Driving Climate Action Through Collaboration: Lessons from the Kenya UK PACT learning workshop

In a significant step toward bolstering Kenya’s clean energy and climate resilience efforts, UK PACT convened a two-day hybrid learning workshop that united government officials, sector specialists, and implementing partners. The July event, in collaboration with the British High Commission Nairobi, served as a dynamic forum for strategic collaboration and knowledge exchange, reinforcing the UK-Kenya partnership in tackling climate challenges. 

Since its launch in 2021, Kenya-UK PACT has invested £11.7 million in Kenya to support the implementation of clean energy transition and nature-based solutions. Targeting critical policy and capacity gaps, UK PACT technical assistance has contributed to the development of transformative policies at both national and county levels. These include the Kenya National Cooking Transition Strategy (KNCTS), which aims for universal access to clean cooking by 2028, and the Kenya National eCooking Strategy (KNeCS), which targets 10% of households transitioning to electric cooking by 2028. UK PACT has also supported County Energy Plans in Makueni, Narok, and Taita Taveta counties, and the development of County Environmental Action Plans and Forest and Landscape Restoration Implementation Plans (FOLAREPs) in Taita Taveta and Makueni counties.

Together, the implementation of these policies has the potential to deliver over 4.87 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions reductions annually, provide improved access to clean cooking solutions for more than 9.1 million households, and support the restoration and sustainable management of over 326,420 hectares of land—226,420 ha in Taita Taveta and 100,000 ha in Makueni

Key lessons   

• From outputs to transformative change
  Participants explored how to document the journey from activities to long-lasting systemic change, emphasising the importance of strategic collaboration, inclusive engagement, and adaptive planning. Solutions discussed included integrating impact metrics from the start, strengthening community monitoring capacity, and aligning with national tracking systems.
  
• Closing policy gaps
  Discussions highlighted the need for stronger alignment between national and county policies in both energy and nature-based solutions.
  Recommendations included joint planning mechanisms, capacity
  needs assessments for county committees, and accessible,
  solution-focused research to guide policy.
  
• Strengthening partnerships and local ownership
  The workshop reinforced that effective partnerships are built on trust, shared vision, and clear roles. Local ownership was identified as key to sustainability, achieved through co-creation, training local champions, and leveraging community-based organisations.
  
• Integrating Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI)
  The GEDSI session demonstrated how inclusive approaches improve environmental outcomes and shift community dynamics. Practical exercises showed how embedding GEDSI from the outset fosters equitable participation and better results.
  
• Visibility and sustainability
  Participants agreed that project visibility is a strategic tool for accountability and scaling impact. They committed to developing intentional visibility plans, building media partnerships, and investing in communications capacity. Sustainability discussions focused on embedding interventions into government systems, fostering private sector engagement, and leveraging open-source tools for scalability. 

Looking Ahead: New Energy Initiatives 

The event concluded with the launch of three new UK PACT-supported clean energy initiatives:

• Clean cooking: expanding local manufacturing and data-driven adoption strategies. 

• Integrated energy planning: providing counties with technical support to align local needs with national strategies. 
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• Off-grid and youth empowerment: delivering renewable energy training and promoting innovation in underserved regions. 

These efforts align with the newly signed UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership 2025-2030, which puts climate and nature at the heart of bilateral cooperation. 

A Roadmap for the Future 

The workshop affirmed that delivering climate action requires more than funding - it takes collaboration, inclusivity, innovation, and accountability. As the programme moves forward, the lessons from Nairobi provide a clear path to scaling proven solutions, strengthening institutions, and ensuring Kenya’s transition to a sustainable, low-carbon future is both just and lasting. 

Watch the event highlights

Learn more about UK PACT’s work in Kenya and how we are advancing climate action through transformative partnerships.