ALIN was recently awarded a contract to implement Sub-Component 7 on capacity development and knowledge management in the development of the Action Plan for the National Climate Change Response Strategy.

A key element of the work involves consultations with stakeholders. ALIN has been progressing steadily in this regard, attending several county consultations all over the country. The county meetings, which are organised by the Climate Chnage Secretariat of the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources (MEMR), enabled ALIN to gain the perspectives of several groups including government, civil society, farmers, women and the general public, particularly with regards to their climate change information and knowledge needs. In addition, ALIN recently held two two-day forums with the purpose of consulting people working in climate change directly. Both forums were held in partnership with the Africa Adaptation Programme (AAP).

The first forum, held on 14^th-15^th May at Kenya School of Monetary Studies, consisted of civil society, private sector, research institutions, universities and international organisations working in climate change in Kenya. The second, held on 17^th-18^th May at the Kenya Institute of Education brought together key ministries impacted by climate change and key government institutions including NEMA, the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) and some representatives of regional development authorities.

The participants of the second stakeholders' workshop

During these meetings the ALIN team gave presentations on the different aspects of the assignment including knowledge management, capacity assessment and development, and deepening the links between science and evidence-based policy and planning, and their progress on the work described. 

Both meetings yielded animated discussions on the various issues and challenges surrounding climate change information access, knowledge management and capacity development in Kenya. The information exchange at the meetings was impressive, and has certainly enriched ALIN’s progress in developing a knowledge management system and a capacity development plan, the key outputs of the sub-component 7 work.