- Kenya is seeking $6 billion to fund the Building Climate Resilience with the Urban Poor (BCRUP) programme, which aims to address climate vulnerabilities in urban areas.
- Fourteen African nations have joined Kenya in the BCRUP initiative to improve urban resilience and support climate adaptation efforts
Kenya is intensifying efforts to secure funding for building resilient urban areas as climate change-related challenges continue to mount. Alice Wahome, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development, leads the country’s delegation at the ongoing climate talks in Azerbaijan.
At the heart of Kenya’s push is the Building Climate Resilience with the Urban Poor (BCRUP) programme, launched in 2019 in response to a call to action from UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Kenya and Brazil have taken a prominent leadership role in the initiative, which is now supported by 14 African nations.
Wahome explained that the talks focus on the BCRUP programme, particularly its goal of improving resilience in urban areas facing climate-induced disasters such as floods and droughts. She emphasised that the urban poor, who are often the most vulnerable to such events, are disproportionately affected by the escalating impacts of climate change.
“We are here to advance the Housing and Urban Development programme under BCRUP,” Wahome said. “This initiative gained momentum after a meeting in Cairo, where 14 African nations were brought on board.”
With rapid urbanisation placing immense pressure on infrastructure, many urban areas in Kenya and Africa need more basic services, including clean water, electricity, and reliable roads. The BCRUP programme addresses these vulnerabilities by enhancing urban resilience through infrastructure improvements and climate adaptation strategies.
Wahome also highlighted Kenya’s ambitious affordable housing project, which aims to construct 200,000 housing units as part of a broader strategy to combat urban poverty and build resilience.
As part of its efforts, Kenya and its partners are lobbying for $6 billion in funding to launch pilot BCRUP projects across the 14 participating countries. Six nations have already approved the programme, and additional commitments are being sought to attract donor interest and secure the necessary funds for implementation.
“The funding we seek will be directed towards the first pilot projects in these countries,” Wahome explained. “We are looking for significant international support, and the Green Climate Fund and other global partners have shown interest in backing this critical initiative.”
In addition to Kenya, the BCRUP programme includes participation from Ethiopia, Uganda, South Sudan, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Burundi, Rwanda, and Eswatini, with efforts underway to involve seven more countries.
A high-level meeting during the climate talks focused on consolidating regional readiness and mobilising resources to move the programme forward. Wahome underscored the importance of collective action and tangible commitments from all stakeholders to ensure the programme’s success and address the growing climate resilience needs of urban populations.