Faced with increasingly severe climate change impacts, an Australian-Kenyan initiative has been launched to promote landscape regreening in Kenya under the theme “Regreening for the Future.” The project, funded by the Australian government with an investment of AUD 3.5 million (KSH 287 million), aims to restore degraded land and enhance climate resilience through community-led efforts.
Supported by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the initiative brings together key partners, including World Vision Australia, World Vision Kenya, the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR-ICRAF), the University of Nairobi, and the United Nations University. The project complements Kenya’s ambition to plant 15 billion trees and significantly boost national regreening efforts.
According to Dr. Jane Njuguna, Director of KEFRI, “Climate change is having a global impact, and Kenya is no exception. Its effects are being felt across all sectors of social and economic development. The ‘Regreening for the Future’ initiative builds on long-standing partnerships between institutions and researchers in Australia and Eastern Africa.”
The project prioritizes community-led regreening, empowering farmers and local communities with the knowledge and tools needed for sustainable land management. By fostering collaboration among organizations such as KEFRI, World Vision Australia and Kenya, and CIFOR-ICRAF, the initiative ensures a unified approach to restoring Kenya’s landscapes.
Professor Wendy Umberger, Chief Executive of ACIAR, emphasized the project’s broader significance: “The ‘Regreening for the Future’ project is a direct investment in people; farmers, scientists, and policymakers who are essential to driving these changes. This initiative is part of the Australian Government’s commitment to supporting agricultural research and capacity-building in Africa.”
She also highlighted the similarities in agricultural challenges between Africa and Australia, stating that Australia’s agricultural innovation system holds valuable insights that can benefit Kenya’s efforts.
As Dr. Njuguna further explained, the project will equip farmers and researchers with the knowledge needed to develop sustainable regreening strategies adaptable to climate variations. It will also explore policies and support structures that enable communities to restore degraded landscapes, improve food security, and build resilience against climate change.
A key aspect of the initiative is its alignment with the Kenyan government’s environmental goals supporting efforts to restore 10.6 million hectares of degraded land and increase tree cover to 32% by 2032. The project also aims to develop effective adaptation strategies that accelerate community-driven regreening and strengthen local climate resilience.
Gilbert Kamanga, National Director of World Vision Kenya, underscored the transformative impact of the initiative: “‘Regreening for the Future’ is a timely and vital project that will empower farmers and communities with the knowledge, tools, and policy support needed to restore degraded ecosystems and enhance food security.”
Expressing gratitude for the collaboration, he added: “We are grateful for the partnership with the Australian Government, World Vision Australia, CIFOR-ICRAF, and KEFRI as we work together to build a greener, more resilient future.”
