Nature Positive Food Systems for Climate Change Adaptation
Public Notice
Document reference number: 2
Nature-Positive Food Systems for Climate Change Adaptation in Kenya – Public Comments Invited
April 10, 2025 – Global Affairs Canada must determine whether the proposed Nature-Positive Food Systems for Climate Change Adaptation project, located in Kenya is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.
To help inform this determination, Global Affairs Canada is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments received will be considered public and may be posted online.
Written comments must be submitted by May 12, 2025 to:
Environment Specialists
Global Affairs Canada
200 Promenade du Portage
Gatineau (QC) J8X 4B7
Email: CommentsIAARegistry-CommentairesRegistreLEI@international.gc.ca
The Proposed Project
The Nature-Positive Food Systems for Climate Change Adaptation project will be implemented in Kikumbulyu North Ward, Kibwezi West Sub County, Makueni County Kenya. Makueni County is characterized by a rapidly growing population, water scarcity, falling food production, and low resilience to climate change. The combined effects of climate change and rapid population growth are increasing food insecurity, environmental degradation, and poverty levels in the county, placing enormous pressure on natural and environmental resources such as forests, water and land.
The proposed project will address the following issues: inaccessibility to water facilities, food insecurity, lack of pasture lands, loss of soil fertility, loss of livelihood, increased soil erosion, gender inequality, and high poverty levels.
The following activities will take place at six project sites:
- Kathyaka – construction of two farm ponds
Scope of work: excavation of farm ponds to given dimension as per the design drawings, carrying out farm pond lining, installation of HDPE geo membrane dam liners, UV treated, supplying and installation shed netting with 60% aperture, installing 6mm diameter galvanized wire rope complete with pegs, fabricating of anchoring pegs measuring 2mm diameter by 0.45 metres, and excavation of two (2) silt traps measuring 4metres by 2.5 metres by 1.2 metres at each farm pond.
- Mukononi – rehabilitation of rock catchment
Scope of work: clear and dispose of debris, bushes, tree stumps and weathered vegetation on uphill rock surface, desilt collection weir, rehabilitate guttering system, storage tank and intake structure, construct communal water point, and repair two masonry water tanks. The capacity of the rock catchment is approximately 575m3.
- Ndetani – rehabilitation of two farm ponds 250 m3 capacity each
Scope of work: excavate farm ponds to the dimensions specified in the design drawings and two (2) silt traps measuring 4m x 2.5m x 1.2m, install pond lining, UV treated HDPE geo membrane dam liners, supply and install shed netting with 60% aperture, and install 6mm diameter galvanized wire rope complete with anchoring pegs.
- Ng'amuethya – rehabilitation and expansion of earth pan (water reservoir) to 5,956m3 capacity
Scope of work: clear light vegetation, desilt reservoir and construct embankment, install drainage system, construct cattle trough, communal water point and fencing around reservoir.
- Ngulu – rehabilitation of two farm ponds
Scope of work: excavate two farm ponds to given dimension as per the design drawings, install farm pond lining, HDPE geo membrane dam liners, UV treated, shed netting with 60% aperture, 6mm diameter galvanized wire rope complete with pegs, anchoring pegs measuring 2mm diameter by 0.45 metres, and excavate two (2) silt traps measuring 4metres by 2.5 metres by 1.2 metres at each farm pond.
- Nthookoni – rehabilitation of earth dam
Scope of work: light vegetation clearance, de-siltation of reservoir and construction of the embankment, installation of draw off system, construction of cattle trough, construction of communal water point and fencing of reservoir.
The project could potentially have the following negative environmental effects:
- risk of siltation and sedimentation
- incidences of water borne diseases
- reduction in grazing land
- submerging of riverine macrophytes
To minimize the risk to human health and environment, project proponent will conduct an environmental assessment, develop appropriate mitigation measures and environment management plan that will include monitoring of selected mitigation activities.