East African communities, particularly vulnerable populations, are on the frontline of climate change, experiencing devastating impacts on livelihoods, food security, and well-being. Despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions (4%) (IEA, 2022; UN, 2006), Africa, including East Africa, faces severe current and future climate risks due to its reliance on climate-sensitive sectors and limited adaptive capacity. The region’s diverse climate, ranging from hot, arid regions to cooler, wetter
highlands, exacerbates the impact of frequent and intense extreme weather events, hindering recovery efforts.
East Africa’s climate is diverse, ranging from hot, arid deserts to cooler, wetter highlands, with significant seasonal rainfall variability (Richardson et al., 2022). The region’s vulnerability to extreme weather events is exacerbated by this climatic diversity, impacting sectors such as water security, education, health, agriculture, biodiversity, livelihoods, and the overall economy (Klein et al., 2014; Nyasimi et al., 2014; Jayne et al., 2018; Richardson et al., 2022).
The consequences of East Africa’s cyclical droughts have intensified in recent decades (Haile et al., 2019). The 2015-2016 drought resulted in poor harvests, a surge in food insecurity, and exacerbated poverty, hunger, and inequality in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia, leaving over 12 million people reliant on humanitarian aid (Funk, 2020). Climate extremes have also had significant economic impacts. In 2020, unprecedented weather events compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a 3.3% decline in average GDP (World Bank, 2……………
