Kenya marked a significant milestone in climate action by submitting its first Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) under the Paris Agreement ahead of the December 2024 deadline. Developed collaboratively with key stakeholders, the report details national progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to climate change, and identifying areas requiring further support. It also highlights the economic risks posed by climate-related disasters, which have historically cost Kenya 3–5% of its GDP annually. Beyond reporting, the BTR serves as a reflection of the country’s climate resilience, enabling policymakers to evaluate existing capacities and identify gaps in adaptation and mitigation strategies.
The preparation for Kenya’s BTR benefited greatly from technical support provided by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry (MECCF) and other stakeholders. Tools like TAiLS (Tracking Adaptation in Livestock Systems) and the Climate-Smart Agriculture Multi-Stakeholder Platform enabled the integration of data from communities, counties, and agricultural sectors, ensuring comprehensive and evidence-based reporting. A technical workshop held at the ILRI campus in Nairobi in May 2025 allowed experts from government ministries, research institutions, and development partners to coordinate responses to preliminary questions posed by the UNFCCC Technical Expert Review Team (TERT), strengthening both reporting quality and national capacity for future submissions.
The BTR process does not end with submission; the subsequent Technical Expert Review (TER) ensures accuracy, consistency, and completeness of the reported information. For Kenya, this process highlighted the importance of inclusive adaptation reporting, encouraging participation from NGOs, community organizations, and private-sector actors whose contributions are often underrepresented. By fostering collaboration, leveraging local knowledge, and receiving technical support from CGIAR, Kenya’s experience demonstrates that developing countries can achieve meaningful climate transparency. These efforts not only enhance national climate resilience but also provide lessons for other nations seeking to strengthen their adaptation reporting and capacity-building frameworks under the Paris Agreement.