By Albert Mwangeka
Taita Taveta, Kenya: During a recent forum in Voi, organized collaboratively with Haki Africa, Taita Taveta County’s Deputy Governor, H.E Christine Kilalo, emphasized the pressing need for climate action projects. These projects, funded through the County Climate Resilience Investment (CCRI) Grants, should prioritize regions most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
“There is a need for climate action initiatives to be executed in areas that have been most hit or are more vulnerable to the devastating climate change effects. Areas where donor funding has not reached should also be added to this list,” Kilalo stated.
The forum gathered Chairs from the Ward Climate Change Planning Committee (WCCPC) representing the entire county. Kilalo emphasized that proposals should focus on revitalizing water catchment areas to augment water supply, which would stimulate agriculture and bolster food security.
Grantone Mwandawiro, the County Executive Committee Member for Water, Sanitation, Environment, Climate Change, and Natural Resources, remarked on the importance of WCCPCs consulting with County staff during the drafting of grant proposals.
“CCRI funds, managed under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA), are intended to help Counties develop and implement tailored climate resilience strategies. These strategies are designed in response to community-identified risks in sectors like agriculture, water, and natural resource management” noted Mwandawiro.