CABI News

CABI and the National Environment Trust Fund (NETFUND) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on initiatives that promote environmental conservation, climate-smart agriculture, and sustainable livelihoods in Kenya.

NETFUND is a state corporation under Kenya’s Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, established by the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) 1999, to mobilize and avail resources for environmental management in the country.

CABI’s Senior Regional Director for Africa, Dr Morris Akiri, and NETFUND’s CEO, Mr Samson Toniok, signed the MoU during the recent CABI Africa Regional Consultation Meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya.

The event brought together policymakers, government agencies, donors, and partners from across Africa and beyond to reflect on how CABI can better align its efforts with country needs and how shared ambitions can be well-resourced and truly deliver impact on the ground.

Shared priorities in climate and land management

NETFUND’s CEO, Mr Samson Toniok, noted that the two organisations share common areas of interest, particularly around urgent environmental challenges such as climate change, land degradation, and biodiversity loss. He emphasised addressing these complex issues requires strong collaboration and partnerships, making the MoU both timely and necessary.

Dr Akiri echoed this sentiment, stating, “Signing this MoU while engaging with our Member Countries reflects our commitment to building meaningful partnerships in the countries where we work. Partnerships that align with national priorities and help us co-create practical solutions for a more sustainable and resilient future.”

Joint areas of focus

As part of the MoU, CABI and NETFUND will work together to design and implement programmes aimed at restoring Kenya’s degraded landscapes using nature-based solutions.

The collaboration will also focus on regenerative agriculture, research and innovation on ecosystems and sustainable landscape management.

In addition, both organisations have also committed to strengthening the capacity of national, subnational, and local institutions involved in landscape and natural resource management. The MoU also outlines efforts to support the strengthening of institutional governance structures and processes that that facilitate sustainable natural resource management and landscape management.

Mr Chrispine Omondi, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager at NETFUND, and Ms Phyllis Ombonyo, Director of Strategy and Engagement at CABI, during the signing of the MoU to advance environmental conservation and sustainable landscape management in Kenya.

This development comes as CABI advances plans for a new global initiative focused on Integrated Landscape Management (ILM), a holistic approach to addressing environmental challenges in degraded landscapes that impact a wide range of stakeholders.

CABI also recently signed an MOU with the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI), a key national partner in landscape restoration and climate resilience.

Additional information

Main Image: From right: CABI’s Senior Regional Director for Africa, Dr Morris Akiri and NETFUND’s CEO, Mr Samson Toniok, signing the MoU during the recent CABI Africa Regional Consultation Meeting in Nairobi.

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