Coming soon: Kenya’s 4th ‘greening’ conference and exhibition

Kenya hosts the Fourth National Green Growth Conference and Exhibition on July 12-13, 2018.

This is yet another opportunity for everyone keen on sustainable growth to contribute to the goal of promoting a greener Kenya.

Green growth proponents and actors will have played their part by attending the event and learning what they need to do to make a positive difference towards rallying collective action towards green initiatives in key impact sectors of agriculture, energy, manufacturing and transport.

The two-day event, organised by Micro-Enterprises Support Programme (MESPT) and other proactive organisations in the private and public sector in Kenya that champion sustainable development, takes place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi.

• EVENT THEME

The theme for this year’s conference is, “Key sectorial opportunities in Kenya’s Green Growth Strategy.”

It is linked to the recently launched national Green Economy Strategy and Implementation Plan (GESIP) 2016-2030.

Discussions and exhibitions will be referencing to efforts contributing towards an inclusive social economic transformation spirit outlined in the GESIP.

The event also provides a testament to Kenya’s commitment to pursue a sustainable development path in a changing climate.

• KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND NETWORKING

The conference gives participants the opportunity to share knowledge and to network.

It attracts actors and decision makers in the sectors of energy, agriculture, waste management, water resource management, green financing and academia sectors, among others.

Green growth presents a new approach to a sustainable economic development.

It puts human well-being at the centre of economic development while promoting wise use of natural resources.

People who have excelled in promoting green growth will also be recognised for their efforts.

• BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

The conference will highlight business opportunities for Micro, Small and Medium scale enterprises in the key sectors.

The opportunities will be mirrored against the triple ‘E’ model of checking the health of the economy through the lenses of ecology and equity.

This model is anchored on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• CLIMATE CHANGE

The effects of climate change are real, hence the clarion call for all to be responsible in carrying out economic, social and environmental development activities.

This year’s event aims at rallying collective action towards green growth intervention in key impact sectors.

These sectors, according to the national GESIP, include agriculture, energy, manufacturing and transport.

• CONFERENCE MODEL

The forum has three key building blocks.

Plenary sessions that will host expert speakers and high level panellists discussing trends and impacts of climate change at global and local level, green economy in the context of sustainable production and consumption, Kenya’s green growth policies, strategies and commitments, key green growth financing opportunities in the country, among other topics.

There will then be three breakout sessions focusing on three discussions on the role of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the stimulation and implementation of green growth development agenda in agriculture, energy, transport and manufacturing.

Finally, the exhibition block will be showcasing green technologies available locally and how far Kenya has fared in promoting green growth.

• FIRST CONFERENCE

MESPT organised the first National Green Growth Conference & Exhibition in 2014.

The theme was, “Unlocking Green Growth in Kenya”.

The aim of this first conference was to create awareness on green growth initiatives, giving special focus to the roles of smart investments and public-private partnerships.

This forum revealed enormous potential and avenues for both the private and public sectors to partner and adopt green growth initiatives in different sectors.

The second National Green Growth Conference took place in October 2015.

Its focus was on “Kenya’s green growth environment and strategies for catalysing investment”.

The forum aimed to benchmark Kenya’s status in the global green growth arena while exploring ways of mainstreaming green growth in private sector enterprises.

The third edition of the conference was held in 2016 under the theme, “Accelerating Sustainable Development through inclusive Growth”.

• EXPECTED CONFERENCE OUTPUT

This year’s event marks the 4th conference and is expected to employ the most relevant approaches to disseminate the green growth agenda.

It will aim at establishing an effective green growth network.

Delegates to the conference will help ascertain green opportunities within key sectors identified in the GESIP document.

The event is also expected to enhance the awareness and adoption of green innovations and technologies.

It is expected that delegates will replicate proven interventions and approaches of green growth technologies, innovations and business models.

Stakeholders will also identify strategies to mainstream MSMEs’ involvement in the green growth agenda.

Delegates are also expected to develop a document that will guide stakeholders on how each can promote green growth.

Further, they are expected to recommend policies that can plug existing gaps in pushing for green growth initiatives.