Mitigating and Adapting to “Arid” Climate Extremes: Impacts of Locally Prioritized Ecosystem-Based Adaptations at the Water-Energy Nexus

Abstract

Major opportunities for climate change mitigation and adaptation exist in marginalized and drought-prone environments. However, the opportunity and public responsibility to critically analyze potential benefits and trade-offs at the water-energy nexus still tends to get overlooked in the rush to design and implement adaptation projects. This causes unnecessary expenditures, hinders climate change and drought mitigation, and reduces the scope for tracking progress toward the intended end of drought emergencies – including learning about what works and what doesn’t.

In this chapter, we explore processes, methods, and tools which may help countries and communities in the region to identify the benefits and trade-offs of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) at the water-energy nexus. We achieve a preliminary quantification of impacts on both water resource availability for vulnerable people in a drought-prone region and also present future emissions contributing to future climate change.

Next steps involving possible use of water and energy accounting through a cross-scale participatory approach are outlined. This should help to rethink poorly conceived strategies, better assess successful local community and ecosystem-based adaptation and mitigation, feed into planning for further such interventions, and increase value for money in responses to climate change and drought threats across the region.

Appendices

Annex 1 List of Prioritized Public Goods Investments

County	Ward	Project name
Wajir	Bananey	1. Rehabilitation of Buruka water pan
	Arbajahan	2. Rehabilitation Adan Awale water pan
	Laghboghol South	3. Rehabilitation Laghboghol water pan
	Eldas	4. Rehabilitation Dadhantalai water pan
	Gurar	5. Rehabilitation Bamba water pan
	Sarman	6. Rehabilitation Basanicha water pan
	Khorof Harar	7. Rehabilitation Wajir Bor water pan
	Wargadud	8. Rehabilitation Wargadud water pan
	Elben	9. Rehabilitation Elben water pan
	Lakoley	10. Rehabilitation Lakoley water pan
	Korondille	11. Installation of solar panels at Nyata borehole
	Ademasajida	12. Installation of solar panels at LMD borehole
Kitui	Kauwi	13. Mikuyuni Earth dam
	Kiomo/Kyethani	14. Iiani Kwa Ndungu – distribution of borehole water
	Voo/Kyamatu	15. Kaumbu/Mwinga
	Voo/Kyamatu	16. Kyandeve Earth dam
	Ngomeni	17. Makithuri Earth dam
	Ngomeni	18. Mutethya Nzaini Earth dam
	Migwani	19. Kamuyuni Rock catchment
	Kwa Vonza/Yatta	20. Kwa Mboo Earth dam
	Ikutha	21. Itukisya Earth dam
	Ikutha	22. Ngomano sand dam
	Mutha	23. Kalikuvu Earth dam
	Mutito/Kaliku	24. Kaayo Earth dam
Makueni	Kiima Kiu-Kalanzoni	25. Kaseve borehole distribution
	Kiima Kiu-Kalanzoni	26. Kwa Atumia Earth dam
	Mbitini	27. Masue Rock catchment
	Nguu-Masumba	28. Kwa Mutuku Earth dam
	Kilungu	29. Kwa Lai sand dam
	Nguu-Masumba	30. Kwa Kilii sand dam
	Kithungo-Kitundu	31. Ngutioni sand dam
	Kithungo-Kitundu	32. Kya Aka sand dam
	Mtito Andei	33. Ngai Ndethya mega sand dam
Garissa	Nanighi	34. Rehabilitation of Abaqdera borehole
	Nanighi	35. Construction of water piping system in Nanighi
	Goreale	36. Rehabilitation of Goreale borehole
	Sankuri	37. Rehabilitation of Shimbirey borehole
	Sankuri	38. Rehabilitation of Nunow borehole
Isiolo	tbc	39.
		40.
		41.
		42.
		43.

Isiolo	Chari	Kobe borehole
	Cherab	Blocking of Yamicha water pan
		Blocking of Urura water pan
		Yamicha borehole
		Duma borehole
		Urura borehole
		Halango borehole
		Bambot borehole
	Garbatulla	Kurofta Mola shallow well
		Blocking of Dambala Dedha water pan
		Boji livestock facility
		Garbatulla livestock facility
		Garb Qalla shallow well
		Garbatulla community radio
		Her Buyo water pan
		Belgesh 1 water pan
		Belgesh 2 water pan
	Kinna	Barambate livestock facility
		Yagabarsathi livestock facility
		Kula Mawe livestock facility
		Bibi water pan
		Kinna vet lab
	Oldonyiro	Nantudu water pan
		Raap sand dam
		Ntumodet sand dam
		Losseketef sand dam
		Rumate sand dam
		Siangawn rock catchment
		Mokori rock catchment
		Lagaaman sand dam
		Legiteng sand dam
		Mlima-Chui sand dam
		Noontomia sand dam
		Lemeshemi sand dam
		Elbaa-orok sand dam
		Nooloroi sand dam
		Nempejeto rock catchment
		Nooloroi new sand dam
		Lbaaibor sand dam
	Sericho	Fororsa water pan
		Qote Kora water pan
		Hawaye 2 shallow well
		Komor Bula water pan
		Manyangab water pan

Annex 2 National and County Frameworks for Adaptation to Changing Climate

Document	Relevance to climate risk management
National Drought Management Authority Act, 2016	The NDMA is a statutory body established under the NDMA Act, 2016. The Act gives the NDMA the mandate to coordinate all matters relating to drought management, including the implementation of policies and programs and drought response initiatives undertaken by other actors. The NDMA is also tasked with promoting the integration of drought management in development policies, plans, and programs (GoK 2016b)
Draft National Policy for Disaster Risk Management, 2013	The vision of the draft policy is a safe and disaster-resilient nation. It aims to reduce disaster risk and loss through an integrated multi-hazard approach that contributes to and protects the achievements of Kenya Vision 2030. The policy embraces the paradigm shift from managing response to managing risk and aims to integrate DRM in planning and budgeting. A number of institutions related to the policy are already in place, including the NDOC, the National DRR Platform, and the National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU). Some line ministries also have units that address disaster and climate risk management (GOK 2013b)
National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS), 2010	The strategy represents the government’s formal recognition of the climate change challenge. Its primary focus is to ensure that adaption and mitigation measures are integrated in all government planning, budgeting, and development objectives. It advocates collaboration and joint action in tackling the impacts of climate change, as well as stronger planning and institutional capacity development, including at community level (GoK 2010)
National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP), 2013–2017	This operationalizes the NCCRS and provides guidelines for mainstreaming climate change across all sectors of the Medium Term Plan (MTP). It has nine sub-components which are now being implemented (GoK 2013a)
Climate Change Act, 2016	The purpose of the Act is to develop, manage, implement, and regulate mechanisms that enhance climate change resilience and low-carbon development. It will anchor all actions relating to climate change across all sectors. It also creates a climate change governance structure at national and county level. Some institutions are already in place, such as the Climate Change Directorate (GoK 2016c)
National Adaptation Plan, 2016	This guides the implementation of priority adaptation issues at national and local levels. It advocates for mainstreaming climate change adaptation in planning and budgeting
Common Programme Framework (CPF) for Ending Drought Emergencies (EDE), 2015	The Common Programme Framework was launched in November 2015 and provides a framework for collaborative action to reduce drought risks, strengthen drought resilience, and end drought emergencies. The NDMA is the focal point for EDE and tasked with overseeing implementation of the framework (GoK 2015c)
National Policy for the Sustainable Development of Northern Kenya and Other Arid Lands, 2012	This was the foundation for both the creation of the NDMA and the Ending Drought Emergencies framework. It also calls for the mainstreaming of climate adaptation into planning and the strengthening of strategies used by communities to manage risk and adapt to climate variability and change (GoK 2012)
Integrated Climate Risk Management Framework for Kenya (2016)	Aims at bringing together disaster risk management, climate change, and sustainable development response/activities to improve quality of actions and building a climate-resilient economy

1. Source: Adapted from NDMA (2016a). Integrated Climate Risk Management Framework

County-level legislation and action plans

Document	Relevance to climate risk management
County Drought Contingency Plan	Drought contingency plans have been developed in 23 ASAL counties to address drought-related challenges across various sectors. The plans encompass a variety of interventions based on different drought scenarios and are intended to facilitate timely and coordinated response. For a sample of County Drought Contingency Plan, see https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/system/files/documents/files/GARISSA%20CP%20FINAL.pdf
County Climate Change Fund (CCCF) legislation	CCCF legislation aims to help counties mobilize finance from a variety of sources (public and private, local and international) in order to implement priority climate change interventions (ADA Consortium 2014a, b). For an account of the legislation in Makueni, see http://www.nation.co.ke/counties/Makueni-climate-change-law/-/1107872/3223706/-/lyrfj9/-/index.html
Natural resource/rangeland management bills (Isiolo and Wajir)	The legislation aims to achieve sustainable natural resource management that draws from both conventional and customary practices. It is designed to ensure that natural resources are adequately conserved, protected, and sustainably used
County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP)	CIDPs are 5-year development blueprints that aim to improve livelihoods through citizen engagement and the creation of an enabling environment for mobilizing and sustainably using resources in the counties
County Environment Action Plans	These plans address environmental issues across various sectors in an integrated manner and discuss their significance in development planning. They propose a strategy for achieving sustainable development in line with the SDGs and the Kenya Vision 2030 Medium Term Plan