CEMIRIDE has, in the last 5 years, been implementing a SNV supported project that partly aims to ensure the mainstreaming of marginalised communities‘ concerns in the formulation and implementation of the CSA strategy and policy. The organization’s actions related to CSA transverse through various scales. At the national level for instance, the advocacy for mainstreaming marginalised communities’ issues in the CSA Policy and Strategy aimed to ensure initiatives that have a national impact. At the County level, ensures the domestication of the CSA Policy and Strategy provisions within the relevant county legislations and policies. Other activities of the organization include generating, appropriately packaging and disseminating evidence-based research on effective implementation of CSA to mainstream and promote the concerns of marginalised communities; Organising the annual Kenya Pastoralists’ Week as an appropriate platform to deliberate on CSA; and Advocacy through marginalised leadership caucuses such as the PPG, PLF and FCDC to ensure appropriate enactment and implementation of policy and legal frameworks friendly to marginalised communities;

Appropriate policies are a key component of stabilising the livelihoods of pastoral systems especially those that are geared towards climate change mitigation. Policies that are well formulated and are adaptive to the needs of pastoral communities, incorporating indigenous knowledge and recognising the role of customary institutions will foster a robust business environment that supports businesses and investments in pastoral systems resulting in communities with enhanced ability to cope with climate change. The policy environment in Kenya is robust with Climate Change laws and institutional frameworks newly established to build economic, social and environmental resilience of communities and individuals to climate change shocks. The policy frameworks are however devoid of a strong pastoralist agenda which leaves pastoralists and their mainstay livestock economic system vulnerable resulting in ineffective solutions for pastoralists’ resilience.

The long-term goal of the SNV supported project is to achieve climate resilient pastoralist communities with a strengthened voice and participation in climate change policy-making processes in Kenya

The organisation is a member of the following networks; Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Multi-Stakeholder Forum (CSA-MSP); Kenya Climate Change Working Group; ASALs Forum, Marginalised Communities NCCAP Technical Reference Group and Kenya Pastoralists Forum.