GCA Launches Kenya NbS Compendium at Kenya Urban Forum
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airobi, Kenya – 19 June 2025 – The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), jointly with the World Bank, launched the Nature-based Solutions Compendium for Urban Resilience in Kenya at the second ‘Kenya Urban Forum: Future is Urban.’ This new practical guide supports municipalities to integrate nature-based solutions (NbS) into urban planning and infrastructure development to catalyze climate resilient cities.
With Kenya’s cities growing rapidly, urban systems are under increasing pressure from climate shocks and infrastructure gaps, especially in secondary cities and those in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs). The catastrophic floods of May 2024, which displaced over 250,000 people, underscored the urgency of adaptive urban development. Nature-based solutions offer a powerful, scalable response by leveraging ecological processes to manage climate risks while improving water management, biodiversity, and access to green public spaces.
At the Forum’s opening session, H.E. Governor Susan Kihika of County Government of Nakuru highlighted climate adaptation as a necessity for Kenya’s urban future, identifying nature-based solutions as a key pillar for ensuring urban resilience.
The NbS Compendium offers municipalities a step-by-step methodology for identifying, prioritizing, and implementing NbS. Building on the GFDRR’s NbS Opportunity Scan across six Kenyan cities, it highlights real-world case studies, such as Nakuru’s conversion of flood-prone streets into green corridors, and distills lessons from local experiences to help bridge the gap between national policies and local action. Key barriers such as coordination, financing, and monitoring are addressed, with policy recommendations aimed at accelerating replication and scaling of NbS across urban Kenya.
“The NbS Compendium represents a significant milestone in our effort to harness the power of nature to build resilient and livable urban areas in Kenya. It is a testament to the innovative and collaborative spirit that drives our work. It provides a comprehensive guide to NBS, offering practical insights and strategies for integrating these solutions into urban planning and development.” said Beatriz E. Puig, Senior Urban Specialist at the World Bank, during the launch.
GCA developed the NbS Compendium for Urban Resilience in Kenya as part of its technical assistance to the Second Kenya Urban Support Program (KUSP2). This was done in close collaboration with the project’s partners, the World Bank, implementer the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, the Council of Governors, the Department for Refugee Services, as well as leading Kenyan experts. The initiative is funded by the Government of Denmark and received support from the City Climate Finance Gap Fund.
“This Compendium is not a product of the World Bank or GCA, it is a resource created by and for Kenyan cities,” said Joep Verhagen, GCA’s Global Lead for Water & Urban. “It captures your experiences, successes, and innovations, and is meant to inspire and guide the integration of nature-positive solutions into urban planning and investments for stronger climate resilience.”
An expert dialogue followed, featuring inspiring good practices from Nakuru, Mombasa, and Mandera, where local leaders shared real-world experiences of implementing NbS. The discussion brought how the deep understanding of local realities of the local municipalities led to creative solutions to scale up solutions. The European Investment Bank and the Environment Institute of Kenya also joined the panel to highlight capacity-building and financing needs for scaling up NbS.
“I take great pride in seeing our local experiences and innovations so thoughtfully captured in this compendium,” said Engineer Byron Buyu, Acting Secretary at the Urban and Metropolitan Development (SUMD), while closing the session. “I look forward to the effective implementation and broader scaling of these insights across the country, as we work toward advancing more inclusive and climate resilient urban development.”
During the Forum, Joep Verhagen, GCA’s Global Lead for Water & Urban, also shared insights from GCA’s NbS work in Africa and Bangladesh, reinforcing that resilient cities emerge when nature-positive solutions are rooted in local realities and supported by enabling systems.
By equipping local governments with actionable tools, GCA and its partners are helping create greener, healthier, and more resilient urban spaces across Kenya.
Access the Compendium and Related Resources:
