K

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KENYA
GENDER ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
ABOUT UNDP
UNDP’s work on climate change spans more than 140 countries and USD $3.7 billion
in investments in climate change adaptation and mitigation measures since 2008.
With the goal to foster ambitious progress towards resilient, zero-carbon development,
UNDP has also supported the implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate
Change by working with countries on achieving their climate commitments or
Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

THE UNDP NDC SUPPORT PROGRAMME

The NDC Support Programme provides technical support for countries to pursue a
“whole-of-society”, integrated approach that strengthens national systems, facilitates
climate action and increases access to finance for transformative sustainable
development. The programme helps countries address these financial barriers by
deploying a structured approach for scaling up sectoral investments and putting in place
a transparent, enabling investment environment. Beyond direct country support, UNDP
facilitates exchanges and learning opportunities on NDC implementation at the global
and regional level by capitalizing on our close collaboration with the UNFCCC and other
strategic partners.

GENDER INITIATIVE
Coordinating and connecting the interlinked processes of climate change and gender
equality, by using NDCs as a platform, offers an opportunity to promote inclusive and
successful development outcomes. The NDC Support Programme is supporting the
work in 17 countries to ensure that gender equality aspects are factored into the NDC
processes by leveraging analysis, strengthening institutional mechanisms, ensuring
gender-responsive climate actions and disseminating best practices to enhance national-
level capacities.

The Programme, which works in contribution to the NDC Partnership, is generously

supported by the German Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation,
and Nuclear Safety (BMU), the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and
Development (BMZ), the European Union and the Government of Spain.

DISCLAIMER

The Gender Analysis Summary has included a few additional statistics to provide contextual
information to facilitate a better understanding of the context/situation for a broader audience,
however, statements/recommendations have not been altered from the Gender Analysis.

Cover photo: ©UNDP Kenya

©2020
I. BACKGROUND
Climate change presents a major threat to Kenya’s Kenya’s NDC has been revised and updated. The
sustainable development and the realization of the updated NDC commits to abate GHG emissions by 32
nation’s Vision 2030 that seeks to create a competitive percent compared to the first NDC target of 30 percent
and prosperous nation with a high quality of life. Kenya, by 2030 relative to the BAU scenario of 143 MtCO2eq.
like its neighboring countries in East Africa, has felt the Unlike the first NDC that was fully conditional to support,
impacts of climate change as weather patterns become the update commits to mobilize resources to meet 13
increasingly unpredictable and climate-related disasters percent of the estimated implementation budget of USD
increase in frequency and magnitude. As a country 62 Billion, requiring international support of 87 percent.
whose economy is dependent on climate-sensitive
natural resources, challenges from an unpredictable To support this review, an in-depth Gender Analysis
climate can increase vulnerability and have the was undertaken to ensure that gender responsive
potential to reverse development gains and further actions are identified, planned, budgeted for and
intrench inequalities. implemented as part of mainstreaming gender into
Kenya’s NDC. The analysis explored the gender
As part of global efforts to combat climate change, differentiated impacts of climate change by looking
in 2016 Kenya ratified the United Nations Framework at existing gender inequalities in access to and use
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Paris of resources, participation, and benefits between
Agreement, and submitted its first ambitious Nationally various gender groups. It analyzed the extent to which
Determined Contribution (NDC). Kenya’s first NDC gender issues have been considered within Kenya’s
sought to abate its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions policy, legal, and institutional frameworks and their
by 30 percent by 2030 relative to the Business suitability for supporting gender-responsive climate
as Usual (BaU) scenario, through adaptation and change actions. It focused on the key NDC sectors of
mitigation actions that will build resilience to climate Agriculture, Energy and Water, the role of gender within
change. At the domestic level, the country has put in these sectors, challenges to women’s participation
place the necessary policy and regulatory framework and empowerment, and sectoral opportunities for
to effectively address the adverse effects of climate supporting gender responsive measures. The gender
change and support the implementation of its NDC. analysis provides strategic recommendations on
This includes that National Climate Change Framework governance, planning, and policy that will strengthen
Policy, Climate Change Act (2016) and 5-year National the integration of gender equality into NDC planning
Climate Change Action Plans. and implementation processes.

© UNDP Kenya 3
II. GENDER AND CLIMATE
Climate Change impacts do not affect all groups Women’s dependence on natural resources for both
of people equally. The degree to which people are reproductive and productive activities underscores their
affected by climate change is directly linked to their vulnerability in the face of increased climatic uncertainty.
vulnerability. Factors such as social status, gender, Yet, this same dependence also makes them critical
poverty level, livelihood options, and access to and stakeholders in adaptation and mitigation efforts.
control of resources influence vulnerability and Therefore, implementation towards Kenya’s NDC as
how different people experience climate change. well as efforts towards low carbon and climate resilient
For women, their vulnerability is reinforced by the development requires inclusive and gender responsive
existing gender inequalities they face across social, approaches that address the factors that maintain
economic, political, and environmental systems, and inequalities, constrain women’s opportunities, and limit
in turn, this means that women are more likely to be their ability to plan and adapt to climate change.
disproportionately affected by climate change.

In Kenya, patriarchal norms that assign gender roles

place responsibility for household reproduction in
women and girls. As primary caregivers they are
charged with securing water, food, and fuel for cooking
and heating while also being responsible for taking
care of household members including children, the
elderly, and disabled. In addition to reproduction
activities, women also actively engage in livelihood
production, undertaking the bulk of agricultural work
and contributing to productivity for consumption and
for sale.1 Nonetheless, women earn only a fraction of
the income generated and own a nominal percentage
of assets.2 Barriers to information, technologies, and
financial services coupled with limits to women’s full
participation in household decision-making, markets
and formal institutions contribute to these unequal
outcomes between men and women.

Despite women’s participation and contribution to the

economy, their work is under-rated, and women and
girls’ work is often unpaid, underpaid or invisible.3 The
majority of women work in the informal sector, with
only 34 percent working in the formal sector.4 For those
that do work in the formal labour market they generally
earn less than men; for every KSh100 earned by a
man, a Kenyan women only earns KSh62.5 This wage
gap cumulatively translates to different outcomes for
both men and women, economically, politically, socially
and culturally. Poverty is prevalent among low-income
earning women, rural communities and the urban poor,
concentrated in increasing urban settlements.6 30.2 per
cent of female headed households are poor compared
to 26 per cent of their male counterparts.7
© UNDP Kenya

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III. RELEVANT SECTOR(S)
The in-depth gender analysis strategically focused Figure 1: Relative distribution of emissions by sectors

2+J18+24137
on three priority NDC sectors of Agriculture, Energy
and Water. These sectors were selected because
2%
they are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of
37% Waste
climate change, are critical in women’s lives, and have
Land-use, 18%
significant contributions to make towards adaptation land use Energy sector
and mitigation efforts. Moreover, as these sectors are change and
forestry
key drivers of Kenya’s economy, they are important for 2%
the achievement of the government’s ‘Big Four Agenda’ Industrial
process
8
and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in sector
addition to Kenya’s NDC ambitions.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the Agriculture, Land Use

Change and Forestry sector contributes to over 75
0%
percent of the country’s emissions, followed by the
Solvent and other
energy sector contributing 18 percent of emissions. 41%
product use
While the water sector does not directly contribute to Agriculture
sector
emissions, it is vital to adaptation efforts and therefore
considered in this NDC revision as a priority sector.

AGRICULTURE
Agriculture contributes 21.9 percent of GDP and 65
Agriculture remains the backbone of the Kenyan percent of exports, with industrial crops contributing 55
economy and continues to be a key economic and percent of agricultural exports.12 The majority of farming
social driver of development. Kenyan households in Kenya is primarily small-scale, with about 75 percent of
that solely engaged in agriculture contributed 31.4 total agricultural output produced on rain-fed agricultural
percent to the reduction of rural poverty.9 As the largest lands averaging 0.3 to 3 hectares in size.13 Key cash crops
source of income for rural households, agriculture include tea, coffee and horticultural crops, which comprise
supports over 80 percent of the rural population and over 90 percent of foreign exchange earnings from
provides about 75 percent of total employment.10 More agricultural products.14 Within this context, the agriculture
specifically, women account for approximately 75 sector plays a clear role in both economic development
percent of the agricultural labour force in small-scale and poverty reduction by supporting livelihoods for large
agriculture in Kenya as compared to 51 percent of men.11 swaths of the population, and especially for rural women.

Women account for approximately

75 percent of the agricultural labour
force in small scale agriculture

© UNDP Kenya 5
The agriculture sector has become more vulnerable surrounding production and marketing. Despite
due to unpredictable weather patterns and the women’s central role in agriculture production, only
increased frequency and intensity of floods and around 10% of land titles are issued to women.17 When
droughts, which can lead to decreased agricultural the hectare size of titles is considered, this translates
productivity, crop failures, livestock deaths, land into only 1.62 percent of agricultural land being owned
degradation, and in some cases, conflict. These by women.18 In Kenya, where land title deeds are the
impacts result in reduced yields and loss of income in most common form of collateral required for agricultural
the agriculture sector, food shortage and malnutrition, credit by financial institutions, low land ownership is
reduced quality of produce and earnings as well as a constraint to accessing credit. From 2014-2018, it is
increased postharvest losses. Furthermore, climate estimated that only around 10 percent of agricultural
uncertainties pose high risks to agro-based enterprises credit went to women.19 These disparities result in yield
and can result in low agro-based investments and low gaps of up to 20-30 percent between male and female
technology uptake for production and value addition.15 managed agricultural enterprises.20
It is estimated that the economic cost of climate change
on the sector is 3 percent of GDP per year by 2030 and Within the context of a changing climate, these barriers
reaching as high as 5 per cent by 2050.16 will further constrain women’s ability to adapt, and
the gender gap in agriculture will continue to widen.21
In agriculture, gender inequalities have been identified Moreover, as women are responsible for overall security
as one of the major factors holding back agricultural and wellbeing of the family, when food availability
productivity and perpetuating poverty and hunger. is threatened by extreme weather events such as
Gender norms that dictate roles in agricultural underpin droughts and floods, the burden of sustaining the family
the disparities that men and women face in production falls disproportionately on women (and girls). Women’s
systems. Women have less access to the means of inequality in agriculture makes them and their families
production including land, finance, inputs, modern more vulnerable to climate change and therefore,
technologies, extension services, and marketing women must be a priority in both adaptation and
facilities while also having less say in decision making mitigation strategies in the agriculture sector.

AGRICULTURE IN KENYA

ONLY

10% translating to
ONLY

of land titles are issued

1.62% agricultural
land owned
by women
to women

land title deeds are the most common form of collateral required for agricultural credit by financial institutions

AROUND YIELD GAP

10% resulting in
20 - between male and

30%
female managed
agricultural
enterprises
agricultural credit went
to women

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ENERGY
In Kenya, the energy sector plays an important role Kenya’s reliance on hydropower as a renewable energy
as the infrastructure enabler for sustained economic source leaves the country’s energy supply sensitive to
growth, development and poverty reduction. climate change impacts. Hydropower generation is
Kenya’s Vision 2030 identifies energy as a driver of impacted by droughts which can lead to the increased
industrialization while access to affordable, competitive, use of diesel-powered generators and result in higher
reliable, quality, safe and sustainable energy will be electricity prices and increased emissions. Such
integral to achieving the “Big 4 Agenda.” Increasing electricity disturbances impact domestic and economic
economic activities coupled with population growth has activities and affect gender groups differently. Energy
led to an increasing energy demand; between 2004 plays a role in enhancing adaptive capacity as
and 2013 power demand rose by 18.9% annually.22 communities with access to energy (electricity, in
particular, through connection to the grid or through
The main sources of energy in Kenya are renewable mini-grids) can utilize it to diversify livelihoods and
energy and fossil fuels. As of 2018, renewable energy, income generating activities. Yet, high electricity
in the form of hydropower, geothermal, and wind, connection costs can make connectivity unaffordable,
accounted for 35.12 percent, 26.84 percent, and 1.09 especially for female headed and child-headed rural
percent, respectively, of Kenya’s electricity production. households. A study done in Homa Bay county revealed
The remaining electricity capacity comes from fossil that 74 percent of female headed households had not
fuels at 34.93 percent, biomass at 1.12 percent, and off- been connected, despite the area having proximity to
grid sources at .81 percent.23 In urban areas, 78 percent the grid, due to the high cost of connection.27
of the urban population has access to electricity while
only 39 percent of the rural population does.24 52.4 It is evident that energy plays a key role in meeting
percent of male headed households use electricity practical gender needs of women (cooking, food
for lighting compared to 48.8 percent of female processing and water hauling) as well as their strategic
headed households. Regardless of connectivity to gender needs (lighting to enable evening study,
electricity, over 80 percent of Kenyans rely on the street lighting for safety, and power for enterprise
traditional use of biomass as their primary source development). Production and use of biomass fuels is the
of energy for cooking and heating – with firewood responsibility of women and children, especially in rural
contributing 68.7 percent and charcoal 13.3 percent.25 areas. It is most often women who spend considerable
About 87 percent of the rural population uses firewood time and effort to supply fuel for their households
for cooking and 82% percent of the urban population and productive needs, using their own labour to carry
uses charcoal for cooking.26 heavy loads over increasingly long distances, at great

ENERGY IN KENYA

52.4% 48.8% 80%

of male headed of female headed of Kenyans rely on
households use households use the traditional use of
electricity for electricity for biomass as primary
lighting lighting source of energy for
cooking and heating

7
risk to their health and safety. Per week, women Access to modern energy is an enabler for women’s
spend on average 77 minutes to collect energy from empowerment as it plays a key role in meeting
source, compared to 13 minutes by men28W. The use practical gender needs of women such as cooking,
of biomass also means that women and children are food processing and water hauling as well as
exposed to large amounts of smoke from indoor fires strategic gender needs like street lighting for safety
which increases risk for respiratory diseases. Insufficient and power for enterprise development. While access
access to modern energy and existing patterns of energy to energy services would not necessarily guarantee
use, processing, and collection increase the burden of gender equality, it helps in relieving women and
work on women. Furthermore, women’s limited ability girls of the drudgery associated with their daily
to make decisions within the household and community tasks and provides them time for income-generating
restricts their ability to influence processes and resource opportunities and education.29
allocations on issues, including energy.

Per week, women spend on

average 77 minutes to collect
energy from source, compared
to 13 minutes by men.

© Flore de Preneuf / World Bank 8

WATER
In Kenya, water is fundamental to
life and livelihoods and vital for ASAL Counties in Kenya
sustainable development and
adaptation actions in the water
sector will be integral to Kenya’s Mandera
response to climate change. Turkana

Currently, clean water coverage in

Marsabit
Kenya stands at 60 percent leaving
approximately 40 percent of Kenyans
without access to clean and safe drinking
Wajir
water.30 In rural areas, 86 percent of
people fetch water from springs, wells, West Pokot

boreholes and streams while only Samburu

Elgeyo-
14 percent have access to Marakwet Isiolo

tap water.31 Climate change Baringo

is altering the spatial and Laikipia

temporal availability of water Meru

resources in Kenya and has Tharaka-Nithi

Nakuru Nyeri
led to an increased scarcity of Homa Garissa
Bay Embu
water resources. This makes
Migori
resource management more Kiambu
Narok
difficult, affecting energy production Machakos Kitui Tana River

and agricultural systems and increases

the likelihood of conflict. Moreover, reduced Kajiado Makueni Lamu

water quality and quantity for domestic and industrial

use can lead to high water pricing and increases in
water borne diseases.
Kilifi

These impacts are especially felt in Kenya’s arid and Taita-Taveta

semi-arid lands, which make up 80 percent of the Mombasa

country.32 During the 2017/18 drought, Kenya’s dominant Arid counties

Kwale (85%-100% aridity)
rain-fed agriculture system left 3.4 million people
Semi-arid counties
severely food insecure and an estimated 500,000 (10%-84% aridity)

people without access to water.33 Prolonged droughts

reduce food security and increase malnutrition, with In times of water scarcity, it is women and girls who
impacts particularly for pregnant women, lactating have to travel long distances in search of water, and
mothers, children and the elderly. have less water for their hygiene. Droughts therefore
mean that women work harder to feed and take care
of their families, as well as take up roles that used to
be the preserve of men, who often migrate to take up
of Kenyans paid work in urban areas increasing the burden on

40% are without women. This has a negative effect on women’s time
management in the household and means they have
access to less time than men for learning and social and cultural
clean and safe activities. Women’s inequality in access to resources
drinking water such as land, education, credit and control over
household income limit their ability to adapt to climate
change water related impacts.

9
IV. GOVERNANCE
The Climate Change Act (2016) is the first Promoting gender equality and women’s
comprehensive legal framework for climate change empowerment falls under the responsibility of
governance in Kenya and established the National the Ministry of Public Service, Youth, and Gender
Climate Change Council, Climate Change Directorate, and specifically through the State Department for
and Climate Change Fund. Importantly, the Act requires Gender. The Department is the technical lead in
that national and county governments mainstream regard to mainstreaming gender in policies and
intergenerational and gender equity in all aspects of programmes within Government and works with
climate change responses. relevant stakeholders through laid down mechanisms
like the Intergovernmental Forum and the Gender
In turn, the Climate Change Directorate (CCD), housed Sector Coordination mechanism. These ensure that
within the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, is the there are structured ways of interaction with relevant
lead government agency on national climate change State and non-state Actors, including the county
actions and delivery of operational coordination, governments, academia and development partners.
mandated with supporting different sectors and The National Gender and Equality Commission ensures
ministries on climate change. The Climate Change Act the government is in compliance with all international
requires that the Cabinet Secretary responsible for treaties and conventions that Kenya has ratified relating
climate change affairs lead the formulation of a Gender to equality and non-discrimination.
and Intergenerational Climate Change Education and
Awareness Strategy and the Directorate to coordinate Following the recognition of gender as a national
its implementation. priority, various ministries have developed gender
policies for their sectors, while some ministries have
The National Climate Change Council (NCCC), established Gender Units and Sections with gender
chaired by the President, is supposed to ensure the officers. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and
mainstreaming of climate change functions by the Fisheries has a Gender Unit whose responsibilities
national and county governments and approve and are to coordinate gender mainstreaming efforts
oversee the implementation of the 5-year National and to ensure that gender is part and parcel of all
Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP). Inter-ministerial interventions, procedures, and processes, however
coordination occurs through the Inter-ministerial there is no specific gender budget line in the ministry
National Climate Change Coordination Committee, for this unit. Even though the Ministry of Water has
which consists of senior-level members from Climate existing gender mainstreaming committees, there
Change Directorate, the Prime Minister’s Office, is a low understanding of gender mainstreaming
various ministries including the Ministry of Gender, and and climate change in the sector because of limited
representatives from the private sector and civil society. awareness creation and capacity building resulting
from inadequate funding. The Ministry of Energy
The Climate Change Act (2016) calls for the has a Gender Unit in place and a Gender Ministerial
creation of a climate change unit in each ministry Committee who are responsible for coordinating
to be responsible for integrating the 5-year National gender actions and ensuring mainstreaming of gender
Climate Change Action Plans in sector strategies and into activities in the ministry and its Semi-Autonomous
implementation plans, however, most ministries have Government Agencies. While there is good will from
a climate change focal point, although not necessarily management to support gender activities and regular
with high hierarchical influence.34 In the NDC priority reporting by the Gender Ministerial Committee, the
sectors the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Gender Unit has a limited budget restricting its ability to
Fisheries, Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation, fully operationalize.
and the Ministry of Energy, all have climate change
and gender focal points seconded from the Ministry of Devolution is a key mechanism for inclusive
Public Service, Youth and Gender. governance in Kenya. The Council of Governors

10
provides a mechanism for consultation amongst county harmonization and networking among actors at all
governments as well as the national government and levels poses challenges to mainstreaming at the
other stakeholders. Under the Council of Governors national and county levels. Inadequate resources
there are sectoral technical committees established, (human and financial), limited technical capacity,
including one on gender, that handle sector specific and capacity consistency resulting from deployment/
issues and offer advisory services to country transfers of key staff also slows down the pace of
governments. While Secretariats of sectoral committees implementation. At county level, County Climate
lead on technical matters, including gender, the Change Units are to support county sectoral structures
committees of the Council of Governors work separately to mainstream climate change and gender adequately
in silos and thus minimal working relations exists with the into agriculture, energy, and water functions.
gender committee. In terms of climate change, a County
Executive Committee (CEC) member is designated to RECOMMENDATION 1
coordinate climate change affairs in each county, while
Training and capacity building on gender
each county is also expected to establish a Climate
mainstreaming and climate change is key at both the
Change Unit. As part of the County Climate Change Unit
national and county levels of government. Climate
establishment guidelines, staffing provisions have been
change and gender focal points from key MDAs and the
made for a Social Safeguards Officer who also can act as
47 counties should be targeted.
a Gender Officer, however, this is yet to be implemented.
Under provisions in the Climate Change Act (2016) some
county governments have established County Climate RECOMMENDATION 2
Change Funds to support the financing of climate The Ministries in charge of gender and climate change
change actions in their county Integrated Development should facilitate the establishment of a Gender and
Plans. Of the five existing county climate change fund Climate Change Coordination Platform to coordinate
regulations in place place across Kenya, most of them and promote gender in climate change actions. The
take gender into consideration. platform should be co-chaired by the Ministry for
Public Service, Youth and Gender and the Ministry
Even though Kenya has committed to mainstreaming of Environment and Forestry and should have multi-
climate change and gender in Ministries, Departments stakeholder representation from other NDC relevant
and Authorities (MDAs) and instilled institutional ministries, development partners, private sector and
arrangements in all sectors, weak coordination, civil society organizations.

© UNDP Kenya 11
V. PLANNING
Kenya’s five-year National Climate Change Action to not only informing policy decisions and planning
Plan II 2018-2022 (NCCAP) guides the country but also to verify and monitor gender mainstreaming
toward adapting to climate change and reducing GHG. in climate change actions and in sector initiatives. An
The Climate Change Act requires the government analysis of the National Climate Change Action Plan II
to develop Action Plans to guide its mainstreaming found that many of the actions in the three NDC priority
of climate change into sector functions and is the sectors were gender blind. In turn, the Gender Analysis
framework for implementing Kenya’s NDC. The National provided recommendations for gender-responsive
Climate Change Action Plan is reviewed every five indicators to all actions in the plan to strengthen gender
years and informs the nation’s overarching 5-year integration in the plan.
Medium-Term Plans that operationalize Vision 2030.
RECOMMENDATION 3
The National Treasury and Planning plays a pivotal The Climate Change Directorate and the Ministry of
role in integrating gender and climate change into the Public Service, Youth and Gender should develop
national Medium-Term Plans and is responsible for clear guidelines on mainstreaming gender
making regulations that set out procedures and powers considerations into climate change sectors,
to identify sources of climate finance, monitoring its use supported with tangible targets and indicators
and promote climate change initiatives. At local levels, (drawing from the recommended indicators in the
county governments are responsible for integrating and Gender Analysis). The guidelines will also support
mainstreaming climate change and gender into County key sector actors and stakeholders (public and
Integrated Development Plans while County Climate private) to pursue climate change actions and sector
Change Units oversee the implementation of the climate policies in line with NDC and National Climate
change actions stipulated in the county plans. Change Action Plan II while simultaneously promoting
gender equality.
The National Climate Change Action Plan II identifies
gender equality as a critical component of the plan. It RECOMMENDATION 4
recognizes that the adverse effects of climate change
Support the implementation of the Climate Change
will exacerbate existing gender inequalities in the
Act (2016) at the devolved levels of government to
country and commits to advancing gender equality and
create the institutional and structural arrangements that
equity. Similarly, Agriculture, Energy, and Water sector
are critical to sustaining the mainstreaming efforts.
plans also consider gender, yet, there still remains
limited implementation and monitoring at programme
RECOMMENDATION 5
and project levels and this contributes to the gender
gaps that still persist in those sectors. The National Gender and Equality Commission should
advocate for the implementation of the National
There is a lack of adequate gender-specific budgetary Guidelines for Gender Responsive Budgeting in
allocations at sector levels and in the national and Kenya and build capacity of key decision and policy
county budgets. Across all sectors it is noted that makers in gender responsive budgeting. Increased
gender responsive planning and budgeting holds a monitoring, learning and evaluation of compliance to
critical role in enabling actual implementation, however gender responsive planning and budgeting should be
at the implementation phase of various interventions obligatory at program, project and activity level.
there doesn’t seem to be much compliance with such
policies and guidelines on gender responsive budgeting. RECOMMENDATION 6
The inclusion of gender and climate change indicators
Compounding the problem, is a lack of gender in the performance contracting of public office
sensitive sectoral indicators and targets and a holders is crucial and should be reinstated. This is
scarcity of sex/gender disaggregated data across important for prioritization and budgetary allocation in
all the sectors. Such data and information is crucial MDAs and other stakeholders.

12
RECOMMENDATION 7 RECOMMENDATION 8
The National Gender and Equality Commission should All sectors should invest in disaggregated data to
develop comprehensive reporting guidelines for use reveal gender disparities in sectors related to climate
by state and non-state actors. Annual gender reports change actions. This is crucial in informing relevant
should be informed by sector with comprehensive and policy interventions. Gender and climate change review,
specific sex-disaggregated data. Guidelines should be progress and evaluation reports should be systematically
customized and used by all sectors with clear follow up produced to all actors and stakeholders for continued
and tracking. influencing of the ongoing actions through relevantly
disaggregated data decision making and planning.

© UNDP Kenya

VI. POLICY
The Constitution of Kenya, which is the supreme law change; however, the Medium-Term Plan III (2018-2022)
of the Republic of Kenya, is clear on the principle of recognizes climate change as a crosscutting thematic
equality and non-discrimination as well as the not more area and facilitates mainstreaming climate actions in
than two thirds gender principle in appointive and sector plans.
elective positions.35 In addition, Kenya’s overarching
national development policy, Vision 2030, The National Climate Change Framework Policy was
acknowledges the equal rights of men and women to developed in 2016 to facilitate a coordinated, coherent
enjoy a high quality of life and to benefit from equal and effective response to the local, national and global
opportunities, while the Medium-Term Plan III (2018- challenges and opportunities presented by climate
2022) emphasizes the promotion of gender equality in change. An overarching mainstreaming approach has
all sectors. Nonetheless, there is no direct link between been adopted to ensure the integration of climate
Vision 2030 and the various key policy documents on change considerations and support the goal of low
gender, such as the National Policy on Gender and carbon climate resilient development. The framework
Development (2000) and Sessional Paper No.2 of integrates gender through gender sensitive and inclusive
2006 on Gender Equality and Development. In regard approaches, responsiveness of actions and measures,
to climate, Vision 30 does not directly address climate and inclusive decision making and implementation.

13
 © BBOXX Kenya

Importantly, the National Climate Change Framework integration in the specific interventions it proposes,
Policy sets the foundation for all other climate change despite women being central to their success.
policies, strategies and plans including for the These include the promotion of agroforestry and low
implementation of gender responsive NDCs. maintenance water technologies like water harvesting,
and in the education and training on environmental
The National Policy on Gender and Development conservation and management.
(2019) is still in draft form as it awaits Cabinet
approval but underscores the importance of gender Despite the above-mentioned policies and legislative
mainstreaming across sectors including in matters frameworks, gender disparities still persist due to the
related to the environment and natural resources. slow implementation processes. This can be attributed
It clearly outlines policy actions towards ensuring a to gaps in the laws, delayed enactment of gender-
clean, secure and sustainable environment for all from related legislation and lack of comprehensiveness in
a gender perspective. the content of some laws.

The Ministry of Agriculture does not have a specific RECOMMENDATION 9

sectoral gender policy, but has supported gender Align the development of sector plans with the
mainstreaming in the Agriculture and Livestock various gender policy documents to ensure that each
Sector Plan of Medium-Term Plan III (2018- 2022), sector appropriately mainstreams gender concerns.
Agriculture Sector Transformation and Growth Finalizing the Draft National Policy on Gender and
Strategy, and the Climate Smart Agriculture Strategy Development will be a step towards improving gender
(CSAS 2017). The National Energy Policy (2019) mainstreaming in sector plans.
speaks to gender imbalances among personnel in
energy institutions, stresses the need to undertake RECOMMENDATION 10
measures to make clean and modern energy services
Operationalize the Gender Policy in Energy (2020)
affordable and accessible to all, and indicates that
through implementing it’s commitments and strategies.
gender should be mainstreamed in energy policy
formulation, planning, production, distribution and use.
RECOMMENDATION 11
The Gender Policy in Energy launched in November
2020 aims to guide the mainstreaming of gender in Revise/review the Draft Water Policy to reflect gender
institutions, policies and programs in the Ministry of budgeting across all programs/plans in the water sector.
Energy, county governments and amongst stakeholders
ensuring gender equality and equity is achieved within RECOMMENDATION 12
the energy sector in Kenya. The National Water Policy Formally include gender in the ministerial
(2018) broadly mainstreams both climate change and performance contracts to ensure prioritization of
gender issues however, the policy is silent on gender gender-responsive actions.

14
VII. CONCLUSION
The gender analysis illustrated common gaps
and challenges faced by institutions mandated to
coordinate, support, and implement climate change
adaptation and mitigation actions across the country.
These include:

• Meeting financial and human resource capacity

needs surrounding both climate change and gender
across climate change governance institutions,
sector Ministries, Departments, and Authorities, and
in county government;

• Clear guidelines to facilitate climate change

and gender mainstreaming into sector policies,
strategies and plans, and interventions. Guidelines
would stipulate the use of gender responsive sector
indicators and targets, gender budgeting, and the
collection of sex-disaggregated data; and

• Gaps in gender-specific sector policies that

would further support operationalizing gender
mainstreaming throughout sector Ministries,
Departments, Authorities, regulators and parastatals.

By comprehensively assessing Kenya’s climate change

institutional environment and the NDC priority sectors
of Agriculture, Energy, and Water, the Gender Analysis
has provided concrete governance, planning, and
policy recommendations. These recommendations will
strengthen Kenya’s ability to meet its commitments
under the Paris Agreement as well facilitate the nation
on its path towards low-carbon, climate resilient
economic growth and development for all of its citizens
equally, women included.

© Dana Smillie / World Bank Kenya

15
ENDNOTES
1 Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs. 2018. State Department for Gender Affairs- Strategic Plan 2018-2022.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
4 Ibid.
5 World Economic Forum. 2015. The Global Gender Gap Index 2015.
6 Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. 2018. Kenya Economic Survey, 2018.
7 Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. 2016. Kenya Integrated Household Budget Survey 2015-2016.
8 Kenya’s Third Medium-Term Plan to implement Vision 2030, is driven by the Big Four Agenda: Food security, affordable housing,
manufacturing, and affordable healthcare.
9 World Bank, 2019. Kenya Economic Update: Unbundling the Slack in Private Sector Investment Transforming Agriculture Sector
Productivity and Linkages to Poverty Reduction. Edition No. 19. World Bank. Washington D.C.
10 Ibid.; Government of Kenya, 2017. Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Strategy. 2017 – 2026.
11 International Labour Organization. 2019. ILOSTAT database.
12 Ibid.; Government of Kenya, 2010. Agricultural Sector Development Strategy 2010–2020.
13 FAO. 2015. Scoping Study on Climate-Smart Agriculture in Kenya Smallholder Integrated Crop-Livestock Farming Systems. FAO, Rome.
14 Government of Kenya, 2010. Agricultural Sector Development Strategy 2010–2020.
15 Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries. 2017. Kenya Climate Smart Agriculture Strategy. 2017 – 2026.
16 IFAD, 2020. Kenya Country Page.
17 Kenya Land Alliance. 2018. About the Women Land Rights Project.
18 Ibid.
19 Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis. 2019. Women’s Access to Agricultural Finance in Kenya: Baseline Report 2019.
Special Paper No. 29. KiPPRA, Nairobi.
20 Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries. 2019. Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy 2019-2029.
21 Nyasimi M., and Huyer S. 2017. Closing the gender gap in agriculture under climate change. Agriculture for Development, 30.
22 Mokveld, K., von Eije, S. 2018. Final Energy Report Kenya. Netherlands Enterprise Agency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
23 Ministry of Energy. 2018. Energy Source Statistics.
24 World Bank. 2018. Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report 2018. World Bank. Washington, D.C.
25 Ministry of Energy and Petroleum. 2016. Kenya Action Agenda- Sustainable Energy for All.
26 Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. 2013. Analysis of Demand and Supply of Wood Products in Kenya.
27 University of Oslo, TERI, Seacrester Consulting and Dunamai Energy. 2019. Women’s empowerment and electricity access: How do grid and
off-grid systems enhance or restrict gender equality? Research report RA1, ENERGIA.
28 Ministry of Energy, 2019. Gender Policy in Energy. Nairobi, Government of Kenya.
29 UNDP. 2015. Gender, Policy and Energy: A review of energy policies in east and Southern Africa. UNDP, USA.
30 Ministry of Water and Sanitation. 2018. Ministry of Water and Sanitation Strategic Plan, 2018- 2022.
31 Beyene, A. 2015. Agricultural water institutions in East Africa. Nordiska Afrikainstitutet. Uppsala.
32 Government of Kenya. 2012. Vision 2030 Strategy for Northern Kenya and Other Arid Lands.
33 Government of Kenya. 2018. National Climate Change Action Plan 2018-2022.
34 NewClimate Institute and Climate Analytics. 2019. Climate Action Tracker- Climate Governance: Assessment of the government’s ability
and readiness to transform Kenya into a zero emissions society.
35 To domesticate Kenya’s international commitments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and The Beijing Declaration and
Platform for Action, the Constitution of Kenya 2011 recognizes and safeguards human rights and fundamental freedoms and entrenches the
concept in article 81 (b): “Not more then two thirds of the members of elective or appointive bodies shall be of the same gender.”

16
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