By Linda Makau,
GARISSA, September 16–18, 2025 – In a bold step toward inclusive climate resilience and data-driven decision-making, the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), through the WISER Kenya Project, convened a three-day training workshop at Nomad Hotel, Garissa, from September 16–18, 2025.
Under the theme “Using Maprooms for Improved Decision Making via Stakeholder Engagement,” the workshop brought together diverse participants, including persons with disabilities (PWDs), women, youth, and elders. By placing inclusivity at the heart of climate action, the training reflected Africa’s Agenda 2063 aspirations for a prosperous, climate-resilient continent where no one is left behind.
Opening the workshop, Dr. Philip Omondi, WISER Kenya Project Lead from ICPAC, emphasized the importance of integrating science, technology, and community engagement in tackling climate challenges. “Maproom training focuses on utilizing a comprehensive collection of maps and data visualizations that track current and historical climate and societal conditions. The primary goal is to enhance the resilience and adaptive capacity of the people in Garissa, particularly the most vulnerable populations. By improving access to weather and climate information services, the initiative aims to better equip communities to prepare for and respond effectively to the impacts of climate change.,” said Dr. Omondi.
Maprooms, developed under the WISER Kenya Project, are innovative, web-based platforms that integrate real-time climate data, historical trends, and predictive models. They enable policymakers, farmers, humanitarian actors, and community leaders to anticipate climate risks, prepare for disasters, and optimize agricultural and water resource planning.
For counties like Garissa, prone to both droughts and floods, such tools are invaluable. By enhancing decision-making, Maprooms contribute directly to Agenda 2063 Goals 1 and 7, focusing on inclusive growth and environmentally sustainable, climate-resilient communities.
The Kenya Meteorological Department, represented by its Deputy director Kennedy Thiong’o and team, reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that climate information is timely, accurate, and actionable: “This information is available on our website. The product uses historical data and its able to project what is expected in the county. Map rooms are transforming how climate data is accessed and used. With this training, stakeholders can turn data into decisions that save lives and strengthen community resilience,” He mentioned.
As key implementers on ground, the Kenya Red Cross Society-WISER, represented by Mr. Zachary Misiani, the Kenya program coordinator underscored the importance of community-driven adaptation measures: “The objective of this project is to reach every vulnerable community. This will help all stakeholders involved to project forthcoming extreme weather events. There is a need to utilize the Kenya Meteorological Department Maproom in a bid to improve interventions. In 2022, there was a prolonged drought that affected the counties of Garisaa and Tana River. In 2023 and 2024, we had severe flooding and the same countries were affected. Therefore, this training for the community ensures that climate information leads to timely action on the ground,” he noted.
By involving PWDs, women, youth, and elders, the project also tackles social barriers in climate governance, ensuring that climate services reach the most vulnerable groups who often bear the brunt of climate shocks.
The training was highly interactive, blending presentations, and practical sessions where participants navigated Maprooms for real-time decision-making. For PWDs they often experience accessibility challenges in climate information and the workshop leads emphasized the importance of inclusive communication. Women and youth inclusion is critical thus form the foundation of the society and they lead in climate-smart agriculture and early warning systems could transform food security and livelihoods in Garissa County. Elders brought in traditional knowledge, bridging the gap between indigenous practices and modern climate science.
This participatory approach ensured that the workshop was not just about technology transfer but also about co-creating solutions that reflect community priorities and local realities. By strengthening climate services, the project supports Aspirations 1 and 7 of Agenda 2063:
- A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development.
- An environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient Africa.
Garissa’s County officials noted that integrating Maprooms into county development plans would enhance disaster preparedness, agricultural planning, and water resource management, key priorities under Kenya Vision 2030 as well.
As the training continues, attention will turn into the “Evaluation Workshop scheduled for September 19, 2025”.
Dr. Omondi emphasized that lessons from Garissa would inform future capacity-building efforts that will help them understand what worked well, what challenges remain, and how we can strengthen partnerships for even greater impact.
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