Kenya: Mt. Elgon GEF-7 Project Team convened in Londiani to validate progress reports and conducted a two-day workshop at the Kenya Forestry College in Londiani that aims at writing, reviewing and validating reports on activities that implemented since the inception of the project.
Reportedly, the workshop has brought together the key project personnel to ensure the accuracy of the documentation, accountability and alignment with project objectives. The session was then guided by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations by reporting templates, ensuring consistency with GEF-7 and FOLUR programme standards.
The Project Manager – James Mwang’ombe has officially opened the workshop and outlined the objectives of the meeting by emphasising the importance of evidence that is based on reporting in tracking the progress. He welcomed the participants and underscored the need for having collective input in refining the reports.
Considering this, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer – Samuel Muriithi led the reporting sessions by guiding the team through the reporting framework and indicators to ensure the completeness and accuracy.
Other key participants included Evans Kegode, Caroline Busuru, Joselyne Thambu and additional project officers, who contributed technical insights from their respective areas of implementation.
The team will develop a comprehensive workplan to guide upcoming project activities by reinforcing coordinated implementation towards the conservation and restoration of the Mt. Elgon ecosystem.
Notably, the Mt. Elgon GEF-7 Project Team involves key Kenyan government agencies like the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), county governments (Bungoma, Trans Nzoia), and partners like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). They work together with other local communities such as Community Forest Associations (CFAs), and stakeholders (KEFRI) on landscape restoration, sustainable land management, and livelihood improvement in the Mt. Elgon ecosystem.
The project mainly focuses on Integrated Landscape Management, Sustainable Livelihoods and Stakeholder Collaboration. It further aims to create a 10-year restoration plan for a climate-resilient Mt. Elgon ecosystem by benefiting both environment and local communities and aligning with 15 billion Trees Campaign of Kenya.