Hola Town, Tana River County | 12–17 January 2026
On 12 January 2026, WISER Kenya project partners officially commenced Phase II of the project with an inception and launch meeting held in Tana River County presided over by the County Executive Committee , Hon. Mathew Babwoya.. This marked a critical milestone following the completion of Phase I, signaling continued commitment to building climate-resilient communities through strengthened early warning systems. The launch of Phase II underscored progress in empowering local communities and institutions with timely and actionable climate information, which is essential for informed decision-making and effective adaptation to climate-related risks.
The WISER Kenya Project is part of the wider WISER Africa Programme, funded by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through the Africa Regional Climate initiative. The project is implemented by a consortium of partners comprising the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), and the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS), the University of Nairobi and is led by the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC)
According to the Project lead, Dr. Philip Omondi, ICPAC, the project seeks to strengthen the resilience and adaptive capacity of communities in Kenya particularly in climate-vulnerable areas by improving access to, understanding of, and use of reliable weather and climate information services (WCIS). In Tana River County, WISER Kenya focuses on enhancing early warning systems to better respond to extreme weather events, seasonal variability, and long-term climate change impacts.
Phase I Evaluation and Learning
As part of the transition to Phase II, WISER Kenya partners are undertaking a comprehensive evaluation of Phase I implementation. This includes conducting household surveys, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) across Tana River County and Garissa Counties.
Speaking to the MERL expert, Lucy Njigua, the evaluation aims to assess changes and outcomes resulting from Phase I interventions and to determine whether these align with the project’s intended results and theory of change. The findings will support accountability, learning, and evidence-based decision-making, while providing credible quantitative and qualitative data on the benefits generated by WISER Kenya investments.
Stakeholder Engagement
During the assessment period, WISER Kenya Phase II partners conducted Key Informant Interviews with Tana River County officials drawn from climate-sensitive sectors. These included Agriculture, Energy, Health, Water Resources, Forestry and Wildlife, Disaster Management, Marine, and Environment sectors, among others.
The interviews focus on understanding the benefits, use, and impact of weather and climate information services, particularly in relation to preparedness and response to extreme weather and climate events.
Focus Group Discussions
In parallel, ongoing Focus Group Discussions were being conducted with stakeholders across Tana River County. These discussions engage vulnerable groups, the business community, pastoralists, farmers, and marginalized populations including PWDs, women, youth, and the elderly who are directly impacted by climate variability and extreme weather events.
The FGDs provide deeper insights into how climate information services are accessed, interpreted, and used, and how these services influence livelihoods, risk reduction, and resilience at community level.
The WISER Kenya Project focuses on strengthening the co-production of weather and climate information services by linking information producers, intermediaries, farmers, and pastoralists to improve the uptake and use of seasonal flood and drought forecasts. It enhances coordination and partnerships at regional, national, and county levels, with deliberate inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities to support inclusive access to climate information.
The project also builds the capacity of key producers and intermediaries to deliver timely and user-responsive climate services, while strengthening the policy environment at both national and county levels to support sustainable delivery and use. In addition, WISER Kenya emphasizes evidence generation and continuous learning to inform decision-making and improve the effectiveness of weather and climate information services.
Partner organizations made presentations outlining the project plans for WISER Kenya II highlighting the complementary roles each institution plays in strengthening early warning and climate services. The Kenya Meteorological Department is a core partner responsible for generating and disseminating authoritative weather and climate forecasts that underpin early warning systems.
The Kenya Space Agency supports the use of satellite and geospatial data to enhance climate monitoring, risk mapping, and early warning accuracy, strengthening the overall effectiveness of WISER Kenya Phase II interventions.
The University of Nairobi contributes academic and research expertise, supporting data analysis, impact evaluation, and evidence-based learning to strengthen climate services.
The National Drought Management Authority plays a critical role in coordinating drought risk management, preparedness, and response, ensuring that climate information informs national and county-level decision-making.
The Kenya Red Cross Society brings strong community outreach and humanitarian expertise, enabling last-mile delivery of early warning information to vulnerable and at-risk populations.
The commencement of WISER Kenya Phase II in Tana River County represents a significant step forward in strengthening early warning systems and climate resilience. By grounding Phase II in robust evidence and inclusive stakeholder engagement, the project continues to empower communities, institutions, and decision-makers with the climate information needed to anticipate risks, protect livelihoods, and adapt effectively to a changing climate.
Later on, the WISER team members visited the Kenya Redcross Society emergency Operation centre (EOC) to get acquainted with climate information service applications during flood and drought disasters in Tana River County.
