Search Climate Insights Directory
212 results
Estimating on-road vehicle fuel economy in Africa
The paper develops a methodology to estimate fuel economy in sub-Saharan African cities, specifically Nairobi, by collecting data on both formal and informal vehicle fleets. Using general linear modelling (GLM) and artificial neural networks (ANN), the study found that fuel economy for bodabodas, tuktuks, passenger cars, and matatus in Nairobi is 2–3 times worse than in their countries of import. The GLM was identified as the more effective model for predicting fuel economy based on vehicle characteristics.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Research paper
Think Beyond, Live Within: What to Expect from 4th Session of UN Environmental Assembly
The 4th session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-4) focuses on 'Innovative Solutions to the Environmental Challenges and Sustainable Consumption and Production' to advance Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12. The assembly integrates input from the Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum (GMGSF), including the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), and technical data from the 6th Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-6) report. Key highlights include the exhibition of innovative projects such as the Flipflopi Dhow, a vessel made from waste plastic, and South African environmental risk and anti-poaching technologies.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Briefing
2019 Country Posters
The document describes the Caribbean's approach to a green economy, defined by the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) as aiming for long-term prosperity through equitable benefit distribution and ecological management. It highlights the increasing importance of resilience following the 2017 hurricanes and the emerging, though still conceptually unclear, 'blue economy' framework promoted by international actors. Key sectoral efforts focus on renewable energy (solar, geothermal, and wind) and greening the tourism industry. The text details various multi-stakeholder and intergovernmental initiatives, including the Caribbean Green Economy Action Learning Group, the Santa Cruz Declaration on Local Green Enterprises, and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States' (OECS) commitment to a strategic action plan for an inclusive green economy. Specific national examples include Grenada's 2016 Blue Growth Coastal Master Plan and the development of a Local Green-Blue Enterprise Radar in Trinidad and Tobago.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Fact sheet
Sustainability and Voluntary Certification in the Kenyan Tea Sector
The report details a March 2019 workshop aimed at addressing the opportunities and challenges of Voluntary Sustainability Certification (VSC) in Kenya's tea industry. Key findings highlight that while VSCs improve market access and environmental practices, they impose prohibitive costs and create 'certification fatigue' due to a multiplicity of standards. The document recommends the development of a national benchmarked standard, similar to the Kenya Flower Council's model, and the creation of a multistakeholder platform to implement a collective action plan.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
From Mobility to Access for All: Expanding Urban Transportation Choices in the Global South
The paper examines the decline of urban accessibility in the global South due to rapid urbanization and motorization. It introduces an access-mobility framework to categorize under-served residents and proposes three priority action areas: building safe, democratic street networks; developing integrated, user-oriented transport services; and managing private vehicle demand. The authors emphasize that these actions require capable governance and sustainable funding models to move cities from a vicious cycle of car-dependency to a virtuous cycle of balanced, multimodal transport.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Research paper
Understanding multi-level drivers of behaviour change
The research identifies 14 key drivers of improved cookstove adoption in Kenya across individual, social, and structural levels. Using CIB analysis, the authors developed four consistent future scenarios to illustrate how these drivers interact. Findings highlight that while individual factors like trust in local partners and the aspirational value of stoves are critical, structural elements such as government policy and the role of the private sector significantly shape the sector's trajectory. The paper argues that a systemic, multi-level perspective is essential for designing effective policy interventions to increase clean cooking uptake.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Research paper
Kenya to 2030 and beyond
The report evaluates Kenya's development prospects to 2040, highlighting a contrast between strong human capital (health and education) and a significant deficit in core infrastructure (water and sanitation). While Kenya is a regional leader in ICT and renewable energy, it faces challenges from a large youth bulge, corruption, and climate-driven food insecurity. The report presents three scenarios: 'Stuck in Traffic' (current path), 'Tuko Kazi' (positive interventions), and 'Bila Hopes' (stagnation and instability).
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
M-Akiba Post Issuance Survey
The M-Akiba bond, designed to broaden the investor base in Kenya via mobile money, saw high registration (303,534 people) but low conversion, raising only KSh 247 million against a KSh 1 billion target. While the product was well-received and reached new investors, uptake was hindered by poor timing coinciding with national elections, a confusing two-step purchase process, lack of follow-up reminders, and inadequate customer support. Most investors were formally employed, university-educated, and urban-based, primarily from Nairobi.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
The story of Kenya's M-Akiba: selling treasury bonds via mobile
M-Akiba was launched in 2017 as a mobile-based government bond in Kenya designed to broaden the investor base by lowering the minimum investment to KShs 3,000. Despite high registration numbers, actual investment was low; for example, only 247.75 million KShs of a 1 billion KShs offer was taken up during the official launch. A post-issuance study attributed this to poor timing (coinciding with elections and changing bank deposit rates), a confusing purchase process, weak customer support, and a lack of communication prompts. However, the product successfully attracted new investors, with 85% of buyers having never previously purchased a bond.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Case study
A Perfect Fit
The document discusses the importance of behavioural insights in development aid, highlighting a project in Hola, Kenya, where proposed quality-improving technologies for mango farming failed because farmers prioritised quantity for processing markets over quality for export markets.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Case study
Memorandum on the proposed amendments to the Environment Management and Coordination Act, 1999 (EMCA) through the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 3), Bill 2017
The memorandum, submitted by a coalition including Natural Justice, opposes amendments to the EMCA that would change the appointment of the National Environment Tribunal (NET) Chairperson from nomination by the Judicial Service Commission to election by Tribunal members. It further argues that removing automatic stay orders for environmental appeals under Section 129 would lead to irreparable environmental degradation and place an unfair financial burden on appellants.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Statement
Violent extremism in Kenya
The report finds that while Kenyan women are rarely direct perpetrators of violent acts, they provide critical 'invisible infrastructure' for al-Shabaab through recruiting, intelligence gathering, and logistics. Involvement is driven by a complex interplay of poverty, socio-political marginalisation, and personal relationships. The study highlights severe impacts on women, including sexual violence in camps and psychological trauma from terror attacks and heavy-handed counter-terrorism (CT) operations. Current P/CVE responses are criticised for being gender-neutral and overly securitised, leading to mistrust between the state and affected communities.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Report
WTO MINISTERIAL COMMITMENTS FROM NAIROBI
The document evaluates the progress of WTO commitments made at the 10th Ministerial Conference (MC10) in Nairobi, specifically regarding agriculture and least-developed countries (LDCs). It highlights significant implementation gaps, such as the lack of a permanent solution for public stockholding for food security and the slow pace of eliminating agricultural export subsidies. The paper notes a fundamental disagreement between developed and developing nations over whether to prioritize the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) or introduce new 21st-century trade issues. For South Africa, the authors recommend aligning with the Africa Group on regional integration and industrialization, supporting the G33 proposal on public stockholding, and backing the ACP proposal on fisheries subsidies to support its own ocean economy.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Research paper
Creating a market for skills transfer: A case study of AVIC International’s skills transfer programs in Kenya
The document examines AVIC International's approach to skills transfer in Kenya, arguing that the company views local development as a business priority and a strategic tool for market expansion. It identifies a 'bootstrapping' model of development where projects evolve organically based on encountered obstacles. While stakeholders report high satisfaction with the programs, the study finds that concrete outcomes in terms of widespread job creation and machinery utilization remain mixed.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Research paper
Turning waste plastic into sustainable prosperity
EcoPost, founded by Lorna Rutto in 2009, converts discarded plastic from Nairobi's streets into durable building materials, reducing the demand for timber and mitigating deforestation. The company employs approximately 250 plant workers and 2,000 casual collectors, providing health benefits and salaries above the national average.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Case study
African politics meets Chinese engineers: The Chinese-built Standard Gauge Railway Project in Kenya and East Africa
The document analyzes the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), a US$3.8 billion project financed largely by China. It argues that most controversies surrounding the project—including corruption, land disputes, and labor tensions—stem from Kenya's neo-patrimonial political culture and governance failures rather than Chinese predatory behavior. While the SGR has provided local employment and skills training, the authors highlight concerns over its economic viability, the lack of transparent bidding, and the environmental impact on wildlife corridors in Tsavo National Park.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Research paper
Kenya Drought 2016
The 2016 drought in Kenya was primarily driven by sea-surface temperature patterns, specifically La Niña, rather than human-induced climate change. While climate change did not significantly increase the likelihood of the rainfall deficit, it did lead to hotter temperatures that exacerbated the drought's impact. The event was less severe than the 2010-11 drought but still triggered a national emergency, affecting millions of people in arid and semi-arid lands.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Research paper
CHINESE MEDIA, KENYAN LIVES: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC INQUIRY INTO CCTV AFRICA’S HEAD OFFICES
The paper examines the internal operations of CCTV Africa in Nairobi, finding that while employees generally appreciate the stability and salaries compared to local media, there are significant tensions regarding censorship of China-related news, lack of safety protocols for field reporters, and a rigid organizational hierarchy where supervisory roles are reserved for Chinese nationals.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Research paper
The role of social relations in the adoption of improved cookstoves
The study compares two different implementers of improved biomass-powered cookstoves in Kenya to determine how social relations and specific behaviour change techniques (BCTs) affect adoption rates. It finds that an implementer who targeted existing social groups with shared identities and provided ongoing post-sales support achieved significantly higher user satisfaction and a 'social multiplier effect,' where users recruited new users outside the original target groups.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Research paper
The drought in Kenya, 2016–2017
The 2016–2017 drought in Kenya, declared a national emergency in February 2017, was primarily driven by sea surface temperature patterns, specifically La Niña. While attribution analysis found no strong climate change signal in rainfall trends, it concluded that temperatures during the drought were hotter than they would have been without human-induced climate change. The drought severely impacted 23 counties, leaving up to 4 million people in need of food aid by April 2017, though it was less extreme than the 2010–2011 event.
AI-generated
This summary is written by a language model reading the source document. It is not the publisher's words and is not a substitute for the original.
Document type: Research paper