Climate change poses great risks to poverty alleviation, food security and livelihoods sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa, declining crop yields and livestock productivity, especially in ASALs that suffer from fragile ecosystems characterized by frequent droughts and low rainfall. Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) objectives of improving productivity and incomes, adaptation, resilience to climate change and mitigation on GHGs emissions, are responses to these climate risks. CSA technologies, innovation and management practices (TIMPs) in general do exist, however they are concentrated in crop farming neglecting livestock production and especially in marginalized areas such as ASALs, which forms 85% of Kenyan land mass and is dominated by pastoral and nomadic livestock production. Most CSA practices are mainly at the production level and hardly extend to the entire value chain, and diffusion is slow due to several barriers. A mixed method approach was used to evaluate barriers to actors' adoption of CSA in the pastoral Livestock red meat value chain starting from input suppliers, producers, to consumers (pasture to plate). This study used six broad perspectives to examine the barriers: 1) Knowledge and institutional; 2) Market and financial; 3) Policy and incentives; 4) Networks and engagement platforms; 5) Cultural and social; 6) Physical infrastructure barriers. These barriers can be surmounted with concerted efforts from the government, development partners, pastoral communities, value chain actors and public private partnership among others. Efforts such as modernization of the pastoral red meat value chains, integration of MSMEs into the livestock systems, access to affordable financing, availability of context based, affordable CSA TIMPs,

The livestock sector is a major contributor to food security and is mainly practiced by the rural poor but faces climate related threats. While there are many natural occurrences impacting the average global temperature and consequently livestock production, human activities in the sector continue to be a main contributing factor to climate change as a result of greenhouse gas emissions. However there has been little attention paid to integration of climate smart initiatives into livestock production and beyond into the value chains especially in ASALs where 80% of livestock production is found. A mixed method approach was used to evaluate KAP (knowledge, attitudes and practices) of the Livestock value chain actors (MSMEs). Linking Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) to MSMEs within the livestock sector value chains is imperative to producers’ engagements within the livestock value chain, reducing climate risks and increasing resilience. The study revealed that actors relate climate change to weather variability, extreme weather conditions and drought and CSA/Livestock as a concept is not well understood; there is a general knowledge of climate change albeit with low understanding on its relationship with livestock, and concern among the value chain actors on the impacts of climate change on productivity and the willingness to take part in actions aimed at protecting the environment and mitigating climate change. There is need to provide context-based CSA technologies, innovation, and management practices (TIMPs) tailored to pastoral livestock production and ASALs value chains, strengthening of peer-to-peer learning and improving extension services to increase awareness, trainings and enhance adoption of CSA since most actors interact with extension officers, and with each other along the chains.

The livestock sector is a major contributor to food security, livelihoods, and is most affected by climate change, but is also a major contributor of GHGs.  While climate-smart agriculture (CSA) has been adopted to mitigate the effects of climate change it has focused more on smallholder food crop producers with little attention to livestock production, and or entire food chains. MSMEs play a pivotal role in enhancing the ability of producers to engage with value chains, integrate women and marginalized groups, innovate, and are key drivers of community resilience, social adaptation, poverty reduction, and protection of livelihoods due to MSMEs’ greater adaptability and flexibility. Linking CSA to MSMEs within the livestock red value chains will strengthen the chains, improve incomes, reduce climate risks and increase resilience for pastoralists in ASALs. This study reveals that the red meat value chains in ASALs are still underdeveloped and fragmented, have little application of modern technologies and practices, unsustainable, and largely nomadic. Further, there is low integration of MSMEs and CSA due to actors’ low awareness of the concept of CSA, limited capacity building on CSA, incentives, and policy instruments to integrate MSMEs thus leaving the value chains weak, inefficient, vulnerable to climate risks, and unsustainable. Adaption of sustainable practices can only come after the integration of actors, therefore there is a need to invest in context-based integration approaches, such as awareness and knowledge, affordable relevant modern technologies and practices, relevant policy instruments, and incentives to realize the CSA triple wins, and develop climate-resilient red meat value chains.

Decision-making is the process of deciding between two or more options in order to take the most appropriate and successful course of action in order to achieve sustainable mangrove management. However, the distinctiveness of mangrove as an ecosystem, and thus the attendant socio-economic and governance ramifications, causes the idea of decision making to become relatively distinct from other decision making process As a result, the purpose of this research was to evaluate the impact that community engagement plays in the decision-making process as it relates to the establishment of governance norms for sustainable mangrove management in Lamu County. In this study, a correlational research design was applied, and the researchers employed a mixed techniques approach. The target population was 296 respondents. The research used questionnaires and interviews to collect data. A descriptive statistical technique was utilized to perform an inspection and analysis on the data that was gathered. The findings indicated that having awareness about governance standards is beneficial during the process of making decisions. In addition, the findings demonstrated that respondents had the impression that the decision-making process was not done properly. On the other hand, the participants pointed out the positive aspects of the decision-making process and agreed that the participation of both gender was essential for the sustainable management of mangroves. Based on these data, it appeared that full community engagement in decision-making is necessary for sustainable management of mangrove forests.

Cities globally are estimated to double their population by 2050 thereby increasing the necessity to underscore sustainability. Projections of economic growth, social equality, infrastructural development in urban centers and cities highlight the precept of environmental governance in attaining sustainable urban development. Untold impacts of unstructured urban development become barriers to environmental governance particularly on pillars of governance such as transparency and equity. Further, these barriers to environmental governance focus on institutional, financial and policy frameworks that have not been developed for sustainable urban development. The implied cost of urban planning and reduced urban personnel enhance barriers for environmental governance and sustainable urban development. The study utilized an exploratory research design which employed secondary data for analysis and desktop reviews on environmental governance and sustainable urban development for emerging cities globally and those in existence. Findings of the study illustrate the pivotal role of environmental governance for sustainable urban development with a keen focus on institutions, financial prudence and enhanced policy frameworks. The findings further underscore the necessity to amalgamate environmental governance and urban development with a view of fostering sustainability in an increasing urban and city population. Overcoming the barriers to environmental governance cements sustainability for urban centers and safeguards the future growth of sustainable cities.