SANET is executing a pilot action as part of the Advancing Capacity to support Climate Change Adaptation (ACCCA) project funded by UNITAR: Improving decision-making processes through climate change scenario generation in the Bunyala flood plains of western Kenya.

Climate change has a direct impact on water management strategies, which play a key role in the enhancement of national economic development and increases in farmers’ real income. These management strategies are a crucial part of medium-term and long-term agricultural policies. Rice production yields can be increased under certain rain-fed and irrigated conditions; however climate change is expected to increase the magnitude and frequency of droughts. Rice production in the Bunyala Flood Plains, situated within the Lake Victoria basin, is one of the most densely populated regions in Kenya and East Africa. Poverty levels and HIV/AIDS prevalence are very high. Communities living in the area are vulnerable to climate change impacts on water resources (floods, droughts). Rice production is both a staple and a cash crop which ensures food security to the households by earning income. However, the main water resource for rice production, Nzoia River is threatened by climate change (deforestation at source), population increase and pollution (paper and sugar factories). In addition, floods (and associated silt deposition), damages to physical infrastructure (roads, canals, pumping stations) bring about additional challenges (resettlement, malaria, clean water challenges etc) in the area.

FutureWater contributes to this project by developing an Integrated Water Resource Management Planning Tool (for generating climate change scenarios) for improved planning and management of sustainable food and sustainable livelihoods; and training materials for technical support in the maintenance and implementation of the planning tool and the facilitation of stakeholder workshops for exploring scenarios and supporting local water and cropping decisions. These activities are expected to contribute to more effective agricultural decision-making and sustainable water management strategies.

Related publications

• 2009 - FutureWater Report 88Immerzeel, W.W., P. Droogers. 2009. Impacts of Global Climate Change on the Water Resources of the Bunyala plains. FutureWater Report 88X

  Impacts of Global Climate Change on the Water Resources of the Bunyala plains

  Immerzeel, W.W., P. Droogers