Forum on empowering communities, protecting ecosystems and fostering peace at JKUAT in Nairobi
Forum "Translating Policy into Practice – Slovenia and Kenya Empowering Communities, Protecting Ecosystems, Fostering Peace" | Author STA
The Slovenian President underlined the shared commitments to sustainable development and Slovenian expertise in many sustainable solutions.
The forum brought together numerous representatives of the academic community, UN agencies, development institutions, the private sector in both Slovenia and Kenya, as well as representatives from the local communities. The participants focused on concrete solutions for climate resilience and inclusive development. The discussion centred on the importance of combining science, politics and local expertise in the fight against climate change.
Three projects were presented, which Slovenia supports as part of its development cooperation in Kenya. These projects are also part of the Team Europe Initiative:
- Project SPACE-SI and JKUAT in cooperation with the Centre for International Cooperation and Development, in which Slovenian and Kenyan partners use satellite data and digital twins for better management of cross-border water resources. On this occasion, the President of the Republic of Slovenia inaugurated the sculpture "Conduit@Empathy", created by the Slovenian artist Eva Petrič, which is a key component of the development project funded by the Ministry.
- Project of the World Food Programme (WFP) in the regions of southeast Kenya which, with the support of Slovenian funding and expertise, strengthens the resilience of the community through modern beekeeping and contributes to the regeneration of degraded ecosystems. The project's main focus is the empowerment of women.
- Project for the encouragement of sustainable farming, to be implemented by the International Center for Promotion of Enterprises (ICPE) in cooperation with the University of Nairobi and the Slovenian company Jafral. On the sidelines of the forum, an agreement on cooperation was signed. The project, funded by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia, will explore environmentally friendly alternatives for the use of antibiotics in farming.
A panel discussion entitled "One Climate, One Future: Integrated Solutions for Kenya's Environmental Resilience" also took place as part of the forum. The discussion highlighted the importance of cross-sectoral cooperation, the role of younger generations and science and the inclusion of local communities in the search for sustainable solutions.
The event demonstrated how Slovenia, a responsible member of the international community, can contribute to a fairer and more resilient world – with expertise, solidarity and long-term partnerships.