The Kenyan Youth Biodiversity Network (KYBN) is a youth-led, local non-profit organization that advocates for meaningful youth inclusion in conservation, sustainable use, and decision-making processes regarding the present and future state of Kenya’s environment and natural resources.
KYBN has a strong track record in youth-led conservation of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, including mangroves, inland wetlands, terrestrial forests, and coastal ecosystems. Since its founding in 2017, KYBN has been at the forefront of on-ground restoration, environmental advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and policy influence, particularly within marine ecosystems.
The organization was established as the official Kenyan chapter of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN), the official platform for youth engagement under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It has since grown into one of Kenya’s largest youth-led conservation networks, with over 1,200 registered members and 45 grassroots organizations.
KYBN has also played a significant role in advancing youth-inclusive biodiversity policy processes, including supporting youth participation in the revision of Kenya’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) and the development of country-specific indicators highlighting youth contributions to biodiversity conservation. These efforts contributed to KYBN’s recognition within Kenya’s National Biodiversity Coordination Mechanism, which supports implementation and monitoring of national commitments under the Global Biodiversity Framework.
Since 2018, we have also sent youth representatives to various local and international policy meetings, including the UN Conference of Parties (CoP), such as the CBD COP 14. Such opportunities to connect young people with decision-makers and CSO leaders has proven to be an effective way of strengthening youth participation in policy-making processes, raising youth voices, nurturing leadership skills, and creating avenues for collaboration in on-ground work.
As part of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN), KYBN also advances the agenda of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) among Kenyan youth. We share knowledge and raise awareness on the values of biodiversity and connect the members to build a dedicated movement of youth in Kenya.
AWARDS
