Kenya is set to receive up to Ksh660 million (£4 million) in new funding for its weather and climate information services under the WISER (Weather and Climate Information Services) Africa programme. This is part of a £30 million (Ksh4.8 billion) commitment announced by UK Development Minister Anneliese Dodds at COP29.
The funds aim to help communities, particularly women and girls, adapt to climate hazards like droughts, floods, and storms. The initiative will enhance early warning systems and anticipatory action to reduce humanitarian needs and support drought-affected regions.
The programme, in partnership with the Kenya Meteorological Department, IGAD Climate Predictions and Applications Centre (ICPAC), and Kenya Red Cross, seeks to mitigate extreme weather impacts. Kenya recently experienced its worst drought in 40 years and devastating floods that displaced over 15,000 households.
Neil Wigan, British High Commissioner to Kenya, remarked, “Weather and climate services help us all to prepare better. WISER has supported farmers and communities across Kenya – from Lake Victoria to Kibera – to anticipate and reduce the impact of severe weather.” He emphasized the collaboration with Kenyan partners to strengthen early warning systems for climate shocks.
Philip Omondi Amingo, Senior Climate Scientist at ICPAC, added, “This funding will greatly enhance the capacity of leading early warning and humanitarian institutions in Kenya to develop triggers and early warnings ahead of predicted weather and climate hazards, reducing the impacts on communities before they fully unfold.”
Previous phases of WISER have shown significant success, including a 30% reduction in severe weather-related deaths and generating Ksh5.6 billion in economic benefits for Lake Victoria fishing communities. The DARAJA project, an urban-focused initiative, has also provided vital early warnings to marginalized communities, such as those in Kibera, through co-designed weather information shared via radio and SMS.
By enhancing weather and climate forecasting, the WISER programme is expected to strengthen Kenya’s resilience to extreme weather events, safeguarding lives and livelihoods.
