Kenyan is among countries casting their nets wide looking for resources for building resilient urban centres in the wake of climate change.
Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has been leading the Kenyan delegation at the ongoing climate talks in Azerbaijan in mobilizing for resources.
“What has brought me here is the Housing and Urban Development, under our program called Building Climate Resilience with the Urban Poor (BCRUP). We have come here following our meeting in Cairo, where the builder of the BCRUP program, that is a program now adopted by 14 African countries, Kenya and Brazil are leading in that program,” Wahome said.
World leaders are in Azerbaijan for climate talks that started November 11 to November 22 under the theme, “In Solidarity for a Green World”.
Wahome said the program began in 2019 when UN Secretary-General made a call for action to action for purposes of the urban poor.
The CS said the program seeks ways to build resilience of the poor as well as adaptation strategies.
Wahome said there is a need to think about the huge populations that are moving from the villages and coming to the cities and towns where the infrastructure then receives an instant shock.
She said Kenya is a good example in terms of the urban poor.
Wahome said the urban poor lack facilities, infrastructure, access roads, water, electricity and livelihoods.
She said every time there are disasters, the urban poor suffer the most.
“Always, when we have disasters like drought and floods, completely get shattered. The necessary networks and infrastructure again also get shattered.”
Wahome said several partners such as Green Climate Funds have been brought on board.
“For us, therefore, it has become necessary for us to lobby because being a new program, then you have to do a lot of mobilization for finance. We are looking for 6 billion US dollars to be shared for the first pilot project for 14 countries 6 billion US dollars.”
High-Level Meeting on Building Climate Resilience with the Urban Poor (BCRUP) Towards Consolidation of Regional Readiness Project and Mobilization for Implementation at COP 29.
The meeting brought commitments from the countries that are already on board, the 14 African countries, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, South Sudan, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Burundi and Rwanda.
Wahome said Eswatini is also on board.
The CS said several commitments have already been received and they are pushing at least to have seven more countries.
She said the project will be piloted in 14 countries.
Wahome said for them to get donors, they need actual commitments by way of letters of no objection.
“We have already received letters of no objection from the 14 countries. So far, out of the 14 countries, we have six who have already confirmed.”
Wahome said they still need one or two countries to be able then to send the proposal to be able to capture the funding.
“Money is a very emotive issue at the core. Even with the discussions of the NCQG that the African group is seeking 1.3 trillion dollars, there is resistance from the global north.”
Commenting on the ongoing housing program, Wahome said every country is working on robust, very huge housing programs.
“You know, we are talking about 200,000
housing units in Kenya.”
Wahome said the affordable housing
also targets the urban poor.
The CS said the program is also
targeting to upgrade slums.
Wahome said the project has created
job opportunities as well as enhanced livelihoods.
