UM3) is small and the medium potential (UM/LM4) is dominated by steep slopes
with shallow soils which are highly subject to erosion. Further constraints for agricultural
productivity are erratic rains. During long rains, many areas lie fallow because heavy rains
cause high infiltration and leaching of nutrients. The soils, therefore, require heavy fertilizer
application for fertility replenishment. Run-off on is very high on cultivated land, thereby
increasing the risk of erosion. Cultivation on steep slopes due to increasing population
pressure and demand for more agricultural land, leads to further land degradation and loss of
agricultural productive land. The Taita hills are important rain catchment areas, feeding rivers
that flow down to the dry lowlands. The catchment areas are threatened as agricultural land
expands through encroachment of the new areas and clearing the natural vegetation. Though
there is a highland-lowland interrelationship, less water is flowing to the lowlands because of
the negative impacts of these developments on the hydrology of the area. Nevertheless, there
is potential for forest products and eco-tourism in the remaining forests of the hills.
Proposed BMPs and BMTs for NMR issues:
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




Enhance sustainability via alternative livelihood systems (e.g., Jojoba);
Promote water harvesting, storage and irrigation;
Monitoring of trends in land resource management;
Increasing vegetative cover on cultivated land during fallow periods in order to reduce
soil erosion and nutrient leaching;
Land resources inventory.
d) Yala Watershed: Yala area is situated in Siaya district, western Kenya. The topography,
range of altitude and the proximity of Lake Victoria combine to cause complex climatic
conditions. Maximum daily fall vary considerably from one location to the other but rarely
exceeds 100 mm. The physiography of the area comprises dissected uplands, river flood
plain, and Yala swamp. Altitude increases from about 1,140 m on the Lake shore to about
1,400 m in the North and east of the area. However, the scattered areas of highlands rise to
about 1,280 m. These include Got Ramogi and Usongo hills in Yimbo location
Proposed BMPs and BMTs for NMR issues:





Sustained use of organic manures, green manures and improved fallows to improve
soil fertility;
Use of more efficient land management technologies in specific niche;
Upscale AHI watershed management work to the whole of Yala catchment to reduce
erosion and siltation;
Monitoring of trends in land resource management;
Land resources inventory.
e) Cherangani Hills/Turkwell River Catchment: The area is situated in the Rift Valley
Province of Kenya. The average annual rainfall varies from 800 mm in the northern part to
more than 1,400 mm in the central part. The main rainy season is from April to August and
dry season from December to February. The physiography comprises mountains, hills and
uplands. The mountains and hills are prominent in the northern and eastern part of the area.
The south west part of the area is made up of gently undulating uplands. Most of the rivers
coming from Cherangani hills are perennial. The whole are is occupied by Precambrian rocks
of the basement systems, and consists of gneisses and schists. The cherangani hills area has
mainly moderately deep soils of good structure and high organic matter content and variable
acidity (mainly Cambisols). The north-western and northern parts of the area have deep to
shallow soils which are in general, liable to sheet erosion. The mountain and hills have
shallow to very shallow soils and are often stony and rocky. Land use varies considerably. In
the north-western there is extensive range, while in the south-western part large scale
cultivation and semi-grazing are practiced. The northern part has experienced extensive land
degradation and the Turkwell River is undergoing massive siltation which is threatening the
development potential of the area. The Cherangani hills are mainly forest with some
extensive grazing and some small-holders farming. Both sheet and gully erosion occur in the
area. However, a considerable part of the area is still under forest. There is a need for proper
soil conservation and a policy to discourage the cutting of trees.
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Promotion BMPs for NMR issues:










Protection of the river Nzoia water catchment through integrated watershed
management (Cherangani hills –GIS overlays);
Promotion of best management practices (BMPs) for NRM to improve maximum net
benefits to the farmers;
Incremental benefits approach;
Sustained use of soil fertility management inputs to reduce soil nutrient losses;
Protection and rehabilitation of the Turkwell River catchment
Promote biodiversity in critical areas such as Saiwa Swamp National Park;
Upscale home level utilization of sweet potatoes and other indigenous
crops/vegetables, establish baselines for the activities to be up scaled;
Monitoring of trends in land resource management;
Land resources inventory;
Promotion of alternative livelihoods (e.g., oil palm cultivation) to reduce pressure on
limited soil resources.
13. Replicability
Technologies and processes developed throughout the preparation and implementation of this
project will be available for replication. In particular, while the best management practices
and technologies component will focus on addressing the unique challenges of the project
area, they will be easily adaptable to other projects and programs in similar ecoregions.
Furthermore, the project will help facilitate the mainstreaming of sustainable land
management issues into broader strategies and multi-sector work. In particular, lessons
learned through this project can be applied to policy and project development throughout
Kenya and in other countries with similar agro-ecosystems.
14. Sustainability
Sustainability of the project will be attained through continued stakeholder participation and
institutional capacity building. In particular, the proposed GEF project is fully blended with
an IDA APL with a duration of twelve years. The intention is that over the six years of GEF
project implementation, sustainable land management issues will be successfully
mainstreamed into agricultural decision making and processes. This will be accomplished
through the presentation of concrete and visible benefits from project interventions. As such,
it is expected that the objectives of the GEF project will continue to be met beyond the end of
the GEF project cycle through integration with the continuing IDA project.19. National
Government Support
The Government of Kenya (GoK) prioritizes rural development through policies that provide
a common basis for actors in the various sectors to steer development in their sector (Kenya
Rural Development Strategy, KRDS). In view of the high incidence of poverty in the country,
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the Government has recognized the need to integrate environmental concerns in the
development activities. The Government also in the Kenya Economic Recovery Strategy of
June 2003 recognizes the need to empower the people by providing income them with
income earning opportunities. The Government, as stipulated in the Economic Recovery
Strategy, is committed to having increased forest cover; improved environment; increased
incomes from forest products, livestock related activities and through irrigated agriculture;
empowerment of resource poor farmers; increased smallholders’ access to credit; safe water
for rural households and livestock; reduction in destruction through floods and sustainable
environmental management. The project is also in line with the broad national objectives of
the agricultural sector of contribution towards attainment and maintenance of domestic
supply of main food items; production of raw materials for industries; creation of gainful
employment and increases in incomes of those involved in production; and conservation of
natural resources.
Environment and natural resources degradation constitute a major challenge in Kenya’s
development process. The Government of Kenya is committed to proper environmental
management as demonstrated by the adoption of the Kenya National Environment Action Plan
(NEAP) in 1994 and enactment of the Environment Management and Coordination Act
(EMCA) of 1999 and a the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
Kenya signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in
1992 and ratified it on 30th August 1994. Kenya is committed to meeting obligations of the
Convention but has limited resources at her disposal. Land degradation is recognized by the
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) as a loss of both economic
and environmental potential. In addition to the domestic costs of declining food productivity
and increasing poverty, dryland soil degradation results in loss of globally significant
biodiversity, genetic resources, a significant reduction in carbon storage, and increased
sedimentation of rivers and lakes, thereby contributing to the degradation of international
water systems.
15. Stakeholder Participation
Stakeholder participation during project design and implementation has been recognized as
being essential for project success. In particular, component three is targeted at empowering
local communities in recognition of the fact that the uptake of sustainable land management
technologies is greater when the rural population is more empowered. The focus on the
development of alternative livelihoods is also dependent upon the voluntary participation of
local communities and the participatory identification of suitable livelihood alternatives.
In order to ensure stakeholder participation, local communities and organizations will be
engaged through the community awareness campaigns which will respond to local conditions
and demands. Rural Appraisals will also be carried out in order to fully incorporate local
communities, community based organizations and other relevant stakeholders into project
activities.
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Stakeholder groups include (i) local communities who will benefit from capacity building,
alternative livelihood investments and the application of sustainable land management
technology packages; (ii) research organizations (particularly KARI) involved in the
development and delivery of demand driven research and extension; and (iii) government
agencies which will be engaged during the policy analysis.
16. Eligibility
Kenya ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in
1994, signed the Convention to Combat Desertification in 1997. The proposed project is
consistent with the GEF Operational Strategy, supporting long-term protection of globally
important ecosystems. In addition the country signed the Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD) in 1994.
17. Rationale for GEF Involvement
Land degradation continues to be an issue in Kenya, limiting rural productivity and
exasperating vulnerability to shocks. Sustainable land management activities, however, are
facing a number of barriers including technological constraints, policy issues and socioeconomic challenges. GEF funding through this proposal can assist with the identification
and removal of these barriers such that sustainable land management can be mainstreamed
within the broader agricultural development activities of the IDA loan. This increase in
sustainable land management activities will have global benefits through reductions in
siltation rates within riparian and lake ecosystems in critical watershed and, the increased
sequestration of carbon through both soils and vegetative material
The proposed project is consistent with the GEF OP15 because it targets land degradation.
Specifically, the environmental goal of the project is to mainstream sustainable land
management practices into rural and agricultural investment programs in a manner that a)
enhances the incomes and livelihoods of rural producers, b) provides tangible and measurable
local and global environmental benefits at the farm and watershed levels, and c) contributes
directly to national development and poverty eradication goals as elucidated in various
frameworks (such as the June 2003 Kenya Economic Recovery Strategy, PRSP, KRDS).
The project also corresponds well to the strategic priorities outlined in OP15 since it
emphasizes stakeholder involvement, contains capacity building activities and focuses on onthe-ground interventions to promote sustainable land management.
18. Incremental Cost Analysis
KARI has been developing crop, livestock and soil and water management technologies
through its network of Centres that address both national and region specific constraints to
crop and livestock production as well as soil and water management issues. The resources
available to KARI from the Government, development partners such as the Rockefeller
Foundation, the European Community, Sida, World Bank and others have enabled KARI to
13
develop technologies and assist in up-scaling the technologies (ATIRI) to farm and
community scales. GEF resources will be used to up-scale selected BMPs and BMTs that
have local and global environment benefits to watershed scale, in line with the Government
policies, to avert further land degradation and improve livelihoods. The specifics would be
determined during project preparation.
Furthermore, this project will support IDA baseline activities (which cover institutional
capacity building, support for market development/access, and the expansion of demanddriven agricultural research and extension) through the provision of incremental funding for:
pilot implementation of sustainable land management best practice technologies,
strengthening of participatory research and extension related specifically to sustainable land
management, and the dissemination of good land management practices.
19. Expected Date of Project Preparation Completion
It is anticipated that project preparation of this project which is focusing on SLM issues as
part of the larger APL Agricultural Research for Development Project will be substantially
completed August 2004 and that the Concept and PDF B application would be submitted to
the GEF for consideration by September 2003. Based on the urgency in processing of the
IDA APL and the need to ensure full blending (IDA/GEF), it is expected that the project
would be ready for final approval by end of 2004. The project would overlap with at least two
phases of the 12-year IDA APL hence injecting a level of operational and financial
sustainability that is long term and focused.
14
ANNEX 1.
BMPs, BMTs and activities matrix
Implementation
Area
Cherang’any
hills/Turkwell
Ecosystem
Responsible
Centre
Kitale
Muguga
Yala river
catchment
Kakamega
Muguga
BMPs/BMTs
Specific Activities
Promotion of use of organic soil amendments
Strip cropping and terracing
Rain/flood water diversion
Conservation agriculture
Agroforestry and integration of crop and
lvestock
Conservation of plant biodiversity/ Formation
of CECs
Capacity building at various levels –
management, co-ordination and operational
levels
Drip irrigation/irrigation
Validation of ethno-veterinary products &
ethnobotany
Appropriate livestock forages – napier, vines,
calliandra etc., natural
Marketing of produce/products
Re-seeding of pastures
Conservation of plant biodiversity/Formation
of CECs
Capacity building at various levels –
management, co-ordination and operational
levels
Drip irrigation/other irrigations
Appropriate livestock forages – napier, vines,
multi-purpose trees
Use of IPM
Establish organic amendments for the region
Establish appropriate structures and systems
Establish diversions for flood and rain water
Demonstrate conservation agriculture
Introduce appropriate multi-purpose trees
and demonstrate proper handling of manures
Establish bio-diversity status including
micro-biodiversity
Carry out PRA on the subject, evaluate
current capacity
Initiate drip along R. Nzoia
Demonstrate principles of drip
Carry out PRA
Develop checklist of herbal plants
(medicinal), their uses, preparation etc
Id current market channels for all products
Id level of degradation, types of pasture, land
use etc.
As for Cherangany hills
"
Use of green manures
Use of fallows
Alternative livestock feeds such as bagasse,
napier, calliandra etc
Marketing of produce/products
Land reclamation in Yala River
Taita hills
catchment
Kiboko
NARL
Katumani
Conservation of plant biodiversity/ Formation
of CECs
Capacity building at various levels –
management, co-ordination and operational
levels
Water pans
Compost baskets
Mobile sacks
Nine seed hole technology
Crop/livestock integration – use of crop
residues and manure
Use of appropriate livestock breeds
Prevention of young stock
mortalities/management
Feed conservation – hay, silage
Reseeding pastures
Validation of ethno-veterinary
products/practices
Apiculture
Marketing of produce/products
16
As for Cherengany hills
"
Evaluate current practices
Asses need for and identify entry points for
appropriate technology
As for L. Bogoria
As in Cherangany
Forage
Herbal hibiscuss, jotropha etc
Honey - value adding, mkt
Kinale Catchment
Muguga South
Re-afforestation
Appropriate livestock forages – napier, vines,
multi-purpose trees
Use of IPM
Use of green manures
Use of fallows
Agro-forestry practices
17
Id appropriate linkage with other institution
such as KEFRI, MENR, WATER etc
Fodder/Zero grazing, etc practices
Asses current practices
Introduce appropriate practices
"
"