KEWASIP

The Kenya Watershed Services Improvement Project (KEWASIP) is a five-year initiative implemented by the State Department for Forestry in collaboration with the World Bank. The project is anchored in the National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Strategy (NLERS) 2025–2032, which targets the restoration and conservation of 10.6 million hectares of degraded landscapes and ecosystems in Kenya, in support of the Presidential agenda of growing 15 billion tree seedlings by 2032.

KEWASIP contributes to this national vision by restoring degraded landscapes and improving watershed services to strengthen climate change resilience and enhance livelihoods within Kenya’s watersheds. The project focuses on strengthening the management and conservation of watershed services, promoting sustainable land use practices, and improving the livelihoods of communities that depend on these ecosystems.

KEWASIP activities target 12 counties, namely; Kitui, Garissa, Marsabit, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Makueni, Samburu, Baringo, Laikipia, Isiolo, Tana River and Kwale.

The project adopts a watershed approach, targeting critical ecosystems through coordinated, science-based, and community-driven interventions.

KEWASIP is implemented through a collaborative, multi-sectoral framework involving national institutions and county governments, including:

• Kenya Forest Service (KFS)
• Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI)
• Water Resources Authority (WRA)
• National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)
• National Environment Trust Fund (NETFUND)
• Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS)
• Council of Governors (CoG)
• State Department for Wildlife (SDW)
• State Department for Irrigation (SDI)
• The 12 participating County Governments

This coordinated model ensures alignment of policy, technical expertise, community participation, and sustainable investment.

KEWASIP activities are aligned to three primary objectives:

1. Strengthen institutions in watershed planning and management, governance, and monitoring.
2. Promote sustainable land and watershed management in private and community lands.
3. Promote sustainable land and watershed management in gazetted forests.

Safeguard policies provide a structured framework for addressing environmental and social considerations in project design, implementation, and operation. They ensure meaningful community consultation and transparency through public disclosure.

The State Department for Forestry ensures compliance with the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Standards, which promote green, resilient, and inclusive development. These standards enhance protections related to:

1. Labor and working conditions
2. Inclusion and non-discrimination
3. Gender equity
4. Climate change mitigation and adaptation
5. Biodiversity conservation
6. Community health and safety
7. Stakeholder engagement

KEWASIP has established a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) to ensure that:

1. Questions and clarifications are addressed promptly
2. Implementation issues are resolved effectively
3. Complaints are handled transparently and efficiently

Grievances and feedback can be submitted via email at: kewasipgrm@forestry.go.ke