Demonstrating strategies that reduce vulnerability to climate change

This case study describes the 'Increasing Community Resilience to Drought in Makueni District' project in Kenya, part of the broader ACCESA regional initiative. The project implements strategies to reduce smallholder farmers' vulnerability to climate variability through improved water access, agronomic training, and income diversification, while working to integrate these lessons into national policy.

• The project employs several technical and social strategies to reduce vulnerability for smallholder farmers, including the construction of sand dams, shallow boreholes, and drip irrigation systems to improve water access. It also provides access to fast-maturing and drought-resistant crop varieties and training on crop husbandry, pest control, and post-harvest management. Additionally, five self-help groups received training in business plans and funds via a micro-credit scheme for income-generating activities like producing high-value vegetables and tree seedlings.
• To improve agricultural decision-making, the project is developing a Farmer’s Handbook based on 40 years of weather data from five local meteorological stations to advise on crop selection and timing under different weather scenarios. Approximately 120 farmers have established demonstration sites to show the benefits of these improved methods.
• The project aims to influence national and district policies by engaging with policy-makers and sharing field lessons. It is led by the Centre for Science and Technology Innovations (CSTI) in partnership with the Government of Kenya's Arid Lands Resource Management Project (ALRMP). The project team identified a need to increase the availability of drought-tolerant seeds in other semi-arid districts and to improve the capacity of Kenyan agricultural extension services and District Officers regarding climate change information.
• The Makueni District project is one of three pilot projects under the regional 'Integrating Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change into Sustainable Development Policy Planning and Implementation in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACCESA)' program, which also includes pilots in Rwanda and Mozambique.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (n.d.). Demonstrating strategies that reduce vulnerability to climate change. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/preparing_for_climate.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Demonstrating strategies that reduce vulnerability to climate change. n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/preparing_for_climate.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Demonstrating strategies that reduce vulnerability to climate change |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/preparing_for_climate.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopmentnddemonstrating, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Demonstrating strategies that reduce vulnerability to climate change}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/preparing_for_climate.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }