The Challenge

Kenya is predominantly an agricultural-based economy, with the tea sector generating about 26% of the total export earnings and about 4% gross domestic product (GDP). In recent years, however, the country has witnessed unstable trends in tea production associated with climate-driven stresses. This means that local smallholder tea farmers and their communities are on the front lines of climate change risks due to their dependency on stable temperatures and consistent rainfall patterns. These communities do not have the resources to combat climate change effects on their own and further degradation of natural resources and ecosystems will increase poverty, hunger and economic inequality.