Explore verified case studies and broader verified narratives showing how CESPAD works with communities, institutions and partners to improve water governance, strengthen accountability and protect the environments people depend on.
Search the archive or browse by the kind of change the work supported.
The archive includes 20 verified project case studies and eight approved narrative case studies. The narrative entries use the same five-question reading structure and can gain project-level metrics as the evidence record grows.
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) recognises that effective management of water resources begins with planning at the catchment level. Prior to the implementation of the Promoting Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Kenya project, many sub-catchments lacked comprehensive...
Integrated Water Resources Management is founded on the principle that water resources are most effectively managed when those who depend on them participate in decision-making. Prior to the implementation of the Promoting Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Kenya project,...
Women are central to the management and use of water resources in rural households. They are often responsible for collecting water for domestic use, supporting household food production and managing activities that depend on reliable access to water.
Reliable access to water remains a significant challenge for many rural communities, particularly in semi-arid areas where seasonal rivers and recurrent drought affect domestic water supply, agriculture and livestock production. In many locations within the Athi River Basin, declining river...
Youth living in many parts of the Athi River Basin relied on sand harvesting as a source of income. While the activity generated short-term earnings, unregulated extraction contributed to river degradation, declining water availability and increased competition over natural resources.
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) requires coordination among institutions responsible for water resources, land management, environmental conservation and local development. At the start of the project, collaboration among government agencies, community institutions and development...
Effective water governance requires communities to understand not only how water resources are used, but also the institutional, environmental and social factors that influence their sustainability. At the start of the Promoting Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Kenya project, many...
Competition over limited water resources is a recurring challenge in many semi-arid areas of Kenya. In parts of the Athi River Basin, increasing demand for water, environmental degradation and unregulated use of natural resources contributed to conflicts among communities, particularly during...
Communities living within the Athi River Basin depend on natural resources for agriculture, livestock production and household incomes. However, land degradation, declining vegetation cover and unsustainable use of water resources had reduced agricultural productivity in many areas, increasing...
Effective water governance depends on informed communities that understand the relationship between everyday practices and the condition of their local water resources. While technical training and community meetings reached Water Resource Users Associations (WRUAs) and local leaders, there...
Sustainable management of water resources depends on institutions that enable communities to participate in decision-making and collective action. In Kenya, Water Resource Users Associations (WRUAs) were established to provide a framework for community participation in the management of rivers...
Rivers in Kenya's dryland counties provide water for domestic use, livestock, agriculture and local ecosystems. They are also an important source of construction sand, creating livelihoods for many households.
Effective water governance depends not only on investments in infrastructure but also on policies and legal frameworks that provide clear guidance for managing water resources. Following the introduction of devolved government in Kenya, county governments assumed new responsibilities for...
The transition to devolved government in Kenya created new opportunities for county governments to plan and finance water resource management in response to local priorities. At the same time, many counties were establishing new governance structures, developing sector policies and defining...
Transforming Dormant Community Groups into Drivers of Integrated Water Resources Management
Empowering Communities to Influence Public Investment in Water Security
Kaluku River in Kaskeu, Makueni County was once a dead river as a result of unsustainable sand harvesting by local youth. Sand harvesting had taken over much of the productive agricultural land, denying the community sustainable livelihoods and leading to the loss of economically important crops...
Transforming Livelihoods through Community-led Environmental Stewardship
Strengthening Collective Action for Integrated Water Resources Management
Inspiring Communities through Sport for Sustainable Water Management
Water is central to Kenya's economic growth, environmental sustainability and human well-being. It supports agriculture, energy production, industry, public health and ecosystem integrity while sustaining millions of livelihoods across the country.
Strengthening Local Institutions for Integrated Water Resources Management
Empowering Women as Catalysts for Water Security and Community Resilience
Building Trust through Citizen Engagement and Institutional Accountability
Empowering Communities to Shape Water Investment Priorities
Promoting Transparent and Inclusive Climate Finance for Sustainable Water Security
Community Stewardship as the Foundation for Healthy River Basins
In the Kibos-Kajulu catchment, CESPAD and local partners connected tree planting, beekeeping, community planning and transboundary water governance to protect shared water resources and create a stronger foundation for local livelihoods.
How CESPAD combined public education, community action and local accountability to tackle plastic pollution during World Environment Day 2023.