By Jackson Okata
Nairobi– The Government of Kenya, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-Habitat have launched a US$5.2 million project to help transform Nairobi into a model for low-carbon, climate-resilient and nature-positive urban development. Funded by a Global Environment Facility (GEF) grant, the initiative is backed by up to US$40 million in future government investment, alongside US$2 million in in-kind support and technical assistance from partners. It aims to demonstrate how rapidly growing cities can reduce emissions, restore ecosystems and improve quality of life through integrated planning and investment.
The five-year initiative, Supporting the shift towards Integrated, Low-Carbon and Nature-Positive Neighbourhoods in Nairobi, will pilot green neighbourhood approaches in Kamukunji, in central Nairobi targeting improved living conditions for more than 85,000 residents while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and restoring degraded ecosystems along the Nairobi River corridor.
Implemented by UNEP and executed by UN-Habitat, the project will be led by the Nairobi City County Government, the State Department for Housing and Urban Development, the Nairobi Rivers Commission, and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry.
The project was launched during the Global Forum for the GEF Integrated Programs in Nairobi.
Speaking during the launch, UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said cities account for nearly 70 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, but they also hold the key to climate solutions.
“Nairobi’s growth presents both an opportunity and an imperative. This initiative shows how integrated, neighbourhood-level action can deliver cleaner air, restored ecosystems and better lives for urban residents while accelerating the transition to a low-carbon future,” she said.
As one of Africa’s fastest-growing cities and a major economic hub in Eastern Africa, Nairobi faces mounting pressure on infrastructure, natural resources and essential services. The project responds to these challenges by promoting neighbourhood-level planning that integrates climate mitigation, ecosystem restoration, and inclusive urban design, and by supporting innovative financing mechanisms. It is an example of an integrated model for sustainable urban development that can be replicated in other cities in Kenya and the region.
GEF’s Interim CEO and Director of Strategy and Operations, Claude Gascon, said the initiative reflects the GEF’s commitment to supporting cities as critical drivers of global environmental solutions.
“By combining catalytic financing with integrated planning approaches, we are helping to unlock investments that deliver lasting benefits for nature and communities in rapidly growing urban areas,” he said
Rapid urbanisation is placing increasing pressure on infrastructure, ecosystems and essential services. Unplanned growth is contributing to environmental degradation, rising pollution and greater vulnerability to climate risks such as flooding and heatwaves, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable communities.
Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, said by 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities, making them critical to achieving global climate and sustainability goals.
“This project demonstrates how cities can lead with integrated planning, innovative design and targeted investment to deliver inclusive, resilient and thriving urban communities,” Rossbach noted.
The initiative focuses on strengthening policy and institutional frameworks, enhancing technical capacity, and developing digital planning tools and design guidelines to support climate-responsive and nature-positive urban development.
In Kamukunji, community-led demonstration interventions will showcase practical solutions, including climate-resilient infrastructure, green public spaces, ecosystem restoration, renewable energy, sustainable mobility and improved waste and resource management systems.
A strong emphasis will also be placed on mobilising finance to scale impact. The project will identify investment opportunities, engage public and private partners, and develop incentive frameworks to replicate integrated green neighbourhoods across Nairobi and other Kenyan cities.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, Alice Wahome, said the initiative reflects the Government of Kenya’s commitment to sustainable urban development that delivers for both people and the environment.
“By strengthening planning systems, unlocking innovative financing and investment, we are building cities that are more inclusive, resilient and future-ready, with particular focus on the urban poor,’’ said Wahome.
The project is part of the GEF Sustainable Cities Integrated Program (SCIP), a global initiative supporting cities in advancing integrated approaches to urban development that address climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and urban vulnerability. Across more than 50 cities in over 20 countries, SCIP promotes coordinated investments and policy actions that link urban planning, climate action, nature-based solutions, and circular economy approaches. The Global Platform for Sustainable Cities (GPSC) serves as the knowledge and coordination arm of SCIP. Led by the World Bank Group, GPSC brings together global partners—including UNEP, WRI, C40 Cities, and ICLEI—to support cities in translating integrated approaches into practice.
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is the world’s largest multilateral fund for the environment. Its family of funds works together to address the planet’s most pressing challenges in an integrated way. Its financing helps developing countries address complex challenges and work towards meeting international environmental goals. Over the past three decades, the GEF has provided more than $27 billion in financing, primarily as grants, and mobilised another $155 billion for country-driven priority projects.
