The Climate Change Directorate (CCD) under the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry with support from the Sector Programme Human Rights of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the NDC Assist II project is implementing a measure to enhance youth and children’s participation ahead of the development of the third National Climate Change Action Plan (2023-2027).

The measure recognizes children and youth as important stakeholders who will offer valuable contributions in championing Kenya’s green and climate-resilient development agenda. The measure will contribute towards strengthening national and sub-national governments’ capacities to engage children and youth in climate change planning and decision-making.

Moreover, the measure will serve as a case study, and lessons learned will be shared through different forums including the NDC Partnership (NDC-P) Knowledge management platform, youth engagement forums, and relevant conferences/events, such as the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COPs) or the UNFCCC sessions of the subsidiary bodies.

The pilot measure targets youth between the ages (of 15 and 35) and is set up in accordance with, the participation rights provided by various articles and sections of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC); the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ARCWC); Article 10 of the Constitution of Kenya; the Children Act of 2022; the National Child Policy as well as Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC); the National Plan of Action for Children in Kenya 2015-2022 among others.

The Climate Change Act, of 2016 mandates national and county governments to facilitate capacity development for public participation in climate change responses through awareness creation, consultation, representation, and access to information and provide mechanisms for and facilitate climate change research and development, innovation, training, and capacity building.

The Act obligates the Climate Change Directorate (CCD) to among others, ‘serve as the national knowledge and information management center for collating, verifying, refining, and disseminating knowledge and information on climate change.

As such, the CCD is tasked with enhancing awareness and engagement for coordinated climate action. Central to this mandate is ensuring all stakeholders including children and youth are aware of, aligned with, and supportive of the country’s priority climate actions. This includes coordinating the implementation of and reporting on the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP).

Section 13 of the Climate Change Act, 2016 provides for the development of a five-year NCCAP to prescribe measures and mechanisms to mainstream adaptation and mitigation actions into sector functions of the National and County Governments.

Young people constitute the generation that will be required to deal with the future impacts of climate change. Their exposure to climate change issues through both formal and informal education will help them appreciate the associated dangers and the necessity of preserving our environment.

Some of the lessons learnt during the implementation of NCCAP I, which guided the development of NCCAP 2018-2022 included identifying vulnerable groups, including women, older members of the society, persons with disabilities, children, youth, and members of minority and marginalized communities and, working with and for them to ensure the success of climate change action.