Kenya
Women, indigenous knowledge and climate resilience in focus amongst our Fieldwork Grant recipients
We are happy to share our most recent group of Fieldwork Grant participants here at ICLD! This year, 9 brilliant students presented their research on highly topical subjects for both our organization, the general state of the world and local democracy. Each of them had a unique perspective on pressing issues globally, and the execution…
Climate Resilience and Migration among Maasai Pastoralists in Laikipia County, Kenya
This study investigates climate resilience and migration among Maasai pastoralists in Laikipia County, Kenya, addressing the urgent challenges posed by climate change to ecosystem-dependent livelihoods. Despite growing interest, qualitative studies linking climate impacts to human mobility outcomes among pastoralist communities remain limited. Drawing on climate resilience theory and climate-induced mobility concepts, the research used qualitative…
Region Östergötland and Uasin Gishu County, Kenya
Project: Developing Cancer Health Care Through Institutional Collaboration Region Östergötland and its partner Uasin Gishu in Kenya are leading a one-year project that builds on the successes of previous collaborations in cancer health care. The initiative aims to strengthen capacity in Uasin Gishu by training healthcare providers in cancer detection and care, improving access to cancer…
Region Västerbotten and Homa Bay County, Kenya
Project: Assessing Organizational Capacity on Human Resources for Resilient Health Systems in Homa Bay County 2025-0023: Expansion Region Västerbotten and its partner Homa Bay County in Kenya are planning a one-year project to build on achievements from previous collaborations on health workforce development. The project will strengthen organizational capacity in Homa Bay County by addressing challenges related to…
Increasing Transparency in Local Governments: Implementation of Citizen Budgets in Uganda, Kenya, and Zimbabwe
This research project investigates the implementation and impact of Citizen’s Budgets at the local level in selected countries. It aims to understand the elements that compose these budgets, the impact they have on the transparency of local government budget processes, and the degree of empowerment they confer, especially to marginalized groups. The study also assesses…
Designing Local Democracy for Health: Evidence from an RCT of Public Participation in Kenya
Regional focus: Eastern Africa / Kenya Time: March – December 2025 Abstract: This research project will evaluate citizen participation in decision-making for health in Kenya. Citizen participation in government decision-making has been widely promoted as a method for improving health. Participatory institutions, such as Participatory Budgeting (PB), have spread rapidly based on claims to improve decision-making and…
Deciding Together: Citizen Satisfaction and Institutional Design of Participatory Governance in Kenya
This policy brief provides practical insights for local governments on leveraging participatory budgeting (PB) to enhance citizen satisfaction and ownership of development projects. Based on a study in rural Kenya, three PB approaches—consultation, voting, and deliberation—were evaluated. All methods increased satisfaction and willingness to invest in projects, demonstrating their value in strengthening community engagement. Deliberation,…
A cry for justice by “invisible squatters” – Colonial legacy, local democracy, and the quest forhuman rights in land dispossession by Kakuzi PLC in Makuyu, Murang’a County, Kenya
This thesis examines the enduring impact of colonial legacies on local democracy and human rights concerning land dispossession in Makuyu, Murang’a County, Kenya, focusing on the experiences of ‘invisible squatters’ affected by Kakuzi PLC. Through the lens of decolonization and post-colonial thinking practices theories, the research reveals that historical injustices rooted in colonial land policies…
Tactical Urbanism for Inclusive Transport
Tactical urbanism, a citizen-led, resource-efficient strategy for urban improvement, is largely unexploited in rapidly urbanizing African cities. This approach promotes safety, inclusivity, and democracy, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 11. In response to prevalent urban challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa such as slums and inequality, tactical urbanism could enhance urban landscapes by involving communities in low-cost…
Nudging Towards Sustainability: Insights for Sustainable Consumption and Waste Management in Mombasa and Västernorrland
This study explores nudging as a transformative tool for promoting sustainable consumption and waste management in Mombasa, Kenya and Västernorrland, Sweden. By a literature review and global best practice analysis to benchmark successful nudging interventions worldwide, the research gathered insights on the nuances, challenges, and tailored nudges, to offer actionable and evidence-based strategies for local…
