Region: East Africa
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After the program ends: impact from VCA in Kyandulu
A criticism often directed at development programs is that once funding ends, the impact disappears with it. Especially projects set up and led by organizations without significant local involvement leave communities struggling to run them after donors move on. But not always. Our Voices for Climate Justice (VCA) program officially came to an end in…
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Kenya’s circular economy gets boost from community-driven solutions and the EU
Kenya continues to grapple with a growing waste management challenge. The country generates some 8 million tons of waste annually, much of which is poorly managed, adding to existing pollution and CO₂ emissions. At the same time, local communities, entrepreneurs, waste pickers, innovators, and grassroots organizations are coming up with creative solutions that turn waste…
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Looking back at the Voices for Just Climate Action program in Kenya
Now that the Voices for Just Climate Action program in Kenya has come to an end, we asked Program Manager Ndinda Maithya to share its achievements and her insights with us. What inspired you to join Hivos’ Voices for Just Climate Action program? “I knew we had to shift the conversation from climate change to…
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Combining tree planting and sports to deal with climate change in Kenya
In Kalembwani, Makueni county, Kenya, every tree lost worsens the effects of climate change. People cut down trees to make charcoal for cooking, not realizing they are damaging the environment. We visited a community-based organization called KBEES that is working hard to solve the problem through tree planting, education, and sports. Since 2019, the organization…
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Climate action at the household level in Kenya
In the village of Kathonzweni in southern Kenya, twenty people have formed a group to tackle the challenges of the changing climate. Known as the Kiuawani Wisdom Community, they pool resources through savings and small loans, supporting one another during social events and emergencies, while generating income and fostering self-reliance. Their focus? Dealing with climate…
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Greening the gullies: Makueni women unite for climate resilience
At the foot of a hill in Makueni county, Kenya – where seasonal rivers swell during the rainy season, cutting off homesteads from the rest of society – a group of resilient women gathers, finding strength in unity. The Joyful Women’s group rehabilitates deep gullies that threaten the environment and their livelihoods. But their efforts…
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Safety as a foundation for advocacy
Safety and security of human rights activists and people who work in civil society organizations has always been a key consideration in programming. Yet, it is one of the most misunderstood and neglected when it comes to budgeting and availing resources for activists to support themselves. Having worked with activists and frontrunners of social change…
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Kimani’s secret pact with his gay brother
“At home, we call our father the Taliban of the family,” says Kimani from Kenya. “Everyone was afraid of him. My brother and I would hide when he came home. We were afraid of his anger and harsh punishments.” Being the older one, Kimani felt the pressure of responsibility for himself and his younger brother.…
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The road to acceptance
She visited a witch doctor, sought advice from religious leaders, prayed for months, and fasted. Wamuyu, a mother of three from Kenya, did everything she could to change her daughter’s sexuality. Despite her painful attempts, mother and daughter were able to save their relationship. Wamuyu even became an example to other parents who couldn’t accept…
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Safisha Rada: a national movement led by men, for men
In Kenya, femicide has reached epidemic proportions: in 2024, a woman was killed every two days. But this only accounts for documented cases; the real numbers are likely far higher. Most of the women were killed by men they knew. In January of the same year, women took to the streets and social media in…
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Africa Climate Summit: moving from victimhood to climate justice
The 2025 Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa focused on accelerating global climate solutions. Since the first edition in Nairobi in 2023, the narrative has shifted. The story of the continent is no longer one of victimhood. This year Africa showed it can be an active player, investor, contributor and leader in innovation towards global…
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Kenya’s new climate pledge is bold, but is it fair?
With its latest Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 3.0, Kenya has positioned itself as a climate leader, setting ambitious goals to slash emissions by 35% and build a resilient, green economy by 2035. At first glance, it is inspiring, especially from a country responsible for just 0.16% of global greenhouse gas emissions. But ambition and action, while necessary, are…