Healthy wetlands are the lifelines of communities, biodiversity, and climate resilience.
CANCO’s Water & Wetlands Programme empowers local communities to sustainably manage wetlands and water resources through capacity building, institutional strengthening, and policy engagement.We promote sustainable wetland use, integrated water resource management (IWRM), and integrated floodplain management to ensure that water ecosystems support both livelihoods and environmental integrity.
Our approach focuses on:
By investing in local stewardship and strong governance systems, we enable communities to realizetheir vision of sustainable development.
Over ten years, the International Crane Foundation (ICF) partnered with CANCO to implement Grey Crowned Crane and wetland conservation initiatives across Kenya.
The programme focused on community-based conservation and sustainable livelihood interventions around key wetland ecosystems in Western Kenya, the Rift Valley, and Central Kenya. The partnership strengthened community stewardship, promoted habitat restoration, and enhanced wetland governance while safeguarding the Grey Crowned Crane and its habitats.
In August 2025, ICF registered the International Crane Foundation – Kenya Country Office, headquartered in Nairobi, marking the conclusion of the crane conservation partnership between ICF
and CANCO.
Read here the 10 year impact report for Crane and Wetlands Conservation Programme in Kenya
CANCO has remained actively engaged in the conservation and governance of 5 key wetland ecosystems, including:
CANCO contributed to the development of the National Wetlands Atlas for Kenya and provided technical input into the Ramsar Information Sheet for the Tana Delta now Kenya’s sixth designated Ramsar Site (Wetland of International Importance).The organization has also participated in the development of Integrated Management Plans for the Tana Delta and Lake Jipe.
In 2025, CANCO continued the implementation of the Solvatten Solar Safe Water Project in Kwale and Taita Taveta Counties, focusing on arid and semi-arid areas characterised by low and unreliable rainfall. The project targeted vulnerable households, including those with children aged 0–5 years, elderly-headed households, and child-headed households, with the aim of improving access to safe drinking water and promoting household health and resilience.
The Solvatten intervention supports access to safe drinking water, improved household hygiene, and reduced reliance on firewood and other fuels, thereby contributing to lower carbon emissions. The solar-powered Solvatten system enables households to treat water safely using renewable energy, addressing both health and environmental challenges in underserved rural communities.
Founded in 2008, CANCO champions good governance, democratic rights, and sustainable resource use.
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