Kenya Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Program

T he Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is supporting the World Bank Group in preparing and implementing the Kenya Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Program in 19 counties:  Baringo, Bomet, Garissa, Kericho, Kitui, Kirinyaga, Kwale, Makueni, Mandera, Migori, Murang’a, Nandi, Narok, Samburu, Tana River, Tharaka Nithi, Turkana, Vihiga, and West Pokot. GCA is providing this support through the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP).

The project’s objective is to increase sustainable access to improved water and sanitation services, eliminate open defecation, and improve the financial performance of water services providers in selected counties, including those hosting refugees. The program will provide 4 million people with sustainable access to improved climate resilient water services and improved sanitation services, of which 2 million are women and 320,000 are refugees.

GCA interventions aim to increase the capacity of 19 counties to build resilience to climate risks and strengthen climate change adaptation. GCA will support the implementation of the project through capacity building for climate risk-informed water supply and sanitation schemes, supporting county governments’ development of Countywide Water and Sanitation Strategies and Investment Plans, and strengthening the capacity of counties to acquire and make use of existing climate data and information to improve water and sanitation services planning and implementation.

Investment Value Influenced by GCA

$250 million

Beneficiaries

4 million people
(320,000 refugees)
(400,000 host community members)

Implementation Period

2024-2030

Partner

GCA’s Added Value

GCA’s support includes:

  • Masterclass on climate-resilient water and sanitation services: The Masterclass will provide practical guidelines for designing and managing climate-resilient water and sanitation services. With five modules, the Masterclass imparts actionable knowledge on climate risks that are relevant to Kenya’s urban sectors, practical skills on how to integrate resilience, Nature-based Solutions, and Locally Led Adaptation into urban planning and development, and how to access climate finance.  
  • Climate risk-informed County Water and Sanitation Strategies and Investment Plans: GCA will review the technical guidance note provided to county governments for developing Countywide Water and Sanitation Strategies and Investment Plans.
  • Use of climate data for improved planning of water and sanitation services: This component helps counties utilize existing climate data to better plan and implement water and sanitation services, ensuring sustainability in climate-vulnerable areas. Activities include compiling an inventory of global and national climate data sources, detailing their formats, quality, accessibility, and usefulness.

Expected Outcomes

Outcomes influenced by GCA support:

  • Increased sustainable access to improved water and sanitation services for households in climate-vulnerable rural areas: 4 million people with increased access, of which 2 million are women and 320,000 are refugees.
  • Improved operational and financial performance of water services providers in participating counties: 25 water supply providers achieve 100% of their operating cost coverage ratio target as per their approved performance improvement action plans 
  • Improved sanitation facilities constructed or rehabilitated: 4,100 villages achieve and sustain open defecation free status.
  • Improved sector reforms, coordination, and monitoring and evaluation capacity for integrated water management.