Context
Kenya has been facing climate change induced emergencies for decades. The Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), which cover about 85% of Kenya, are particularly vulnerable. Fortunately, the depth of the subsequent humanitarian crises has reduced over recent years and the devolution process has contributed to new opportunities. Given its human and natural resources, such as livestock and wildlife, ASALs make an important contribution to the Kenyan economy. Development partners have also been investing heavily in ASALs and related National institutions. Despite all this, it cannot be denied that climate change adaptation in ASALs for resilience has been slow and reoccurring droughts, keep resulting in national emergencies, acute food insecurity and increased conflict over natural resources. In addition the role of the private sector is limited. This adds to the already marginalised position of communities particularly in the Arid Lands in Kenya.
Background of the Programme
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kenya is commissioning a trusted intermediary party to manage a ‘Think-and-Do-Tank’ and act as a facilitator to harness opportunities for private sector in water, food security and energy sectors to contribute to resilience building and economic development in selected ASALs. Its purpose is to make smart use of (mostly) existing data, analyse this and translate it into actionable information. This information needs to be effectively disseminated for application. It is also important to bring together more effectively government, private sector, development partners, research institutions and civil society. It is also envisioned to form the ‘glue’ between several Dutch funded programmes with strong climate resilience and private sector angle, i.e. LISTEN, DESIRA, FLOCCA, and CRAFT. They are to engage with the Think and Do Thank to strengthen and create complementarity between these programmes.
The intervention is aiming to adhere to the following principles:
- Kenya owned and demand driven.
- Building on past and present efforts
- Action and implementation oriented, while contributing to policy improvement where needed.
- Promoting evidence based decision making
- Utilising and strengthening relevant existing fora and platforms.
- Contributing to improved sector coordination.
- Alignment to national and international calendars (e.g. budget cycle, COP)
- Selected ASALs as main geographic focus
- Strong focus on economic potential of ASALs, role of private sector and economic development.
- Strong focus on sustainability of the project
- Contributing to strengthening ASAL and Drought related Government Institutions both at National and County level.
- Contributing to strengthening Kenyan research, analysis and adaptation capacity.
- Contributing to strengthening an integrated water, food security and energy approach for climate resilience.
Role Requirements:
- Experience in analysis in supply and demand, identifying gaps and opportunities.
- Experience with organising and hosting networking events.
- Proven experience in matchmaking between private sector partners, financiers and government partners.
- Good knowledge of the Kenyan private sector and GoK in the agriculture, water and renewable energy domain.
- Good understanding and experience in working with partners in Arid and Semi Arid Lands (ASALs) of Kenya
- Good understanding of socio-cultural context and conflict dynamics in the ASALs of Kenya
- Experience in working with GoK both at national and at county level.
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