Kenya's NDC 3.0 (2025)

Food System Overview

Because of the agriculture sector’s significance in Kenya – and the challenges it faces – food systems in Kenya present a key opportunity for transformation for climate action. The agriculture and LULUCF sectors account for 73% of Kenya's total GHG emissions. However, the country’s food system is not without its challenges: it is characterized by gender disparities and high rates of malnutrition and food insecurity, while food production faces significant threats due to climate change. In Kenya, a food systems transformation has the potential to increase employment, improve gender equality, reduce GHG emissions, and lower rates of malnutrition and food insecurity.

NDC Development

The development of Kenya's NDC 3.0 included a strong coordination system that built upon existing climate frameworks and pledges while integrating gender considerations into the NDC process. Led by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and coordinated by the Climate Change Directorate, the NDC development process included a gender analysis that was carried out to ensure that gender-responsive actions were sufficiently integrated and budgeted for within Kenya’s NDC. Additionally, the NDC development processes included youth-specific consultations aimed at ensuring intergenerational equity. The creation of Kenya’s NDC built upon existing frameworks and policies (e.g., the Constitution of Kenya (2010), the Climate Change Act (2016), the First Nationally Determined Contribution (2021 – 2030), the Third National Climate Change Action Plan (2023 – 2027), the National Adaptation Plan (2015 – 2030) and the Draft Kenya’s Long-Term Low-Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS), some of which are relevant to the country’s food systems.

Food System Measures

Kenya’s NDC 3.0 highlights the central role of agriculture in national climate resilience and emphasizes that climate action must “safeguard the citizens’ basic rights to food” while building resilience for vulnerable groups, smallholder farmers, and pastoralist communities. The strategy includes several important policies and targets related to food systems transformation. For example, at the production level, Kenya commits to promoting climate-smart agriculture (CSA) with emphasis on crop and animal husbandry, including efficient livestock management system. The NDC aims to implement climate-smart agricultural practices for increased productivity through a value chain approach supporting the transformation of crops, livestock, and fisheries sectors. Specific measures include effective irrigation systems, sustainable land management, promotion of drought-tolerant crops, sustainable livestock production, and agroforestry. Regarding governance and equity,** **the NDC states that its approach to tackling climate change and its impacts involves engagement of both state and non-state actors, including civil society organizations, private sector, academia, media, development partners and citizens. Additionally, the NDC also commits to empowering “smallholder farmers and pastoralists through enhancement of their capacities,” while elsewhere acknowledging that the country’s agricultural sector “relies on the vulnerable groups with 80% of the country’s agricultural output produced by smallholder farmers.”

NDC Implementation

Kenya makes several significant commitments regarding the implementation of its NDC. The total cost of implementing mitigation and adaptation actions is estimated at USD 58 billion; subject to national circumstances, Kenya commits to mobilizing domestic resources to meet approximately 19% (USD 10.5 Billion, at USD 2.1 Billion per year) of this budget – an increase compared to its previous NDC, which committed to bearing 13% of the total costs. Approximately 81% of Kenya’s estimated finance needs as described in the country’s NDC 3.0 will require international support. This shift from its initial NDC indicates a renewed dedication to climate action. Finally, the NDC states that Kenya will developing annual, mid-term and end-term reports through the country’s Integrated MRV System, providing input for both national and international reporting obligations.