UNESCO Learning CityLaikipia ConsortiumKenya
Laikipia Consortium, located in Kenya, was inducted into UNESCO’s Global Network of Learning Cities in 2022.
A rural but cosmopolitan centre
Laikipia Consortium is a largely rural yet cosmopolitan city with over 23 communities. The municipality is a centre for farms, ranches and nature reserves. It is also the main base for the Kenyan Air Force and a training area for the British Army.
The city’s main activity is wildlife conservation. Agriculture, livestock rearing, retail and wholesale trade are further important economic activities.
The city’s main activity is wildlife conservation. Agriculture, livestock rearing, retail and wholesale trade are further important economic activities.
Ms Emily LerosionMayor of Laikipia Consortium
“My name is Emily Lerosion, representing Laikipia Consortium. Laikipia is a cosmopolitan county. Basically, by this I mean we are a county of several tribes in Kenya and so I represent the Consortium that is based in Laikipia North and the Consortium is in a sub-county that is in an arid region and therefore it's majorly occupied by the pastoralists who are mostly the Samburu and the Maasai, and 90% are livestock farmers, according to our own findings, and we are mostly affected by harsh climatic conditions.”
Providing inclusive learning spaces for all
As a learning city, Laikipia Consortium is working towards establishing pre-primary, ready-to-learn programmes for young people, establishing a transition fund to guarantee that learners progress from primary to high school, and setting up offline resource centres to promote financial, digital, and basic literacy among people living in the city. It aims to create inclusive education and social environments in all areas of the city.
Sustainability and health in Laikipia Consortium
The city integrates issues of sustainability and health by promoting integrated water, energy and food programmes that ensure that the population has an adequate supply of clean energy, water and food, and to prevent diseases while adapting to climate change.
Advancing equity and inclusion
The city actively seeks to create equal learning opportunities and address barriers to equity within the community, such as female genital mutilation.
Initiatives are in place to increase awareness of the issues, establish monitoring mechanisms to identify women and girls at risk, and set up moral support hubs, among others.
Initiatives are in place to increase awareness of the issues, establish monitoring mechanisms to identify women and girls at risk, and set up moral support hubs, among others.
Ms Emily LerosionMayor of Laikipia Consortium
“As a Consortium, we've seen that the best way to come in and support our people is to venture into trainings for skills in alternative livelihoods and conversations and camps for teenage boys and girls to promote education, which is another major challenge.”
Promoting decent work and entrepreneurship
The city integrates the concepts of decent work and entrepreneurship into its activities in two ways. First, the city supports micro-enterprises and has established industrial parks. Second, the city organizes cultural events to support and celebrate different cultures, languages, and skills for employment.
Laikipia Consortium’s good practices NIWFESS Framework/IMPReSED
The NIWFESS Framework and the Integrated Mechanisms of Poverty Reduction for Sustainable Education and Development (IMPReSED) serve as a water, food and clean energy nexus to promote green and healthy living practices in the community. The hubs also provide learning opportunities.
Laikipia Consortium’s good practicesOppida Fund
A co-financed revolving fund to promote a circular economy, which covers fair and micro-loans, crowdsourcing initiatives, pay-to-own schemes for basic needs, and academic advantage programmes to help low-income families enroll in education, among others.
Laikipia Consortium’s good practices Smart Access
Smart Access is an integrated digital platform that enables citizens to engage in e-commerce, access a learning library, attend courses in digital classrooms, and make public announcements. Members are also provided with tokens that offer discounts in shops and access to free WiFi in market areas.
Lifelong learning for all
As part of the Global Network of Learning Cities, Laikipia Consortium will continue to work towards providing learning opportunities for young and old!
Hand in hand with other UNESCO learning cities across the globe, it aims at making the promise of lifelong learning for all a reality.
Hand in hand with other UNESCO learning cities across the globe, it aims at making the promise of lifelong learning for all a reality.
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) supports and improves the practice of lifelong learning in member cities by promoting policy dialogue and peer learning, documenting effective strategies and good practice, fostering partnerships, providing capacity development, and developing tools and instruments to design, implement and monitor learning cities strategies.
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
Image Credits: UNESCO; Jordon Sharp/Shutterstock.com; Riccardo Mayer/Shutterstock.com; Anna Om/Shutterstock.com; Joseph Sohm/Shutterstock.com; JLwarehouse/Shutterstock.com; Wazzkii/Shutterstock.com
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
Image Credits: UNESCO; Jordon Sharp/Shutterstock.com; Riccardo Mayer/Shutterstock.com; Anna Om/Shutterstock.com; Joseph Sohm/Shutterstock.com; JLwarehouse/Shutterstock.com; Wazzkii/Shutterstock.com
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Laikipia Consortium
A rural but cosmopolitan centre
Ms Emily Lerosion
Providing inclusive learning spaces for all
Sustainability and health in Laikipia Consortium
Advancing equity and inclusion
Ms Emily Lerosion
Promoting decent work and entrepreneurship
NIWFESS Framework/IMPReSED
Oppida Fund
Smart Access
Lifelong learning for all
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities