In the Cherangany Forest Ecosystem, one of Kenya’s five critical water towers valued at an estimated KES 47 billion annually in ecosystem services, climate action is being implemented through local skills development and community engagement.
Through NETFUND-supported programmes, local conservation groups are acquiring practical knowledge in sustainable forestry, climate-smart land use, and community mobilization. In Chebara, for example, members of local conservation groups have planted millions of trees, monitored forests, and promoted sustainable practices, contributing to the restoration of degraded areas.
“Investing in people is at the heart of every lasting environmental solution,” said Mr. Samson Toniok, CEO of NETFUND. “Our goal is to empower communities to be custodians of their own future.”
Capacity building initiatives under NETFUND are part of a broader strategy to strengthen local participation in climate action. These programmes provide training in climate-smart agriculture, renewable technologies, and environmental monitoring, ensuring that women, youth, and local institutions can lead conservation efforts within their communities.
In Cherangany, NETFUND is implementing a €4 million restoration and sustainable management project, targeting the planting of 18 million trees over three years. The project also promotes sustainable land use and forest governance in collaboration with county governments and community organizations.
Meanwhile, in the Lake Naivasha Basin, a Global Environment Facility-supported programme is restoring catchments, reducing land degradation, and strengthening local water user associations and conservation groups. Across both landscapes, more than 1,850,000 tree seedlings have been planted, and nearly 120 community-based conservation groups have been empowered to establish green enterprises that reduce pressure on natural resources while supporting local livelihoods.
Experts say capacity building is essential to long-term conservation impact. By equipping communities with technical knowledge and leadership skills, these programmes foster local ownership of environmental solutions, improve climate resilience, and support the development of sustainable livelihoods.
Challenges remain. Short project cycles, limited funding for leadership and institutional capacity development, and staff turnover can undermine long-term outcomes. NETFUND and its partners continue to address these challenges by incorporating mentorship, ongoing support, and institutional learning into programme design.
Looking ahead, scaling capacity building will involve extended engagement, alignment of climate finance with local knowledge systems, and embedding mentorship structures that sustain learning beyond individual projects. Governments, financiers, NGOs, and communities are being encouraged to view training and empowerment as central to climate resilience rather than optional additions.
The ongoing programmes in Cherangany and the Lake Naivasha Basin demonstrate that investing in people is integral to environmental restoration, ensuring communities are equipped with the knowledge and skills to protect forests, watersheds, and biodiversity.
https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2026-02-27-tree-by-tree-climate-action-takes-root-in-cherangany
Post Views: 55
Capacity Building is Climate Action: Investing in People for Environmental Impact
In the Cherangany Forest Ecosystem, one of Kenya’s five critical water towers valued at an estimated KES 47 billion annually in ecosystem services, climate action is being implemented through local skills development and community engagement.
Through NETFUND-supported programmes, local conservation groups are acquiring practical knowledge in sustainable forestry, climate-smart land use, and community mobilization. In Chebara, for example, members of local conservation groups have planted millions of trees, monitored forests, and promoted sustainable practices, contributing to the restoration of degraded areas.
“Investing in people is at the heart of every lasting environmental solution,” said Mr. Samson Toniok, CEO of NETFUND. “Our goal is to empower communities to be custodians of their own future.”
Capacity building initiatives under NETFUND are part of a broader strategy to strengthen local participation in climate action. These programmes provide training in climate-smart agriculture, renewable technologies, and environmental monitoring, ensuring that women, youth, and local institutions can lead conservation efforts within their communities.
In Cherangany, NETFUND is implementing a €4 million restoration and sustainable management project, targeting the planting of 18 million trees over three years. The project also promotes sustainable land use and forest governance in collaboration with county governments and community organizations.
Meanwhile, in the Lake Naivasha Basin, a Global Environment Facility-supported programme is restoring catchments, reducing land degradation, and strengthening local water user associations and conservation groups. Across both landscapes, more than 1,850,000 tree seedlings have been planted, and nearly 120 community-based conservation groups have been empowered to establish green enterprises that reduce pressure on natural resources while supporting local livelihoods.
Experts say capacity building is essential to long-term conservation impact. By equipping communities with technical knowledge and leadership skills, these programmes foster local ownership of environmental solutions, improve climate resilience, and support the development of sustainable livelihoods.
Challenges remain. Short project cycles, limited funding for leadership and institutional capacity development, and staff turnover can undermine long-term outcomes. NETFUND and its partners continue to address these challenges by incorporating mentorship, ongoing support, and institutional learning into programme design.
Looking ahead, scaling capacity building will involve extended engagement, alignment of climate finance with local knowledge systems, and embedding mentorship structures that sustain learning beyond individual projects. Governments, financiers, NGOs, and communities are being encouraged to view training and empowerment as central to climate resilience rather than optional additions.
The ongoing programmes in Cherangany and the Lake Naivasha Basin demonstrate that investing in people is integral to environmental restoration, ensuring communities are equipped with the knowledge and skills to protect forests, watersheds, and biodiversity.
https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2026-02-27-tree-by-tree-climate-action-takes-root-in-cherangany
NETFUND ADMIN