CSO Engagement Forum (CEF)
The CSO Engagement Forum (CEF) is a national platform that unites civil society organisations in Kenya around locally led climate action, governance and transparency.
CSO Engagement Forum (CEF)
The CSO Engagement Forum (CEF) is a national platform that unites civil society organisations in Kenya around locally led climate action, governance and transparency. It brings together citizens, civil society organisations, professionals, the private sector and public institutions, and it makes climate action accountable by connecting knowledge, policy and people. Its secretariat is in Nairobi, at the Muthaiga Business Center.
Climate Action, Governance and Accountability
- Climate action: CEF positions civil society organisations as catalysts for locally led climate resilience, with restoration, indigenous knowledge and climate-smart practice at the centre
- Governance: CEF strengthens inclusive, people-centred governance in climate programmes, and links communities, policymakers and research through engagement at county, regional and national levels
- Accountability: CEF supports independent monitoring of the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Programme, with social audits, grievance redress and evidence-based advocacy
Five Thematic Areas of Work
- CSOs and FLLoCA Engagement Framework: coordinated civil society engagement in planning, implementation, monitoring and feedback at national and county levels
- Community-Led Climate Resilience: communities at the centre of adaptation planning, with women, youth and vulnerable groups included
- Social Accountability and Transparency: citizen oversight, dialogue between duty bearers and citizens, and access to information
- Research, Innovation and Knowledge Management: documented lessons, basic research and digital tools for participation
- Capacity Building Initiatives: training, peer learning and support for emerging civic leaders and grassroots actors
Citizens Who Are Effective Participants
CEF’s vision is a society where informed, organised and empowered citizens take part in governance and development, contributing to accountable leadership, inclusive decision-making and sustainable development. Its mission is to strengthen civic engagement through inclusive platforms for dialogue, learning, collaboration and advocacy that make public and development institutions more accountable, transparent and responsive. Its six core values are inclusivity, accountability, integrity, participation, collaboration, and equity and social justice.
A Structure From the Nation to the Village
- CSO Oversight Group: strategic direction, and protection of the Forum’s independence and neutrality
- National CSO Steering Committee: the principal coordination and decision-making body at national level
- Thematic Anchors: civil society organisations and networks chosen for their expertise in a priority area
- Regional Coordination Units and County CSO Coordination Units: engagement with county governments, development partners and communities
- Ward and Village-Level Engagement Structures: community dialogue, civic education and citizen feedback
- The Secretariat: coordination, communication, documentation and monitoring
Why CEF Is Named Here
Twende Green Planet lists the CSO Engagement Forum among its strategic partners. Community-led restoration depends on civil society organisations that stand close to the people who live with the coast every day, and CEF is the national platform that brings those organisations together on climate. David Busienei, who chairs the CEF National Steering Committee, is a member of the Twende Green Planet Advisory Board and a speaker at Blue Carbon Action 2026.