Combating Desertification in Kenya - Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - page 138

implementing bodies to address their sector concerns. In Kenya, it is possible
within sector planning. For example, the Convention on Biological Diversity can
be addressed within the Wildlife Conservation and Management Strategy.
Globally, there have been many different attempts to combat desertification.
The first major international effort was the 1977 Plan of Action to Combat
Desertification (PACD) formulated in Nairobi. PACD and other interventions
have had little impact on desertification, because of various reasons. Past efforts,
which were mostly top-down processes, have, for instance, lacked the ability to
institute the measures and mobilize sufficient resources required for sustainable
development. The search for an alternative strategy culminated in the CCD that
came as a recommendation of UNCED in June 1992. The CCD, although a global
agreement, was an African initiative that pushed for adoption of a convention
whose activities and programs will be people centered and demand driven through
people's participation in consultative processes and actual implementation as a
central strategy to implement the CCD. This would include poverty alleviation
activities that address the root causes of desertification.
Since the Kenya Government signed the convention, it has been making various
efforts with a view to implementing the provisions of the convention in collaboration
with NGOs and other stakeholders through the National Action Program as a tool
for implementing the provision of the CCD, Country report (2002). This will be
possible through concerted efforts under efficient coordination, cooperation and
in a spirit of partnership with focused but differentiated roles for the different
stakeholders. Thus, although there are already a number of efforts addressing
desertification, there is need for joint efforts from all stakeholders (the government,
the donor community, the private sector, NGOs and CBOs etc.). The main objectives
would be to expand financial sources, reduce duplication of efforts and development
conflicts, and increases resource use efficiency and effectiveness. For example, the
CCD recognizes that financing the anti-desertification activities should not be the
responsibility of the government alone.

2.3 UNCCD Implementation Process in Kenya

The Government in collaboration with NGOs and other stakeholders considers
the implementation process as constituting the following three broad overlapping
phases:

Phase 1: Creating an Enabling Environment. The aim of this phase would be
to institute the mechanisms and processes necessary to ensure that all the
stakeholders are involved in the design of the action program.
Phase II: Formulation and Elaboration of the NAP. During this phase the national,
local area and community action programs would be designed. Community
Action Plans (CAPs) would be initiated and implemented to a large extent.