Grace Koech

• Master of Science
• Research Officer at Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research

This context analysis study was conducted in Makueni County. It targets policymakers both at county and national levels, practitioners and relevant stakeholders implementing land restoration projects on the need to have a sound understanding of the context of the area to help design the appropriate interventions in Makueni County.

Charcoal is a common woodfuel in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Unsustainable wood sourcing and inefficient carbonization result into negative environmental impacts. This action research aimed at building the capacity for sustainable charcoal production including `improving the traditional earth mound kiln (TEK) that is used by 99% of charcoal producers...

Tree value chain development options can no longer be ignored even in short 3 to 5 year projects, as opportunities for improvements are abundant and results can be very impactful, especially for most vulnerable community groups such as women and youth. An adaptive approach to identification and prioritisation of value chain opportunities is needed....

This publication is part of a series of briefs describing findings from the EU-funded Governing Multifunctional Landscapes Sustainable Woodfuel project, which aims to contribute to knowledge, options and engagement for more sustainable woodfuel value chains across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Key Lessons - Originally introduced to dryland areas in Kenya as a solution to deforestation and fuelwood shortages, the shrub Prosopis juliflora has become highly invasive, displacing native plants, and negatively impacting both biodiversity and livelihoods. • Efforts to control Prosopis include, among others, using it to produce sustainable cha...

The charcoal sub-sector is one of the most important sources of energy in Kenya, especially in urban areas. The sub-sector has been reported to be worth billions of dollars in market value. Between 40-75% of the charcoal is produced in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) using inefficient processing technologies and unsustainable tree harvesting pract...

Kenya’s charcoal sector is worth billions of dollars in market value and is one of the most important sources of energy in urban and rural areas. This study sought to create greater understanding about the charcoal value chain to understand its structure, function and actors and their roles. The study was carried out through a questionnaire survey...

This is a practical step-by-step guide to the production of charcoal using improved earth mound kilns (IEKs) and drum kilns (DKs) based on interventions in Baringo County supported by the Governing Multifunctional Landscapes (GML) project in Kenya.

Understanding of woodfuel value chain dynamics and priorities in the region, promoting evidence-based options and engagement of stakeholders for more sustainable woodfuel value chains

• Woodfuel, particularly charcoal, is an important livelihood source in Kitui County, with consumption largely in urban areas within and beyond the county, where it is still a critical energy source. • While charcoal movement out of the county has been banned since 2018, trade has continued in some form because of inadequate support, guidance and r...

Woodfuel, particularly charcoal, is an important energy source in urban areas and a livelihood source in rural areas. Actors in the Baringo–Nairobi charcoal value chain get between KES 107 and 613 per bag of charcoal depending on their location and role. In most parts of Baringo County, charcoal is produced from the invasive species Prosopis jul...

About a third of the world’s population relies on solid biomass for cooking and heating using traditional stoves. Of those users, 50% are in developing countries especially Sub-Saharan Africa where 90% of households rely on woodfuel (charcoal and firewood) for cooking and heating (IEA, 2017). By 2013, Kenya used 2.5 million tonnes of charcoal and e...

Prosopis juliflora, locally known as ‘mathenge’, is a shrub or small tree that is native to Mexico, South America and the Caribbean, and is an invasive species in Kenya. In Kenya, Prosopis juliflora was introduced from 1973 through to the 1980s to arid and semi-arid areas to mitigate desertification and fuel wood shortages (Pimentel et al., 2000; M...

The training of trainers on sustainable woodfuel production and use was conducted on 7-11th, October 2019 at KEFRI Baringo sub-centre. This piloting of improved woodfuel production technologies is part of the Governing Multifunctional landscapes in Sub-Saharan Africa: Managing Trade-Offs between Social and Ecological Impacts referred to as GML and...

Initiatives for making woodfuel (charcoal and firewood) sustainable in sub-Saharan Africa by World Agroforestry (ICRAF).

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) of the East African Region has sought integration in the environment sector to address transboundary issues; however, there is a significant gap in policy development and implementation within countries, which limits integration. The Tana Kipini-Badana bushland and seascapes of Kenya and Somalia...

There is an increasing interest to develop initiatives that promote the growth of biodiversity-based value chain approaches that utilize biodiversity in and outside conservation areas. This book reviews experiences in developing biodiversity-based value chains that alleviate poverty and conserve biodiversity. It is based on a workshop, write shop a...

Tamarind production has not been commercialized to a large extent in Africa, despite the availability of diverse genetic resources that could offer opportunities for product differentiation. Existing product value chains are semi-formal, relying on traders operating from local, national, regional or international markets. Producers’ market knowledg...

p>Designing and implementing biodiversity-based value chains can be a complex undertaking, especially in places where outcomes are uncertain and risks of project failure and cost overruns are high. We used the Stochastic Impact Evaluation (SIE) approach to guide the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on viable investment options in h...

There is an increasing interest to develop initiatives that promote the growth of biodiversity-based value chain approaches that utilize biodiversity in and outside conservation areas. This book reviews experiences in developing biodiversitybased value chains that alleviate poverty and conserve biodiversity. It is based on a workshop2 , write shop3...

Rural communities value Faidherbia albida in farming systems and pastoralism. Faidherbia albida provides products such as medicine, fodder, fuel, wood, food and services such as shade, soil fertility and nutrient cycling. Excessive browsing by animals, branch lopping and pod harvesting, have critically reduced the natural regeneration in some areas...

The genus Allanblackia consists of multipurpose, valuable non-timber forest tree species found in the rain forest zones of Africa. The seed oil of Allanblackia spp. has a high commercial value and demand for industrial purpose amounting to >100,000 kg oil per year. Wild harvesting from Ghana, Nigeria and Tanzania cannot meet the market demand for A...

Establishment of Faidherbia albida trees on farm is often difficult despite the plant survival adaptive mechanisms such as drought and disease resistance. Adoption of the tree to agroforestry systems is also limited due to lack of knowledge on genetic variation of its provenances. Morphological characterization of F. albida provenances is therefore...