Garissa County Government in collaboration with Islamic Relief organization has kicked off a training for county technical staff in readiness to conduct the county Participatory Climate Risk Assessment (PCRA) process.
The training aims to equip technical officers from various county departments with the necessary skills to facilitate participatory climate risk assessment at the community level by giving opportunity to the community to access, plan, analyze and develop community climate actions and priorities.
The training comes barely weeks after the Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ) met various county officials and members of the County Assembly on involvement of communities in climate action.
Dan Adino from Financing Locally Lead Climate Action (FLLoCA) programme an organization which is implementing climate action in communities, stressed the importance of the technical officers rolling out the PCRA process at the community level and identifying locally led climate interventions which will enhance community resilience.
Adino emphasized the need for collective action to combat the increasing effects of climate change, including prolonged droughts and rainfall shortages.
“Matters climate change worldwide have caused a lot of effects, such as droughts, rapid weather patterns, and floods. That’s why we have to bring everyone on board,” Adino said.
The County Director for Climate Change Abdilatif Ahmed said participatory approach ensures that marginalized and vulnerable groups are not left behind in the climate change planning and decision making processes.
“Communities with limited access to resources, such as women and youth, are often disproportionately affected by climate change and its impacts. Engaging these groups in the PCRA process ensures that their voices are heard, and their needs are taken into account in the development of climate change adaptation strategies and action plans,” Abdilatif said.
Abdilatif noted that the county government is committed to promoting low-carbon development climate resilience actions in the county that will enhance community resilience against the whims of climate Change.
After the completion of the training sessions, the trained personnel will proceed to all the wards and undertake County Wide Participatory Climate Risk Assessment (PCRA).
The aim is to develop a comprehensive County wide Climate Change action plan for the County that includes proposals from all wards in which FLLoCA programmes are implemented in the County.
By involving various departments and partners, the county aims to create a wholesome, resilient and sustainable future for its residents.
By Erick Kyalo
