GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY
PROPOSAL FOR A PDF B GRANT
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. PDF B Executing Agencies:
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute
(KARI) in collaboration with Ministry of
Environment, National Resources and
Wildlife and the KAPP Secretariat.
6. Total Project Cost:
US$ 70 million
7. PDF B Requested
US$ 350,000
8. PDF A Awarded
No
10. 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. PDF B Co-financing
$300,000
9. Endorsement by GEF Focal Point
Received February 11, 2004
11. Project Duration:
6 years
12. 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, has been cited as a major cause 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 ecosystem degradation pattern currently prevailing
through both the application of proven technologies, and the development of appropriate
incentives to encourage sustainable land management and stable livelihoods.
13. 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 and sustain rural livelihoods.
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
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utilization of soil, water, air, and floral and faunal bio-diversity for physical and socio-economic
development, paying particular attention to the maintenance and restoration of ecosystem
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, 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,
and the 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.
14. Project Description
The project aims to achieve the following expected outputs:

Inventory of the baselines, constraints, and opportunities to the 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 (including both ecosystem and livelihood 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 four
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 the preservation of
ecosystem functions. However, it is important that all stakeholders understand adequately the
consequences of past and present changes in the farming systems and their effects on
agricultural and socio-economic development with associated changing natural environment.
This would be approached through conducting environmental impact assessment (EIAs) in
selected areas where ecosystem 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 and will ensure the continued
functioning of watersheds and riparian systems.
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 on 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.
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Sustainable management of wetlands: The role of water in human habitation cannot be overemphasized. 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 areas 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. This
project will encourage the uptake of these recommendations using a community-based,
participatory process.
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. This will increase opportunities for the development of sustainable
livelihoods.
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
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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
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. For example, in order to take advantage of the
demonstration value of this project, community-based awareness building and knowledge
sharing will be supported through farmer-led extension and farmer-to-farmer information
sharing.
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.
Project implementation will follow that of the IDA project. Overall coordination will be
under a KAPP Secretariat (KAPPSEC) staffed by individuals from the key lead implementing
agencies, as well as from the Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers
representing the ultimate clients of the project services. The Secretariat is composed of
carefully identified/selected individuals able to add value to the process while bringing
experience, insights and contacts from their line departments.
The agricultural sector institutional reform process will be implemented by an inter-
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ministerial steering committee of the Permanent secretaries of the Ministries of Agriculture
Livestock and Fisheries Development, Cooperatives, Water, Environment and Natural
Resources, and Lands. This will be composed of Permanent Secretaries and will report to the
Economic Sub-committee of the Cabinet that is chaired by the Vice President. The executive
implementation of the decisions of this high-level policy group will be the duty of individual
ministries and government institutions and will be coordinated by its secretariat, the KAPP
secretariat.
KAPPSEC is placed on institutional virgin land. No group in the agricultural sector has had a
wide ranging a mandate as they will have. However it is necessary to be outside of individual
line ministries e.g. Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, or Livestock and
Fisheries because of the cross cutting nature of foreseen interventions that stretch to farmers
involved in both crop and livestock activities, as well as to issues in land, water, forests and
other natural resources. In the Kenyan bureaucratic context such issues can only be dealt with
outside of a particular ministry, unless that ministry was the Office of the President. Linking
the KAPPSEC to the Economic subcommittee of the cabinet, an inter-ministerial steering
committee and the agricultural sector working group in the Ministry of Planning provides the
necessary cross cutting links needed to make such an involving and far reaching project work.
Kenya is littered with initiatives, like the Kenya Rural Development Strategy, that foundered
when they were situated within one line ministry and tried to get commitment from other line
ministries.
15. Linkages with Other Relevant Projects
UNEP/GEF MSP in the Lake Baringo Catchment
This UNEP MSP focuses on soils and water conservation activities in the Lake Baringo
catchment. The KARI station in Marigat is hosting the project office for this MSP which will
be coming to a close in June 2004. Since the MSP covered some of the same areas targeted in
this proposal (including the Perkerra river that originates in the Tugen) there is great
opportunity for lessons learned from this MSP to be applied to the proposed project.
Moreover, since KARI is the planned executing agency, the proposed project could benefit
from the structures established by the Lake Baringo MSP at the agricultural research station
in Marigat.
UNEP/GEF People, Land Management and Environmental Change (PLEC)
PLEC is a regional project with a focus on preserving agro-biodiversity through combining
local knowledge with scientific and technical inputs. PLEC had a site in Kiambu District,
managed by KARI’s station in Muguga and, as such, the proposed project will benefit from
lessons learned.
Desert Margins Program (DMP)
The DMP targets land degradation mitigation interventions in benchmark areas (areas with
rainfall from 100mm to 600mm) covering nine African countries. The project is largely
focused on research and the development of local technologies for SLM. The proposed
project will complement the DMP by scaling-up the adoption of SLM technologies
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developed under the DMP.
Management of Indigenous Vegetation for Rehabilitation of Degraded Rangelands in
the Arid Zone of Africa.
Similarly to the Desert Margins Program, this project is developing and testing best practices
for SLM in drylands. It will also develop an arid rangelands bio-database and support
agricultural marketing and the development of alternative livelihoods. The proposed project
will examines these best practices and adapt the lessons learned to project design.
Land Use Change (LUCID)
LUCID is examining the relationships between land use change, biodiversity and land
degradation. As such, it could provide policy-relevant insights to the driving forces of land
conversion and impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity. The proposed project will expand on
the lessons learned through LUCID in order to implement activities to guide land use
planning.
Linkages with other relevant projects will be further explored through activity 1 of the PDF B
activities.
15. Description of PDF B Activities
GEF PDF B resources are requested to support the development of the sustainable land
management component of the Agricultural Productivity project. In particular, the PDF B
grant will finance preparation stock-taking, assessment, capacity building, and awareness
raising activities as outlined below:
1. Synthesis of existing information: A vast amount of information has been gathered
over the years regarding soil fertility management, soil and water conservation, water
harvesting, stocking ratios, agroforestry, socio-economics, etc. A review of these good
practices and a feasibility analysis of their usefulness for this project will be carried
out and will be summarized and synthesized in collaboration with other partners.
Information gaps will also be identified and, where necessary, further data gathering
will be undertaken. This synthesis will also include the collection of data to form a
baseline.
2. Characterization of current land uses and selection of priority BMPs and BMTs:
Baseline information on current land uses, assessment of the degree of
‘sustainability’, and an analysis of how to improve the economic viability and longterm sustainability will be carried out. Practices that are profitable from
environmental and socio-economic perspectives (based on an analysis of existing best
practices) would be ranked using rigorous assessments and those deemed to be
priority would be suggested for piloting and scaling up under the full project.
3. Assessment of land degradation: Land degradation reflects decreasing land quality but
it can manifest itself in several ways and often in more than one process at the same
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time. However, in the final analyses, it is more important to note the degree of
degradation and to estimate the impacts on land use sustainability and global
environmental services. Under this activity, land degradation will also be defined in
terms of its effects, issues, and root causes within the context of the project sites.
4. Stakeholder analysis: Build upon the stakeholder work carried out by the IDA project
in order to identify relevant stakeholders, work with identified stakeholders to define
roles, and develop a participation action plan to mobilize stakeholders. A strategy for
continued stakeholder participation will also be developed from the findings of the
stakeholder analysis, including an examination of possible partner institutions.
5. Awareness raising and community mobilization: Based on the stakeholder analysis,
education campaigns and network facilitation will be undertaken at local and sector
agencies levels.
6. Capacity building: Strengths and weaknesses of sectors and agencies involved in
NRM in the selected watersheds will be assessed and where needed deficiencies
rectified by appropriate training activities.
7. Introduction of alternative livelihoods options and market surveys: Alternate and
economic means of livelihood will be introduced in the watershed and private sector
involvement for marketing enhanced.
8. Monitoring and evaluation planning: A monitoring and evaluation plan will be
designed based on the expected project outcomes and in line with GEF objectives.
This will include an analysis of indicators currently being monitored by other projects
and agencies and an examination of existing M&E capacities including institutional
capacity (within KARI) and technical capacity (existing GIS, etc.) Expected global
environmental benefits will also be defined and related indicators will be developed.
Required baseline studies not carried out under Activity 1 will be carried out based on
the indicators identified in the M&E plan.
The above activities will compliment ongoing IDA preparation activities which include: (a)
gradual introduction of a pluralistic research system, with continuous focus on reform of
KARI; (b) consensus building process for the reform of extension services and the
empowerment of clients (c) interventions in 20 districts to test out innovative and
decentralized extension/research/education activities and, initiate the process of engaging
rural communities in designing and implementing productivity enhancing activities in close
association with concerned public and non-public institutions, and d) initiation of GEF
activities in 5 selected catchment areas that are critical for agricultural productivity and
ecosystem functioning.
16. PDF B Outputs
The principal output from the PDF B activity will be the GEF Project Brief, supported by the
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required analytical and background work and implementation plans. The PDF B activities
will also ensure that awareness regarding the project is raised and local participation is
mobilized. Specific, outputs generated by the PDF B process will include:

The GEF Project Brief, including detailed descriptions of project activities, stakeholders,
expected benefits, monitoring and evaluation, etc. This will also include the preparation
of GEF required annexes.

A toolkit of sustainable land management technologies based on previous work, site
specific conditions, best practices and feasibility. This toolkit will form the basis of the
on-the-ground sustainable land management investments outlined in Component 1.

Baseline maps and reports on land use, soil degradation, agricultural production and
socio-economic conditions. This will form the basis for the M&E system and contribute
to the beneficiary/stakeholder analysis.

A root cause analysis outlining the principle effectors of land degradation and the manner
in which the project activities will address these root causes. This will be presented in the
form of an additional annex to be attached to the Project Brief.

A stakeholder analysis and plan for continued local stakeholder participation in project
design and implementation.

A monitoring and evaluation plan outlining indicators to be measured and process
decisions regarding how M&E should be carried out. This will also include M&E
institutional arrangements.
17. 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
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
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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): 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 and these
include: kales, onions, bananas, water melons, maize and cow peas.
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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:
 Enhance sustainability via alternative livelihood systems (e.g., Jojoba);
 Promote water harvesting, storage and irrigation;
13
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

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.
Promotion BMPs for NMR issues:
14
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








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.
18. 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.
19. Sustainability
It is anticipated that the greatest threats to project sustainability will be institutional
arrangements and public participation. As such, 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 mainstreaming of sustainable land management investments within the
baseline IDA project.
Furthermore, the project will result in visible livelihood benefits at the local level and the
development of an information sharing network. As such, it is anticipated that many of the
15
activities carried out through this project will continue to be implemented without project
funding once the benefits of implementing such practices have been demonstrated.
20. 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,
the Government has recognized the need to integrate environmental concerns in the
development activities. Furthermore, the Government, through the Kenya Economic
Recovery Strategy of June 2003, recognizes the need to empower the people by providing
them with income earning opportunities. The Government, as stipulated in the Economic
Recovery Strategy, is committed to increasing forest cover; improving the environment;
increasing incomes from forest products, expanding livestock related activities and, through
irrigated agriculture; empowering resource poor farmers; increasing smallholders’ access to
credit; providing safe water for rural households and livestock; reducing destruction through
floods and ensuring 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.
21. Justification for PDF B
This GEF OP15 project will be blended with an IDA project supporting agricultural
productivity. As such the GEF proposal has a strong focus on the incremental benefits
through the incorporation of sustainable land management technologies and practices aimed
at maintaining ecosystem functions into the baseline of agricultural development activities.
The project will respond to Strategic Priority 1 during PDF B activities though the
16
institutional and stakeholder capacity building activities to facilitate investments in
sustainable land management. Strategic Priority 2 will be addressed during project
implementation through investments in innovative on-the-ground sustainable land
management activities.
IDA project preparation resources will, therefore, compliment PDF B funds by addressing
requirements such as institutional arrangements, environmental assessments and some
baseline data however, PDF B resources are required to carry out incremental preparation
activities. These incremental preparation activities will be focused on the design of
incremental project components, the gathering of additional GEF specific baseline data, the
design of indicators to measure global environmental benefits, and awareness raising
activities targeted specifically at sustainable land management.
21. 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.
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.
22. Eligibility
Kenya ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in
1994, signed the Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) 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.
23. Rationale for GEF Involvement
Land degradation continues to be an issue in Kenya, limiting rural productivity and
17
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.
The sustainable land management activities implemented through this project will have
global benefits through reductions in siltation rates within riparian and lake ecosystems in
critical watersheds and the increased sequestration of carbon within both soils and vegetative
material. Furthermore, overall improvements in ecosystem health and functioning will
increase the resilience of critical ecosystems to the effects of exogenous effects such as
droughts and floods.
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 strategic priorities outlined in OP15 since it emphasizes
stakeholder involvement, contains capacity building activities and focuses on on-the-ground
interventions to promote sustainable land management.
24. 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
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.
18
25. 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 by June 2004. 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 before the 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.
26. PDF B Budget
PDF B Activity
Synthesis of existing information and
baselines and assessment of land
degradation in selected sites
Characterization of current land use and
BMP/BMT prioritization
Community Awareness Raising
(workshops and meetings)
Stakeholder Analysis
Community empowerment and Capacity
building (in terms of NRM, R&E,
credit/marketing, etc)
Alternative livelihoods options
M&E planning
Goods
Project Management and Proposal
Preparation
Total
GEF
85,000
IDA
40,000
25,000
0
20,000
30,000
20,000
40,000
20,000
80,000
25,000
20,000
75,000
40,000
0
30,000
80,000
20,000
350,000
300,000
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ANNEX 1.
BMPs, BMTs and activities matrix
Implementation
Area
Cherang’any
hills/Turkwell
Ecosystem
Responsible
Centre
Kitale
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
Yala river
catchment
Kakamega
Muguga
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,
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.
Stakeholder analysis
Feasibility analysis of potential technologies.
As for Cherangany hills
"
multi-purpose trees
Use of IPM
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
21
As for Cherengany hills
"
Evaluate current practices
Asses need for and identify entry points for
appropriate technology
Taita hills
catchment
Kinale Catchment
Kiboko
NARL
Katumani
Muguga South
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
Re-afforestation
Appropriate livestock forages – napier, vines,
multi-purpose trees
Use of IPM
Use of green manures
Use of fallows
Agro-forestry practices
22
As for L. Bogoria
As in Cherangany
Forage
Herbal hibiscuss, jotropha etc
Honey - value adding, mkt
Id appropriate linkage with other institution
such as KEFRI, MENR, WATER etc
Fodder/Zero grazing, etc practices
Asses current practices
Introduce appropriate practices
"
"
23