UoN-GCA Hold Strategic Dialogue to Scale up Kenya's Climate Adaptation Agenda

Rotterdam, Netherlands – The CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), Prof. Dr. Patrick Verkooijen, hosted a high level delegation from the University of Nairobi (UoN) led by Vice Chancellor Prof. Stephen Kiama and Council Chair Prof. Amukowa Anangwe. The official visit to GCA's floating office in Rotterdam marked a strategic dialogue on scaling up climate adaptation in Kenya, positioning it as a model for the entire continent.The visit is a follow-up to the COP28 Adaptation Finance Summit for Africa co-convened by H.E. William S. Ruto, President of Kenya and GCA Board Member, and Prof. Dr. Verkooijen.

In July 2022, GCA and the University of Nairobi signed a partnership agreement to join forces on scaling up adaptation for climate resilience in Kenya and across East Africa through the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP). During the visit, Prof. Dr. Verkooijen and the University of Nairobi’s leadership formulated a roadmap to build on the success of the partnership and further accelerate the implementation of adaptation solutions on the ground.

Prof. Dr. Patrick Verkooijen,  also Ban Ki-moon Chair of Climate Adaptation Governance at the University of Groningen and Distinguished Chair at the University of Nairobi Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies, said: “Our partnership with the University of Nairobi is vital for shaping the adaptation agenda across Africa. The program of expert knowledge we are developing together is supporting the Government of Kenya, multilateral and international organizations and the private sector, to generate the research, knowledge, solutions, and finance required to address the impacts of climate change in Kenya and across the entire continent.”

Prof. Amukowa Anangwe, Chair of the Council, University of Nairobi, said: “Climate change is an existential threat to businesses and communities across Africa. The continent has been losing 5 to 15 percent of its per capita GDP growth every year because of climate change. With this roadmap we are charting a future where climate adaptation can build a more resilient and prosperous future for Africa – it’s estimated that the climate adaptation market could be worth $2 trillion a year globally by 2026. By providing the right opportunities for our students, we can tap into their energy and ideas to create more employment and wealth across the continent.”

On his part, Prof. Stephen Kiama, Vice Chancellor, University of Nairobi, emphasized the pivotal role of young people, stating, “Young people hold the key to unlocking Africa’s economic potential. With the youngest population in the world – almost 60 percent are aged under 25 – Africa is well placed to grow. Our partnership with the Global Center on Adaptation gives our faculty and students the knowledge and skills they need in climate adaptation to make a positive impact through their work to safeguard the future of our continent.”

GCA and the University of Nairobi are collaborating on training one million young people from Kenya’s Green Army on adaptation and leadership. The training program is a flagship presidential initiative under the leadership of H.E. William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, and Hon. Ababu Namwamba, Cabinet Secretary of Youth Affairs, Sports, and the Creative Economy.

Based on GCA’s Toolkit for Youth on Adaptation and Leadership, the training will be delivered through ‘Youth Adaptation Academies’,  designed through a partnership between GCA, University of Nairobi, and Kenya’s Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts. The first two Youth Adaptation Academies are planned for May and October 2024 in Kenya. During the closing ceremony of the YouthConnekt Africa Summit in Nairobi, the Cabinet Secretary announced plans to expand the training program to a pan-African scale by extending invitations to Ministers of Youth from across the continent to replicate the program.

Under the leadership of the University of Nairobi, significant strides are being made in shaping Kenya's resilient future. A key milestone is the development of Kenya’s National Investment Roadmap for Resilient Infrastructure, anticipated to be launched in the second half of 2024 in partnership with the government of Kenya. This strategic roadmap aims to inform national-level investment plans by identifying areas with the highest climate change risks and prioritizing effective adaptation measures. Collaboration between GCA and the University of Nairobi extends to mainstreaming adaptation expertise into the infrastructure projects of international finance institutions, including the African Development Bank. With a focus on ensuring the climate resilience of current and upcoming infrastructure, the University actively supports the identification and cost-benefit appraisal of adaptation and resilience options for critical infrastructure assets in Kenya.

A pivotal element in the journey towards adaptation excellence is the 'Climate Adaptation Changemakers School.' Co-organized by GCA, the University of Nairobi, Université Chiekh Anta Diop de Dakar, and the University of Groningen, the upcoming Changemakers School in February 2024, hosted by the University of Nairobi, builds on the success of its predecessor in Groningen, the Netherlands, in October 2023. Following the impactful Regional Forum on the Future of Resilient Food Systems in Africa at the University of Nairobi in January 2023, a Capacity Building session on 'Advancing Climate Adaptation Agriculture' is slated for March 2024. This collaborative effort will be co-convened by GCA, the Department of Agriculture, the University of Nairobi, and the African Development Bank, furthering the collective commitment to advancing climate adaptation in the agricultural sector.

In a momentous development on December 19, 2023, Prof. Dr. Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of GCA, and the University of Nairobi delegation engaged in discussions with Prof. Dr. Jouke de Vries, President of the Board of the University of Groningen. As the host of GCA's Research for Impact Office, the University of Groningen plays a pivotal role. During this meeting, a new collaboration emerged, focusing on a double doctorate program on climate adaptation governance. Prof. Dr. Verkooijen, also serving as the Ban Ki-moon Chair of the University of Groningen’s Climate Adaptation Governance Programme, envisions this partnership as a significant step toward advancing research and expertise in climate adaptation governance. This collaborative effort underscores the commitment of these institutions to pioneering innovative solutions and forging new paths in climate adaptation on a global scale.