Blog post by MCLD East Africa Coordinator Steve Ogutu and Dr. Zipporah Wambua, Director of Citizen Engagement at the Kenya School for Devolution and Community-Led Development
The Movement for Community-Led Development (MCLD) and the County Government of Makueni have taken a major step toward strengthening participatory governance and resilient service delivery through a targeted short-course training on Environmental, Social, Occupational Health, Climate and Disaster Risk Mainstreaming in Project Management.
The training was delivered in the last quarter of 2025 through the Kenya School for Devolution and Community-Led Development, a joint initiative co-established by MCLD and the County Government of Makueni in 2023 to build practical capacities for effective devolution and community-led development. The short course is one of several courses offered under the School’s curriculum, which equips government officers, civil society actors, and community leaders with practical skills for participatory governance and inclusive development.
The short course brought together 30 participants drawn from Ward Development Committees and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). Facilitated by experts from MCLD and Makueni County, the training focused on practical tools for integrating environmental, social, occupational health, climate and disaster risk considerations across the full project cycle – including project identification, screening, feasibility, implementation, monitoring, and complianc
A key component of the training was building participants’ capacity to apply Community-Led Theory of Change and Community-Led Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (Co-MEL) approaches. These tools enable communities, ward-level actors, and CSOs to intentionally integrate environmental, social, occupational health, climate and disaster risk considerations into project design, implementation, and learning processes, ensuring that participatory development is both people-centered and risk-informed.
Speaking during the closing of the training, Hon. Nicholas Nzioka, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Devolution, Public Participation, County Administration & Special Programs, emphasized the significance of the course, stating:
“Through the School for Devolution and Community-Led Development, we are strengthening the capacity of both county officers and civil society actors to integrate environmental, social, occupational health and climate risk considerations into project management. This short course marks an important milestone in transforming participatory development processes in Makueni County.”
The short course serves as a platform for the 100 percent transformation of the County’s participatory development processes, aligning them with Public Investment Management (PIM) guidelines. By combining PIM requirements with Community-Led Theory of Change and Community-Led MEL, participants were equipped to ensure projects are community-informed, risk-sensitive, compliant, and responsive to local realities. This integrated approach strengthens accountability while improving the quality, sustainability, and resilience of devolved investments.
According to Dr. Zipporah Wambua, Director of Citizen Engagement at the Kenya School for Devolution and Community-Led Development, the training reflects a deliberate shift toward applied, community-driven learning:
“This short course is about changing how development happens at the local level. By equipping ward representatives and CSOs with community-led tools such as Theory of Change and MEL, we are ensuring that citizen participation meaningfully integrates environmental sustainability, climate resilience and social inclusion.”
Since the establishment of the Kenya School for Devolution and Community-Led Development in 2023, over 100 participants from county government departments and civil society organizations have been trained through various learning modules delivered jointly by MCLD and the County Government of Makueni. The recent training builds on this momentum, reinforcing the School’s role as a center of excellence for strengthening devolution, enhancing citizen engagement, and institutionalizing community-led development approaches.
Makueni County continues strengthening its participatory development processes by using practical tools that help teams and communities better integrate environmental, social, occupational health, climate and disaster risk considerations into everyday service delivery. With continued collaboration between MCLD and the County Government of Makueni, the Kenya School for Devolution and Community-Led Development is helping turn participation into practice – ensuring that development projects are shaped by community priorities, are resilient to climate risks, and deliver lasting impact where it matters most.