CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY, PLANNING AND BUDGETING AT NATIONAL AND COUNTY LEVEL – INAUGURAL TRAINING PROGRAM
The launch of the Inaugural Training Program on Climate Change Policy, Planning and Budgeting at National and County levels at the World Environment Day (5th June) at Egerton University. With C.S. MENR Prof. Wakhungu, P.S. MENR Mr Charles Sunkuli, Director KSG Mr. Nura Mohammed, COG Anne Tek and Nakuru CEC Environment Richard Rop.
The LECRD project in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Kenya School of Government (KSG) and the Council of Governors (COG) held the inaugural 10 day training program on Climate Change Policy, Planning and Budgeting at National and County level in Nakuru from 29th May to 9th June 2017. The training targeted middle level managers and technical cadres involved in policy formulation, planning, budgeting and implementation of programs in sectors that are vulnerable to the effects of climate change. There were 27 Senior Government Officers; 10 (ten) representing Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and 17 from selected counties. The representatives from the MDAs were; Ministries of Devolution and Planning, Environment and Natural Resources, Energy, Transport, and Agriculture, The National Treasury, The National Environment Complaints Committee, National Environment Trust Fund and National Environment Management Authority. The counties were selected in consultation with the COG to get an equitable representation of the counties and were; Bungoma, Kakamega, Nandi, Kitui, Garissa, Migori, Bomet, Kilifi, Transnzoia, Baringo, Vihiga, Narok, Nyeri, Siaya, Wajir, Uasin Gishu and COG Secretariat.
The program was facilitated by 13 (thirteen) climate change, policy, finance and knowledge management experts who had successfully undergone a Training of Facilitators course by Kenya School of Government. The training program was learner centered with emphasis on case studies, sharing of experiences, field excursions, as well as other practical learning approaches including role play and simulation. The participants were taken through four modules namely; Introduction to Climate Change, Mainstreaming Climate Change into National and County Planning Processes, Climate Change Financing and Budgeting and Climate Measurement, Reporting and Verification. The participants had a half day trip to the Nakuru County Metrological Department where they had an opportunity to see manual and digital weather instruments, interact with meteorologists and understand weather and climate monitoring. In addition the participants participated in the World Environment Day activities at the Egerton University, Njoro.
One of the major highlights of the World Environment Day celebrations was the launch of the Inaugural Training Program on Climate Change Policy, Planning and Budgeting at National and County levels by the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Prof. Judi Wakhungu. She noted that, the program, the first of its kind will form a significant contribution towards the implementation of the Climate Change Act 2016, as well as the Kenya’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
The launch was also attended by the Principal Secretary, State Department of Environment, Mr. Charles Sunkuli among other top government officials. All participants successfully completed the training program and were awarded certificates in a closing ceremony attended by Mr. Enock Kanyanya of USAID and Mr. Timothy Ranja of UNDP. The participants were challenged to put into practice what they have learnt by; climate proofing their CIDPs, ensuring national priorities across all sectors are climate smart, mainstreaming adaptation and mitigation actions into policy formulation, planning and budgeting processes at national and county levels and developing proposals to attract funding for climate change response actions.