1. Through collaboration with these institutions, KARI will
exchange best practices, coordinate research projects and
share data critical to developing comprehensive climate
change / adaptation responses.
The unit will strive at collaborating among other global
initiatives, the newly initiated Challenge Program
on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security
(CCAFS). This is a new 10-year research initiative
launched by the Consultative Group on International
Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and the Earth System
Science Partnership (ESSP).
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute
Climate Change Unit (CCU) Climate Change
Director, KARI
P.O. Box 57811, 0200
Unit (CCU)
Nairobi, Kenya
Annual maximum temperature trends in Lodwar Tel: 020 418 330/8/9
Cel: 0722 206 986, 0722 206 988
0733 333 223, 0733 333 224
E-mail: director@kari.org
www.kari.org
The set up and operation of the KARI’s
Climate Change Unit (CCU) has been funded
by the Government of Kenya and the
Rockefeller Foundation

2. Preamble Objectives
The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) ● to mainstream the climate change agenda in
is the leading institution in the national agricultural KARI as a means of enhancing farmer resilience
system. KARI implements several research programmes, to the effects of climate change,
through a dynamic approach programmatic research ● to increase the level, awareness, coordination,
planning and implementation. KARI recognises climate and oversight of research relevant to climate
change, a phenomenon resulting from global warming, change adaptation at KARI, and
as one of the major threats to sustainable development ● to increase and sustain crop and livestock
of agricultural sector. Therefore, climate mitigation productivity through adaptation as a response to
and adaptation research is one of the KARI’s thematic the effects of climate change.
focal areas as stipulated in its Strategic Plan 2009-2014.
However, KARI has not in the past had a programme Operation of the Climate Change Unit In the short term an expert in climate variability and
or a unit dealing with issues of climate. Thus, some (CCU) adaptation will work with the unit in the following
aspects that could constitute mitigation and adaptation areas:
to climate change have been addressed in projects falling The unit is operating under the Environmental Research ● Research strategy development
under various KARI programmes such as irrigation and Programme of the Natural Resource Management ● Climate change adaptation research activities
drainage, soil and water management, soil fertility, crop Division in liaison with the Deputy Director Research ● Capacity development
breeding, livestock health and production. and Technology.
Collaborators and Linkages
KARI launched its Climate Change Unit (CCU) The unit receives backstopping from a technical advisory
on the 27th May 2010, to serve as a focal point for group (TAG) made up of heads of technical thematic ● Network of the Rockefeller funded institutions
collaboration in climate change with external partners areas of KARI (listed above). TAG provides a forum in addition to KARI:
and stakeholders, and ensuring continued awareness, of each thematic area representation in CCU’s planning ● Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa
creation and dissemination of knowledge on climate process and research support. The coordination of the (AGRA)
change mitigation and adaptation throughout KARI and CCU comprises of the Coordinator Environmental ● IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications
related Kenyan, East African and global organisations. Research and a secretariat. The secretariat will have the Centre (ICPAC)
role of streamlining and overseeing execution of climate ● Kenya Meteorological Department
change adaptation research in KARI. ● Makerere University,
● National Agricultural Research Organisation
The CCU will specifically guide and support KARI (NARO) - Uganda,
scientists in matters pertaining to i) vulnerability ● Michigan State University
assessment, and ii) climate variability/change adaptation ● Stanford University
planning, strategies, policies and measures. It will also ● Weather Station in KARI-Alupe
work with stakeholders/actors as a community of practice
(CoP) in sharing and/or gaining knowledge on climate
change mitigation and adaptation through an online
forum.