Through its work with the Ministry of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands (MNKAL), Future Agricultures contributed to a significant process of longer term policy development in the Arid and Semi Arid Lands in Kenya, culminating in a shorter-term opportunity for policy adoption, and attempts at embedding policy changes in the longer term.

The opportunity was presented by the creation of the new Ministry in 2008-13, led by a Minister committed to using international best practice to promote development and resilience in pastoral areas. Improved policy was developed and serious attempts made to institutionalise the new thinking and practice into the post Ministry period.

A wide range of actors and events were involved in this complex and dynamic process. One key lesson is that policy change is not sufficient, institutionalising the change in national plans, budgets and institutional mandates is also required. Another lesson was that evidence can be used to reinforce political policy choices and to persuade cabinet colleagues to come on-board.

Lessons from this process were written up as a Working Paper published in 2014.

Source: FAC Evaluation, December 2014