Integrating a food systems lens into urban climate resilience initiatives

I am honoured to be speaking today at COP 27 on Integrating a food systems lens into urban climate resilience initiatives

LGMA Pavilion – 12 November 2022, 15:00-16:30

Event hosts
ICLEI Africa, in partnership with FAO

Event description
The African urban population is expected to increase by 60% by 2030. There is currently misalignment of local and national policies that govern food security and climate adaptation, and a lack of surety about subnational governments’ role in supporting these agendas.

Most of the global strategies on climate adaptation and mitigation in cities focus on how to make clean energy and clean transportation the new norm. Whilst, efforts towards risk-sensitive sustainable food systems planning are still overlooked. Nevertheless, cities account for 70 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions of which food is among the top five largest contributors.

Rising food insecurity is especially relevant in this regard, with decreasing access to nutritious foods, resulting from price fluctuations and climate change induced supply disruptions. The interdependencies of food and climate, call for strategies that link food systems and urban resilience.

Developing coherent strategies for achieving food security and climate resilience for Africa’s growing populations has become a matter of urgency, particularly in light of the cascading impacts of climate change. Food systems have the potential to spearhead climate adaptation and mitigation while driving inclusive economic development. Achieving this potential, however, requires the combined efforts of multiple actors across multiple levels to develop local solutions to local problems.

The session will explore how food security priorities can be situated across multiple local plans and strategies and argues that there is a clear mandate for local governments to improve food and climate resilience as interdependent phenomena.

Speakers
1. Paul Currie; Associate Director: Urban Systems; ICLEI Africa - MODERATOR
2. Mr Divine Njie, Deputy Director of the Food Systems and Food Safety Division, FAO
3. Kobie Brand, Regional Director, ICLEI Africa
4. Mxolisi Kaunda, Executive Mayor, eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality
5. Ndiagne Diop, Maire, Commune de Bambilor
6. Souad Ben Abderrahim, Maire, Commune de Tunis
7. Manuel de Araújo, Mayor, Quelimane
8. Emmanuel Dennis, Senior Manager Policy and Partnerships at Evdence Action and Founder – Green Teams Initiative
9. Dana Omran; Regional Coordinator: Africa; Resilient Cities Network

The Changing Face of Bar Investors: By Jackson Biko - Business Daily 4th February 2022

What kind of men run clubs and bars? Traditionally, I thought they were burly men with thick wrists and who smelled of steak. Men who fancy hats, silver chains, and a chunky ring on their little finger and breathed heavily.

Most likely snored in their sleep. If they were not burly then they were very skinny. Most had toothpicks sticking out their lips. And, oh, they possessed two mobile phones which never stopped ringing and read their SMSs with a constipated look, a look they constantly wore.

The girls who loved them chewed gum and were called Sally.

So when my friend Emmanuel said he had opened a bar/club, The Kraft on Fortis Tower, Westlands, Nairobi I was a bit perplexed. He does not fit that look. He is quintessentially blue-collar, very well (and soft) spoken, and wears suits or snazzy blazers. He’s a dandy. Fine, he’s skinny, but..

I was over at his club/bar on Saturday evening to see for myself. Large open space, about 8,500 square feet, well-aerated with one whole side open into the streets, very comfortable high chairs, and about 27 taps of craft beer which they brew in-house in a microbrewery.

His dream, he says, was to be the biggest microbrewery in Kenya. However, Covid-19 also had a dream; to be the biggest spanner in the works. Covid’s dream won, temporarily. He still has those plans. Fridays and Saturdays are their busiest days.

There is a deejay. Saturday was full-house, with a great number of the Indian community. [Some of his partners are Indians] I had a nice chicken steak. Emmanuel did not walk the floor as you see in movies. We held court at his table with one of his partners called Njoroge.

Occasionally, a staff member would come and whisper something in his ear, like in the movies. His eyes were always on the floor, looking, searching, recording like a camera. “Hey,” I said, “is your wife called Sally?” He told me it wasn’t. “Why?” He asked. I said nothing. I can confidently report that she isn’t called Sally.

 The Kraft: The Changing Face of Bar Investors

Business Daily : By Jackson Biko Feb 4th 2022
https://lnkd.in/giZzMkUU #TheKraftNairobi #Respektthekraft

Water and Climate Joined at the Hip

 

Water and Climate Joined at the Hip

In March of 2020 I together with my colleagues Paul and Julie at Evidence Action, co-penned down this

https://nation.africa/kenya/oped/opinion/Water-and-climate-joined-at-the-hip/440808-5497234-11jn2vr/index.html

COVID 19 has completely changed the course of humanity. Our forbearers - those still alive, our generation and our children have experienced a phenomenon never imagined. We were all caught flat footed. It has changed the way we do business, the way we live, the way we relate. It has brought to the fore a new conversation about preparedness for the worst. It has taught us that life is very fragile. It has also taught us that material things are just things that are not as important as we have as humanity, come to embrace them.

How we live our next minute, hour, day, week, month, year, years.... is more important. How much impact you have on others will create meaning for you. The quality of life is in how meaningful you take those next to you be it family, friends, co-workers and even strangers.

What it your life's anchor?
Live your life meaningfully, because it is that meaning, that quality that will outlive you. Create your legacy.

Have yourself a meaningful week.

ED

published 5 months ago

Building Entrepreneurs or just ....

2 years ago...

Lets see....
For many years, I have come across a number of institutions stating that their mandate is to build entrepreneurship ecosystems in the region. At the same time the number of unemployed graduates continue to rise. At the same time, I meet many young entrepreneurs with brilliant ideas stating that they cant come across financing for their business ideas. Yet there are are banks stating that they have the money to support SME growth yet there are SMEs that are dying. What exactly is happening?

For the start up companies, there is no one willing to put their money in a start up.

So we shall continue to be where we are?

Someone needs to stand in the gap.

Who will it be? I don't know. But we need to have an honest conversation around this issues and unlock the potential of entrepreneurs out here. Lets have a conversation.

The Chronicles of being me in the last few years

 

I haven't written here for some time. I have been busy fixing quite a few heavy loads and may be you may have caught a few things here and there on my Facebook and twitter handle. This year I will give you blow by blow of accounts of the experiences I have had over the last four years.

1. My European journey through lifechanging gatherings and conversations.

2. My journey in establishing a big enterprise and the joys and frustrations I have faced.

3. Whey I chose to get through the learning curve at Evidence Action and what I have gathered through the world of evidence that informs large scaling of poverty eradicating interventions.

4. The power within and the influence I have, how I have utilized it and when I decided not to and what the future holds.

5. My story as I relive the current political temperatures in the country. 

6. The journey of love and happiness and everything in between. 

The last few years have been very reveling.

I have grown in bounds. I have been happy. I have made mistakes and triumphs all together. 

But before that.... let me give you a filler of what has happened.

Keep it locked here.

Thanks.

ED