In a bid to transform urban growth in Nairobi, the Government of Kenya has rolled out a $5.2 million project in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme and UN-Habitat, as authorities respond to mounting environmental and infrastructure challenges in one of Africa’s fastest-expanding cities.
Backed by a $5.2 million grant from the Global Environment Facility, the five-year initiative seeks to advance low-carbon, climate-resilient, and environmentally sustainable urban development. It is also projected to mobilise up to $40 million in additional public investment, alongside about $2 million in technical and in-kind contributions from partners.
Authorities indicate that the programme will prioritise integrated neighbourhood planning, merging efforts to cut emissions, restore ecosystems, and enhance urban services. Initial pilot projects will be carried out in Kamukunji, a central district in Nairobi, where around 85,000 residents are expected to benefit.
At the project’s launch during a global GEF forum in Nairobi, Inger Andersen noted that cities generate nearly 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions but also offer significant opportunities for climate solutions. She emphasised that Nairobi’s rapid growth presents both a challenge and a chance to adopt cleaner, more resilient development approaches.
Implementation of the initiative will be led by UNEP and executed by UN-Habitat, working closely with local and national bodies such as Nairobi City County and Kenya’s ministries responsible for housing and the environment.
Accelerated urban expansion in Nairobi has placed increasing strain on housing, infrastructure, and natural resources, contributing to rising pollution levels, environmental degradation, and greater vulnerability to climate threats like floods and heatwaves.
Through targeted investments and policy adjustments, the project aims to tackle these issues while piloting financing models that can be replicated in other cities.
According to Claude Gascon, the initiative is designed to attract larger investment flows by combining catalytic funding with integrated urban planning strategies.
Meanwhile, Anacláudia Rossbach pointed to the increasing global importance of cities, citing projections that two-thirds of the world’s population will reside in urban areas by 2050, and highlighting the role of such projects in advancing climate and sustainability goals.
Kenya’s Housing Cabinet Secretary, Alice Wahome, stated that the government is focusing on planning reforms and investment policies to build inclusive, climate-resilient cities, especially for low-income populations.
Proposed interventions in Kamukunji include the development of climate-resilient infrastructure, the use of renewable energy, enhanced waste management systems, and the rehabilitation of parts of the Nairobi River. Plans also involve creating digital planning tools and policy frameworks to enable broader adoption.
This initiative is part of a wider global programme supporting more than 50 cities across over 20 countries in aligning urban development with climate action and biodiversity conservation.