Cool waters: Youth-Led Climate Adaptation in Nairobi River Communities

About this project

The "Cool Waters" project is a two-year initiative aimed at enhancing climate resilience in Nairobi's riverine communities through youth-led interventions. Focusing on informal settlements along the Nairobi Rivers Basin, where approximately 1.8 million people (40% of Nairobi's residents) live within 1km of the rivers, the project addresses critical climate challenges including projected increases in annual precipitation, temperature rise, flooding risks, and heat vulnerability. Through three main objectives, the project seeks to develop community capacity for climate adaptation, implement resilience solutions, and advocate for the mainstreaming of local adaptation strategies into government plans. Key activities include establishing a Climate Adaptation Academy, conducting participatory hazard mapping, developing community adaptation plans, and implementing nature-based solutions. The initiative emphasizes gender equality with a 50/50 participation target and special consideration for women's needs, as they are often primary caregivers and most affected by climate impacts. Aligned with SDGs 11, 13, and 17, and supporting the newly formed Nairobi Rivers Commission's mandate, the project is implemented by UN-Habitat and the Public Space Network. Serving as a catalytic initiative in the early stages of the larger Nairobi Rivers regeneration project, it has potential for additional co-funding from other donors to expand its impact on protecting and restoring the ecological integ…

Published by

UN-Habitat · Multilateral

Countries

Kenya

Sectors

Environmental policy and administrative management

Funded by

Dreamtown

Accountable

UN-Habitat

Published by UN-Habitat to the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI), last updated 13 Nov 2025 and imported automatically. IATI identifier: 41120-227298.

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