From February 17 to 20, 2026, Mr. Peter M. Lubambula, Executive Director of the Kesho Trust, represented the organization in Vienna, Austria at the UNIDO Climate Adaptation and Industrial Resilience Forum 2026 and the Civil Society Organizations/Community-Based Organizations (CSO/CBO) Workshop, held at the Vienna International Centre. The event convened 145 delegates from 32 countries, alongside 146 online participants via UN Web TV, reflecting strong global interest in advancing climate adaptation as a driver of resilient and inclusive industrial development.
Among the participants were over 20 representatives from the 22 initiatives supported under the Inclusive GEF Assembly Challenge Programme, which is strengthening climate resilience in 28 countries. Under this programme, Kesho Trust is implementing the project Strengthening Commitment to Maasai’s Indigenous Knowledge and Culture for Enhanced Climate Resilience in Tanzania. This initiative promotes the acceptance and use of Maasai traditional knowledge in community land and natural resource management to improve adaptation and resilience strategies in Enguserosambu ward (Ngorongoro) and Elerai village (Kilindi).
At the Forum, which featured 16 sessions with 52 speakers, Mr. Lubambula served as a moderator in the session “Inclusive and Locally Led Adaptation”. This session guided participants to identify where adaptation is currently constrained at the local level and to surface priority entry points that strengthen social and institutional foundations of industrial resilience. His role ensured that discussions were solution-oriented and actionable, fostering knowledge exchange and strengthening operational partnerships across Member States, industry and MSMEs, civil society, multilateral funds, and UN entities.
Kesho Trust also benefited from the “Locally Led Adaptation in Action” exhibition, which showcased practical adaptation solutions from the 22 CSOs/CBOs implementing initiatives with support from the Canadian Government. The exhibition highlighted the importance of scaling up community-driven approaches and encouraged more countries to fund this vital programme.
In addition, Mr. Lubambula represented Kesho Trust at the CSO Workshop, which provided opportunities to build connections among peer organizations, share knowledge and experiences, and showcase Kesho Trust’s initiatives. The workshop also offered capacity-building training to strengthen organizational capacities for scaling up community-led adaptation.
Impact for Kesho Trust: Participation in the Forum and CSO Workshop has elevated Kesho Trust’s visibility as a leading voice in locally led adaptation. It strengthened partnerships with international stakeholders, showcased the relevance of Maasai indigenous knowledge in global climate resilience discourse, and provided new opportunities for collaboration and capacity-building. These outcomes will directly enhance Kesho Trust’s ability to scale its initiatives in Tanzania, ensuring that community-driven solutions are recognized, supported, and integrated into broader climate resilience strategies.
At the close of the Forum, UNIDO expressed its commitment to build on the strong momentum established at this inaugural event and to continue engaging with participants in advancing industrial adaptation and resilience through concrete, scalable solutions.
moderating a session at the forum.
