The social & environmental
challenges.
Access to energy is limited in parts of Kenya and consequently rural households are dependent on local biomass from forests. But Kenya’s forests are particularly vulnerable as Kenya has a very low percentage of forest cover and deforestation continues every year. This results in huge biodiversity loss.
There is also another consequence of this dependence on biomass for energy. Wood is traditionally burnt on “three-stone” open fires inside the home, which produce large amounts of smoke and noxious gases. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that smoke inhalation from traditional wood burning stoves is equal to smoking 2 packs of cigarettes a day. This has an enormous impact on the health of families, with women and children being most vulnerable to the risks.
The name ‘hifadhi’ means to preserve and this is the aim of the project is to preserve Kenya’s forests, and the health and livelihoods of rural communities. The Hifadhi-Livelihoods project is developed and financed by the Livelihoods Fund, in partnership with EcoAct & Climate Pal.

This project is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. The United Nations goals were set up as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
In particular this project tackles Goal 3: to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages; Goal 5: to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls; Goal 7: to ensure access to affordable, reliable and sustainable modern energy for all; Goal 8: promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all; and Goal 13: to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.