TUNZA PROJECT in Trans Nzoia — What You Need to Know
Community Information Brief
Understanding TUNZA — and what it means for Trans Nzoia farmers
TUNZA is a climate project working across our farms, hills and watersheds. This page explains what it does, what it means for Cherangany's Farmer Field Schools near the Cherangani Hills, and how you can raise a question or give feedback.
TUNZA is a six-year project financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with the Government of Kenya and Agriterra. It works to make farming across the fourteen counties of the Lake Region Economic Bloc more resilient to climate change and lower in carbon emissions — Trans Nzoia is one of the fourteen.
USD 49.99MTotal Cost
USD 29.22MGCF Financing
6 yrsImplementation
20 yrsExpected Lifetime
Category BRisk Rating
02 — How It Works
Four components, working together
TUNZA supports six priority value chains — dairy, poultry, coffee, tea, fruit trees and African leafy vegetables — through four connected areas of work.
Component 1
Climate Information & Institutional Capacity
Generates and shares climate information, strengthens extension services and Farmer Field Schools (FFSs), and builds county and national capacity to deliver climate advisory services.
Component 2
Climate-Resilient Landscapes
Restores degraded land through agroforestry, soil and water conservation, and watershed and riparian rehabilitation.
Component 3
Climate-Smart Agricultural Production
Supports improved crop varieties and livestock breeds, integrated pest management, soil fertility management, efficient water use, and post-harvest handling.
Component 4
Markets, Value Addition & Finance
Strengthens producer organizations and cooperatives, improves market linkages, and expands access to climate-responsive financial services.
03 — Specific to Us
Why the Cherangani Hills matter to this plan
A mapping exercise checked every first-group Farmer Field School site against Kenya's Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) — places of special ecological importance.
Two Cherangany Sub-County FFS groups sit inside the Cherangani Hills KBA
This does not mean any rule has been broken — Farmer Field Schools are community learning groups, not permanent buildings or infrastructure. But because of where they sit, these groups get closer environmental checks, supervision and monitoring than most.
Sub-County
Ward
FFS Group
Biodiversity Note
Cherangany
Makutano
Pandaptai Mkombozi Self Help Group
Inside the Cherangani Hills KBA
Cherangany
Makutano
Karoo Tai Dairy Mkombozi Self Help Group
Inside the Cherangani Hills KBA
04 — What To Expect
The good, and what's being watched closely
🌱 Expected benefits
Restored soils, watersheds and degraded land
More trees on farms through agroforestry
Protected wetlands, rivers and water catchments
Higher yields, incomes and food security
Better access to climate information and markets
More women, youth and persons with disabilities included in project benefits
🛡️ Risks being managed
Temporary soil and vegetation disturbance during restoration work
Safe storage, handling and disposal of pesticides and veterinary products
Occupational health and safety during field activities
Risk of exclusion of vulnerable groups from benefits
Risk of sexual exploitation, abuse or harassment (SEA/SH)
Land-use conflicts around shared infrastructure siting
05 — Ask & Understand
30 questions, straight from the ESMP
Grouped so you can find what matters to you — read one card, or all thirty.
A · The project, in brief
Q1What does TUNZA stand for and who runs it?
TUNZA is short for the project "Transforming Livelihoods through Climate-Resilient, Low-Carbon Sustainable Agricultural Value Chains in the Lake Region Economic Bloc." It is financed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the Government of Kenya and Agriterra.
Q2How is TUNZA funded, and how much does it cost?
The total project cost is USD 49.99 million, with USD 29.22 million coming from the Green Climate Fund.
Q3How long will TUNZA run?
Implementation runs for six years, but the project's expected lifetime — how long its benefits are expected to last — is twenty years.
Q4Which counties does TUNZA cover?
All fourteen counties of the Lake Region Economic Bloc: Bomet, Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kericho, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, Nandi, Nyamira, Siaya, Trans Nzoia and Vihiga.
Q5Which farming value chains does TUNZA support?
Dairy, poultry, coffee, tea, fruit trees and African leafy vegetables.
Q6How many people will benefit?
About 572,000 people are expected to benefit directly, with at least half being women, and around 2.1 million people benefiting indirectly across the region.
Q7What are the four project components?
1) Climate Information Services and Institutional Capacity; 2) Climate-Resilient Landscapes; 3) Climate-Resilient and Low-Carbon Agricultural Production; and 4) Markets, Value Addition and Access to Finance.
Q8What role do Farmer Field Schools (FFSs) play?
FFSs are the main platform for hands-on learning and technology transfer. Producer organizations and cooperatives then help spread these practices further, aggregate produce and connect farmers to markets and finance.
B · Our environment & land
Q9What environmental risk category is TUNZA rated?
TUNZA is rated FAO Category B (Moderate Risk). This means the risks identified are generally site-specific, temporary or reversible, and can be effectively managed — the project does not involve large-scale or irreversible impacts.
Q10Are any Trans Nzoia FFS groups near a sensitive biodiversity area?
Yes. Two Farmer Field School groups in Cherangany Sub-County — Pandaptai Mkombozi Self Help Group and Karoo Tai Dairy Mkombozi Self Help Group, both in Makutano Ward — are located inside the Cherangani Hills Key Biodiversity Area.
Q11Does that mean the project has broken any rules?
No. FFS groups are community-based learning and extension platforms, not permanent infrastructure, so their presence does not constitute non-compliance. However, these sites are recognised as biodiversity-sensitive and will get enhanced screening, supervision and monitoring.
Q12What environmental benefits is TUNZA expected to bring?
Restoration of degraded farmland and watersheds, improved soil fertility, more tree cover through agroforestry, better-protected wetlands and riparian zones, enhanced biodiversity, and more efficient use of water through drip irrigation, water pans and improved catchment management.
Q13What environmental risks were identified?
Temporary disturbance of soil and vegetation during restoration, localized effects on water resources from irrigation works, and the need to safely manage pesticides, fertilizers, veterinary products, and agricultural or livestock waste.
Q14How will TUNZA make sure pesticides and fertilizers are used safely?
Through Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM), safe storage and handling practices, farmer training, provision of protective equipment, and ongoing monitoring of environmental performance.
C · People, fairness & safety
Q15How does TUNZA make sure women, youth and persons with disabilities benefit?
Through the project's Gender Action Plan (GAP), transparent beneficiary selection, targeted capacity building, and equitable representation in Farmer Field Schools and producer organizations. Progress is tracked using indicators broken down by sex, age and vulnerability.
Q16What is SEA/SH and how is it prevented?
SEA/SH stands for Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Sexual Harassment. Interactions between project staff, service providers and communities can create this risk. It is managed through Codes of Conduct, awareness campaigns, confidential reporting, survivor-centred support, and the project's Grievance Redress Mechanism.
Q17Does TUNZA affect Indigenous Peoples?
Where Indigenous Peoples are involved, activities follow the project's Indigenous Peoples Planning Framework. A Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) process was completed in January 2026 for participating groups, and further FPIC will be carried out before any new activity that may affect their rights.
Q18What occupational and community health risks were identified?
Hazards during field activities, demonstrations and small-scale construction, and community health and safety risks linked to machinery, transport, agrochemical use and construction. These are managed through occupational health and safety (OHS) training, protective equipment and supervision.
Q19What social and economic benefits can farmers expect?
Improved productivity and food security, higher household incomes, better access to climate information and advisory services, stronger cooperatives, wider participation of women and youth, and improved access to markets and climate-responsive finance.
Q20What legal and policy frameworks guide TUNZA?
Kenyan laws including the Environmental Management and Coordination Act, Water Resources Management Act, Land Act, Community Land Act, Employment Act and Occupational Safety and Health Act, alongside FAO's Framework for Environmental and Social Management (2022) and the GCF Environmental and Social Policy (2021), plus international agreements such as the UNFCCC, Paris Agreement, CBD and ILO Core Conventions.
D · Your voice, your rights
Q21What is the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM)?
A project-specific, non-judicial process that lets anyone affected by TUNZA raise complaints, concerns, suggestions or requests for information about the project. It complements — but does not replace — Kenya's existing legal and administrative remedies.
Q22What kinds of issues can I raise through the GRM?
Delivery of extension services, access to inputs and training, inclusion or exclusion from benefits, cooperative governance and benefit-sharing, environmental impacts, land and natural resource issues, labour conditions, beneficiary selection, and Indigenous Peoples' rights.
Q23Can I submit a grievance anonymously?
Yes. Anonymous complaints are accepted as long as enough information is provided to allow assessment and follow-up. All grievances are handled as confidentially as possible.
Q24How long will it take to get a response?
Receipt of a grievance is normally acknowledged within 10 working days, and the project aims to respond or resolve it within 30 working days, depending on how complex the case is.
Q25What if my complaint is about fraud or staff misconduct?
Allegations of fraud, corruption, abuse of authority, retaliation or SEA/SH involving FAO personnel or project partners are referred directly to the FAO Office of the Inspector-General (OIG), rather than handled through the standard GRM steps.
Q26What is the GCF Independent Redress Mechanism (IRM)?
An independent accountability body reporting directly to the GCF Board. People who believe they have suffered environmental or social harm from the project can bring a complaint to the IRM, which can facilitate problem-solving or carry out an independent compliance review.
Q27Where can I find the full ESMP and other project documents?
Through the FAO Environmental and Social Safeguards Disclosure Portal, the FAO Kenya Country Office and Project Management Unit, County Government offices in all fourteen counties, Farmer Field Schools and cooperatives, and community forums and printed materials.
Q28How will I be kept informed as the project continues?
Through continuous engagement at Farmer Field Schools, demonstration days and community meetings, quarterly cooperative and county coordination meetings, and targeted sessions for women, youth and persons with disabilities.
Q29Who receives my grievance first, at community level?
FFS facilitators, GRM focal persons in cooperatives and farmer organizations, implementing partner field staff, and county entry points. They record your grievance and pass it on for review — they do not decide the outcome themselves.
Q30If I'm not satisfied with the outcome, can I escalate it?
Yes. Complainants have the right to seek review or escalate a grievance to the next level of the mechanism — from county level, to the Project Management Unit, to the FAO Country Office, and on to the independent mechanisms if needed.
06 — The Path Your Grievance Takes
Five steps, from your community to independent review
1
Community Intake
You raise it with an FFS facilitator, cooperative GRM focal person, or county entry point. They record it and pass it on.
FFS facilitators · Cooperative focal persons
2
County Resolution
The County GRM Focal Person investigates, coordinates a technical review, and works toward resolving it.
County GRM Focal Person
3
PMU Review
For complex or cross-county cases, the Project Management Unit's Safeguards Specialist provides oversight and quality checks.
Environmental & Social Safeguards Specialist
4
FAO Country Office Oversight
Unresolved or procedurally complex grievances are reviewed by FAO Kenya's Safeguards Focal Point.
FAO Kenya Safeguards Focal Point
5
Independent Review
Allegations of misconduct go to the FAO Office of the Inspector-General; broader environmental/social complaints can go to the GCF Independent Redress Mechanism.
FAO OIG · GCF IRM
07 — Talk To Us
Have a question or something to report?
The County Government of Trans Nzoia collects TUNZA questions, concerns and feedback from residents directly. This works alongside — not instead of — the official Grievance Redress Mechanism above.
Email your feedback
tunza@transnzoia.go.ke
You can also raise a grievance in person through your local FFS facilitator, cooperative, or the County Government offices — in whichever local language you're comfortable with.
