pearls urban rivers campus nairobi

about the event

From 14 to 16 October 2025, participants from Trondheim (Norway), Kathmandu (Nepal), and Nairobi (Kenya) gathered in Nairobi for a three-day international workshop. The aim of the event was to consolidate and grow the outputs and outcomes achieved so far to promote a new Community of Knowledge and Practice on People Centered and Resilient Spaces related to Urban Rivers (PEARLS).

The first part of the workshop, held under the motto “Policy, Advocacy & Knowledge Exchange,” showcased international good practices through presentations and an exhibition of case studies. Local stakeholders, project partners, government representatives, and institutions came together for dialogue, reflection, and panel discussions. These sessions highlighted rivers as vital urban lifelines and provided a platform for sharing institutional updates and policy perspectives.

The second part, guided by the motto “Civil Society & Practice Exchange,” convened the Flowing Together Coalition (FTC) to explore the State of the Rivers 2025. Coalition members strengthened coordination efforts, shared experiences from ongoing initiatives, and jointly identified priorities and strategic positioning for 2026.

The workshop marked an important step in deepening global collaboration and fostering resilient, people-centered approaches to urban river management.

programme

Day 1 (Tuesday, Oct 14th 2025)

9.00 

Arrival/ Registration

9.30

Opening & Welcome

Moderator: Prof. Musau Kimeu

Opening remarks hosts: Prof. Thomas Mbuya,  Prof. Robert W Rukwaro (UoN), Sharon Ogoti (UN-Habitat), Shirley Chebet (KDI), Peter A Gotsch (NTNU) 

9:45 

Sessions 1 & 2  on PEARLS and sharing international good practices 

Moderator: Margaret Macharia (UoN TBC) 

• The PEARLS Initiative - Peter A Gotsch,  Vija Viese (NTNU Trondheim)

• Jakarta: Housing, River Basins and the Right to Water, Prathiwi Putri (PhD, Independent Researcher)

• The example of the Bagmati River Kathmandu (Nepal) - Vishnu P. Pandey (Director, Center for Applied Research & Development (CARD))

• The example of the Bagmati River Kathmandu (Nepal) - Riha Joshi (Director, Centre for Integrated Urban Development - CIUD, Kathmandu)

• Discussion

11:30 

Coffee break

12:00 

Session 2 - Networking Session

Moderators: KDI

14.00

 Lunch Break

14.30 

Session 3 - Local Planning and Policy Perspectives (INGOs)

Moderator: Deborah Navarra (NTNU)

• ‘Advancing People-Led  Climate  Action Through Urban Regulations', Rossana Poblet (PLGS, UN-Habitat)

• WRI's Climate resilience work in  East Africa, Charity Mumbi Mwangi (WRI)

• Case Study on Urban River Redevelopment, Sharon Ogoti & Solomon Karani Imujaro (UN-Habitat)

• Giving reflection on citizen science and sustainability, Romanus Otieno Opiyo (PhD,  Head of Nairobi Office, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI))

• Discussion

Day 2 (Wednesday, Oct 15th 2025)

Session 4: Flowing Together networking session

9:00 

Arrival & Registration

9:30 

Welcome & Introductions - Hosts: University of Nairobi (UoN), Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) 

9:45

Session 5 on FTC and sharing local good practices 

Presentations by the Flowing Together Coalition Organizations

(including exchanges with students and other workshop participants)

1. Akiba Mashinani Trust

2. Go-Downs arts Centre

3. Haki Jamii

4. Kounkuey Design Initiative - Presentation & screening of Daraja Documentary

5. Pamoja Trust

6. Public Space Network

7. Slum Dwellers International

11:00 

Coffee break

11:15

Session 6: Speed Dating – Building Synergies: Interactive Networking Session

Facilitated engagement between students, Urban Better Nairobi Cityzens Hub and Flowing Together Coalition (FTC) representatives to exchange ideas, identify collaboration areas, and strengthen peer-learning networks.

12.30 

Lunch

13.30 

Session 7: Side Events / Parallel Meetings

Thematic meetings among Flowing Together partners, NRC representatives, and workshop facilitators

• Break-Out Session 01: Flowing together Coalition meeting

• Break- Out Session 02: UrbanBetter Nairobi Cityzens Hub 

15:00 

Coffee break

Exhibition

During the workshop, an exhibition was shown that consisted of two parts:

1. Posters with international good practice case studies on urban river regeneration from Jakarta (Indonesia), Cairo (Egypt), Kassel (Germany), Oslo (Norway), Santiago (Chile) and Chicago (USA). This part of the exhibition also offered opportunities for feedback and participation

2. an exhibition on urban river regeneration practices in Nairobi, co-produced by local stakeholders