From invasive species to opportunity: ILO supports jobs and land restoration in Kenya

In Turkana County, vast areas of grazing land have been overtaken by Prosopis juliflora, an invasive species that threatens pastoral livelihoods by degrading rangelands and limiting livestock productivity. Using the Employment-Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP) approach, local communities—including refugees and host populations—are being trained and employed to clear invasive Prosopis, restore degraded land, and regenerate native pasture.

The initiative goes beyond land restoration. By turning harvested Prosopis biomass into valuable products such as clean-burning charcoal briquettes, animal feed, and construction materials, the programme supports local entrepreneurship and green value chains.

This integrated approach demonstrates how environmental restoration, climate resilience, and job creation can work hand in hand to build stronger, more sustainable communities.