USAID launches food systems initiative to address Kenya’s agricultural challenges

KENYA – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched the Feed the Future Kenya Food Systems Activity, a five-year initiative to enhance food security, strengthen local economies, and support farmers across Kenya’s agricultural counties.

Launched at the TechnoServe offices in Nairobi on January 15, 2025, the US$49 million project targets over 600,000 individuals, including farmers, pastoralists, and agro-pastoralists, with an emphasis on engaging women and youth. 

USAID is working closely with TechnoServe, an international nonprofit organization renowned for promoting sustainable development, and Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), which specializes in evidence-based solutions to combat poverty.

In addition, the initiative partners with local businesses, private-sector actors, and Kenyan government agencies at both the county and national levels.

According to partners, this program aims to enhance food security, stimulate economic growth, and improve the livelihoods of over 200,000 Kenyans by increasing their incomes by 50% and improving nutrition for 37,000 women and 21,000 children over the next five years.

The initiative targets counties such as Garissa, Isiolo, Kakamega, Busia, Bungoma, Migori, Homa Bay, and Siaya, regions grappling with challenges like poverty, malnutrition, and food insecurity.

The initiative comes at a time when recent reports indicate that approximately 1.7 million people in Kenya are facing acute food insecurity, with about 98,000 classified in the emergency phase.

In addition, the country has grappled with mounting food insecurity in the past years, due to emerging challenges, such as projected severe rainfall deficits that could undermine harvests in northern and eastern Kenya.

The Feed the Future Kenya Food Systems Activity aims to mitigate these challenges by focusing on sustainable agricultural practices and strengthening local food systems. This will ensure that communities are better equipped to face future adversities.

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