The Centre for Science and Technology Innovation (CSTI) is a UNESCO associated centre based at the Kenya National Academy of Sciences. We have been operating since 1998.

CSTI Mission: Improving life through science, technology and innovation.

Major Achievements Include:
Vulnerability and adaptation to malaria and cholera in the Lake Victoria Basin have been studied. The following papers summarize the findings:

• Vulnerability to epidemic malaria in the highlands of Lake Victoria basin: the role of Climatic Change/variability, hydrology and socio-economic factors. Climatic Change. 2009.
  In press.
• Climatic, Socio-economic and Health Factors Affecting Human Vulnerability to Cholera in the Lake Victoria Basin, East Africa.
  Ambio. 36(4): 350-358 2007.
• Adaptation to Climatic Change - induced malaria and cholera in the Lake Victoria region.
  AIACC Working Paper No. 43 October 2006. www.aiaccproject.org
• Preparing for Climatic Change in Kenya: Early outcome of the project "Increasing resilience to drought in Makueni District" is on-going and its achievements are outlined in the next section. [Read Documentation]

Area: South-Central Kenya, Makueni District

The area has contrasts between the low-lying, sparsely populated grasslands in its southern reaches, the volcanic Chyulu Hills along its southwest border, and the more densely populated, resource-rich rolling hills found in its north.
In this mainly semi-arid district, rainfall patterns are highly variable in terms of their onset and duration. Drought and food insecurity are always a worry. A swelling population, land fragmentation and the migration of people into the sparser, drier lowlands, all contribute to Makueni's considerable vulnerability to current climate variability and long-term climate change.

Main highlights of the project are;

• Downscaling climate forecasts to guide the choice of crops planted and the timing of agricultural activities
• Improving agronomic practices by providing access to fast maturing and drought-resistant crop varieties
• Building sand dams, shallow boreholes and drip irrigation systems to improve access to water for use in crop production

Main factor that causes livelihood vulnerability in the project area is inappropriate faming methods caused by:- Inadequate knowledge by some farmers on appropriate crop varieties; Limited access to quality seed (most of dry land crop varieties are not commercially available).

In addition, prices of the available seeds are relatively high and this limits access to quality seed. Limited knowledge on appropriate crop husbandry practices including effective use of climate and weather information.

• Participation in, and ownership of projects by local communities is vital if it is to be sustained beyond the lifecycle of the project and also for it to have the potential of been replicated in other ASAL districts.
• Self-help and