Community-Based Organizations: The Engine and Heart of Climate Action in Africa

In the informal settlement of Kayole-Nairobi, the fight against climate change is not led by distant policymakers or international diplomats but by the community itself. Here, Community Engage, a grassroots climate Justice Advocacy organization exemplifies the transformative power of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) as frontline actors in climate action.

Their work, focused on empowering waste pickers and promoting sustainable practices and pushing Climate justice agenda aligns with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement, UNFCCC, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that recognise Community based organisations as actors not beneficiaries in and while addressing local realities . 

As the world grapples with the climate crisis, CBOs like Community Engage are indispensable—not only as implementers but as the moral and operational core of just and effective climate solutions.

CBOs possess an intimate understanding of local environments, cultural practices, and socio-economic challenges, making them uniquely equipped to design context-specific climate interventions. In Kayole-Nairobi, Community Engage works directly with informal waste pickers, who recover up to 60% of post-consumer plastic in Nairobi, significantly reducing methane emissions from landfills and preventing open burning of waste . This hyper-local approach is critical for achieving climate justice, as these communities—though least responsible for the crisis—bear the heaviest burdens of both climate impacts and flawed solutions. The Paris Agreement’s emphasis on a "just transition" explicitly recognizes the role of CBOs as actors, urging their integration into climate strategies to ensure equity and inclusivity .

Community Engage’s work operationalizes global climate agendas like the SDGs and Vision 2030. For instance, their initiatives in Kayole address SDG 13 (Climate Action) by reducing emissions through waste recycling, SDG 1 (No Poverty) by creating economic opportunities for waste pickers, and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities) by promoting urban sustainability . Similarly, their advocacy for formalizing waste pickers’ roles aligns with the UNFCCC’s recognition of grassroots contributions to climate mitigation . 

The just concluded Africa Climate Summit's (ACS-Ethiopia-Addisababa) resolutions further reinforce this, calling for climate finance to prioritize "community-driven strategies" and "local innovations" that center marginalized voices . 
By bridging global goals with local action, CBOs ensure that climate policies are not merely aspirational but grounded in reality.

Despite their critical role, CBOs face systemic barriers, including exclusion from decision-making and limited access to climate finance. For example, Kenya’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations risk sidelining informal waste pickers in favor of corporate entities, undermining decades of community-led efforts .
 To address this, inclusive policies must prioritize direct funding and technical support for CBOs. The ACS process emphasizes the need for non-state actors, including CBOs, to shape climate agendas rather than serve as passive beneficiaries . 

Additionally, initiatives like the Ngong River regeneration project highlight how community-led planning can advance climate resilience while addressing urban challenges like flooding and pollution .

Community Engage’s work in Kayole-Nairobi is a microcosm of a broader truth: CBOs are the engine and heart of climate action. They drive tangible progress while ensuring that solutions are equitable and culturally relevant. 
As the world moves toward COP30 and beyond, policymakers must recognize CBOs as essential partners—channeling resources directly to them, amplifying their voices in governance, and integrating their wisdom into global frameworks. Only by centering community leadership can we achieve a just and sustainable future for all.