Programme Overview

The Climate-Smart Coffee Agroforestry Programme (CSCAP) is a flagship initiative of the African Centre for Environment, Energy & Climate Advocacy (ACEECA) designed to promote agroforestry as a sustainable, climate-resilient, and livelihood-enhancing model for coffee farming communities in Kenya. The programme recognizes the central role of smallholder coffee farmers in addressing climate change while safeguarding ecosystems and strengthening rural economies.

CSCAP integrates environmental conservation, climate action, sustainable energy use, and community livelihoods by embedding trees within coffee farming systems. By promoting diversified, tree-based coffee landscapes, the programme positions smallholder farmers not merely as beneficiaries of climate action, but as active agents of climate adaptation and mitigation. Through this approach, CSCAP seeks to enhance productivity, stabilize incomes, and build long-term resilience in Kenya’s coffee sector.

Programme Rationale

Kenya’s coffee sector is facing mounting pressures arising from climate variability, land degradation, declining yields, and the heightened vulnerability of smallholder farmers. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, and increased incidence of pests and diseases have rendered conventional monocropping systems increasingly unsustainable. These challenges threaten not only coffee production but also the livelihoods of thousands of rural households that depend on the crop.

Agroforestry presents a proven, nature-based solution that directly responds to these challenges while aligning with ACEECA’s mission and strategic priorities. By integrating trees into coffee farms, agroforestry restores degraded landscapes, enhances soil fertility, improves water retention, and increases biodiversity. At the same time, it expands tree cover outside natural forests, contributing to climate mitigation while reducing pressure on forest ecosystems. Importantly, agroforestry strengthens rural livelihoods by diversifying income sources and improving the long-term sustainability of coffee farming systems.

Programme Goal

The overarching goal of the Climate-Smart Coffee Agroforestry Programme is to enhance climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and economic empowerment of smallholder coffee farmers through the widespread adoption of climate-smart agroforestry systems.

Specific Objectives

CSCAP seeks to achieve this goal through the following specific objectives. The programme aims to:

• increase the adoption of agroforestry practices among coffee farmers in target counties, while enhancing on-farm tree cover using indigenous and multipurpose tree species.
• It also focuses on improving soil health, biodiversity, and water conservation within coffee landscapes.
• In parallel, the programme works to strengthen farmer incomes through diversified, agroforestry-based livelihood opportunities and to contribute meaningfully to Kenya’s climate mitigation and adaptation commitments at both national and county levels.

Target Beneficiaries

The primary beneficiaries of the programme are smallholder coffee farmers who are most vulnerable to climate shocks and market volatility. CSCAP places a strong emphasis on the inclusion of women and youth groups, recognizing their critical role in sustainable agriculture and community development. Farmer cooperatives, producer organizations, and local community-based organizations are also key beneficiaries and partners, serving as important platforms for outreach, capacity building, and collective action.

Target Areas

The programme is implemented primarily in Kenya’s key coffee-growing regions, where climate risks and land pressure are most pronounced. These areas include Kiambu, Nyeri, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Embu, and Meru Counties. These regions offer high potential for agroforestry-based coffee systems due to their agro-ecological conditions and strong smallholder farming presence.

Programme Components

• Farmer Capacity Building

Capacity building is a central pillar of CSCAP. The programme provides targeted training to farmers on climate-smart coffee agroforestry practices, including shade tree selection, spacing, and management. Farmers are trained on proper pruning techniques, soil conservation measures such as mulching and composting, and sustainable nutrient management. In addition, the programme builds farmer awareness on climate risks and equips communities with practical adaptation strategies to respond to changing climatic conditions.

• Tree Seedling Production and Distribution

To support large-scale adoption of agroforestry, CSCAP promotes the establishment of community-based tree nurseries. These nurseries focus on the production of indigenous, fruit, and multipurpose tree species that are well-suited to coffee systems. Certified seedlings are distributed to participating farmers to ensure high survival rates and long-term environmental and economic benefits.

• Demonstration and Learning Farms

The programme establishes model agroforestry coffee farms that serve as demonstration and learning sites. These farms provide practical, hands-on learning opportunities for farmers through peer-to-peer exchanges, field days, and farmer-to-farmer mentorship. Knowledge exchange platforms facilitate the sharing of best practices, lessons learned, and locally adapted solutions.

• Youth and Women Engagement

CSCAP deliberately integrates youth and women into all programme components. Youth-led nursery enterprises are supported as pathways to green jobs and climate entrepreneurship, while women-focused agroforestry income activities enhance household livelihoods and food security. Through these interventions, the programme promotes inclusive participation and equitable access to climate-smart economic opportunities.

• Sustainable Energy Linkages

The programme links agroforestry to sustainable energy solutions by promoting the use of agroforestry biomass as a renewable source of fuelwood. This approach reduces dependence on natural forests for energy needs and complements ACEECA’s broader organic and sustainable energy initiatives. By integrating energy considerations into agroforestry systems, CSCAP advances holistic and environmentally responsible resource use.

• Advocacy and Policy Engagement

Beyond field-level implementation, CSCAP places strong emphasis on advocacy and policy engagement. ACEECA facilitates county-level policy dialogues to promote supportive frameworks for agroforestry adoption. Evidence generated from programme implementation is used to advocate for incentives, budget allocations, and the integration of agroforestry into climate and agricultural planning frameworks at both county and national levels.

Cross-Cutting Themes

The programme is guided by several cross-cutting principles, including gender equity and social inclusion, climate justice, and meaningful community participation. Indigenous knowledge systems are recognized and integrated alongside scientific approaches, while environmental education and awareness are mainstreamed across all programme activities to foster long-term behavioral change.

Expected Outcomes

Through the implementation of CSCAP, ACEECA anticipates:

• increased adoption of coffee agroforestry systems across target counties.
• Farmers are expected to experience improved coffee yields and quality
• enhanced household incomes, and greater livelihood diversification.

At the landscape level, the programme will:

• contribute to increased tree cover
• improved biodiversity
• reduced land degradation and soil erosion, and,
• strengthened climate resilience among farming communities.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)

A robust Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning framework underpins CSCAP to ensure accountability, learning, and continuous improvement. Key indicators include:

• the number of farmers adopting agroforestry practices
• the number and survival rate of trees planted
• changes in coffee yield and quality
• levels of household income diversification
• measurable indicators of environmental restoration.

Partnerships and Stakeholders

CSCAP is implemented through strategic partnerships with county governments, coffee cooperatives, and farmer organizations. Research institutions provide technical expertise, while development partners, donors, and private sector actors within sustainable coffee value chains support financing, innovation, and market access.

Sustainability Strategy

The long-term sustainability of the programme is anchored in farmer ownership and strong cooperative engagement. Income-generating agroforestry enterprises enhance economic viability, while policy integration and institutional support ensure continuity beyond project cycles. Continuous capacity building strengthens local knowledge and skills, enabling sustained adoption and scaling of climate-smart agroforestry practices.

Alignment with National and Global Frameworks

The Climate-Smart Coffee Agroforestry Programme aligns with key national and global development and climate frameworks, including the Kenya Climate Change Act, the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP), and the National Tree Growing Strategy. It also contributes directly to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDGs 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 13 (Climate Action), and 15 (Life on Land).

ACEECA Value Proposition

Through the Climate-Smart Coffee Agroforestry Programme, ACEECA positions itself as a leading advocate and implementer of nature-based climate solutions. The programme demonstrates how integrated approaches can protect ecosystems, enhance climate resilience, and improve livelihoods simultaneously. By bridging policy advocacy, community action, and environmental stewardship, CSCAP exemplifies ACEECA’s commitment to inclusive, impactful, and sustainable climate action in Kenya.