The technical components of this proactive approach, as outlined in the Kenya National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) 2023–2027 and the Ending Drought Emergencies (EDE) framework, include:

  • Early Warning and Early Action Systems: Strengthening the capability to predict hazards and trigger response interventions before they reach emergency levels.
  • Climate-Smart Agriculture and Livestock Management: Implementing proactive measures such as rangeland management, the establishment of fodder banks and strategic reserves, and the promotion of livestock breeding that is more resilient to drought conditions.
  • Risk Transfer and Financing Mechanisms: Utilizing index-based livestock and crop insurance, alongside functional County Climate Change Funds (CCCFs), to provide financial buffers against climate shocks.
  • Investment Pipelines: Pivoting financial models from “support payments” or aid toward “investment pipelines” (e.g., the Drought Resilience Investment Facility). This focuses on the Return on Investment (ROI) of restoration, which is more sustainable than compensation for damages.
  • Climate-Proofed Infrastructure: Investing in infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather, specifically focusing on water harvesting, storage, and sustainable water management systems.
  • Integrated Knowledge Management: Combining indigenous knowledge—often used by pastoralist communities—with modern scientific climate information services to better inform local-level decision-making.
  • Mainstreaming and Governance: Integrating drought risk management into County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs) and national sector functions, and operationalizing multi-sectoral coordination units to ensure climate risks are considered in all planning and budget processes.

These components form the basis of the EDE Common Programme Framework, which aims to eliminate the conditions that perpetuate vulnerability and enhance the productive potential of Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs).