Environmental mainstreaming in development policy and planning in Sub-Saharan Africa: A case study from Kenya

Abstract

The paper aims to map Kenya’s national development planning framework, investigate any environmental (including climate change) mainstreaming (EM) strategies employed, and identify the prospects and challenges for EM furtherance. The country’s heavy reliance on environment and natural resources for socio-economic development makes it particularly vulnerable to climate change. Effective EM will thus ensure better resource management and utilisation, improve livelihoods and enhance climate change adaptation. EM strategies are investigated through a review of published literature, government policy documents and statements, and key informant interviews with representatives of institutions and organisations involved in national development policy and planning. Effectiveness of normative, organisational and procedural EM strategies employed is evaluated from a horizontal environmental policy integration perspective. The country’s political commitment and strategic vision, administrative culture and practices, assessment of and participation in planning, monitoring and learning from experience, and use of policy instruments to achieve EM are analysed. The participatory and integrated district development planning framework offers a unique opportunity for EM. However, absence of environmental representation in key development planning agencies and processes, no coherent national sustainable development strategy or office to coordinate EM, non-greening of public procurement, and non-diversification of policy instruments are identified as major challenges. The paper is among the very few studies that have investigated cross-sectoral EM at a national level in Africa and will greatly contribute towards the achievement of Agenda 21s call for the integration of environment into national development policy and planning processes. The findings can be applied across sub-Saharan countries and beyond.