Adaptation finance to local food systems in Kenya

Summary

The financing landscape for climate adaptation in Kenya is diverse, yet, overall funding is insufficient, while local adaptation demands continue to grow. At the same time, it is unclear how existing adaptation financing reaches food systems at the local level. The paper investigates the mechanism of food system adaptation financing flows to the local level in Kenya and it determines what works and what does not. 

Clearly, the availability of, and access to, adaptation finance is constrained by structural, technical, and institutional barriers both nationally and locally. The governance of adaptation finance is marked by horizontal and vertical coordination issues visible among actors. There are diverse institutional and procedural requirements from adaptation financing partners which have resulted in a fragmented adaptation finance landscape, with implications for local-level adaptation.  The governance architecture for food system adaptation financing includes both top-down and bottom-up processes. However, decision-making power is mainly held by national and international players, with consequences for local-level adaptation. Nonetheless, there are some initiatives with processes that are characterised by local ownership. 

Actors need to improve their coordination to address climate adaptation finance gaps and ensure the delivery of it to the local level in an equitable and just manner. Progress in devolving finance for food system adaptation to the local level will be determined not only by the size of the finance but also by the careful design of the governance mechanisms to allow equitable allocation, subsidiarity, participation, and local ownership. The paper concludes with recommendations for increased local-level adaptation finance for food systems.