NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya is set to receive a major boost in its environmental restoration efforts following a $200 million (Ksh25.8 billion) partnership with the World Bank to rehabilitate degraded landscapes across the country.
Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry Aden Duale on Wednesday disclosed details of a high-level meeting with World Bank officials, led by Country Director Qimiao Fan, to discuss interventions under the national landscape ecosystem restoration strategy.
Among the key projects discussed is the Kenya Watersheds Services Improvement Programme (KEWASIP), a five-year initiative aimed at restoring 300,000 hectares of degraded land in 12 counties.
The programme is expected to create job opportunities in affected communities, aligning with the government’s Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
The discussions also touched on the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) programme, an initiative backed by the World Bank and other donors to enhance climate resilience at the county level.
“These projects are crucial to supporting Kenya’s ambitious goal of growing 15 billion trees by 2032,” Duale stated. “Beyond environmental restoration, they will also contribute to improving livelihoods, advancing sustainable development, and strengthening climate change adaptation efforts.”
Hosted a World Bank delegation led by Country Director Mr. Qimiao Fan to discuss key climate interventions, including the $200M Kenya Watersheds Services Improvement Programme (KEWASIP). Anchored in the national landscape restoration strategy, this 5-year initiative aims to…
President William Ruto launched the 15 Billion Tree Initiative in 2022 as part of Kenya’s broader commitment to combat climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reverse deforestation.
The strategy targets the restoration of 5.1 million hectares of deforested and degraded land.
Duale further revealed that the meeting explored ways to expand climate finance, particularly through Kenya’s emerging carbon markets.
He also acknowledged the World Bank’s ongoing support and expressed interest in technical assistance and knowledge exchange programs to strengthen community-based conservation efforts.
