Responses

Name:

Morten Gøbel

Organisation:

Oxfam DK

Response:

This is a comment to the renewable energy component. The project document rightly points at all the negative side effects of charcoal based cooking related to health, gender safety, soil/food production, environment, climate, etc. So, there are many strong arguments for supporting a transition to clean cooking. However, the problem is more complex that indicated in the document. Studies show that the charcoal business have become a main livelihood strategy for many vulnerable households in rual areas and that in general about 20% of their income comes from that. So, alternative sources of jobs/income have to be provided to prevent a negative poverty impact - this could be local production of bio-ethanol or briquettes from food- and agricultural waste for example. Moreover - there are a number of barriers for the shift to clean cooking: These include culture and traditions; specific household needs and preferences; as well as economic barriers. The latter relates to relatively high prices of clean cooking stoves compared with low ability to pay upfront and lack of financial mechanisms (loans, credits, savings schemes etc.) that might close this payment gap. Thus, more evidence is needed about vulnerable households "willingness to pay" (examining these barriers) and financial mechanisms that might be feasible and thus tested on a pilot basis.

Name:

Tobias Trier Fuglsang

Organisation:

WWF Denmark

Response:

On behalf of WWF Denmark, we woud like to share an overarching response to the NRT project prior to the forthcoming meeting of the programme committee on April 9th. Additionally, we commit to delivering a more detailed response enriched with insights from our local partners in Kenya before the consultation deadline. In general, the project appears highly relevant to WWF’s work in Kenya, both regarding its thematic focus (Nature-based Solutions, mangrove restoration, climate resilience, access to water, and renewable energy) and its geographic scope, which aligns with the areas of WWF DK's SPA, particularly in the coastal landscape with intersections in Lamu. Moreover, WWF Kenya is actively engaged in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) regions of Kenya, focusing on rangeland management and more. WWF DK maintains a good strategic dialogue with the embassy's climate resilience team and seeks to contribute to programming efforts to ensure coordination, identify programmatic synergies, and enhance the quality of program design and implementation going forward. Outlined below are a few preliminary comments: 1. Ensuring High-Quality and Integrity of NbS: WWF possesses extensive expertise and experience in designing and implementing inclusive and high-integrity Nature-based Solutions (NbS) projects. NbS serves as the cornerstone of our SPA, guided by the IUCN Global standard, which provides a standardized framework and ensures the quality of NbS interventions. Our SPA stands as a pioneering NbS initiative, supported by tools and methodologies developed to operationalize the IUCN standard in project design. For instance, we employ consultation guides to ensure participatory and transparent engagement with local stakeholder groups, including rights holders. WWF has also undertaken continuous capacity-building initiatives on NbS for local stakeholders in Kenya and beyond. The current formulation of the NRT project could benefit from a more comprehensive description of the NbS approach adopted which is not really clear. WWF DK stands ready to share knowledge and experiences in this area and can provide technical capacity building in NbS. 2. Ensuring synergies and coordination with WWF Denmark SPA Programme: Given the significant geographical and thematic overlaps between the NRT project and WWF DK SPA, as well as WWF Kenya's broader initiatives, we advocate for enhanced coordination during the program formulation phase to identify synergies and opportunities for collaboration. This is particularly crucial in Lamu, where WWF Kenya has been active for approximately 20 years, engaging with various stakeholders in marine and terrestrial conservation efforts.

Name:

Tobias Trier Fuglsang

Organisation:

WWF Denmark

Response:

On behalf of WWF Denmark, we offer an additional response on the NRT project, incorporating insights from our partner WWF Kenya. WWF Kenya has ongoing projects aligned with NRT, offering opportunities for synergies and collaboration which we encourage are considered in the future programming of the NRT project. “Northern Kenya Drought Emergency Project”: Initiated in 2022 as an emergency response to severe drought, this project now focuses on accelerating recovery and building long-term resilience for wildlife and communities. Current activities include constructing and desilting water pans and equipping boreholes to enhance water access for people, livestock, and wildlife. These efforts align with the water and climate resilience aspects of the NRT proposal, offering collaboration opportunities. “Voices for Climate Action”: WWF-Kenya collaborates with grassroots civil society organizations (CSOs) to promote locally led climate solutions. Activities include influencing climate financing at the county level, advocating for inclusive processes in budgeting, and supporting climate action planning. Collaboration with CSOs in northern Kenya focuses on forest restoration, conservancy governance, climate-smart agriculture, and clean energy promotion. “Integrated Northern Kenya Landscape Programme”: WWF-Kenya and the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife are developing an integrated programme to address biodiversity conservation and climate resilience in northern Kenya. A multi-stakeholder workshop in February 2023 initiated the co-creation process, involving NRT. “Species Conservation Work”: Ongoing projects focus on elephant, lion, and rhino conservation, supported by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and conservancies. Measures include monitoring, ranger capacity building, and security enhancements. Water provisions, human-wildlife conflict management, and conservancy support contribute to climate resilience for wildlife and communities. "The Triple Benefit Project-Land to Sea," supported by Danida (SPA) and implemented in Mida Creek, Kilifi County, and Lamu Southern Swamps, Lamu County, applies Nature-based Solutions aiming to enhance human well-being, climate resilience, and biodiversity in the Coastal Kenya Landscape. The project supports community-led mangrove management, protection, and restoration guided by the IUCN NbS standard. The project offers opportunities for cross-learning and capacity building on NbS which is also a key approach in the NRT project.