Visit to Nairobi
Brief Report on the Nairobi Symposium (September 18-19, 2024)
By Simon Mwaura
The Nairobi Symposium, held on September 18-19, 2024, brought together nineteen organizations from fifteen countries to foster collaboration and share best practices in project development. These organizations were brought from the three UKRI (https://www.ukri.org/ ) –funded initiatives; GCBC (https://www.gcbc.org.uk/ ), REDAA (https://www.redaa.org/ ) and NERC (https://www.ukri.org/councils/nerc/ ). The event was held at the Ole Sereni Emara Hotel (https://ole-sereni.com/ ), featured opening remarks by the Director General, National Museums of Kenya Prof. Mary Gikungu, a distinguished bee, and conservation biologist, who emphasized the importance of building networks and innovative research ideas. Included in her opening remarks was the importance of conservation of highland pastures biodiversity and its long-term implication for small-scale farmers livelihoods and resilience.
Key Highlights
Shared Priorities and Goals
The symposium centered around creating connections among various projects, promoting respectful communication, and ensuring inclusive participation. Participants engaged in discussions about integrating Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) into project cycles, with a focus on inviting marginalized groups, including women, youth, and persons living with disabilities (PLWDs), to future workshops.
Simon Mwaura (Staff)
GESI Transformation
A crucial topic was transforming projects from being GESI unaware to GESI transformative. This includes hiring resolute GESI experts, disaggregating workshop data by gender and youth, and involving master’s students to develop Citizen Science tools. The goal is to ensure that everybody is included in development impact, with a vision of achieving balanced recruitment and inclusive practices.
Day Two Insights
On the second day, keynote speaker Neil Wigan, the British High Commissioner, and representatives from WWF-Tanzania and Nature Kenya shared insights on building trust through participatory approaches. Key discussions included addressing community needs, stakeholder ecosystem mapping, and the significance of land tenure in project implementation.
Conclusion
The Nairobi Symposium underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing global challenges through inclusive practices and community engagement. By prioritizing GESI and establishing clear communication frameworks, participants are well-positioned to drive meaningful change and impact within their communities.
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Round table discussions going on at the Nairobi symposium.