Climate-Smart Agriculture and Urban/Peri-Urban Agriculture in the Great Lakes Region

The Great Lakes region of Africa is undergoing rapid urbanization amidst growing climate change vulnerabilities, challenging the resilience of its urban food systems. This literature review explores the intersection of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) and climate-smart agriculture (CSA) as a strategic response to these converging pressures in countries such as Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It examines how CSA practices—such as agroforestry, composting, water-efficient irrigation, and the use of resilient crop varieties—are being adopted and adapted within diverse UPA systems across the region. The review synthesizes evidence on the impacts of this integration on food security, nutrition, environmental sustainability, and socio-economic well-being, while also analyzing the enabling and constraining factors shaping its uptake. Key governance, policy, and institutional dimensions are examined to assess their role in facilitating or hindering climate-smart UPA. Critical research gaps are identified, including the need for long-term impact assessments, locally adapted CSA strategies, effective governance models, and greater understanding of land tenure and nutritional outcomes. The paper concludes by outlining future research directions and policy recommendations to harness the synergistic potential of UPA and CSA in building more resilient, sustainable, and equitable urban food systems across the Great Lakes region, with special attention to Kenya’s evolving urban landscapes and devolution framework.