THE WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE

BRIEF ON WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE PARTNERSHIP MEETING

The World Resources Institute (WRI), is a global research non-profit organization established in 1982 with funding from the MacArthur Foundation under the leadership of James Gustave Speth, whose headquarter is in Washington, D.C. WRI's activities are focused on seven areas: food, forests, water, energy, cities, climate and ocean.

Associate Vice-Chancellor (RIE) Prof. Hutchinson On Monday February 14, 2022, held a WRI Africa Strategic Partners meeting at the Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club in Nairobi; The meeting was their inaugural partners’ convening that aimed at strengthening strategic alliances amongst climate, environment and development sector players in Kenya and the region including Corporations, Foundations and Civil Society. The University of Nairobi was among the invited key partners and the only invited University in the region.

The session focused on sharing insights, understanding of collective priorities, and exploring opportunities to work together on the most urgent environmental and climate issues that require re-imagined ways to deliver impact at scale.  The Institute is in the process of drafting a new global strategy which will be ready in six (6) months.

The Institutes looks to address seven (7) challenges which are:

  1. Forests
  2. Food
  3. Water
  4. Energy
  5. Cities
  6. Climate and
  7. Oceans

The Institute three (3) Strategies (priorities) pillars which are:

  1. Vital Landscapes
  2. Thriving Resilient Cities (TRC)
  3. Institutional and Economic Transformation (including Energy)

The Vital Landscapes pillars (five (5) objectives are:

  1. Produce
  2. Protect
  3. Prospers
  4. Reduce and
  5. Restore

The Institute has two (2) flagship offers:

  1. Securely forests and
  2. Community

The strategic priority area is to “Making cities Thriving and Resilient”.

The ongoing projects include:

  1. Road safety
  2. Digital transport for Africa
  3. Inclusive, Impactive and Innovative
  4. E-mobility
  5. Investing in walking and cycling

Thriving Resilient Cities (TRC)

Advocating natural climate action through strategic partnerships

Energy Access Explorer (EAE)

It provides the data and tools necessary to create a future where all people have access to affordable reliable and modern energy.

Methodology

The Institute used the following methodology to collect its data:

  1. Focus group discussions
  2. Meeting with country/county governance
  3. Working with Community Based Organizations (CBOs)
  4. Impact Access Framework

Major Challenge

Identifying, engaging and maintaining vibrant partnerships

Takeaways

  1. The is a great opportunity for partnership between the University  of Nairobi and the WRI, in areas of mutual interest and that add value to the partners core mandates. These areas are to be explored further as we foster the relationship and develop a Collaborative Agreement between our 2 parties
  2. The issue of the university hosting a data hub would contribute to vibrancy of all matter advocacy, policy dialogue and overall development of communities.