Currently, Kajiado’s water data fall short of the fundamental goal of being complete, accessible, and usable. To contribute efforts towards addressing this challenge, Wetlands International has received support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), SERVIR* and the Regional Centre of Mapping Resource for Development (RCMRD)’ to implement a project on the ‘application of geo-data in water resources management in Kajiado County’.
Kajiado County covers parts of Athi and Rift valley basins within the southwestern parts of Kenya. The project region is predominantly characterised by extremes and variations in hydro-meteorological conditions making it difficult for decision making with regards to catchment management and enhanced livelihood sustainability.
Opportunity
Through the project, various geographical data products will be generated to improve decision support on aspects of water resources management, reduced ecosystem stress and community vulnerability to hydrometeorological extremes and variations. The project will achieve this through the following focus areas:
- Strengthening stakeholder capacity on technical and institutional aspects for improved decision support;
- Improving information dissemination to the public on aspects of basin management with regards to hydro-met extremes and coping mechanisms to environmental risks and hazards; and
- Influencing private sector investment opportunities based on their contribution towards ecosystem management and restoration as well as stakeholder empowerment for enhanced sustainable livelihood patterns.
This project will be implemented from April – December 2019 and will involve a participatory approach involving stakeholders in the county, and indeed throughout the basin.