Title: Reducing climate adaptation deficits using revolving fund network schemes in rural areas of Kenya: case study of Loitoktok district

Authors: Grace Wambui Ngaruiya; Jürgen Scheffran

Addresses: Research Group Climate Change and Security, University of Hamburg, Grindelberg 7, # 2013, D-20144 Hamburg, Germany ' Research Group Climate Change and Security, University of Hamburg, Grindelberg 7, # 2013, D-20144 Hamburg, Germany

Abstract: The ability to overcome poverty through wealth contained in natural resources offers significant opportunities to developing countries. This concept drives Kenya's economic growth strategy through revolving fund schemes within the Grand Vision 2030 plan. Though successful in empowering citizens these schemes lack strong environmental and climate change aspects. Thus, to avoid future predicted resource scarcity, climate adaptation barriers among stakeholders must be identified and solved using local measures. Using data from Loitoktok district, this paper examines the community aggregation and identifies the local barriers to climate adaptation. We confirm high group activity in sectors sensitive to climate variability and by analysing the Loitoktok stakeholder network, we describe how adaptive capacity can be mainstreamed via the funding schemes network avenues. A collaborative network is proposed to coordinate community actions to exploit 'beneficial climate change opportunities' and strengthen the adaptive capacity to sustain livelihoods in Loitoktok.

Keywords: climate adaptation deficit; revolving fund schemes; economic growth; vision 2030; sustainable development; barriers; stakeholder networks; adaptive capacity; Kenya; rural areas; sustainability; poverty; developing countries; climate change; resource scarcity; collaborative networks; community actions; sustainable livelihoods.

DOI: 10.1504/AJESD.2013.058746

African Journal of Economic and Sustainable Development, 2013 Vol.2 No.4, pp.347 - 362

Published online: 28 Feb 2014 *

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