Centre for Environment and Development (CED)

Centre for Environment and Development (CED)
Name	Centre for Environment and Development (CED)
Type	Non-governmental organization
Founded	1980s
Headquarters	Nairobi, Kenya
Region served	East Africa, Africa
Focus	Environmental conservation, sustainable development, community forestry

Centre for Environment and Development (CED)

The Centre for Environment and Development (CED) is a Nairobi-based nonprofit organization active in environmental conservation, sustainable development, and community-based natural resource management. Founded in the 1980s, CED has engaged with international agencies, African regional bodies, and local civil society to implement programs in forestry, biodiversity, and climate resilience. Its work intersects with agencies and institutions such as the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Bank, the African Union, and various national ministries.

History

CED was established in the 1980s amid regional initiatives linked to the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme, and the World Bank. Early activities connected CED with projects inspired by the Brundtland Commission and the Rio Earth Summit, while collaborating with institutions like the Food and Agriculture Organization, the African Development Bank, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Over time CED engaged with networks including the International Institute for Environment and Development, Greenpeace, Oxfam, and local partners such as the Kenya Forest Research Institute and the Kenya Wildlife Service. Milestones include programmatic alignment with the Convention on Biological Diversity and participation in processes related to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Bonn Challenge.

Mission and Objectives

CED's mission centers on promoting conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and participatory resource governance through community-led approaches and policy advocacy. Objectives reference commitments found in instruments like the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the African Union's Agenda 2063, while operational partnerships often mirror strategies from the World Wide Fund for Nature, Conservation International, and the Nature Conservancy. The organization emphasizes rights-based approaches consonant with the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights and engages with local land tenure frameworks and national environmental legislation such as Kenya's Environmental Management and Coordination Act.

Programs and Projects

CED implements programs spanning community forestry, watershed management, agroforestry, and climate adaptation that align with initiatives by the Green Climate Fund, the Global Environment Facility, and the Adaptation Fund. Projects have included reforestation efforts analogous to the Great Green Wall, participatory mapping in line with principles used by Landesa, and livelihood diversification models similar to those promoted by Heifer International. CED's field sites have featured collaborations with county governments, village savings and loan associations, and regional bodies like the East African Community. Pilot projects have been coordinated alongside research programs at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, the World Agroforestry Centre, and national universities such as the University of Nairobi and Makerere University.

Research and Publications

CED produces policy briefs, technical reports, and case studies that draw on methods common to the Stockholm Environment Institute, the International Livestock Research Institute, and IIED. Research themes include biodiversity monitoring linked to African Elephant and Great Apes conservation programs, carbon sequestration studies comparable to REDD+ research, and socio-economic assessments used by the Overseas Development Institute. Publications have been cited in forums associated with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, and regional research consortia including ASARECA.

Partnerships and Funding

CED's funding portfolio has included grants and agreements with the European Union, USAID, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank, and philanthropic foundations such as the Rockefeller Foundation and the Gates Foundation. Operational partnerships span multilateral bodies like the African Union, bilateral donors including the Government of Sweden and the Government of Norway, and international NGOs such as CARE International, ActionAid, and the International Rescue Committee. Collaboration with local institutions includes county administrations, community-based organizations, and research institutes like the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization.

Organizational Structure and Governance

Governance at CED has been structured with a board of trustees, an executive director, technical program leads, and regional field coordinators, reflecting governance models used by organizations such as Save the Children, Médecins Sans Frontières, and the Red Cross. Internal units often mirror departments found in the World Wildlife Fund and Conservation International, including finance, monitoring and evaluation, communications, and policy. Accountability mechanisms include external audits, donor compliance frameworks like those of the Global Environment Facility, and reporting aligned with standards used by Charity Commission equivalents and the International NGO Accountability Charter.

Impact and Recognition

CED has been recognized for contributions to community forestry, restoration efforts, and participatory governance in reports by the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the United Nations. Impact indicators cited by partners have included hectares restored referenced in Bonn Challenge reporting, livelihood improvements measured in studies by the International Food Policy Research Institute, and policy influence documented in regional strategies by the East African Community. Awards and acknowledgments have come from conservation networks, academic collaborations with institutions like Oxford University and Wageningen University, and citations within global environmental policy discussions such as those organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Category:Environmental organisations based in Kenya