A Roadmap Towards a Sustainable Soil Information System for Kenya

APPLICATION OF THE FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE NATIONAL SOIL INFORMATION SYSTEMS A Roadmap Towards a Sustainable Soil Information System for Kenya NOV 2025 II A Roadmap Towards a Sustainable Soil Information System for Kenya: Application of the framework for sustainable national soil information systems Authors: David Kamau, Kennedy Were, Duba Golicha (KALRO), Philis Njane (MoALD), Melissa Allan, Lydiah Gatere, Henry Mibei, Alvaro Valverde, Martin Parr (CABI), Thaïsa van der Woude, Betony Colman (ISRIC-World Soil Information). November 2025 III Executive summary This roadmap outlines comprehensive, strategic steps for developing Kenya’s Soil Information System (KenSIS) to improve decision-making around agricultural practices, ensure optimised sustainable land use, and address key soil health issues. It provides insights from the “Kenya Soil Information System: Roadmap Development Workshop” held in March 2025 in Nairobi, organised by Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research organization (KALRO) and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), and facilitated by ISRIC-World Soil Information and CABI, with funding from ISRICWorld Soil Information. Participants from various sectors addressed common data and capacity challenges and discussed long-term financial sustainability options for KenSIS. The workshop reviewed key components of the SIS framework that are crucial for the success of KenSIS. The roadmap includes an overview of each component, addressing available information, gaps, and recommendations, which the KenSIS project team might consider. The key potential next steps for KALRO and MoALD to consider include: 1. Redesign the Land Resources unit at the MoALD to handle all national agricultural soil management and fertilizers unit to ensure no duplicated efforts of new soil-related initiatives. 2. Set up and finance a KenSIS prototype leveraging existing platforms. 3. Improve data sharing practices by developing data sharing agreements with key data providers for KenSIS and support MoALD to develop a national soil data-sharing policy. 4. Act on an urgent need to rescue and geo-reference legacy data. 5. Create soil maps highlighting where soil data gaps are to inform a sampling campaign. 6. Update soil erosion and soil degradation maps on a national level. 7. Understand policymakers’ needs for the fertilizer scheme to ensure effective use of information. 8. Undertake awareness raising (communication) on KenSIS to ensure effective stakeholder participation. 9. Develop a comprehensive long-term financial sustainability plan that is not dependent on external funding. 10. Consider establishing a mandate that any new soil data collected in Kenya must be uploaded in KenSIS using a single national protocol. IV Acknowledgements We would like to thank workshop participants for their contributions that have led to the development of this roadmap. Special thanks to Eng. Laban Kiplagat and Ms. Philis Njane from the MoALD, and Dr. Eliud Kiplimo Kireger, Dr. David Kamau and the team at KALRO for their support in organizing the workshop. With special thanks also to the Gates Foundation for their support of the SIS framework development, and to ISRICWorld Soil Information for funding the workshop. If there any questions on the roadmap or KenSIS, please contact Dr. David Kamau ([email protected]). If there are any questions on the SIS framework, kindly contact [email protected] or thaisa.[email protected]g. More information, supporting resources and useful tools for each of the components available in the online SIS framework are hosted on ISRIC’s Resource Library (https://resources.isric.org/sisframework/). 1 Contents Executive summary ....................................................................................................................III Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................IV Acronyms and abbreviations ....................................................................................................2 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................3 1.1. Preparation activities for the roadmap .....................................................................................3 1.2. Workshop on Building a Soil Fertility and Soil Health management platform at scale in Kenya (16th-19th January 2024) ..........................................................................................................4 1.3. Kenya Soil Information System Framework Validation Workshop (29th August 2024) .4 1.4. The Global Fertilizer and Soil Health Challenge (22nd-23rd September 2024) ...............5 2. A Pilot KenSIS: A short-term solution for the fertilizer subsidy scheme .......... 6 3. Recommendations for the medium to long-term goals ........................................11 3.1. Initiation phase ............................................................................................................................. 11 3.2. Planning and design ...................................................................................................................20 4. Workshop participants perceived risks to successful implementation and sustainability of KenSIS ..........................................................................................................25 5. Conclusion and next steps ........................................................................................... 27 6. List of Annexes ................................................................................................................28 Annexes ........................................................................................................................................29 Annex I: The SIS framework ...................................................................................................30 Annex II: Workshop materials ................................................................................................ 31 List of Participants for the Workshop to Develop a Roadmap for Kenya Soil Information System ........................................................................................................................................................42 Annex III: ToR for KenSIS Steering Committee ................................................................... 44 Annex IV: Preparation materials ............................................................................................47 2 Acronyms and abbreviations AfSIS: .....................Africa Soil Information Service ANSIS: ...................Australian National Soil Information System ATO: .......................Agriculture Transformation Office AYPI: ......................Africa Youth Pastoralist Initiative CABI: ......................CAB International CGIAR: ...................Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers DMAP: .................... Data Management Access Plan DSA: .......................Data Sharing Agreement FAIR: ......................Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (data principles) FAO: .......................Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations FSRP ......................Food Systems Resilience Project GIS: ........................Geographic Information System GIZ: ........................The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GoK: ....................... Government of Kenya CIFOR-ICRAF: .......The Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry IFDC: ......................The International Fertilizer Development Center iSDA: ......................Innovative Solutions for Decision Agriculture ISRIC: ..................... International Soil Reference and Information Centre KADP: ....................Kenya Agricultural Data Sharing Platform KALRO: ..................Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization KAOP: ....................Kenya Agricultural Observatory Platform KEFRI: ....................Kenya Forestry Research Institute KenSIS: .................Kenya Soil Information System KenSOTER: ...........The Soil and Terrain database for Kenya KEPHIS: .................Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service KIAMIS: .................Kenya Integrated Agricultural Management Information System KMD: ......................Kenya Meteorological Department LSC: ........................ Land, soil, crops MoALD:..................Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development NAVCDP: ...............National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project NGO: ......................Non-Governmental Organisation SIS: .........................Soil Information System YPARD: ..................Young Professionals for Agricultural Development 3 IntroductIon 1. Introduction A Soil Information System (SIS) is not only a digital platform – it is a collaborative tool that engages stakeholders from government agencies to farmers. This is to improve data access, soil health management, and informed decision-making in a country’s agricultural sector. Understanding how various stakeholders and institutions should work together, and aligning on who is responsible for what, is a critical step to ensuring the progress of a SIS. There are usefully three levels of the system to consider: the individual (suitable skills, knowledge, competencies, and attitudes), the organizational (efficient structures, processes, and procedures), and the governmental (establishment of adequate institutions, laws, and regulations). The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) and Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) have initiated plans to develop a national SIS to improve soil health, enhance agricultural practices, and support national policies, including the national fertilizer subsidy program. In response to a request from KALRO for support from ISRIC and CABI to bring together existing soil data initiatives and key stakeholders, a collaborative effort was made to organise a workshop to develop a national roadmap for the development of a sustainable Kenya Soil Information System (KenSIS). In March 2025, the SIS Framework (Annex I) was used during the “Kenya Soil Information System: Roadmap Development Workshop” to support the co-creation of a tailored development plan (key materials from the workshop can be found in Annex II). This document gathers information collected and validated during the workshop and proposes a suggested roadmap - a strategic plan - that details the steps required to achieve the specific goal of building a sustainable national SIS in Kenya that will last beyond the initial phases of project funding, be built on best practices, and will continue to meet the needs of users. The intention is that the SIS owner and SIS operator (MoALD/KALRO) and members of the KenSIS steering committee would use the roadmap throughout the development process of KenSIS to ensure continued alignment with the stated purpose of the SIS. This document synthesizes the main findings from the two-day workshop and key previous engagements. The first part focuses on the short-term development of a pilot SIS to support the national fertilizer subsidy scheme. The second part of the roadmap outlines suggested activities for the long-term SIS development, noting also that some of these considerations may also be valuable during the pilot phase. 1.1. Preparation activities for the roadmap To co-develop a workshop agenda with MoALD, KALRO and the KenSIS steering committee (see Annex III for membership details), a light-touch desk review of the enabling environment for SIS development was conducted, drawing on key insights from previous engagements centred on soil information in Kenya. Consideration of outcomes from the following engagements were the most useful in agenda development: 4IntroductIon 1.2. Workshop on Building a Soil Fertility and Soil Health management platform at scale in Kenya (16th-19th January 2024) Kenya’s soil fertility and health programs had often been hindered by outdated soil policies and implementation structures, leading to limited benefits from blanket fertilizer subsidy schemes. 1The approval of the Agricultural Soil Management Policy by the Cabinet is expected to address these challenges. KALRO, a key player in agricultural soil research, has been identified as central to developing and operationalizing a soil fertility and health platform. To advance Kenya's data ecosystem and support data-driven agricultural policies, a workshop on building this platform was held in Nairobi from 16th-19th January 2024. Key institutions involved included MoALD, KALRO, the World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR), The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Gates Foundation, Agriculture Transformation Office (ATO), Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), and others. The workshop launched initial steps to develop the platform, focusing on creating a roadmap, defining responsibilities, and mapping short-term and long-term goals. Stakeholders discussed their roles within Kenya's Agriculture Data Ecosystem and identified key initiatives to strengthen the platform. Key workshop outcomes included: zAlignment of partners to support the platform’s development roadmap. zFormulation of a clear path for the soil fertility and health advisory platform. zIdentification of current initiatives to strengthen the platform. zDiscussion of governance and sustainability options for the platform. The workshop also identified eight work packages to drive the platform forward: (1) Farmers and stakeholders, (2) Policy, (3) Capacity building, (4) Modelling, (5) Data and infrastructure, (6) Data governance, (7) Partnership and communication, and (8) Funding. KALRO will lead all work packages, partnering with national and international stakeholders. 1.3. Kenya Soil Information System Framework Validation Workshop (29th August 2024) The workshop held on August 29, 2024, organized by KALRO and CABI, was a pivotal step in the development of KenSIS. CABI introduced the Framework for Sustainable National Soil Information Systems, drawing on lessons learned from SIS initiatives in nine countries. The framework is designed to align KenSIS with both national priorities and global best practices in soil data management. The workshop began with the completion of the SIS framework checklist (Annex III), which formed a foundation for discussions. Key discussions emphasized the critical role of SIS in improving soil health, enhancing agricultural practices, and supporting national policies such as the fertilizer subsidy program. KALRO provided 1. Mangale, N. & Muriuki, Ann & Kathuku-Gitonga, A.N. & Esilaba, Anthony & Laibuni, Nancy & Mutegi, James & Bikketi, Edward & Nyagena, John. (2017). Soil Health Research and Development in Kenya: Challenges Opportunities and Policy Options. http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/ RG.2.2.13584.61440 5 IntroductIon an update on KenSIS's current development status and identified key challenges and obstacles to progress, including data governance, capacity building, and technology adoption. These challenges are addressed through the SIS framework roadmap, which ensures alignment with Kenya’s agricultural goals and gains support from international partners. A major outcome of the workshop was the decision to establish a steering committee for KenSIS, led by KALRO and supported by the MoALD (Terms of Reference in Annex III). This committee will ensure that all SIS-related efforts align with the Ministry’s goals. Key stakeholders in this initiative include KALRO, MoALD, CABI, ISRIC, and international donors such as the World Bank and FAO. Technical working groups will be (re)activated to oversee various aspects of KenSIS's system development. Based on the status of KenSIS development as identified in the checklist, the initiation, planning and design phases of the SIS Framework were prioritized for consideration in the workshop agenda and roadmap development. The recommended activities for the implementation and operational phases of KenSIS can be found on the SIS framework website. 1.4. The Global Fertilizer and Soil Health Challenge (22nd-23rd September 2024) The World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) and Varda organized a two-day stakeholder workshop in Kenya on October 22-23, 2024, bringing together key partners to explore soil health data needs, map existing initiatives, and introduce the SoilHive Platform. The workshop aimed to advance Kenya’s soil health agenda through collaborative knowledge exchange and improved data-sharing practices. SoilHive was identified as a central tool for data aggregation and sharing among stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, and farmers, to support sustainable agricultural development. Over 45 participants attended the Kenya workshop, including representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, KALRO, CGIAR’s, research institutions, NGOs, and youth organizations like Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD) and Africa Youth Pastoralist Initiative (AYPI). The workshop highlighted Kenya's focus on land restoration as a key use case for soil health data, reflecting the country's broader approach to soil health beyond agriculture, including management of rangelands, and pastoral initiatives. The workshop underscored the importance of engaging youth, the private sector, and local communities in driving long-term sustainability. The establishment of small incubation hubs and support centres for smallholders was also highlighted as an opportunity to strengthen the soil health ecosystem. This initiative sets itself apart by focusing on co-development and examining soil health use cases beyond fertilizer recommendations, with a strong emphasis on leveraging technologies like APIs to improve data accessibility and interoperability. 12 recommendAtIonS for the medIum to long-term goAlS 3.1.1.3 Set short-, medium-, and long-term goals Based on the problem statement, SIS mission, and SIS definition as defined above, set initial SMART goals for the project in the medium, and long term: zMedium-term goals might include, for example: added specific functionalities for additional users, or expanded data collection / sampling schemes for increased spatial coverage. zLong-term goals might include, for example: provision of data, information, and related services to policy makers to support updates to specific agricultural and soil use and management policies, and to help key decision makers in other sectors. 3.1.2 Enabling environment assessment: 3.1.2.1 Develop stakeholder and data ecosystem map The feedback from workshop participants was that there are a lot of projects happening at the same time with similar and overlapping agendas in Kenya and that the MoALD and KALRO should consider where possible consolidating activities across different projects to identify what can be leveraged for the benefit of KenSIS. Below is an initial list of existing partners represented in the March 2025 workshop that should be considered for inclusion (if not already present) in an updated stakeholder map based on that created by ICRAF from the SoilHive workshop in October 2024. CABI’s guide on the Landscape of key stakeholders for the development of soil information systems provides parameters for categorizing different types of stakeholders to support the development of such a map. zMoALD zKALRO zCIAT zILRI zICRAF zYara EA zKEFRI zFA-K zCropnuts zOCP zAGRA zUniversity of Nairobi zIFDC This information can ultimately be used to help identify what relevant data assets each institution holds and to map the relevant anticipated data and value exchanges that need to take place between them in the development and maintenance of a SIS. Review CABI’s guidance and resources to support with data asset mapping. 3.1.2.2 Conduct enabling environment assessment There is already a good understanding of what is needed for the establishment of an effective enabling environment for KenSIS. Below we provide an overview of what exists in this environment in relation to understanding of the social, political, institutional, technical and financial aspects that will support the development and growth of KenSIS. 13 recommendAtIonS for the medIum to long-term goAlS Social: Responsible and FAIR-compliant data sharing between individuals and institutions continues to be a challenge. Workshop participants cited the successes of Ethiopia’s Coalition of the Willing (CoW) and suggested forming a Kenyan CoW to test for themselves the value of sharing data. In Ethiopia, the CoW formed organically, becoming “SIS champions” and were a key driver in improving data sharing between individual researchers and institutions which ultimately led the successful implementation of Ethiopia’s NSIS. A SIS champion can be a group of individuals from different institutions, or one institution, that actively advocates for, promotes and supports the development, implementation and use of a SIS. Political: Below is an indicative list of existing relevant national policies and strategies in Kenya that support an enabling environment for KenSIS: zAfrican Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan zAgricultural Soil Management Policy, 2023. zAfrican Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit – Nairobi Declaration 2024 zAgricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy, 2019-2029. Institutional: Below is an indicative list of existing relevant policies and strategies at an institutional level that support an enabling environment for KenSIS: zKALRO data management and sharing policy (currently awaiting approval by the KALRO Board). zThe KIAMIS data governance framework Technical: Existing data, tools, expertise and resources to be leveraged according to workshop participants: zThe Ministry of Lands is working on developing urban and agricultural land maps, and the Survey of Kenya could also provide information on real boundaries to support map viewers. zInfrastructure and tools for soil sample collection and analysis – is there adequate lab equipment, analysis kits, soil storage capacity: An assessment of lab capacities in Kenya has already been conducted by KALRO. zKALRO has the capacity for modelling and mapping soil data, developing and maintaining IT infrastructure. zKAOP climate and agronomic analysis platform has county information and was developed by KALRO ICT. zYara is training farmers on fertilizer application and has also developed a soil health index and helps to create a monitoring system that can be shared for the case of KenSIS. zThe relevant protocols and processes are already in place to ensure interoperability between KenSIS and the big data platform. Other considerations: zTo identify what data, tools or resources there are from other soil domains, consider using the indicative list on page 3 of the guide for an assessment of the SIS enabling environment. zMeet with Ethiopian partners to understand how they successfully developed their NSIS. Review the case study Ethiopia here, as well as other country case studies available to review. 14 recommendAtIonS for the medIum to long-term goAlS Financial: The funding landscape continues to be a challenge for agricultural initiatives with funders from the Global North scaling back on international development investments. Additionally, if KenSIS seeks to expand its scope to include consultations and inputs from stakeholder groups representing the mining, transport, defence, construction and land planning sectors, for example, it would be beneficial for KALRO to understand what the funding landscape is beyond agriculture. Other aspects for KALRO to consider: zWhat is the existing budget allocation from MoALD for the pilot SIS and what cost recovery structures are in place? zIs there relevant expertise in the KenSIS team, e.g. a business analyst, to support planning for long-term financial sustainability? 3.1.3 Needs assessment: 3.1.3.1 Who are the users, what are their needs? zAcademics/Researchers: accessibility of quality data zExtension staff: accurate information for crop management zManufacturers: innovation and product development zFinance: knowing where the gaps are for agronomic partners and being able to quantify how much financially is being lost in terms of biodiversity and crop loss zPolicy makers: to make informed decisions ⭘ o Specifically need to assess policy makers needs in relation to fertilizer subsidy scheme, which could be led by the Director, Agribusiness and Market Development, supported by KALRO, Directorate on Policy and Planning, MoALD Policy Directorate, MoALD Planning Directorate, and the Directorate of Research & Innovation at the State Department of Agriculture-MoALD. zPrivate sector: fertilizer recommendations and provide best practice advice zFarmers: tailored recommendations to increase production and lower cost of investment A more in-depth assessment of each user is required to ensure KenSIS in the long-term. Consider reviewing Chapter 2 on user needs assessment in ISRIC’s technical guide to SIS development. 3.1.3.2 Other needs expressed in the workshop: zNeed to review other key actors involved in the entire agricultural value chain that might use KenSIS. zThere is a need for a basis for calibration of soil health against certain environments. Can KenSIS create a national reference point, then work with farmers to see what is needed and identify, for example, farmers whose soils respond to certain fertilisers versus farmers whose soils do not respond? 3.1.3.3 What are the essential use cases? Building on previously identified use cases: zLand restoration/conservation zFertilizer recommendations (site and crop specific recommendations) 15 recommendAtIonS for the medIum to long-term goAlS zSoil carbon sequestration zSoil fertility management zSoil water management (including irrigation) zPolicy and land-use planning zLand/crop suitability assessment zSustainability target setting zTransport sector zSoil biodiversity zLand hazard and risk assessmentearly warning systems 3.1.4 Idealized system design: The purpose of this activity is to develop a detailed description of how the ideal SIS would look, operate, function, and deliver information to its users without resource limitations. KALRO can then prioritize what can be done now and what could be done with some additional resources in the longer-term. Workshop participants identified the following key functionalities and features as essential for KenSIS: zUser Experience & Accessibility ⭘ A simple, user-friendly design for easy navigation. ⭘ Mobile-friendly interface. ⭘ Offline access to key information. ⭘ SMS-based information delivery for non-smartphone users. zData Access & Management ⭘ Database (including data storage volumes or data cubes) to store the soil data ⭘ Data catalogue to search the data ⭘ Ability to download data in spreadsheet format, either within the interface or externally. ⭘ Easy verification of data quality, including source details, methodologies used, and downloadable metadata. ⭘ Mixed preferences on login requirements: - Some participants preferred no login for ease of access. -Others suggested a login system to track usability, providing insights into who (by stakeholder role, not personal identity) is accessing data, when, and from where. ⭘ Two-tiered access marketplace: -Open access for public data. -Restricted access (via login) for private, modelled data. -Payment option for users willing to pay for access to specific datasets (e.g., modelled data). zData Presentation & Visualization ⭘ Recommendations available in multiple languages. ⭘ Integration of soil data with other relevant information, such as weather alerts. ⭘ Data visualization in multiple formats, including pie charts. 16 recommendAtIonS for the medIum to long-term goAlS zMap Viewer with: ⭘ Soil nutrient maps ⭘ Soil erosion maps, including thresholds and parameters that define severity levels. ⭘ Graphs illustrating land degradation and erosion to highlight key issues. ⭘ Political and county boundaries. ⭘ Additional layers for crops and land types to link soil data with other agricultural parameters. zDashboard displaying: ⭘ The volume of available data. ⭘ User analytics. ⭘ Maps for policymakers, illustrating soil degradation and erosion challenges. zAdditional Features & Integration ⭘ Digital soil mapping workflow that deploys machine learning models for automating the generation of digital soil nutrient maps for the use cases, e.g., fertilizer recommendation ⭘ Use cases, e.g., a fertilizer recommendation use case that integrates decision support tools and the generated digital soil maps to provide the nutrient advisories. ⭘ Integration with county web portals. ⭘ An interactive user guide, including animated tools to help users navigate KenSIS. ⭘ Urban vs. agricultural land maps, with real boundary data from the Kenya Survey, to identify what land can be used for construction and what land should be reserved for crops to conserve food security. 3.1.4.1 See example SISs here: z Australia: https://ansis.net/ z Ethiopia: https://nsis.moa.gov.et/ z Learn more from existing SISs here 3.1.5 Brainstorm monitoring, feedback and communication plan: This section presents insights from workshop participants on how KALRO can assess the impact of the SIS once deployed, ensure it meets its KPIs, sustain engagement with target users, and attract new ones. The critical aspect is awarenesseven if you have a robust platform, if stakeholders are unaware of it, a significant gap will exist. The KenSIS team is responsible for reviewing and prioritizing the actions outlined below. 3.1.5.1 Monitoring usage and impact: zMeasure the number of users per user category accessing KenSIS, e.g. farmers, agro-dealers, extensions officers, academics and researchers, zMeasure at what point in the season they are using KenSIS most, e.g. before the planting season? zCollect yearly metrics and have targets of number of people per user group to reach after one year zOrganise a national launch of KenSIS showing what it can offer and how it can be used, working together with national TV/social media. zIt was suggested that KPIs for KenSIS could align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) indicators, to measure and depict clearly how KenSIS contributes to the SDGs. ⭘ For example, Goal 2.4 is “By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement 17 recommendAtIonS for the medIum to long-term goAlS resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality”. ⭘ Other goals highlighted during discussions were: - No poverty (1) – how does KenSIS contribute to employment and farmer incomes? - Zero hunger (2) – is it possible to measure how KenSIS contributes to food security? - Good health and wellbeing (3) – does KenSIS provide information on how the soil impacts human health? - Clean water and sanitation (6) – how can data on soil pollution be monitored to contribute to clean water? - Climate action (13) – how much carbon is stored in the soil, and can this data inform how much Kenya has reduced its CO2 and other GHG emissions from other agricultural practices? - Life on land (15) – has KenSIS data been used to inform policies that protects forest conservation? - Partnerships for the goals (17) – how will KenSIS data support inter-country and intracountry partnerships to implement the SDGs? zEngage with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry to understand their impact strategy for KEFRI’s Jazamiti App, as stakeholders reported that its effect is visible because people are already planting trees and posting the details in the App as guided by the 15 billion National Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration strategy. zConduct a comparison of soil degradation over time and how KenSIS has helped prevent or slow degradation, using spatial data, remote sensing and survey to measure progress over time. zSurvey to understand how KenSIS is contributing to changes in behaviour/agricultural practices and whether KenSIS users are seeing an impact on crop productivity and improved soil health. zClassify intended outcomes/impacts in the immediate, mediumand long-term zMeasure the number of stakeholders contributing data to KenSIS zFrom the Kempinski workshop in January 2024, it was suggested that the monitoring and evaluation of the platform should ensure all data to be used is catalogued, and trends in soils as well as soils labs should also be documented. 3.1.5.2 User feedback mechanisms: z Consider periodical feedback questionnaires, targeting regular users and ask whether the information provided by KenSIS is useful, does it help the user meet their needs, and how can KenSIS be improved? 3.1.5.3 Other considerations: zConsider how KenSIS contributes to the commitments made to manage soil health in the AFSHSNairobi Declaration (2024). zWithout a log-in function, how will regular users be identified and targeted for feedback on KenSIS? zWhat tool will be used to collect feedback? For example, the LSC hub Kenya uses GIT for user feedback collection: https://lschub.kalro.org/#hub-community zConsider developing user personas and user stories to guide SIS development. 18 recommendAtIonS for the medIum to long-term goAlS ⭘ What is your user like? What is their relation to the project? What goals do they have? ⭘ The user story typically follows this structure: As a <user role>, I want to <action> so that I can <value>. ⭘ Review this guide on how to create personas to guide the ideation design process. 3.1.5.4 Communications plan: zNeed to create a specific plan to engage and train extension officers zSocialize KenSIS under county development planning, and value chains, and mainstreamed zDevelop an interactive guide for how to use KenSIS, e.g. animated tools on what a user can learn from using KenSIS zProvide regular webinar trainings for new users (also from the Ministry) on how to use the platform zKALRO builders of SIS require training on building, usage, populating and maintenance. zCounty-level trainingIT GIS persons to be trained to use KenSIS so they can use the information for the smallholder farmers. zKALRO could look at KenSIS data to identify priority areas or users and inform their marketing strategy, e.g. create specific messaging for an area or user community so that they know KenSIS is available to them to meet their specific needs. zAdvertising in the media at regular intervals, e.g. before rains come, and working with the Kenya Met Department to bundle information providing an outlook for the season two-months before the on-set of rains. 3.1.6 Partnership development and financial sustainability plan: 3.1.6.1 Partnerships zInternational: other SISs (e.g. Ethiopia’s NSIS, New Zealand’s Soil Portal, ANSIS), FAO (INSII, GLOSIS), International NGOs (CGIAR centres, ISRIC), The Coalition for African SIS Development (FARA, ISRIC, CABI), International funders (World Bank, FAO, EU, Gates Foundation, GIZ), Community of Practice (ISRIC). zContinental: AUSO (FARA) zRegional: IGAD, ASARECA, EAC zNational: ⭘Ministries and related departments: Ministry of Roads and Transport, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, The National Treasury of Kenya, Ministry of Lands, Public works, Housing and Urban Development ⭘National entities and state agencies: DRSRSremote sensing, Survey of Kenya, ICT, Office of the Data Protection Commissioner ⭘Private sector: (fertilizer companies, private labs) ⭘Farmers organisations: KENAFF, ASNET ⭘Banks & financial institutions: loans for agricultural purposes ⭘Scientific societies: Soil Science Society of East Africa, Agronomists Association of Kenya, Horticulture Association of Kenya. zCounty: need to engage the 47 different counties 19 recommendAtIonS for the medIum to long-term goAlS 3.1.6.2 Co-develop a theory of change or impact pathway It was discussed that having a theory of change or impact pathway that stakeholders can contribute to and align on would be beneficial for understanding the goals of KenSIS and support the monitoring the impact it originally set out to make. zDrawing on the goals, target users, use cases and monitoring, formulate a theory of change or impact pathway to visualize what’s needed to achieve the intended outcomes of KenSIS. 3.1.6.3 Develop a high-level financial sustainability plan There is currently no specific funding allocated to building KenSIS, so when identifying potential funding sources, workshop participants also considered what activities could be covered by existing or upcoming initiatives to reduce costs. Key interfaces might be: zGoK and GIZ funding for the pilot SIS zWorld Bank (as it relates also to the Digital Agriculture Roadmap for Kenya) zEU Commission zFAO, SoilFER (noting likely dependence on USDA funding) zMoALD to allocate some funding for new programmes to go towards sustaining KenSIS zTechnical support from CGIAR, AICCRA for longer-term zLeverage AUSO project activities on strategic soil data collection and capacity training zLSC hub to develop an exit strategy that ensures its integration into KenSIS zNAVCDP and FSRP on digital soil mapping 3.1.6.4 Brainstorming revenue generation: zPrivate fertilizer companies expressed interest in paying a premium fee for modelled datathis led to a discussion on KenSIS assessing which data is high value e.g. to address carbon use cases, and prioritizing this in the early phases to fund the initial development and maintenance costs, as private sector and other stakeholders would be willing to pay to access this zIt was discussed that construction companies would be using the soil data from KenSIS to inform their revenue-generating activities, therefore should such users pay to access this information? How might a marketplace operate to serve that need? zSocial enterprise model – different services provided to end users, 2 tiers – free model and paid services with extended functionality. ⭘ An assessment of target users' willingness to pay would support understanding of how KenSIS can be sustained in the long-term. Consider reviewing this example of a user willingness to pay assessment for soil information derived by digital maps. ⭘ Review CABI’s guide here to support SIS financial sustainability planning 3.1.6.5 Draft budget breakdown: Short-term Funding Needs for Pilot SIS (6-12 months) 1. Personnel and operational costs: some staff time could be covered by LSC Hubs, pending project extension 2. Soil data collection and analysis: initially covered by NAVCDP (77,969 samples, USD$100 per sample, equates to USD$7.7million) 3. GIS software and hardware 4. Training and capacity building 5. Website development and maintenance: $100,000 - $130,000 6. Scanners: The process of purchasing has started, but the cost of 12 Mid-Infra-Red scanners is USD$74,000 - $80,000 20 recommendAtIonS for the medIum to long-term goAlS 3.1.6.6 Other longer-term financing considerations: zNew soil data collection to take place every 5 years zWidening the scope to meet the needs of soil data users beyond agriculture (engaging key stakeholders, assessing more user needs) zMonitoring user feedback and improving the system zThere is a need to hire personnel with expertise in data interpretation to inform beneficiaries and extension services. zWhat is the budget for marketing and business development activities to increase the customer base for value added services? zHow can the SIS owner optimize recruitment and retention strategies to control personnel costs? zWhat is the budget for training and development programs to enhance staff performance and efficiency for the development and implementation of the SIS? 3.2. Planning and design 3.2.1 Develop the data strategy: Having a data strategy for KenSIS will define the processes, technologies and governance measures needed to ensure data quality, availability, accessibility and security, and to improve the chances of successful FAIR implementation. Articulating this strategy will also help outline how KenSIS will collect, manage, analyse and use data to achieve its objectives. A well-implemented FAIR data strategy will help KenSIS maximize the value of its data while minimizing risks associated with data misuse or mismanagement. An illustrative scenario for implementing FAIR within the SIS development context is also available to read here. This scenario can be used to understand the processes and planning required for the collection and management of data. 21 recommendAtIonS for the medIum to long-term goAlS The table below depicts the data challenges and data needs of the stakeholders expressed in the workshop, with data solutions proposed by stakeholders, alongside other solutions that the KenSIS team might consider. Data challenge/data need Proposed solution(s) Other considerations There is a lot of data being collected, but everyone is using their own protocols. There are also varying data formats and methods, so there is a need to harmonize this. zNational mandated protocols for soil data collection and management. zReview what protocols are being used for soil data collection in the World Bank’s NVCDP initiative and assess whether these can be adopted for any future initiative that collects soil data. zConduct a cross-stakeholder consensus exercise on the different methodologies used, e.g. for testing minerals, so that all new data can be homogeneous. zReview ISRIC’s technical report on existing protocols for soil data collection, laboratory analysis, soil archiving, modelling and mapping, and data and information serving. zReview CABI’s guide to creating a data management and access plan (DMAP) that will define the technical standards and architecture to describe how data assets will be managed within KenSIS. The DMAP will include details on the processes by which data will be collected and processed, notes on the protocols used to create and format, as well as other key activities to implement to ensure best practice data governance. There are many actors collecting and using Kenyan soil data without Kenyan’s necessarily benefiting from this data. zThe workshop participants expressed the benefit of introducing a mandate or law that any new soil data collected in Kenya must be uploaded in KenSIS using one national standard protocol, stating that soil data is a national security asset. This mandate or law will ensure KenSIS regularly receives new data to meet evolving user needs. zSee also the example of the Netherland’s National Key Registry of the Subsurface Act zWhat can be learnt from the national ban on single-use plastic bags? Develop an advocacy plan to support key decision makers establish the national mandate. 28 lISt of AnnexeS 6. List of Annexes Annex I – Posters of the SIS Framework Annex II – Workshop materials, including workshop agenda and slide decks Annex III – Terms of Reference for the KenSIS steering committee Annex IV – Preparation material, including briefing document and checklist from 2024 29 Annexes 30 Annex I: the SIS frAmeWorK Annex I: The SIS framework Initiation Enabling environment assessment Envisioning Checklist Needs assessment Idealised system design Partnership development + highlevel financial sustainability plan Ready to move forward? Build workplan and budget Start Information gathering Prep aring D evelo ping Maintaining Synthesis + decisio n poin t Planning and Design Develop data strategy Organisational and financial sustainability plan System architectural design Ready to move forward? Build workplan and budget Start Information gathering Prep aring D evelo ping Maintaining Synthesis + decisio n poin t Implementation Iterative build + update of the SIS and guidelines Testing + user feedback Deployment / Launch Continue iterative cycle until the next version is ready for public deployment Start Information gathering Prep aring D evelo ping Maintaining Synthesis + decisio n poin t 11 12 13 Operational Monitor, review and update the SIS Decide timeline for periodic reviews Review the following factors: Financial sustainability plan Human capacity  User needs and feedback New technologies and tools New data/information  Institutional landscape and partnerships Monitor the effectiveness of the SIS Make the relevant updates (people, process, technologies) Start Information gathering Prep aring D evelo ping Maintaining Synthesis + decisio n poin t 14 31 Annex II: WorKShoP mAterIAlS Annex II: Workshop materials Funded by: A Roadmap Development Workshop for the Kenya Soil Information System Background Developing a SIS involves more than just creating digital tools—it’s a collaborative process that engages stakeholders in refining and implementing data development plans. This process must balance evolving needs, challenges, and resources, guided by a comprehensive framework that considers the unique local context. Tailored roadmaps for SIS initiatives may vary from implementing advanced digital systems to establishing policies for data sharing or expanding capacity development. Despite the well-recognized value of SISs, improvements are essential to better address local users' needs and effectively build data assets. Key challenges include capacity gaps, data quality concerns, governance and policy issues, data security, retention of skilled personnel, and inadequate technical infrastructure. Through a comprehensive review of existing SIS initiatives, an assessment of the latest soil analysis technology, and engagement with key decision-makers and stakeholders across multiple countries, CABI and ISRIC have developed the framework for sustainable national soil information systems (scan the QR code to view the SIS Framework). The SIS framework has been tested and validated with the global soil data community, including consultations with stakeholders in Zambia, April 2024, and in Ghana, October 2024, advancing efforts to establish national SISs there. A consultation with KALRO also took place in Kenya on August 2024, which provided additional insights to finalize the SIS framework before its official launch in October 2024. Objectives and structure of the event KALRO, CABI and ISRIC are hosting a two-day KenSIS Roadmap Development Workshop at the KALRO Headquarters in Loresho, Nairobi on 5th and 6th March 2025. The workshop will bring together key stakeholders to refine a short-term solution to support Kenya's fertilizer subsidy scheme and to lay a foundational roadmap for the design and development of KenSIS. This workshop, funded by ISRIC and supported by CABI, will gather insights and inputs from government representatives, technical partners, and development partners to build a comprehensive roadmap aligned with Kenya’s agricultural development goals. Workshop Objectives: 1. Support all stakeholders in understanding and aligning with KenSIS goals, framework, and next steps. 2. Gather necessary input for developing the long-term KenSIS roadmap, building on preliminary planning and stakeholder feedback. 3. Engage development partners to explore potential investment and support for KenSIS 4. Refine a pilot SIS building on the existing projects as a short-term solution for informing the fertilizer subsidy scheme. Funded by: Workshop Programme: A Roadmap for the Development of Kenya Agriculture Soil Management Information System Day 1 Welcome and registration | 08:30 - 09:00 Setting the scene | 09:00 - 09:45 Speaker Comment / guiding questions Welcome by Moderator CABI / ISRIC Goals and format for the workshop and quick background about the project The moderator will introduce each speaker before they speak Dr. Daniel Karanja CABI • Welcoming from CABI Africa • The need for understanding best practice in the development of soil information systems Dr. Eliud Kireger KALRO • Welcoming remarks from KALRO • Current state of soil information in Kenya • Plans and goals for KenSIS in the long term PS MoALD • Opening remarks from MoALD • Role of the fertilizer subsidy scheme and relevance to KenSIS. Moderator • Key takeaways from initial presentations • Introduction to the next session Introduction to the framework and background work | 09:45 - 10:15 Speaker Comment / guiding questions Eng. Thaïsa van der Woude ISRIC Dr. Lydiah Gatere CABI • Introduction Framework for Sustainable National Soil Information Systems (SIS Framework) • Key findings from other countries • Background of the FARA-CABI-ISRIC partnership • Details of the SIS framework • Benefit of developing a roadmap for KenSIS Moderator • Q&A Introduction to the next session Group photo and coffee break | 10:15 - 10:45 32 Annex II: WorKShoP mAterIAlS Funded by: Existing efforts in Kenya | 10:45 – 12:00 Speaker Comment / guiding questions Moderator Session Introduction: an overview of Kenya’s soil information landscape Dr. David Kamau KALRO • Current status of KenSIS • Preliminary work plan and findings from previous workshops (in 2024) • Shortand long-term needs and solutions • Q&A All Speed networking Moderator Key takeaways and preparation for action planning Action planning session 1: Defining KenSIS mission | 12:00 – 13:00 Objective: To define the scope and mission of KenSIS and clarify the specific challenges it aims to address. Speaker Comment / guiding questions Moderator Session Introduction Transition into breakout rooms Discussion • How can KenSIS address the primary challenges in soil data management and accessibility? • What are the essential use cases for KenSIS? • What is the desired outcome and long-term vision for KenSIS? • How can KenSIS support Kenya’s agricultural policies, particularly the fertilizer subsidy scheme in the long term? • What value will KenSIS provide to each stakeholder group, from farmers to policymakers? Transition back to main room Networking lunch | 13:00-14:00 Feedback from the KenSIS mission | 14:00 – 14:30 Speaker Comment / guiding questions Moderator Nominees from breakout groups Feedback panel session Funded by: Action planning session 2: Short-term solution for the fertilizer subsidy scheme | 14:30 – 16:30 Objective: To outline a clear approach for implementing a short-term pilot SIS to support Kenya’s fertilizer subsidy scheme, including defining its purpose, identifying user needs, and determining the key functionalities, data requirements, and resources required for success. Speaker Comment / guiding questions Moderator Session Introduction Transition into breakout rooms Discussion on motivating factors • What specific goals will this short-term solution achieve in supporting the fertilizer subsidy scheme? • What are the key drivers for implementing a short-term SIS? • What timeframes are required to meet the scheme’s immediate needs? Discussion on pilot requirements • Who are the primary users of the pilot system, and what are their specific needs for the fertilizer subsidy scheme? • What functionalities are essential for the pilot system from a user perspective? • What are the primary digitalization needs to support an effective pilot SIS? • What additional data is required, and what methods should be employed for gathering and integrating it? • What existing systems can be leveraged and adapted specifically to serve as a short-term SIS solution? Discussion on next steps • What timeline is feasible for implementing the pilot solution? • What resources are needed to support the pilot? • What will be the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders? Transition into main room Nominee from group 1 Report back from discussion in group 1 (session 1) Nominee from group 2 Report back from discussion in group 2 (session 1) Moderator Key takeaways and preparation for action planning Close of day 1 | 16:30– 16:45 Speaker Comment / guiding questions Moderator Eng. Thaïsa van der WoudeISRIC Official closure of day 1 Networking cocktail | 16:45 – 18:30 33 Annex II: WorKShoP mAterIAlS Funded by: Day 2 Welcome | 08:00-08:30 Recap of day 1 and opening of day 2 | 08:30-09:00 Speaker Comment / guiding questions Moderator Welcome of day 2 Thaisa van der WoudeISRIC Summary of day 1 Dr. David KamauKALRO Reflections of day 1 Feedback from participants Moderator Explanation of day 2 sessions Action planning session 3: Implementing the FAIR data principles | 09:00 – 10:15 Objective: To increase awareness of the value of implementing the FAIR data principles and outline what is needed for a KenSIS data strategy. This includes consideration of who will be involved in which aspects of data management, and what processes will be used to develop and manage data assets. Speaker Comment / guiding questions Henry Mibei - CABI Introduction FAIR data principles and session introduction Transition into breakout rooms Discussion • How can KenSIS ensure responsible data sharing and management? • How can we address data sharing problems within the context of a national SIS? • Which data challenges are your initiatives already seeking to address? • What remains to be addressed and by whom? Coffee break | 10:15 – 10:45 Funded by: Action planning session 4: Ideal system design | 10:45– 11:45 Objective: To understand the requirements and expectations of KenSIS users to inform the design of technically feasible, user-friendly, and scalable architecture that is FAIR data compliant. Speaker Comment / guiding questions Moderator Session Introduction Discussion • What specific functionalities or features (e.g. dashboards, maps, data security, mobile accessibility, offline access) would be most valuable for KenSIS users? • What are the technical and digital literacy gaps (among users)? What are the capacity strengthening needs? • Should there be a log-in function in KenSIS for different users? • How can we leverage Kenya’s technological infrastructure (e.g., mobile platforms, GIS tools) to support KenSIS? What role can other platforms, projects and the pilot play for KenSIS? • Is there a preferred backend and front end for KenSIS? • How can KenSIS measure its impact? • What Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) should be set up? Action planning session 5: Partnership development and sustainable funding | 11:45 – 13:00 Objective: To establish sustainable partnerships and funding models to ensure KenSIS's long-term success and impact. Speaker Comment / guiding questions Moderator Session Introduction Discussion • What would a partnership for the long-term success of KenSIS look like? • Is there anyone missing from the invited participants who would be a valuable contributor to the partnership? • What potential funding sources (e.g. government, donor agencies, private sector) can support KenSIS? • How can KenSIS generate revenue to support its operations (e.g. subscription services, consulting)? • What are KALRO's estimations of the total cost for developing KenSIS? • What immediate and long-term strategies are needed to secure financial sustainability for KenSIS? Networking lunch | 13:00-14:00 34 Annex II: WorKShoP mAterIAlS Funded by: Reflections from various sessions | 14:00 – 14:30 Speaker Comment / guiding questions Moderator Nominees from breakout groups Feedback panel session Action planning session 6: Finalizing next steps and action items | 14:30 – 15:30 Objective: To consolidate insights from the previous sessions and outline a clear, actionable path forward for the KenSIS development roadmap, focusing on prioritizing activities, assigning responsibilities, and establishing timelines. Speaker Comment / guiding questions Moderator Session Introduction Discussion • What are the immediate action items based on the discussions in the previous sessions? • Which short-term priorities should be addressed first, and what is the timeline for each? • Who will be responsible for each key action, and how can accountability be ensured? • What are the key milestones for KenSIS over the next 6, 12 and 24 months? • How should the engagement with stakeholders and partners happen moving forward, including follow-up meetings or progress checks? • What additional resources or support will be needed to implement each phase of the roadmap? • Are there any potential risks to the planned next steps, and how can they be addressed proactively? Moderator Key takeaways Close of day 2 | 15:30 – 15:45 Speaker Comment / guiding questions Eng. Thaïsa van der Woude - ISRIC Dr. Lydiah Gatere - CABI Takeaways from the two-day workshop MoALD/KALRO Official close of the workshop; closing remarks 35 Annex II: WorKShoP mAterIAlS Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organization Current status of Kenya Soil Information System - KENSIS Kennedy Were, PhD A Roadmap Development Workshop Wednesday 5th March, 2025, KALRO HeadquartersNairobi Soil Information System – What is it? An integrated system or centralized platform designed to collect, store, analyze, manage, and disseminate soil data and information, allowing users to make informed decisions Components of a SIS ❖Existing SIS: There is currently no operational national SIS, but what exists can be the basis for KenSIS ❖Problem Clarity: KALRO and other stakeholders have a clear understanding of the problems the SIS is meant to address. ❖Mission and Definition: These are clear within KALRO, but it is essential for all stakeholders to be fully aligned. Documented mission and vision statements are needed as reference points. ❖Government Buy-In: Strong government support for the SIS, with significant pressure to establish an operational system in the short term to inform fertilizer subsidy plans & respond to the AFSH summit outcomes Current status of KenSIS ❖SIS Ownership: The SIS will be hosted by KALRO, representing the GoK ❖Needs Assessment: Must revisit and revise the current needs assessment ❖Funding: The GoK and additional donors will fund the system build, with the goal of making it sustainable in the long run. ❖Goals: The goals are set and agreed upon, though some clarity is still needed within KALRO, and agreement with other stakeholders is ongoing. Current status of KenSIS ❖Operational Timeline: The goal is to have a functional SIS within 18 months, with a significant milestone of building a basic SIS in 6 months to help prepare for the GoK fertilizer subsidy program for the planting season ❖Involved organizations ❖Contributors: ICRAF, SGS Mombasa, and KEFRI are producing related soil data. CropNuts, a private laboratory, also possesses soil data but is unable to share it due to their data sharing policy. ❖Key projects: World Bank, SoilFER and SoilHive by ICRAF (funded by NORAD) ❖Funding: The World Bank (WB) is involved in funding. NAVCDP provides some funding, particularly for soil data collection and equipment. ❖Coordination: KALRO has requested that CABI play a leading role in coordinating consultations and the process moving forward. Current status of KenSIS ❖Working group formation ❖Following the Kempinski meeting in January 2024, a Steering Committee was formed by the Ministry of Agriculture & KALRO to ensure alignment of SIS initiatives, to develop a briefing document, a roadmap and to give direction to the work. ❖Expanded Group: In the future, the group will include other ministries such as Environment, Finance, Mining, Trade, Lands and Physical planning ❖Technical Working Groups: Focusing on specific areas such as data and service development are yet to be formed. These working groups should build on the discussions and agreement facilitated by the World Bank in January 2024 Current status of KenSIS ❖Next steps ❖Developing a briefing document with SIS goals, definitions and long-term aspirations - CABI to draw initial structure for the document ❖Revising the SIS framework to develop a comprehensive roadmap/ action plan for KenSIS (e.g., use cases and needs assessment) to develop a comprehensive work plan and action roadmap. ❖Improving coordination between SoilFER, WB and SoilHive (CIFOR – ICRAF / NORAD) ❖Financing: Getting a rough estimation of financing needs for the implementation - CABI to provide initial estimations based on experience from other countries. Current status of KenSIS 36 Annex II: WorKShoP mAterIAlS ❖Developing a full functioning SIS in Kenya in 6 to 12 months to inform fertilizer subsidy plans will be very challenging ❖A short-term solution may not require all functionalities of a fully operational SIS. Leveraging on existing initiatives, such as Soils4Africa and Land Soil Crop Hub (the LSC hub) programme to build the prototype of the Soil Information System. ❖In the medium and long term, the aspiration is to develop a fully functional SIS with a focus on KALRO’s ownership and long-term financial sustainability. Short term needs and solutions Previous SIS Meetings: Kempinski workshop ❖Happened in January 2024 ❖The key institutions in this endeavour included the following; (i) KALRO (ii) MoALD (iii) World Bank (iv) FAO (v) CGIARs (vi) GIZ (vii) Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation … ❖workshop agreed on 8 prime work packages to help steer the soil fertility and soil health platform. 37 Annex II: WorKShoP mAterIAlS Breakout Session 1 KenSIS Mission Breakout Session 1: KenSIS Mission What are the essential use cases for KenSIS? •Land restoration •Fertilizer recommendations •Soil carbon •Policy and land-use planning •Sustainability target setting What is the mission statement? •KenSIS will be a one stop shop for quality, real-time soil data for land users, to address problems in agriculture, mining, forestry... Review and align on KenSIS medium and long-term goals (August 2024 draft): •Improve decision-making around agricultural practices. •Support national policies like the fertilizer subsidy scheme. •Provide data accessibility for farmers. Breakout Session 2 Short-term solution for the fertilizer subsidy scheme Breakout Session 2 (group 1): Short-term solution for the fertilizer subsidy scheme OBJECTIVES: 1. Outline a clear approach for implementing a short-term pilot SIS to support Kenya’s fertilizer subsidy scheme 2. Define the short-term purpose 3. Identify user needs 4. Determine the key functionalities, data requirements, and resources required for success Breakout Session 2: Short-term solution for the fertilizer subsidy scheme What are the challenges in the fertilizer subsidy scheme? •There must be high resolution data to avoid blanket recommendations •Timely – we need to focus on specifics and separate that from the logistics. •The crop nutrient differ. The focus has been on maize, but at the expense of other crops. What is missing? What is the nutrient status? There is always a miss match. •The main issue is policy – the information is there. We have huge investments in Kenya. KALRO has a lot of information, which nutrients are lacking where. The soil mapping initiatives is helping there. The challenge is disconnecting policies. We need to address uniform messages from the private and public sector. The farmer know that 2323 instead DEP, but if it not works, they will go back to DEP. So we need to help them to understand. It is good to have subsidy, but how the subsidy is modelled, that needs to be reviewed. We know regions that has been affected by soil acidity, but we need to start working on that. •From AGRA, it is important to understand the challenges, good attempts to understand. There are issues with accessibility. The farmers have to travel a long distance to get what they need. How to structure the subsidy program, so they could structure program. It is important to know the history before moving forward. It is a policy issue. How can sustain it and fill in the gaps? Are we aware what is happening everywhere? •It is the ministry who will bring all together. •We have a lot a models – we have working solutions. How do we make this working solutions upscale and work from that? You need a good fertilizer and good seeds in order to make it work. •MoALD: We have various policies in subsidy scheme, but we if we get more issues and gaps, then we see where they can be incorporated. Coordination of information – we can find out. We have good models to able to use for the fertilizer subsidy. Breakout Session 2: Short-term solution for the fertilizer subsidy scheme What specific goals will this short-term solution achieve in supporting the fertilizer subsidy scheme? •The policy is there, but it needs to be fast-tracked under the regulations, and add actions. •Establish National soil management coordination unit – regulation on how to operationalise. •Where the KenSIS will be hosted. •The different region face different soil degradations, in that case, the SIS can be used to prevent blanked recommendation. The right fertilizers to reach the right area – making them suitable for the soil type. •The small holder farmers to get fertilizer might get trainings to know which fertilizers are important for them. To know which ones are specific for their region and crops. •KenSIS will have a protype in the first 18months, which should it achieve in first 18 months? The finance is very important – if we propose: make sure that KenSIS have the right info for policymakers. Money for these initiatives have been cut down, so we need to make sure we leverage other initiatives. From the time this workshop, to have a prototype to provide on fertilizer subsidy scheme. •What are we trying to solve? Accessibility or info for the subsidy scheme? They have the information, we can give the right recommendations. Are the recommendations going to be followed? We know the solutions to be there. We need to convince the government to put for example that bends should be there. If farmers don’t have money for it, then they will not be able to buy it/? •We won't have standardizing for fertilizers – we will also have price bands. You need to have subsidy for different price bands for the salutation that you give. The push back is always money. We need to have a pull of money at beginning, and then the technical aspects can be addressed. •Note down the event to get info on the subsidy scheme which was discussed that one. *Ermias can send info from event. •How are we going to help to PS to synthesis for him? What are the key drivers for implemen ting a short-term SIS? •Commitment •Leadership •Right levels of investment. •Collaboration •Infrastructure – all data analytics, etc. What timeframes are required to meet the scheme’s immediate needs? •Develop a pilot SIS within 6-12 months Breakout Session 2: Short-term solution for the fertilizer subsidy scheme Who are the primary users of the pilot system, and what are their specific needs for the fertilizer subsidy scheme? •Different type of blend to the farmers. For your ward, your soil is X, your crop is B, use the fertilizer Y. Fertilizer should be as close as possible to the farmer. You can not make one blend for one ward. With trainings for farmers (YARA has done a lot of work in that) to get info to the farmer. If you don’t have the accessibility to the info, it wont work. The recommendation they are not using now, are the right one. •How will you check the quality of the data? What functionalities are essential for the pilot system from a user perspective? •Searchable database – querring, updating, FAIR, data control system, filtering system. KIAMIS – can it be inter. for other platforms? What we need to be pull from that? Link that link the integration? Mapviewer •What do we want users to do with this? Advise the government on fertilizer subsidy •Decision question: what is the key decision they make and what do they need? Sit down with policymakers to understand what they need. What are the primary digitalization needs to support an effective pilot SIS? •Legacy is somewhere in brown bags – there has to be a data restore process – where did the soil samples come from? How much efforts are needs? •Overview of which digital data is available with different partners. Where are the gaps in legacy data to inform the pilot process? And how much efforts and budget are needed? •Spectro. Is available with KALRO. •Data exchange protocols are needed and what are the data sharing agreements for KenS IS. This needs to be set up on partnership levels. •KALRO brought together the legacy data to use the info that is useful. •Soil analysis taking place with KALRO lab. •We need to understand what already exists. KIAMIS. •What are the short terms actions were can do: •Legacy data can be digitalized (can we get the human capital to do it?) •Geolocating is not the problem – ICRAF can do that. •For ICRAF/ISRIC : we can geolocate the legacy data, soil mapping. ICRAF: giving Ke nSIS access to special libraries, agreement for laboratories. •ILRI: we are part of team for platform for advisories. This can be integrated for kenSIS. We try to embed this in KEEP. •For RwaS IS visited Ethiopia – to see how Ethiopia SIS was develop. It can be seen how it operatize. They learned from the limitations. See at the other countries how it work. ACTION: pay visit to other country. •YARA: Step ahead soil health index and helps to create monitoring system. Share for Kenya. Monitoring assessment tracking of nutrient levels. Whatever is done for fertilizer. •Coordinating the industry, to make sure the information gets to them. And helping with to get info for them. •Partnership is important – •For soil don’t follow country boundaries. There is a lot of benefit for bringing SIS together on continental level. Breakout Session 2: Short-term solution for the fertilizer subsidy scheme What additional data/information is required, and what methods should be employed for gathering and integrating it? •Recom mendations on nutrients at the farm level. •Map with soil data to understand where the gaps are, what were they are measure and how far you can intropolate the data. The soil map showing the gaps where soil data is needed. What is minimum data is requirement? Area, st. dev an d th e mean. You n eed this amo unt of samples. With remote sensing we can divide Kenya in 5 regions. We click o n agricult ural land - we need to maximize the efforts on national level. Systematic framework and make the whole system dynamic. We should be break the cycle to move forward. We need to be critical – •Data by itself is nothing. We need to process the information for policy makers, farmers et. What existing systems/data can be leveraged and adapted to serve as a short-term SIS solution? E.g. LSC Hubs and Soils4Africa SIS •NAVCDP kalro 70.000 samples to be a base, this current KenSIS program can come in to avoid duplication efforts. •Soil Acidity pr oject w ith KAL RO •How will we make data useful? •The Ag ricultural soil manag ement policy 2023 – if we im plement t his policy, some o f the problems ca n be solved. National Agro-ecology Strategy for food system transformation. What making them not be im ple mented? Fund s? Wi lling ? •How do we optimize data that alread y exist? And ma ke it in practical use? •OFRA – optimization fertilizer recommendatio n in Africa. •Afri can Soil Health Consor tium – they h ave a l ot o f info for each coun try. We bro ught all NARI ’s t ogether, we consolidated al l that information and the way forward. AGRA can provide that information. •APNI •IFDC have info on fertilizer m arkets/imports et c. And the soilmap fr om IF DC and Cropnuts: AFO.org – with fertiliz er da ta. •Universities. •iSDA – they h ave data a vaila ble o nline. •KALRO – all trial data – can we start from there? •NAAI P and KCEP projects •AfSIS – that gave that information •CGIAR – ILRI/ICRAF/Etc. have a lot info from trials and recommendations at farm level in different regions. Which are the places we want to work on? Now with guidelines: for each region to know how much be used where, and no insights for the farmer at field level. Do we have money for s tock ta king? •How do we make this info available? What practicals tools can we came up with? How do we make this data make sense for practical uses? •How do we start to create momentum and move forward with all policies managements? •KENsoter: kenya s oil t errain da tabase. •Can we use t he inf o t o inform decisions? •We don’t n eed very precise data t o serve at n ational l evel. •Far mer re gistr ation system – KAMIS – and have KenSI S link ed to th at system. How do you bring th is da ta int o this system? 44 Annex III: tor for KenSIS SteerIng commIttee Annex III: ToR for KenSIS Steering Committee Supported by: Draft Terms of Reference for KenSIS Steering Committee December 2024 2 1. Introduction The Kenya Soil Information System (KenSIS) is a critical initiative aimed at addressing soil health challenges through improved data collection, management, and dissemination. The system will provide a centralized platform for soil information, supporting the Ministry of Agriculture’s objectives, including fertilizer subsidy schemes. The system's development will occur over the next 18 months, with a short-term SIS prototype building on the LSC hub work to inform the planting season in Oct/Nov 2025. 2. Background The Soil Information System (SIS) is a critical tool to support Kenya's agricultural and environmental policies, including enhancing soil health, improving agricultural productivity, and guiding the fertilizer subsidy program. The overarching SIS Steering Committee will be established to oversee the development and implementation of the Kenya Soil Information System (KenSIS). The group will be led by the Ministry of Agriculture and spearheaded by KALRO, in collaboration with national and international stakeholders, including CABI, ISRIC, the World Bank, and other relevant ministries and organizations. 3. Objectives The primary objectives of the KenSIS Steering Committee are: • To guide the design, development, and deployment of KenSIS, ensuring that it meets national agricultural and environmental needs of the Government of Kenya (GoK). • To coordinate the involvement of key stakeholders in the development and longterm sustainability of KenSIS. • To ensure that KenSIS aligns with GoK’s policies and provides critical data to inform decision-making across multiple sectors. • To identify and secure funding and resources needed (from the GoK as well as external donors) for the development and maintenance of KenSIS. • To identify capacity building and knowledge transfer needs to support the long-term sustainability of KenSIS. 4. Roles and responsibilities The KenSIS Steering Committee will be responsible for: • Strategic Guidance: Providing high-level guidance on the overall development strategy for KenSIS, ensuring alignment with government priorities and agricultural policies. • Coordination: Coordinating between various ministries, stakeholders, and partners, including the Ministry of Agriculture, KALRO, CABI, ISRIC, international donors, and research institutions. • Policy Alignment: Ensuring that KenSIS supports key policy initiatives, such as the fertilizer subsidy scheme, land use planning, and environmental conservation efforts. • Monitoring and Evaluation: Establishing clear milestones and evaluating the progress of KenSIS development at each phase, adjusting plans as needed. 45 Annex III: tor for KenSIS SteerIng commIttee 3 • Funding and Resource Mobilization: Securing necessary funding from the GoK, donors, and other stakeholders to support KenSIS development and long-term sustainability. • Risk Management: Identifying and mitigating risks to ensure the timely and effective delivery of KenSIS. • Capacity Building: Identifying efforts to strengthen KALRO’s internal capacities, other stakeholders and ensure knowledge transfer for maintaining and evolving KenSIS. 5. Deliverables The KenSIS Steering Committee will be responsible for delivering: • KenSIS Development Roadmap: A comprehensive plan outlining the short-term, medium-term, and long-term objectives, roles, and milestones for KenSIS. • Quarterly Progress Reports: Reports on the progress of KenSIS development, including updates on funding, stakeholder engagement, and system functionalities. • Final Evaluation Report: A detailed evaluation report at the end of the 18-month period assessing the outcomes and recommending next steps for KenSIS expansion. • KenSIS System: a functional system 6. Composition of the steering committee The KenSIS Steering Committee will consist of representatives from key stakeholder organizations, which could potentially include: • Co-Chairs: Senior representative from the Ministry of Agriculture (Philis Njane or Eng L. Kiplagat), and, senior representative from KALRO (Dr David Kamau), responsible for operational leadership. • Proposed members: o Representative from State Dept. of Agric, Research and Innovation/EngineeringLand resources (Ms. Philis Njane/Eng. L. Kiplagat) o Representative from State Dept. of Agric, Fertilizers and Agribusiness (Dr. Gilbert Muthee) o Representative from KALRO (Dr. Kennedy Were-GIS specialist). KenSIS project manager, responsible for coordinating all KenSIS related efforts from KALRO. o Representative from KALRO (Mr. Salim Kinyimu-ICT specialist). In-charge of the Big data system platform o CABI (Dr. Lydiah Gatere). Technical partner, climate change and soil scientist, expert in implementing the SIS Framework. o ISRIC (Thaisa van der Woude). Technical partner, expert in SIS infrastructure development and implementing the SIS Framework. o GIZ (David Kersting). o World Bank (Parmesh Shah). o FAO (Dr. Barrack Okoba). o NORAD (Ingvild Langhus). o CIFOR-ICRAF (Dr. Leigh Winowiecki), Technical partner, expert in soil and land health, representing key soil data producers for KenSIS. o KEFRI (Dr. Riziki Mwadalu). Technical partner, representing key soil data producers for KenSIS (Dr Riziki Mwadalu). o Fertilizer Association of Kenya. Soil scientist and private sector representative (Dr. Lilian Wanjiru). 4 oCropNuts. Soil scientist and private sector laboratory representative (Jeremy Cordingley). oUniversities. Expert in soil health representing academia (Prof Richard Onwonga) 7. Activation and timeline •The KenSIS Steering Committee should be formally activated within one month following the approval of the initial KenSIS development proposal (target date: 20th January 2025). •The group will remain active throughout the implementation period and will continue to provide oversight and strategic guidance during the operationalization and expansion of KenSIS. 8. Meeting frequency •The KenSIS Steering Committee will meet quarterly during the initial 18-month implementation phase of KenSIS development. •Ad-hoc meetings may be called if critical decisions or urgent matters arise. •A monthly progress update will be shared electronically by the KenSIS project manager from KALRO with all KenSIS Steering Committee members to ensure transparency and continuous engagement. 9. Technical Working Groups The KenSIS Steering Committee will liaise with the technical working groups responsible for the oversight of the various aspects of KenSIS development. The technical working groups could include: Work package Lead Technical Support Funder Partners Reporting to Steering Committee 1 Overall coordination KALRO/ MoALD KALRO 2 Use case 1 – farmers KALRO/ MoALD FAK 3 Use case 2 – policy makers KALRO/ MoALD GIZ 4 Capacity building KALRO/ MoALD CGIAR Public Universities, GIZ, WB, ISRIC 5 Modelling KALRO/ MoALD KALRO 6 Data and infrastructure KALRO/ MoALD KALRO ISRIC 7 Data governance KALRO/ MoALD KALRO These working groups have been based on the outcomes from the discussions held in January 2024, organised by the World Bank. CABI 46 Annex III: tor for KenSIS SteerIng commIttee 5 10. Reporting and accountability • The KenSIS Steering Committee will report directly to the State Department of Agriculture, MoALD and will provide regular updates to the GoK and key donors. • Each Technical Working Group will provide written updates before each quarterly meeting to ensure that all areas of KenSIS development are on track. 47 Annex IV: PrePArAtIon mAterIAlS Annex IV: Preparation materials Supported by: KALRO Briefing Document: Development of KenSIS 10 October 2024 2 1. Introduction The Kenya Soil Information System (KenSIS) is a critical initiative aimed at addressing soil health challenges through improved data collection, management, and dissemination. The system will provide a centralized platform for soil information, supporting the Ministry of Agriculture’s objectives, including fertilizer subsidy schemes. The system's development will occur over the next 18 months, with a short-term SIS prototype building on the LSC hub work to inform the planting season in March 2025. 2. Background The workshop on August 29, 2024, organized by CABI and KALRO, marked a crucial step in developing KenSIS. CABI presented the Framework for Sustainable National Soil Information Systems, which was developed in collaboration with ISRIC and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The framework, informed by SIS experiences in nine countries, aims to align KenSIS with national priorities and global best practices in data management. Key discussions during the workshop highlighted the importance of SIS in improving soil health, enhancing agricultural practices, and supporting national policies like the fertilizer subsidy program. KALRO reviewed the current development status of KenSIS, identifying key challenges such as data governance, capacity building, and technology adoption, which will be addressed through a roadmap that ensures alignment with Kenya’s agricultural goals and support from international partners. 3. KenSIS goals Specific goals: • Improve decision-making around agricultural practices. • Support national policies like the fertilizer subsidy scheme. • Provide data accessibility for farmers. Timeframes: • Short-Term (6 Months): Develop a SIS prototype leveraging the work from the LSC Hub (and expanding on it – e.g. with soils for Africa) to support the fertilizer subsidy scheme for the 2025 planting season. A workshop with KALRO can be organized, pending funding availability, to gather feedback and tailor the prototype to Kenya’s specific needs. The workshop outcomes will guide necessary adjustments to ensure the system meets user requirements. The LSC Hub was not originally designed to serve last-mile farmers and additional considerations will be needed to address this gap effectively. • Long-Term (18 Months): Establish a fully functional KenSIS that provides comprehensive soil data and information—such as physical, biological and chemical soil properties, nutrient levels, and water dynamics—through an accessible online portal or service. KenSIS will serve a wide range of users, including policymakers, farmers, and other stakeholders, supporting decision-making in agriculture, industrial 48 Annex IV: PrePArAtIon mAterIAlS 3 development, environmental conservation, and land use planning. The system will also be flexible enough to meet the needs of other sectors and users as it evolves. 4. Definitions • Soil Information System (SIS): A digital platform designed to collect, store, analyse, and distribute soil data, supporting agriculture, environmental management, and national policymaking. A well-developed SIS integrates mechanisms for continuous updates and feedback, enabling the incorporation of new data and evolving system features. It provides users with access to a comprehensive range of soil-related information, including soil properties, classifications, maps, and associated environmental data. The system may also include multiple datasets, models, and decision-support tools to facilitate more informed decision-making for various stakeholders, from farmers to policymakers. • SIS archetype: a profile of commonly co-occurring contextual factors and countrylevel enabling environment criteria that lead to differential outcomes for SISs. • KenSIS archetypes: Based on the SIS framework, Kenya is currently at Archetype 2 (discrete project using KALRO data). The target is to advance to Archetype 4 (national priority), where soil data is treated as a public good. 5. Current status of KenSIS development • National SIS: Kenya currently does not have a fully operational national SIS. However, existing efforts, such as those by KALRO, provide a foundation to build KenSIS. • Problem clarity: The role that KenSIS can play in addressing soil health and informing the fertilizer subsidy scheme is well understood by KALRO and stakeholders. • Mission and definition: While KALRO have clear internal definitions, further alignment across all stakeholders involved in the development of KenSIS is necessary to ensure a unified understanding. • Government buy-in: There is strong support from the Government of Kenya (GoK), which is keen on establishing a SIS to inform policy, particularly around fertilizer subsidies. • SIS ownership: KALRO will host KenSIS on behalf of the GoK, ensuring government ownership and oversight. 6. Stakeholder engagement and coordination KALRO and the Ministry of Agriculture will form KenSIS’s steering committee, which will ensure the alignment of all SIS-related efforts with the goals and priorities established by the Ministry of Agriculture and spearheaded by KALRO. Key stakeholders include KALRO, CABI, ISRIC, the Ministry of Agriculture, and international donors like the World Bank and FAO. Technical working groups will be reactivated to oversee various aspects of KenSIS’ system development. The technical working groups could include: Work package Lead Supported by Funder Timeframe 1 Overall coordination KALRO/ MoALD 4 2 Use case 1 – farmers KALRO/ MoALD FAK 3 Use case 2 – policy makers KALRO/ MoALD GIZ 4 Capacity building KALRO/ MoALD FAO, CGIAR, Universities, GIZ, ISRIC 5 Modelling KALRO/ MoALD ABC/CIAT 6 Data and infrastructure KALRO/ MoALD GIZ/ISRIC 7 Data governance KALRO/ MoALD CABI These working groups have been based on the outcomes from the discussions held in January 2024, organised by the World Bank. 7. Roadmap and timeframes Phase 1: Short-term solution (0-6 Months) • Prototype development (March 2025): A short-term solution may not require all functionalities of a fully operational SIS. CABI and ISRIC suggest leveraging ISRIC’s Land Soil Crop Hub (the LSC hub) programme to provide a short-term solution for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. KALRO could leverage on the LSC hub to build the prototype of the Soil Information System. The success of this prototype will also depend on gathering detailed user feedback through workshops and consultations with KALRO, pending funding availability. However, it's important to note that the LSC Hub was not originally designed to serve last-mile farmers, so additional considerations will be needed to address this gap and ensure equitable access across all user groups. The LSC hub on its own cannot inform the development of the fertilizer subsidy scheme. • Data collection: Aggregation of existing soil data from KALRO and other stakeholders, such as IITA, ICRAF and KEFRI, will be essential to ensure the prototype has a comprehensive and accurate data foundation. Ensuring data standardization and compatibility with the prototype will be key challenges during this phase. • Government engagement: It will be critical to align the prototype’s outputs with the Ministry of Agriculture's fertilizer subsidy scheme. The system must meet the government's policy timelines and requirements, but flexibility is required in case adjustments are needed following the workshop with stakeholders. Additionally, addressing the potential limitations of the LSC Hub in serving broader government goals will be essential to long-term success. 49 Annex IV: PrePArAtIon mAterIAlS 5 Phase 2: Medium-term (6-18 Months) • Operational KenSIS (March 2026): The broader version of KenSIS will be launched, expanding beyond the prototype to incorporate comprehensive data on soil health, pest and disease tracking, and weather monitoring. This version will provide a more robust platform, capable of supporting a wide range of stakeholders, from farmers to government policymakers. The system will offer real-time data integration, providing insights into soil conditions and helping to optimize fertilizer use, irrigation, and pest control. This phase will also focus on refining user experience, ensuring the system is accessible and easy to navigate for users at different levels of expertise. • Capacity building: Strengthening KALRO’s internal capacities will be critical to ensuring the sustainability and effective management of KenSIS. Phase 3: Long-Term Vision (Beyond 18 Months) • National-level expansion: In this phase, KenSIS will transition into a fully integrated national platform, supported by long-term government funding from the Government of Kenya (GoK). The expanded system will incorporate broader use cases like land use planning and environmental monitoring. 8. System requirements • Technical infrastructure: The system will require robust IT infrastructure (servers, software, data management tools). Support from ISRIC and CABI will be key during the development. • Data Governance: KenSIS must adopt standards for data security, privacy, and interoperability. The integration of data from private entities like CropNuts will enhance the system’s comprehensiveness. • Capacity Building: Training programs for KALRO staff and other key stakeholders are essential to ensure the system's sustainability and efficiency. 9. Financing KALRO, alongside the Ministry of Agriculture, will work with donors such as the World Bank and FAO to secure necessary funding. Current funding (KES 500 million from NAVCDP) is primarily focused on soil data collection and equipment acquisition. However, additional funds are needed for the full development of KenSIS. 10. Conclusion KenSIS represents a critical step towards improving soil health management and agricultural productivity in Kenya. By adopting a phased approach, KenSIS will meet the immediate needs for fertilizer recommendations while laying the groundwork for a fully integrated soil information system. The timeline and milestones will ensure timely delivery and national adoption. 50 Annex IV: PrePArAtIon mAterIAlS Component 0: the checklist Questions Answers Comments Do you already have a national SIS that you wish to improve? No What they have can be the basis for a national SIS (the data is there but scattered), need to update it. Is it clear what problem the SIS is trying to address? Yes KALRO and other stakeholders have a clear understanding of why they need a SIS. All key stakeholders have been informed. Is it clear what the mission and definition of the SIS is? Yes Need to make sure all the stakeholders understand and share KALRO's definition of the SIS. Potentially develop a national level document (done by KALRO) with the problem statement, definition and other. Need to clearly define the goal of the SIS in the long term and the scope and evolution over time. Is there strong government buyin? Yes Is it clear who the SIS owner will be? Yes Government of Kenya - hosted by KALRO, which runs the big data centre for the whole ministry of agriculture. KilimoStat will be hosting it and it will be called KenSIS. Potentially having the SIS on its own, like KIAMIS. Is it clear who will fund the system build? Yes GoK and partners, but in the long run, the goal is to have the GoK funding it. Have you set and agreed upon the goals of the SIS? Yes Work in progress - clarity in KALRO, need agreement with other ministries and other partners. If you answered NO to any of the above, we recommend reviewing the activities in Component 1 Do you know if there are similar soil data initiatives happening in the country? Yes Potentially have a list of initiatives in the briefing document. Do you have an inventory of existing/legacy soil data? Yes In different formats, and scattered throughout different ministries, departments and agencies. Do you know if there are any institutional or national policies and strategies that would impact the SIS? Yes Soil management policy and the fertiliser subsidy plan/policy Do you have an understanding of what the current in-country expertise, capacities and infrastructure are? Yes Do you know which institutions and organizations have a stake in soil data and information? Yes 51 Annex IV: PrePArAtIon mAterIAlS Do you understand the roles and data/value exchanges between each stakeholder? No Each stakeholder collects data for their own objectives. Need to develop a data sharing policy in Kenya for soil. Need to be discussed by the working group as one of the first agendas. Do you know what the challenges and incentives are for data management and sharing in your context? Yes Knowledge of challenges for data sharing but the incentives are less clear If you answered NO to any of the above, we recommend reviewing the activities in Component 2 Do you understand the needs and challenges of soil data users and producers? Yes Fertiliser companies and academia, and innovators. Interpretation and format #of the data for the farmer level is critical. Have you clearly defined the use cases? Yes Some of the use cases, but not all, particularly for other sectors beyond agriculture. If you answered NO to any of the above, we recommend reviewing the activities in Component 3 Do you know what SIS functionalities you want and how end-users will use the system? Yes Somewhat / partially. They do for the MoA but not that much for some of the other end users. Need to fully unpack all the system design, but they understand the functionalities of the end system. Have you mapped user needs to the Soil Information Workflow (SIW)? No Do all key stakeholders understand and are aligned on how the FAIR data principles will be applied to the design of the SIS? No Need to include FAIR principles in the data sharing policy Are all key stakeholders aligned on what the rules are for data governance? (sharing, privacy, access, management) No If you answered NO to any of the above, we recommend reviewing the activities in Component 4 Do you know how the SIS will be financially sustained in the longterm? No ? Have roles and responsibilites of key stakeholders been agreed? No Important for the working group in the first phases Have you developed a partnership to support the SIS build and long-term operation? No Somewhat - FAO/SoilFer, ICRAF and the WB are the key organisations and they want to consolidate the partnership with them. Need to have financial support from this partners. Has a Theory of Change (ToC) been developed with the key stakeholders? If you answered NO to any of the above, we recommend reviewing the activities in Component 5 52 Annex IV: PrePArAtIon mAterIAlS Has budget been allocated for data management in the longterm? Have the roles for data ownership and management been agreed? Do you have a plan for the components of the Soil Information Workflow (SIW) you want to use? Do you know what data standards will be used? Have you planned for data governance? e.g. data privacy, data sharing, data access, and data quality management? Do you know what infrastructure you will use for data quality and data security? If you answered NO to any of the above, we recommend reviewing the activities in Component 7 Have you got a design plan for the front and back end of the SIS, and has it been informed by user needs? Is it clear how the SIS will be regularly updated with new soil information? Have you agreed roles and responsibilities for the design? Do you have a capacity building plan for the design and maintenance of the SIS? If you answered NO to any of the above, we recommend reviewing the activities in Component 8 Have you got a concrete financial sustainability plan that has been agreed with all partners and key stakeholders, including the government? Is there a plan or strategy for communications/engagement/ marketing to ensure continued buy-in and useage of the SIS? Do you have an organisational plan for the SIS? If you answered NO to any of the above, we recommend reviewing the activities in Component 9 53 Annex IV: PrePArAtIon mAterIAlS Have you built a protoype of the SIS that's been informed by user needs, system architectural design plans and data strategy? Has the prototype (or updated existing SIS) been through several rounds of user testing and iteration? Do you have a continous feedback mechanism for the SIS? Is there a comprehensive plan for deployment of the SIS? If you answered NO to any of the above, we recommend reviewing the activities in Component 11 Do you have a plan to reguarly review and assess key environmental factors that if they change could impact the SIS and require updates? Is it clear who is responsible for reviewing and updating the data strategy? Is it clear who is responsible for reviewing and updating the financial sustainability plan? Do you know how you will monitor the functionality, performance and impact of the SIS? If you answered NO to any of the above, we recommend reviewing the activities in Component 14 For more information on the project visit: cabi.org/projects/soil-informationsystems-review-aprocesstoward-strengthening-national-soilinformation-systems To access similar resources and explore the framework visit: resources.isric.org/sis-framework For further enquiries: [email protected] or thaisa.[email protected]g This document was authored by CABI and ISRIC as part of a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded investment. The findings and conclusions contained within are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect positions or policies of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation or CABI.