Kenya has moved to deepen strategic cooperation with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as the government steps up efforts to accelerate environmental restoration, strengthen climate resilience and improve the livelihoods of communities.
Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Dr Deborah Mlongo Barasa held a bilateral meeting with an IUCN delegation led by Dr Elinasi Monga, Regional Head of the Land Systems Programme for Eastern and Southern Africa and Kenya Country Representative, to explore areas of closer collaboration on the country’s environmental and climate priorities.
Dr Barasa expressed appreciation for IUCN’s continued technical support, saying stronger partnerships were critical to advancing Kenya’s conservation and climate agenda.
A major focus of the meeting was the government’s 15 Billion Tree Growing Programme, which the CS said was evolving from simply tracking the number of seedlings planted to measuring the real impact of restoration activities.
She said the programme should increasingly demonstrate improvements in landscapes, community livelihoods and environmental outcomes, requiring stronger monitoring, reporting and accountability mechanisms.
To improve transparency and prevent duplication among development partners, Dr Barasa called for a unified monitoring and evaluation framework and a single reporting system for restoration initiatives.
She further encouraged IUCN to register its restoration activities and contribute its data to the national Jaza Miti platform, which is being used to track tree-growing and restoration efforts across the country.
The meeting also identified mangrove conservation and restoration as a key area for expanded cooperation, with the Ministry seeking to scale up innovative approaches to environmental restoration.
Dr Barasa said Kenya was particularly interested in green technologies and innovations, including aerial seeding and advanced fencing, as part of efforts to accelerate restoration and protect degraded ecosystems.
The CS also underscored the importance of placing communities at the centre of environmental action, with particular emphasis on empowering youth and women to participate in conservation and climate initiatives.
She invited IUCN to support and participate in the upcoming Mazingira Day celebrations on October 10, further strengthening collaboration between the government and the conservation organisation.
In response, Dr Monga reaffirmed IUCN’s commitment to Kenya, saying the organisation’s long-term strategy in the country remains aligned with government priorities.
The bilateral meeting concluded with both sides agreeing to deepen their partnership and coordinate efforts aimed at positioning Kenya as a leading voice in global efforts to address desertification, climate change and biodiversity loss.
The partnership is expected to support Kenya’s push for a greener and more climate-resilient economy while ensuring that environmental restoration delivers tangible benefits to communities across the country.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
