PRISE: Co-exploring Relevant Evidence for Policy Change in Kenya

Authors

Robina Abuya (rabuya@kenyamarkets.org); Charles Warria, Kenya Markets Trust (KMT)

PRISE: Pathways to Resilience in Semi-arid Economies
ODI: Overseas Development Institute

Aim of the project

Pathways to Resilience in Semi-arid Economies (PRISE) aims to strengthen the commitment of decision-makers in local and national governments, businesses and trade bodies to rapid, inclusive and resilient development in semi-arid regions in Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. It does so by deepening their understanding of the threats – but also the opportunities – that semi-arid economies face in relation to climate change. PRISE is part of the Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa and Asia (CARIAA) programme.

Dates

2014–2018

Countries

Kenya

Laikipia County Deputy Governor, Hon. John Mwaniki addressing participants at the PRISE county stakeholders’ dissemination workshop

KMT, 2018

Aim of co-production

The aim of the co-production was to ensure ownership and sustainability of PRISE research evidence, findings and recommendations with the key policy and decision-makers with whom the consortium works. Ownership of research evidence was considered a pre-condition for decision-makers to act on the evidence. Findings demonstrate that PRISE was successful in this approach in Kenya. The co-produced evidence on specific climate adaptation options in semi-arid environments, such as projections of temperature, rainfall, human and livestock population, was used by Narok and Kajiado Counties to define some of their interventions in the County Integrated Development Plan and the county spatial plan respectively.

Context

Co-production approaches were used throughout the project duration, including identifying research sites, designing research questions, project implementation, sharing of findings, and in the monitoring and evaluation process. Co-production was needed to ensure PRISE research evidence addressed the current real and urgent needs of stakeholders, and worked towards the goal of building resilience in semi-arid regions. Secondly, the purpose was to embed findings and recommendations into the concrete actions embedded in particular national strategies (such as the National Wildlife Conservation Strategy 2030 and National Climate Change Action Plan 2018-2022) or County Development Plans and spatial plans.

Who was involved and what were their roles?

Kenya Market Trust (KMT) and the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) led the co-production. KMT played the main role of convenor, communicator and facilitator. ODI offered support in all aspects including participation in the design and communication to partners. KMT already had existing structures to be able to take up this role, drawing on in-house staff, established networks and strong presence in Kenya. This meant the role would continue beyond the project.

The actors involved included KMT and ODI technical teams, national and county government stakeholders, private sector players, business enterprises, organised groups (e.g. women’s groups at the county level), individual community representatives and marginalised groups including women and youth. These actors helped to sharpen the focus of PRISE research questions, and helped to identify potential sites to collect data. Some were directly interviewed, others were invited to validate the research findings, and in other instances PRISE shared specific research finding relevant to them.

What was co-produced?

Impacts of climate change on livestock numbers: Based on climate modelling research of past climate (rainfall and temperature) and future projected changes of temperature and rainfall, an estimate of the impact to livestock numbers in semi-arid counties of Kenya were made. These estimates were then presented to county governments and other stakeholders, who, together with the research team, developed specific adaptation options suitable to the county in question.
Jointly developed adaptation options to the most common climate risks (e.g. drought, heat waves, floods) were also incorporated into the Narok County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP 2018-2022).

How was co-production done?

Co-production was run through a targeted and consultative process, during which the different actors jointly identified the key challenges the project needed to address, and research areas that would have optimal, fast, fair and resilient returns.

Identify key actors and build partnerships; build common ground; co-explore

The interaction at the beginning of the project, and throughout the research phase, between the research teams and the decision and policy-makers was instrumental for the research to have traction with the decision-makers. At the initial stages, KMT worked with state and non-state actors in helping crystalise the problem and identifying potential research sites. Stakeholder engagement at the outset of the research process resulted in identifying the following issues: (i) how climate change impacts on migration patterns and how migration affects households ability to adapt to climate change impacts; (ii) assessing climate risks and adaptation options through upgrading of livestock value chains from production to consumption (vertical transformation) and diversification within or across sectors, for example milk and tourism, among others (horizontal transformation); (iii) identifying elements of the enabling environment that would strengthen the resilience of private sector actors; and (iv) assessing how different property rights regimes influence adaptation investments and economic development in semi-arid regions of Kenya.

Co-develop solutions

KMT held several consultative discussions and meetings with various stakeholders, including state and non-state actors, to get their insights and to share PRISE climate-related research evidence. Stakeholder meetings at local, county and national levels were used to co-develop adaptation options. More targeted joint working groups elaborated specific inputs to the Narok County Integrated Development Plan based on emerging PRISE research findings.

Co-deliver solutions

During implementation, consultation helped stakeholders understand how the data was generated and analysed, and allowed for joint interpretation of what it means, what the implications are and how to apply the data to inform and/or influence policy and practice.

Benefits of the co-production approach

Co-production increased the ownership of the research results.
Co-production of research was a way to increase stakeholders’ knowledge of the implications of climate change on the resilience of semi-arid economies and on equity issues.
Co-production resulted in agreed study site selection. This was instrumental in ensuring the support from local decision-makers, including their willingness to participate in data collection and sharing.
Co-production supported researchers to understand the specific pressures decision-makers are under and their need for well-targeted research products.

Lessons to learn from

Getting buy in: The interaction at the beginning of the project, and throughout the research phase, between the research teams and the decision- and policy-makers was instrumental for the research to have traction with the decision-makers.
Misalignment of time frames: In some instances, the project wanted to use the research findings to inform county policies and strategies, but this did not materialise fully as these documents were at different stages of completion. Some of these strategies had yet to start, but we hope stakeholders involved in these policy processes will use the evidence and policy recommendations that we have shared with them. Additionally, it can take a long time for policy-makers to use evidence, even if co-produced. This is especially true at local government levels because of different priorities (e.g. to demonstrate immediate results and economic growth versus a more cautious development approach based on integrating climate risks).
Balancing research with action: Some stakeholders wanted the project to pilot or implement some of the research findings but there was no budget for implementation activities. If we were to do it again, we would have undertaken research combined with action, especially to prove that identified adaptation options were economically viable, socially acceptable and able to tackle specific climate risks and inform partners. This could be done in the second phase of research after gathering evidence.
Work with existing representative bodies: It was very helpful using representative bodies, especially the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, both in mobilising relevant stakeholders and ensuring the research findings reach a wider audience and are used in crucial policy documents.

Laikipia County Workshop

KMT, 2018

References

Abuya, R., Atela, J., Muhwanga, J., Said, M., Moiko, S., Atieno, F., Ndiritu, S.W. and Bedelian, C. (2019) Contextualising Pathways to Resilience in Kenya’s ASALs under the Big Four Agenda. Kenya Country Synthesis Report 2019. (http://www.kenyamarkets.org/publications/kmt-prise-project-final-print/).
Yahya Said, M., Abuya,R., Moiko, S., Bedelian, C., Muhwanga, J., Sisodia,R. and Ambrose K. (2018) ‘Nurturing relationships of trust with key stakeholders: The PRISE approach to influencing county- and national-level policy-making in Kenya’.(http://www.kenyamarkets.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/KMT-Story-of-Change.pdf).