Solar Energy for Agricultural Resilience (SoLAR) Phase II Inception Workshop in Kenya

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), under the Solar Energy for Agricultural Resilience (SoLAR) Phase II project supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), convened the SoLAR Phase II Inception Workshop in Nairobi on October 1, 2025. The workshop brought together 27 representatives from government, development partners, private sector actors, financial institutions, research organizations, and civil society to validate Kenya-specific entry points for scaling solar energy in agriculture. Discussions focused on policy and regulatory alignment, blended finance and de-risking mechanisms, and strengthening technical and institutional capacity for inclusive and climate-resilient solar adoption. Participants endorsed priority actions across policy, finance, and capacity areas, establishing a foundation for coordinated implementation of SoLAR Phase II in Kenya. The workshop aligned with national priorities including Vision 2030, the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), and the National Irrigation Sector Investment Plan (NISIP), reinforcing a shared commitment to advancing sustainable and resilient agricultural systems.