The Ol Kalou experience underscores a powerful lesson: effective land governance is not only about administration. It is a driver of economic efficiency, social equity, and sustainable development. By combining geospatial technology with community knowledge, and by fostering strong institutional collaboration, the initiative has transformed public land into a visible, verifiable, and strategically managed asset

The official handover ceremony took place at the Lamu Maritime and Innovation Centre, bringing together national and county government leaders, development partners, and representatives of Beach Management Units (BMUs). Beneficiary BMUs from Amu, Mokowe, Matondoni and Faza received equipment aimed at strengthening efficiency, enhancing safety at sea, and reducing post-harvest losses.

“Knowledge management is a key approach for the FARM project. Through this, we shall generate information that will be disseminated locally and globally. Kenya has a wealth of knowledge relevant to this project that needs to be collated, analyzed, stored, and shared,” Oxana said.

The contracts were issued under the GEF‑7 project “Integrated Landscape Management for Conservation and Restoration of the Mount Elgon Ecosystem in Western Kenya”, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as part of the World Bank‑led Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) Impact Program. The project is executed by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO).

The GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) is a flagship initiative of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) which provides community-based grants to deliver global environmental benefits and socio-economic co-benefits. The interconnected planetary crises of biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution are threatening the fragile socio-ecological equilibriums underpinning ecosystems’ functionality and livelihoods, thus disproportionately affecting vulnerable social groups including indigenous people and local communities, women, youth and people with disabilities.

The support will strengthen value chains in coffee, avocado, poultry, aquaculture, apiculture, tree nurseries, and animal feeds, while enhancing climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods. With the grants, farmer organizations will be able to purchase equipment, install machines, and construct facilities that expand their productivity and market reach. The grants prioritize women, youth and people living with disabilities in line with FFF program.

Farmer Field Schools is a key methodology used to impart knowledge to the farmer groups that the ‘Transforming Livelihoods through Climate Resilient, Low Carbon, Sustainable Agricultural Value Chains in the Lake Region Economic Block’ (TUNZA) project is using to train on six value chains. That is: African Leafy Vegetables, Fruit Trees, Dairy, Poultry, Coffee and Tea. TUNZA is also Swahili to mean ‘to care', which captures the spirit of the project, which cares about the farmer and the environment.

The initiative combines mentorship, technical training, and practical experience, including the use of advanced technologies such as remote sensing and digital monitoring tools. Through these components, participants develop competencies in forest restoration, ecosystem assessment, climate adaptation strategies, and community engagement.

With pastures dwindling due to the drought conditions and livestock at risk, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through funding from the Belgium Government under the Special Fund for Emergency and Resilience Activities (SFERA), is stepping in with anticipatory action to protect livelihoods before the crisis deepens. 

Through the schools, farmers are leading field trials and learning integrated pest management techniques. They experiment with fly attractants, parasitoids, and minimal chemical use—methods that protect crops while safeguarding the environment.

Through the Pastoralism and Livestock Adaptation to Climate Change in Eastern Africa (PLACE) programme—funded by the European Union to the tune of 47 million Euros—FAO has procured 8,064 bags of highly nutritious range cubes worth USD 244,600. These supplemental feeds will support more than 10,000 people by sustaining livestock, ensuring the survival of animals, and maintaining milk and meat supply through the current drought period. 

The Tushauriane project was designed as a learning-oriented pilot. Its value lies in demonstrating how agribusiness training, social norm change, and digital tools can work together to address complex gender-related and productivity challenges.

 

Through a blend of two approaches, the Women’s Empowerment – Farmer Business School (WE-FBS) and Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC), men and women like Katana and Kalama meet weekly to discuss farming, marketing, and household relations. In these sessions, learning goes beyond production, it becomes a dialogue about equality.

From a patch of sunbaked land in Magarini, Loice Kaingu has cultivated more than food, she’s grown confidence, income and a sense of purpose.

Each morning in Mjanaheri village, the mother of three sorts through her buckets of ripe tomatoes an...

The farmers meet as informal learning groups eager to continue with the farming they practiced in their respective countries of origin before forced displacement. These learning meetings assist in the integration of the refugees within themselves and host communities. 

The project is leveraging on innovation and technology to increase resilience of the livelihoods of the coastal communities.  Anchored Fish Aggregation devices (aFADs) were identified as a cost cutting option for the tuna and tuna-like fishery. The introduction of aFADs in small scale fisheries is intended to encourage fishers to move from nearshore fisheries and reduce destruction of coral reefs and critical habitats, while increasing productivity.

“It is my joy to see them come here every day; they come with raw materials but leave with finished products to go and sell. They get more money through utilization of the hub, and this makes me happy,” Felister says as she escorts a lady carrying a basketful of cookies from the hub.

Representing FAO, Ms. Laura Guarnieri, reaffirmed the Organization’s commitment to strengthening national capacities in integrated landscape management. “FAO is committed to supporting Kenya in this journey. Through PILA, we aim to strengthen capacities, promote integrated landscape management, and advance more agroecological and resilient food systems by directly involving the stakeholders. This workshop provides a crucial platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collective action,” she noted. 

A tour of the exhibition tents and engagement with exhibitors gave participants a glimpse into limitless opportunities for food production in Dadaab. Participants got opportunities to taste variety of cuisines from South Sudan, Somalia, Uganda, and Kenya, a reminder that households can – with just a little support contribute to own dietary diversity using available resources.

The two-day event was officially opened by the Governor of Homa Bay County, H.E Gladys Wanga and was attended by the FAO Representative in Kenya Ad Interim, Tipo Nyabenyi, the International Fund for Agricultural Development Country Director, Mariatu Kamara and the Deputy County Director, Sune Kent who represented the World Food Programme. Senior Homa Bay County offices also participated.