Advocacy for Policy Change Supporting Environmental Sustainability (APC-ES) Project

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Advocacy for Policy Change Supporting Environmental Sustainability (APC-ES) Project

1. Project Background

Kenya faces critical environmental challenges that require urgent policy action, including:

  • Rapid deforestation (loss of 12% forest cover in 20 years)
  • Plastic pollution (over 24 million plastic bags used monthly pre-ban)
  • Weak enforcement of environmental laws
  • Climate change impacts outpacing adaptation measures

The Advocacy for Policy Change Supporting Environmental Sustainability (APC-ES) project will strengthen ACEECA’s role as a policy influencer by bridging grassroots communities, research institutions, and decision-makers to drive systemic change.

2. Project Objectives

  1. Strengthen Environmental Governance: Improve implementation of existing policies
  2. Catalyze Progressive Legislation: Advocate for new laws addressing emerging challenges
  3. Build Institutional Capacity: Enhance county governments’ environmental management
  4. Amplify Citizen Participation: Create platforms for public engagement in policymaking
  5. Promote Corporate Accountability: Advocate for stricter ESG compliance

3. Key Strategies

A. Policy Research & Analysis

  • Annual “Kenya Environmental Policy Gap Report”
  • County-level policy implementation scorecards
  • Cost-benefit analyses of proposed regulations

B. Stakeholder Engagement

  • Parliamentary Caucus on Environmental Sustainability
  • Private Sector Sustainability Roundtable
  • County Environmental Officers Network

C. Grassroots Mobilization

  • Community Policy Labs (participatory law-making)
  • Citizen Science for Policy (community-generated data)
  • Public Interest Litigation support

D. Strategic Communications

  • Policy Briefs in local languages
  • Social Media Legislative Tracking (#GreenLawKE)
  • Environmental Journalism Fellowships

4. Priority Policy Areas

  1. Circular Economy Framework
    • Extended Producer Responsibility regulations
    • Green procurement policies
  2. Climate Resilience
    • County Climate Change Funds
    • Nature-based solutions in NDCs
  3. Biodiversity Protection
    • Community Land Rights legislation
    • Wildlife Corridor protection laws
  4. Sustainable Energy
    • Mini-grid regulations
    • Renewable energy feed-in tariffs

5. Implementation Approach

Phase 1 (Year 1): Policy mapping & alliance building

Phase 2 (Years 2-3): Targeted advocacy campaigns

Phase 3 (Years 4-5): Institutionalization & monitoring

6. Expected Outcomes

  • 5 national policies/environmental laws strengthened
  • 15 county governments adopting model environmental bylaws
  • 200+ CSOs trained in policy advocacy
  • 30% increase in public awareness of environmental rights
  • Establishment of Kenya’s first Environmental Law Clinic

7. Envisioned Partnerships

  • Government: NEMA, Ministry of Environment, COG
  • Academia: University of Nairobi Law School
  • CSOs: Green Belt Movement, Kenya Climate Change Group
  • International: UNEP, World Resources Institute