Catchment to Tap (C2T) project Kenya

• Kenia
• 31-12-2025

In December 2021, a five-year Catchment to Tap (C2T) national programme was launched to enhance government efforts to improve water security through protection of Kenyan water catchment areas. Funded by the Netherlands Embassy in Kenya, led by World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the C2T project is implemented in partnership with World Waternet (WWn), VEI, Acacia Water, KEWASNET, Egerton University, Water Resources Authority (WRA) and other water stakeholders in the country.

The C2T programme aims at improving access and availability of clean and safe water in adequate quantities and sanitation services for all users, as well as enhance climate resilience and inclusivity in the water sector. This programme contributes to this vision and impact through the goal of improved access and availability of clean and safe water in adequate quantities and sanitation services for all users, as well as enhanced climate resilience in the water sector, particularly for the WASH sector.

The Specific Objectives of this programme are:

1. Enhanced resilience and sustainability of the WASH sector considering climatic and socioeconomic trends through increased synergies between WASH and WRM sectors, in particular aiming to build on past and ongoing Netherlands (NL)-funded projects;
    
2. Enhanced capacity of relevant authorities in the WASH-WRM sectors in Kenya to develop and implement more integrated, coherent and collaborative nexus approaches to enhance and sustain water supply and sanitation for all; and,
    
3. Enhanced knowledge and sharing of information on nexus approaches for the WASH and WRM sectors, considering lessons learnt, including from NL-funded initiatives with a preferred central role for Kenyan knowledge institutions.

The activities are implemented through an integrated approach centred around IWRM-WASH. Through participatory approaches with the communities, particularly women and youth, the team co-designs and facilitates implementation of IWRM-WASH nexus demonstrations using a catchment approach, taking into account the human and climate induced changes degrading water source areas and impacting downstream users’ water supply and health outcomes. The catchment approach also facilitates the identification of bankable projects, and the team supports additional high potential interventions with technical expertise to demonstrate sustainable business models that can be invested in and scaled through external finance.

The team has engaged Water Resources Authority (WRA) from the start of the design process for this proposal and continues to engage them around a partnership. Each module’s design builds sustainability and ownership of IWRM-WASH through IWRM institutions.
The C2T team is uniquely qualified to implement this programme, including:

• Extensive experience working in Kenya and the programme geographies;
• WWF-Kenya’s strong relationships with IWRM institutions, communities, and the private sector, as well as catchment-level approaches to IWRM;
• VEI’s well-recognized technical expertise in IWRM-WASH nexus projects, including strong relationships with the Water Service Providers, WRA, and county institutions in Nakuru and Kisumu;
• WWn’s pragmatic approaches and technical experience in integrated water cycle approaches for IWRM-WASH and climate resilience, and long-term partnership with the WRA on capacity development and institutional strengthening;
• Acacia Water, bringing unique technical skills on IWRM-WASH nexus solutions;
• CIWAB/Egerton University and KEWASNET, bringing on-the-ground experience, networks, and technical expertise for long-term sustainability of activities.
   

For more information please contact Myrko Webers, Project Manager in Kenia
myrko.webers@vei.nl