Discover how communities are leading climate action

Climate change is taking a heavy toll on agro-pastoralist communities. Livelihoods are being disrupted, food security is threatened, and traditional farming methods struggle to keep pace with erratic weather patterns.

'Unlike the past, when rainfall was consistent, Nakuru County - and Kenya in general- now faces significant climate challenges, particularly increasingly unreliable rainfall, which makes it difficult to plan' - Ezekiel Kirui, a farmer in the CRAFT project, highlights the challenge.

Building resilience starts with those on the frontlines. Investing in local communities is key to creating a more equitable and sustainable future.

Our short documentary showcases how communities are leveraging the crucial role of climate finance to strengthen resilience and adaptation.

'Farmers are hungry for knowledge. The more we learn, the more we can grow,' adds Ezekiel.

'My journey started with challenges that I didn’t know I could overcome.’

Mercy Gatwiri is a young farmer from Laikipia County, Kenya. She is one of 169 Village-Based Advisors (VBAs) trained by SNV through the LISTEN project and the County Government of Laikipia. Now, she works with 126 farmers in her community, helping them access farm inputs and sharing knowledge about climate-resilient farming practices. She employs one staff member and over 10 seasonal workers.

'Adopting solar irrigation changed everything for me.’

‘I don’t know a lot about technology, and I wasn't sure how to go about it. But today, I use several simple technologies on my farm, making farming more productive and my life easier.’ Mercy shifted from rain-fed farming to a continuous production cycle by installing a solar-powered irrigation system. ‘Before, I had to wait for the rains, but they were often scarce and unreliable. This made things really difficult because no rain meant no farming - and no income to support me and my family. Now, I can plan my seasons and grow food throughout the year.’

'For me, it’s about resilience, not just survival.’

‘My farm is demand-driven, which keeps me focused on what farmers need,’ Mercy explains. In addition to producing crops, she offers services like yield guarantee insurance, post-harvest storage solutions, mechanisation, and financial linkages.

In Kajiado County, an Arid and Semi-Arid region (ASALs) in Kenya, the pressure of climate change is felt acutely as degraded pastures and diminishing resources make life harder for communities.

For Rev. Harun Suyianka, this challenge sparked a mission to bring about change - 'Farmers are not just looking to survive, they’re ready to thrive with the right tools and knowledge.'

Scaling up climate action in Kajiado

To address these challenges and support farmers to adapt, SNV and its partners are implementing the Integrated & Climate Smart Innovation for Agro-Pastoralist Economies and Landscapes (ICSIAPL) project, which focuses on improving the livelihoods of agro-pastoralist communities through enhanced forage production and livestock husbandry.

Within the project, Reverend Harun Suyianka emerged strongly as one of the farmers driving adaptation and a key figure in pushing for community change, mitigation and adaptation. Rev. Suyianka started working with the ICSIAPL project in 2021 through the Kajiado Hay Farmers’ Cooperative. Within his farm, he supported the establishment of a demonstration farm, a centre of learning by seeing and helping more than 150 local farmers embrace sustainable forage production practices.

Empowering farmers through Innovation Fund

In 2023, Rev. Suyianka applied for support through ICSIAPL’s Innovation Fund.

The Innovation Fund supports private sector investments that help increase the use of better forage seed varieties and sustainable farming practices for resilience. These investments not only contribute to economic sustainability but also address social and environmental challenges faced by agro-pastoralist communities in the ASALs.

With support from the Innovation Fund, Rev. Suyianka made key upgrades to boost his farm’s productivity.

'I’m excited to see how these investments will bring even more value to my family.'