County Government of West Pokot and IFAD Collaborate for Sustainable Development

Governor Simon Kachapin received a delegation from International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) led by its Country Director Mariatu Kamara and GOK delegation represented by various National Government Agencies at the official Governor's residence in Kapenguria.

West Pokot County will be among 10 Counties around the Cherengany Hills and Mau West Water Towers to be supported in the implementation of the Intergrated Natural Management Resources Programme (INMRP).

“I call upon state and non-state actors to collaborate in reversing the negative threats facing water towers in the county. Adoption of nature-based solution with a landscape approach will help safeguard, sustainably manage and restore our Water Tower, while at the same time addressing societal challenges and improving human well-being by undertaking periodic assessment of the condition of our Water Tower and implementing all proposed intervention measures based on identified threats and challenges.” Said the governor.

Key objectives of the meeting include; to discuss the County’s vision/plans with regards to the National Resource Management, Interventions to mitigate effects of climate change, strategies for building resilience of farmers for sustainable production in the context of fragile ecosystem and rehabilitation of degraded natural resources and existing Infrastructure and rehabilitation of degraded natural resources (forests, rivers and lands), identify the degraded natural resources particularly water towers, rivers and any ongoing or planned interventions for rehabilitation and to understand the relevant agricultural value chains that can be developed to incentive communities’ natural resource conservation.

The programme design is keen to ensure that community needs are aligned to National and County Government plans and the IFAD Country Strategic Opportunities Programme 2020-2025.

The programme goal is to contribute to improved rural households’ food, nutrition and income security in a sustainable and resilient ecosystem. The total cost of the programme is indicatively estimated to cost about US$ 250 Million over an 8-year period

Present were the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Cooperatives, Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, Council of Governors, National Treasury and NEMA.