Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno officially launched a new phase of the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Program (GEF SGP) during a ceremony held at the Kapicha Eco-Tourism and Conservation Center in Baringo County.
The initiative, implemented through a partnership between the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Forestry and United Nations Development Programme – UNDP seeks to scale up community-led conservation and climate resilience projects across Kenya’s key ecological landscapes.
In his remarks, PS Ng’eno highlighted the ecological and economic importance of the Lake Bogoria landscape, describing it as a symbol of the deep interconnection between people and nature.
“Kenya’s prosperity is rooted in its natural capital, which supports the agriculture, tourism, energy, and water sectors,” he noted. “These resources face increasing threats from climate change, environmental degradation, and unsustainable practices—challenges that disproportionately affect local communities.”
The PS emphasized that the GEF Small Grants Programme reflects the government’s commitment to grassroots solutions for environmental restoration and social resilience. This phase of the programme targets three priority landscapes: the Lake Bogoria and Lake Baringo National Reserves, the Samburu-Isiolo Conservation Area, and the Shimoni-Vanga seascape in southern Kwale County.
In the Lake Bogoria and Lake Baringo region, 16 civil society organizations have been awarded grants totaling Ksh 60 million to implement projects focused on eco-enterprise development, agroecological farming, sustainable land management, and wildlife conservation.
Dr. Ng’eno also commissioned the Multi-Stakeholder Platform—an inclusive coordination mechanism designed to enhance collaboration among stakeholders, embed sustainability into all interventions, and promote shared accountability. He commended the role of the Baringo County Government, the National Steering Committee, and partners such as Farming Systems Kenya for their support in successfully rolling out these initiatives, which align with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and international environmental commitments.
UNDP Resident Representative, Madelena Monoja, urged grantees to implement their projects with purpose and integrity, ensuring full community involvement throughout the project cycle. She expressed confidence that the success stories emerging from this programme would serve as models for replication and future grant funding across the country.
Baringo Govern Benjamin Cheboi, expressed optimism about building a self-reliant and resilient community that depends on—and protects—the natural resources provided by nature. He thanked all partners and stakeholders for their commitment and reaffirmed the County Government’s unwavering support for community-driven environmental action.
The launch event was also attended by Hon. Gideon Kiborek (MP, Mogotio), Environment Secretary Dr. Selly Kimosop, Head of Projects and Programmes Ms. Vicky Bett, along with senior officials from both the national and county governments.
