In response to the escalating impacts of climate change, the Danish government has awarded a KSh 907.9 million grant to support communities in Northern Kenya and the coastal region. The funds, provided through the Danish Development Agency (DANIDA), will bolster a four-year initiative led by the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), focusing on nature-based solutions.
The project aims to restore degraded ecosystems through activities such as forest rehabilitation and mangrove conservation, while also promoting renewable energy use among local communities.
This latest grant brings the total Danish contribution to climate resilience initiatives in Kenya to KSh 4 billion over the past 13 years.
Among the flagship efforts is the restoration of 22 hectares of Ngare Ndare Forest in Meru County. The initiative involves planting indigenous trees and enhancing water catchment areas to improve ecological stability.
“We grow both exotic and indigenous seedlings, the latter is for planting in the forest since our forest is a natural forest, while exotic ones are for planting in farms neighbouring the forest. We encourage the villages surrounding the forest to own tree planting farms to reduce pressure on the forest for firewood needs,” said David Kinyua, chairman of the Ngare Ndare Forest Trust.
Kinyua added that the trust has introduced a “one-for-one” initiative, where residents receive an extra tree seedling for every one they purchase. The tree nursery in Ngare Ndare produces more than 100,000 seedlings each season. Since 2010, the trust has distributed over 10 million seedlings.
NRT’s Nature-Based Project Director, Dida Fayo, emphasized the urgency of climate action in the region. He noted that worsening climate conditions have driven the need for sustainable livelihoods and environmental restoration in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), which are disproportionately affected by climate change.
Laikipia County Commissioner Onesmus Kyatha highlighted the link between climate challenges and local conflict, saying the semi-arid conditions often result in competition over resources. He welcomed the grant as a vital tool to help reduce tensions and support peacebuilding.#
Tom Lalampaa, NRT’s Chief Partnership and Growth Officer, stressed the wide-ranging benefits of the grant. “The grant will boost access to water, green energy, agroforestry, sustainable agriculture, mangrove restoration and rangeland management,” he said.
Nancy Njenga, Head of Climate Resilience at the Royal Danish Embassy, underlined Denmark’s commitment to supporting vulnerable communities in Northern and Coastal Kenya.
“Their commitment is seeing communities in both Northern and Coastal Kenya benefitting from improved livelihood through conservation,” she said.
Njenga also noted that past Danish support through NRT has enhanced access to water, healthcare, and education across local communities.
