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Based on a study of Kenya's geothermal-energy development in Baringo-Silali, we explore how and with whom government actors and local communities in rural and peripheral areas interact when planning and implementing large-scale power plants. Starting from a comparison of decentralized and centralized energy systems, we demonstrate that the development of this large-scale infrastructure project and the associated investor-community relations are governed by various cross-scale linkages. To this end, we adapt the concept of cross-scale linkages from the literature on natural-resource governance to explore actors, rules, and practices at local, regional, national, and international levels.

This article examines how rural roads relate to differences in livelihood patterns, attitudes toward social change, and land disputes in Baringo, Kenya. Although their direct use is limited for many residents, roads have a highly differentiating impact. While some households orientate themselves toward roads, those relying more on (agro-)pastoralist livelihoods avoid their proximity. Our findings suggest that better-off households are not the only ones that tend to live closer to roads, but that poorer households do as well. Rather than by socio-economic status, households living closer to roads can be characterized by higher degrees of formal education and also appear to be more open to economic and social change. Our data also highlight dynamics of land disputes in the face of ongoing large-scale infrastructural investments in Kenya's previously marginal northern drylands.

This article examines how rural roads relate to differences in livelihood patterns, attitudes toward social change, and land disputes in Baringo, Kenya. Although their direct use is limited for many residents, roads have a highly differentiating impact. While some households orientate themselves toward roads, those relying more on (agro-)pastoralist livelihoods avoid their proximity. Our findings suggest that better-off households are not the only ones that tend to live closer to roads, but that poorer households do as well. Rather than by socio-economic status, households living closer to roads can be characterized by higher degrees of formal education and also appear to be more open to economic and social change. Our data also highlight dynamics of land disputes in the face of ongoing large-scale infrastructural investments in Kenya's previously marginal northern drylands.

Based on a study of Kenya's geothermal-energy development in Baringo-Silali, we explore how and with whom government actors and local communities in rural and peripheral areas interact when planning and implementing large-scale power plants. Starting from a comparison of decentralized and centralized energy systems, we demonstrate that the development of this large-scale infrastructure project and the associated investor-community relations are governed by various cross-scale linkages. To this end, we adapt the concept of cross-scale linkages from the literature on natural-resource governance to explore actors, rules, and practices at local, regional, national, and international levels.

Based on a study of Kenya's geothermal-energy development in Baringo-Silali, we explore how and with whom government actors and local communities in rural and peripheral areas interact when planning and implementing large-scale power plants. Starting from a comparison of decentralized and centralized energy systems, we demonstrate that the development of this large-scale infrastructure project and the associated investor-community relations are governed by various cross-scale linkages. To this end, we adapt the concept of cross-scale linkages from the literature on natural-resource governance to explore actors, rules, and practices at local, regional, national, and international levels.

This present study examines the impact of conservancies on community livelihoods and the environment by the example of Impalila Conservancy, a conservancy located in the most north-eastern part of Namibia. The data is based on a literature research, informal interviews, unstructured interviews and 20 semi-structured interviews with representatives of the different stakeholder groups, i.e. the conservancy management, the tourism sector and the community, to assess respective problems and perception of stakeholders within the conservancy setting. First, a survey is given on the theoretical framework of the conservancy approach that is based on the concepts of sustainability, ubuntu/ indigenous knowledge systems and community-based natural resource management. The data revealed that Impalila Conservancy currently does not belong to the successful Namibian conservancies. Deficits, some with different priorities depending on the stakeholder group, were identified at different levels, such as (1) institutional development and governance, (2) natural resource management and conservation, (3) economic conservation approaches and livelihood diversification, and (4) stakeholder relations. These deficits were largely attributed to previous mismanagements.

This present study examines the impact of conservancies on community livelihoods and the environment by the example of Impalila Conservancy, a conservancy located in the most north-eastern part of Namibia. The data is based on a literature research, informal interviews, unstructured interviews and 20 semi-structured interviews with representatives of the different stakeholder groups, i.e. the conservancy management, the tourism sector and the community, to assess respective problems and perception of stakeholders within the conservancy setting. First, a survey is given on the theoretical framework of the conservancy approach that is based on the concepts of sustainability, ubuntu/ indigenous knowledge systems and community-based natural resource management. The data revealed that Impalila Conservancy currently does not belong to the successful Namibian conservancies. Deficits, some with different priorities depending on the stakeholder group, were identified at different levels, such as (1) institutional development and governance, (2) natural resource management and conservation, (3) economic conservation approaches and livelihood diversification, and (4) stakeholder relations. These deficits were largely attributed to previous mismanagements.