Kenya Country Programme (2014-2018)

A decade of economic growth and democratic reform give Kenya the potential for accelerated development. But 42 percent of the population remain below the poverty threshold; the arid areas in the north are the poorest in terms of economic development, infrastructure, services and social development. The new constitution devolved several government functions to the 47 new county governments, including the mandate to address hunger and food insecurity.

Evaluations of the 2009–2014 country programme highlight the need for strengthened partnerships and hand-over plans. Country programme 200680 supports the Government at both the national and county levels in developing long-term hunger solutions in alignment with the Government’s Vision 2030 plan and the 2014–2018 United Nations Development Assistance Framework. WFP will transfer capacities for improved preparedness and response to county governments to address short-term and long-term hunger.

WFP will prioritize capacity development of the Government to manage and extend the Government’s Home-Grown School Meals Programme to the arid areas. WFP will provide nutritionally enhanced school meals in arid areas where national capacities remain limited, enrolment and attendance disparities are greatest and food insecurity and malnutrition are highest. WFP will provide cash transfers for schools transitioning to national ownership, in line with the Government’s cash-transfer system.

Building on the Purchase for Progress pilot, WFP will help smallholder farmers to acquire and benefit from market opportunities; under Scaling Up Nutrition, it will support the Government in rolling out the National Nutrition Action Plan, and will enhance the nutrition sensitivity of other activities.

Country programme 200680 contributes to Millennium Development Goals 1 to 5 and Strategic Objectives 3 and 4 of the WFP Strategic Plan (2014–2017).