The County Climate Change Funds in Kenya

A growing number of countries and municipalities want to enhance multi-level climate governance. Real-life examples and experiences can help them learn from pioneers in this area. The V-LED Real Practice series responds to the growing demand for this practical knowledge. The series answers the question: How have local and national governments addressed challenges in their collaborative climate actions? By delving into the details of practical initiatives, examining the challenges they face and highlighting key lessons for replication, the series extends knowledge to policy makers and implementers in order to improve collaborative action between local, national and global actors. 

Kenya has pioneered a climate change governance mechanism to increase finance for local climate action. The County Climate Change Fund (CCCF) consists of climate legislation enacted by county governments and a county-controlled fund that finances climate projects identified and prioritised by local communities. Originally designed by a multi-stakeholder coalition with the aim to increase capacity for local development planning and climate change adaptation in some of Kenya’s most vulnerable regions, the CCCF evolved to encompass mitigation measures and effectively influenced national climate policy. The CCCF is a key component in a comprehensive national planning and financing framework that strengthens capacity and channels money from international and national sources to community-driven climate action priorities. Successful and sustainable CCCFs ensure local ownership and guarantee an annual budget drawn from counties' own funds.

Listen to Victor Orindi, Researcher with the Adaptation (ADA) Consortium and Lead Author of the Real Practice Study on the Kenyan County Climate Change Funds (CCCFs), which explains how they function and highlighting lessons for other countries.

Background of the County Climate Change Funds

Lessons and Recommendations

The Fund Components

The Challenges