Building Climate Knowledge Ecosystems in Kenya and Tanzania Project Launch Meetings
8th & 10th July 2025
The “Building Climate Knowledge Ecosystems for Policy-Making in Kenya and Tanzania” project officially launched on July 8, 2025, at the Utalii Hotel in Nairobi. The official launch was followed by Participatory Action Research Group (PARG) meeting at the Dallas Premiere Hotel in Kisii on 10th July involving stakeholders from the Kisii and Nyamira counties. Funded by the British Academy, this project is co-implemented by the University College London (UCL), Kenyatta University, and the University of Dar es Salaam. The project will feature two case studies – the eucalyptus monoculture in Kisii and Nyamira counties in Kenya, and coral degradation in Kilwa District in Tanzania. The launch on 8th, and PAR group meeting on the 10th set the stage for the project’s mission to strengthen the link between climate research and policymaking in Kenya and Tanzania. The two events gathered government officials, researchers, and community stakeholders to discuss the challenges and opportunities related to eucalyptus farming in the two counties and in Kenya generally.
A pivotal focus of the project is the critical role of citizen science in shaping effective climate policies. Participants at the launch emphasized 
the role of local communities, particularly those practicing and impacted by eucalyptus monoculture in Kisii and Nyamira counties, in contributing to climate knowledge rather than passively receiving top-down solutions. They also stressed that indigenous farming practices, generational ecological knowledge, and community-led adaptation strategies offer invaluable insights that academic research often overlooks. The project prioritizes participatory methodologies, such as community mapping of climate impacts, farmer-led trials of sustainable alternatives, and local knowledge dialogues that bridge traditional wisdom and scientific analysis.
From the strategic national launch to the localized county level meeting and field study, this 
two-phase engagement demonstrates the project’s commitment to developing practical, evidence-based climate solutions that bring together diverse stakeholders viewpoints. The launch and PARG meetings fostered important discussions on sustainable land management, climate adaptation strategies, and policy gaps, encouraging collaboration between academia and decision-makers and also the need for a bottom-up approach in tackling climate issues. A highlight of the event in Kisii was the field trip to eucalyptus farms in Bobaracho Ward, Nyaribari Chache Constituency, where participants experienced the mismatched expectations of climate action, livelihoods, and policy implementation firsthand. The two events were led by the project PI Prof. Tristan McCowan of University College London, and the two co-PIs – Prof. Jackline Nyerere of Kenyatta University and Dr. Almas Mazigo of University of Dar es Salaam.