United Nations in Kenya

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Kenya:

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19 September 2021

Donate to the SDGs - Keeping the Promise

We are putting the power to achieve the SDGs in the hands of everybody around the world who want to create a better future. The United Nations Joint SDG Fund is the world’s first and only investment vehicle to enable SDG financing to “building forward better.”

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19 February 2021

UNDP Kenya and Ministry of Health Launch Smart Robots to Prevent the Spread COVID-19

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with Ministry of Health has launched the piloting of smart anti-epidemic robotic solutions to aid the health response and management of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya. As the world contends with the impact of COVID-19 – a highly infectious virus – frontline healthcare workers remain highly vulnerable due to exposure to the virus's transmission. The deployment of the smart anti-epidemic robotic solutions, funded by the Government of Japan, will play an essential role in protecting frontline healthcare workers by limiting direct human-contact with patients. The robots will further support preventive measures and enhance public awareness of COVID-19 preventive measures and generate real-time statistics reports. Speaking at the launch event, the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Health Hon. Mutahi Kagwe noted that: Digitization is one of the strategies used to combat the pandemic which has proven highly infectious. With this realization, the Government is partnering with UNDP and the Government of Japan, to utilise technology in the COVID-19 health response. The Robotic technology to be deployed at Kenyatta National Hospital and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport will go further in assisting our healthcare in managing the disease." Compelling evidence has shown that the use of technology can accelerate the development of COVID-19 diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines. Digital innovations can also strengthen the health and community systems needed to deliver diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines to people in need. The integration of the robots into Kenya’s healthcare system, will enhance the control of infections, prevent transmissions and support the storage of big data to inform decision making, and preparedness, ultimately contributing to the flattening of the infection curve. “The piloting of the smart anti-epidemic robotic solutions is by no means a replacement of the crucial role played by our healthcare workers. Based on lessons from global and regional experiences where UNDP has successfully supported similar initiatives (Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea and India) we hope the introduction of the robotics in Kenya will uncover insights on leveraging technology within the healthcare system. Through an experimental lens, as a long-term investment, we hope to test the impact and effectiveness of robotics in the healthcare and a potential scaled up adoption of similar technologies across more public health facilities. We are keen to leverage this technology to provide an opportunity for the youth in Kenya to gain 4IR skills and hopefully open more employment and entrepreneurship opportunities” said Walid Badawi, Resident Representative, UNDP Kenya. The robotic solutions designed in Belgium and distributed by Zorabots Africa was procured as part of UNDP’s broader support that aims to strengthen Kenya’s COVID-19 response at national and county levels, through an inclusive and multisectoral approach which includes addressing its Socio-Economic Impact. The Government of Japan has provided UNDP in Kenya with funding worth USD 2 million as part of UNDP’s global support to COVID 19 Response, which Kenya is among 60 beneficiary countries. “Improvement healthcare is one of Kenya's policy priorities. And so, the support to this sector with such advanced technology as we are handing over today will no doubt contribute to the great effort currently underway to control COVID-19 in Kenya successfully. I can assure you that Japan will continue to collaborate with Kenya not only in the Health Sector but also in various fields to support the BIG-4 Agenda and thus maintaining our good relationship.” H.E. Ryoichi Horie, Japan Ambassador to Kenya. Besides the smart anti-epidemic robotic solutions, valued at USD 320,000; UNDP also handed over 2 Medical waste microwaves valued at USD 400,000 for Migori and Siaya Counties - these have already been delivered to the hospitals and are currently being installed; PPEs valued at over USD 200,000 to complement further our contribution to partner institutions for the continuity of business in the national response; and, Testing kits valued at over USD 230,000. ### Notes for the editors:
In line with the Secretary-General's mandate for UNDP, as the technical lead on socio-economic response and recovery, UNDP is working closely with the U.N. Resident Coordinator and the U.N. Country Team in Kenya to respond to the Government's requests for socio-economic assessments, support and implementation of the national COVID-19 response and recovery plans. UNDP has put its assets at the disposal of the U.N. system to facilitate a response that builds on the expertise of the entirety of the U.N. System, and provides the integrated policy advice and implementation support required in a development emergency setting. So far, UNDP in Kenya has mobilized over USD 7 million in support of COVID-19 response efforts. The funds have been used to support, among others: Technical leadership support in the drafting and implementation of the UN COVID-19 Socio-economic Response Plan, technical and financial support towards the Government of Kenya national Economic Recovery Strategy led by National Treasury and Planning and the County COVID-19 Social-Economic Reengineering and Recovery Strategy led by the Council of Governors The deployment of 50 U.N. Volunteer frontline health workers to increase response capacity in 14 counties placed in hospitals and medical facilities to counties most in need under our U.N. Joint Devolution Programme implemented in collaboration with our sister agencies UNWOMEN and UNICEF - in partnership with the Ministry of Devolution and ASALs; Procurement of personal protective equipment (PPEs) in support of various government institutions to support business continuity including MoH, EACC, Council of Governors, Ministry of Environment and Forestry amongst others with a focus on buying Kenya and build Kenya also to foster local economic revitalization; Provision of medical waste disposal equipment to facilitate safe management of waste in 13 health facilities across the four counties we are working with under our Global Environment Facility (GEF) support programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Raising awareness, factual information and communication on COVID-19 – including addressing gender-based violence and access to justice through our partnership and collaboration with civil society organizations, the County Assemblies Forum, and County Governments Surfacing and supporting innovations from brilliant Kenyan youth that with the right support can hold the keys to doing development differently and building forward better through the Great COVID Innovation Challenge.

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16 December 2021

Kenya’s GBV helpline HAK 1195: Leveraging on data to offer survivor-centered services

With the announcement of Covid-19 containment measures such as national lockdowns and stay-at-home orders in early March 2020, a spike in calls received by the national helpline for gender-based violence was amongst the first signs that all was not well at home. By December 2020, the national toll-free helpline number HAK 1195 had recorded more than 6,000 calls from survivors seeking services, a 360% increase from cases recorded in 2019. “The pandemic really helped raise the national alarm on the safety of women and girls,” says HAK 1195 lead tele-counselor, Jane*. “It also revealed the social and economic vulnerabilities that expose them to violence,” she added. Jane has worked at the helpline for the last seven years and is amongst a team of tele-counselors providing 24-hour services to survivors. They include psychosocial support and access to services such as healthcare, shelters, legal aid, police assistance, and emergency ambulance rescue. Tele-counselor Peter* recalls having to dispatch an ambulance to a village in Elgeyo Marakwet County after receiving a distress call from a member of the public. “The caller reported that two young sisters had undergone FGM, and both were experiencing excessive bleeding. One of them had even fainted,” narrates Peter. He contacted the Kenya Red Cross Society who dispatched an ambulance to give medical first aid and transfer the girls to a local health facility for further care. Police provided security during the rescue operation. “The circumciser was arrested after further investigations by the area chief, and she will not be harming any other girl,” he says. The two sisters are currently residing in a safe house where they will receive support to continue with their education. Tele-counselors answer calls at the HAK 1195 Helpline center in Nairobi. © UNFPA Kenya/ Irene Wangui The 1195 helpline is operated by a local non-profit, Healthcare Assistance Kenya (HAK), in partnership with the Ministry of Public Service and Gender. UNFPA and UN Women provide technical and financial support, which has included raising public awareness on the helpline to enhance access to GBV services during the COVID-19 crisis. At the height of the pandemic, UNFPA supported HAK to upgrade the functional capacity of the helpline's database for improved data collection and use. The new database captures information around a set of indicators designed to strengthen GBV response and prevention efforts by providing disaggregated data that informs planning. “The data collected helps us map the different types of GBV, including the most commonly reported, where they occur, and the most affected demographic,” says UNFPA GBV/Gender Advisor, Caroline Murgor. “This data is shared with the government and other partners within the GBV Technical Working Group and has helped in quantifying the problem and the design of policies and programs that are based on evidence.” The pandemic really helped raise the national alarm on the safety of women and girls. With an FGM prevalence of 21%, Kenya has committed to eliminating the practice by 2022, but trends in the helpline data show that FGM remains amongst the least reported forms of GBV. Healthcare Assistance Kenya Director, Ms. Fanis Lisiagali, attributes this to the culture of silence and secrecy surrounding the practice. “Looking at the data, we can be able to identify the areas where more advocacy and awareness is needed in order to empower women to speak up against FGM and all other forms of gender-based violence,” says Ms. Lisiagali. Through the Joint Programme on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting, UNFPA has supported various community dialogues and awareness campaigns carried out on community radio to sensitize the public on preventing and responding to FGM. More than 1 million people have been reached through such advocacy efforts with information on the helpline. At the Generation Equality Forum held in Paris, France, President Uhuru Kenyatta committed to introducing a module on GBV in the 2022 Kenya Demographic Health Survey that will strengthen the utilization of gender statistics in informing the design and scale-up of FGM and GBV programming in line with the costed presidential implementation plan on ending FGM. “It is my personal commitment to end FGM in Kenya by the end of my tenure,” said President Kenyatta. *Names have been changed to maintain confidentiality.

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15 December 2021

Climate Finance: How Counties Can Finance Climate Action?

First published in the Standard Newspaper on 23 November 2021 From Glasgow to Sharm El Sheikh – What an Uncertain Future? This year’s Devolution Conference is marked at a very important time. This is after the just ended Twenty Sixth Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that was held in Glasgow, Scotland under the United Kingdom, and Italy’s presidency. Even as the globe continues to debate on whether the Glasgow Pact negotiated by the over 120 Heads of States and Governments that participated in COP26 was successful or not, the reality is that the adopted compromise pact does not even come close to reducing the global emissions to the 1.5 degrees target. Neither does the compromise pact deliver real tangible financing required by developing countries like Kenya to effectively adapt to the ravaging climate crisis. Granted, some significant progress was reported that forms a sound benchmark as the globe awaits next year’s COP27 to be hosted in Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt, but the message is clear – a lot more work is required to salvage the world from an all-out climate induced apocalypse. Some of the key positive steps recorded in Glasgow include the adoption by over 100 countries constituting over 85% of the world’s forests to a commitment to enhance forestry and land restoration, strategies to reduce methane emissions, commitments from international finance institutions to draw down on their investment in fossil fuels and coal, as well as commitment to boost climate finance to adaptation. Although the global 100 billion USD pledge of climate finance made by developed nations is yet to be actualized, the discourse on climate finance is bound to grow into an area of key focus. Unpacking Climate Financing But first, what is climate financing? Climate financing is the sourcing of local, national, or transnational financing, from public, private and alternatives as part of the global efforts aimed at supporting mitigation and adaptation actions that will sustainably address climate change. It is at the core of the quest for attaining a just and fair global regime governing the climate change discourse. It remains an important avenue for signatories to the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement (PA), as availing a sound framework for financing required climate actions, in a manner respecting the principle of ‘common-but-differentiated’ responsibilities. This ensures that countries like Kenya that do not contribute to the emissions that lead to climate change; yet suffer the most impacts are supported to help meet the global emission reductions targets required to reverse the changing climates. Without doubt, the role of climate finance in unlocking sustainable climate actions to support communities adapt to climate change, while reducing further greenhouse gas emissions can never be refuted. Kenya’s Place in Climate Finance It is however important to note that Kenya is by far, quite advanced in terms of integrating robust climate finance principles in its development planning architecture. In this regard, UNDP commends the Government of Kenya for the commitment and leadership to ensuring that coordination structures and instruments are put in place so that as part of national climate change response efforts, sustainable and innovative financing is mobilized. At the national level, efforts by the National Treasury and Planning and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry are beginning to bear some fruits, yet a lot of work is still required to fully bring all the 47 counties into this fold. For instance, UNDP and the National Treasury has prepared the Kenya Climate Finance Synthesis Report and Programme, which is an easy-to-read summary analysis of the country’s climate finance journey. This report tracks how the country has institutionalized the climate finance discourse, highlighting some of the existing gaps which require to be resolved to strengthen the role of counties in the climate finance debate. The report presents a mixed picture. At the national level, Kenya boasts of a robust regulatory legislative and policy terrain that provides building blocks for realizing transformative climate actions at all levels, including the Climate Change Act 2016, the Public Finance Management Act 2012, the Climate Finance Policy 2018 and other regulations, guidelines, and standards, not all counties have localized these to their unique contexts and plans. Importance of Sustained Climate Finance to the Counties UNDP therefore calls upon all partners to support the Government of Kenya to strengthen climate finance at the county levels. We appreciate the World Bank, Sweden, and Denmark for supporting the Financing Locally Led Climate Action Programme (FLLOCA). This provides a strong background upon which more such interventions can continue occurring at the county level. The Sustainable Tree Growing Fund developed by UNDP in partnership with UNEP, UNCDF, FAO and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry is another novel idea, as counties would have support to help Kenya meet her 10% tree cover target. Even as partners support climate finance in the counties, the government should also enhance domestic budget allocation towards climate-relevant sectors. This is the only way to strengthen sustainable climate action at the county level. The counties are also encouraged to dedicate significant portions of their budgetary allocations to strengthen climate actions in line with the progressive Nationally Determined Contributions Update submitted by Kenya to the UNFCCC. The counties should enhance allocations towards mitigation actions such as re-afforestation, renewable energy, sustainable transport, agriculture and integrating nature-based solutions in the development plans. They also need to dedicate significant efforts to develop and align their policies and regulatory frameworks to those at the national level and to successfully implement them to ensure adequate investment in climate change-related programs at county levels. Indeed, counties are important centers for financing Kenya’s ambitious climate action plans.

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10 November 2021

The Government of Germany Invests €505,000 in UNDP Kenya to Support the Consolidating Democratic Dividends for Sustainable Transformation in Kenya Project

Nairobi, 10th November 2021 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kenya in partnership with the Government of The Federal Republic of Germany have today signed a cooperation agreement to support the ‘Consolidating Democratic Dividends for Sustainable Transformation in Kenya’ project. During the signing ceremony UNDP Kenya’s Resident Representative Mr. Walid Badawi said: “This project is working to support state action and citizen engagement towards realising improved democratic governance, accountability, respect for the rule of law, access to justice, human rights, participation of youth, and gender equality.” The signing of the cooperation agreement comes at a time when national democratic governance institutions are working to deepen the democratic gains made in the last decade under the Constitution of Kenya (2010) through among others institutional strengthening and capacity building interventions to foster a sustainable conducive and peaceful environment. The project document was signed between the Government of Kenya and UNDP in May 2021 and officially launched in July 2021. It will be implemented from 2021-2023. The United Nations Resident Coordinator Dr. Stephen Jackson noted the strong collaboration in the design of the programme that is anchored within the transformative governance pillar of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework 2018-2022, and stated that, “the project’s implementation will benefit from the ‘UN Delivering as One’ approach through UNDP, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (UN Women) and Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).” To promote a strong degree of national ownership, alignment with national priorities, and sustainability, the project will ensure partnerships with key national institutions including the Ministry of Devolution, the main government implementing partner. As additional resources become available, further support is planned towards national institutions in the democratic governance space. Strategic partnerships are also planned with civil society stakeholders to foster maximum effectiveness and ensure a wider geographic footprint. The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany Annett Günther said: “I applaud the Deepening Democracy Program for its scope, as it attests to the ambitions of the partnership of the UN, the International Community and Development Partners with the Government of Kenya. This program is an important contribution to increase the capacities and strengthen Kenyan institutions and crucial actors for Kenya’s democratic space at the right moment in time.” The project will be resourced through a multi-donor basket fund to allow the participation of multiple development partners. It has confirmed contributions from the European Union, the Federal Republic of Germany, and the United Kingdom and the UN in Kenya through UNDP, UN Women, and OHCHR. Ends. Note to Editors About the Consolidating Democratic Dividends for Sustainable Transformation in Kenya’ Project The project is aligned to “Strategic Priority I - Transformative Governance” of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2018-2022 for Kenya; AND (b) SDG Agenda with direct contributions to SDG Goal 5 on Gender Equality, SDG Goal 10 on reducing Inequality and SDG Goal 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions; and (c) the principle of "Leaving No One Behind". The project gives particular attention to supporting dialogue spaces, regular consultation with stakeholders to enable meaningful engagement and coordination among different institutions for better results. To enhance civic space, and citizen engagement in deepening democracy, project strategies and interventions will engage civil society, women, youth, and marginalized groups to enhance their participation in governance and democratic processes. It aligns with Kenya’s national and international commitments to ensure that the culture of constitutionalism is strengthened in Kenya, underpinned by improved governance, respect for human rights, and justice and rule of law system that is inclusive, accountable, and empowering especially to vulnerable groups. The project integrates a human rights-based and people-centred approach to support the engagement of communities and marginalized groups in governance. Project interventions, which will be undertaken in a phased approach which will focus on good governance and capacity development, and strengthening the capacity of governance institutions to enhance public accountability, gender equality, social inclusion, institutional coordination and stakeholder engagement through the following outputs: (1) Enhanced institutional capacity for inclusion, transparency, and accountability; (2) Dispute resolution by strategic governance institutions strengthened; (3) Strategic engagement on legal and institutional frameworks and stakeholder coordination for democratic consolidation; (4) Increased civic and media engagement and participation in governance processes for accountable service delivery; (5) Strengthened and coordinated human rights monitoring; (6) Enhanced capacity on security, risk management, and coordination; (7) Strengthened civic engagement women and youth participation in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. About UNDP Kenya UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end injustice of the poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with a broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. UNDP has been operating in Kenya since 1966 and supports programmes under three priority areas towards national development priorities: Governance, peace and security Inclusive growth and structural transformation Environmental sustainability, climate change and resilience For more information about UNDP Kenya’s activities and current updates follow our social media platforms: Twitter: @UNDPKenya Facebook: UNDP Kenya Linkedin: UNDP KENYA Website: https://www.ke.undp.org/content/kenya For media enquiries please contact: UNDP Kenya Martin Namasaka Head of Communications, UNDP Kenya Email: martin.namasaka@undp.org Mobile: +254731953944 Sheila Kimani Communications Associate, UNDP Kenya Email: sheila.kimani@undp.org Mobile: +254 714 386306 Germany Embassy @GermanyinKenya www.nairobi.diplo.de

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10 November 2021

Navigating the alternative justice systems to secure women’s rights to land in Kisumu

In Kenya women's rights to own, inherit, manage, and dispose of property are under constant threat by customs and individuals, including unscrupulous duty bearers who believe that women do not deserve, and cannot be trusted with marital land and property. groups. The devastating effects of property rights violations including poverty, disease, violence, and homelessness harm women, their children, and Kenya's overall development. Women's property rights violations are not only discriminatory, but they also pose greater development risks. Working within the county of Kisumu, the Civil Society Organisations Network - which is one of the CSO grantees receiving access to justice funding - comes across cases where poor women are targeted. Often because of their status as widows, women have to fight for access and control of family land almost always immediately after the death of their husbands. Under such circumstances, they are vulnerable to other family members or community members who want their land. In some cases, family members secretly alter the title deeds denying them ownership of their marital property. Such cases are commonplace within the dominant patriarchal culture, despite very progressive land laws that offer greater tenure security to women and girls. Ms. Mary Achieng’ Obala (name changed) is one widow who has been receiving legal support from the CSO Network. The 86-year-old widow was denied access to her family land upon the death of both her husband and her eldest son. She was removed from her home, which she shared with her three nephews. and her piece of land was hurriedly sold to an unsuspecting buyer who claimed the land with support from the local administration officials. Mary sought refuge from her only surviving daughter, Alma (name changed), who in turn sought support from the CSO Network. Alma was able to approach. the CSO Network after listening to one of the radio programmes hosted by a local station. The show had brought together a legal expert and a member from the Luo Council of elders. The focus of the discussion was on the role of the AJS in protecting land and property rights of vulnerable groups. Alma commented that she had reported to the village elder, who referred her to the area chief. Both the village elder and the area chief confirmed that the land had been sold to a ‘new owner’. She sought protection from the local administrative office but was convinced that there was collusion between the local administrators and the buyer. The chief once instructed her to leave his office and even threatened her from stepping back into the village. The CSO Network filed the matter with the Luo Council of Elders for local dispute resolution. A sitting was constituted with three members of the council from the sub-county in question and were tasked to do a thorough background check and review the history of land tapping into its own intricate network of village elders. The elders were able to locate Mary, who at this time was unable to walk, and she quickly provided them with first-hand information on her claims to the contested piece of land. The PLEAD CSO was also able to facilitate a community dialogue chaired by ‘Ker’, the head of the Council of Elders with his team also present. The dialogue was organised to enhance communal buy-in for alternative dispute resolutions but also to bring the affected family together, including the nephews, daughter, and the brother-in-law. From the testimonies adduced, the meeting established that the land was irregularly sold, and that Mary was indeed the rightful owner of the piece of land. Armed with the resolutions, the CSO Network was able to facilitate the chair of Luo Council of Elders’ and his team to accompany Mary and her daughter to the office of the land registrar in Kisumu where additional facts on the ownership were established. The registrar was able to summon the ‘buyer’ and documentation was reviewed with all parties present. The registrar recalled the ‘irregular’ deed processed by the buyer and was able to process a title deed for Mary affirming her tenure claim to the contested piece of land. This win was instrumental for setting the agenda of the AJS in Kisumu county, and enhancing trust in the informal justice system, particularly in the new policy environment with the launch of the new Alternative Justice Systems Baseline Policy. The CSO Network is one of the CSO grantees supported by the Programme for Legal Empowerment and Aid Delivery in Kenya (PLEAD) with financial support from the European Union, and UNDP in Kenya through its civil society facility, the Amkeni Wakenya Project. Currently in its second year of implementation, the CSO Network is furthering the Making Rights a Reality project in the greater county of Kisumu. The project is keen on finalizing the standard operating procedures for alternative dispute resolutions as animated by the Alternative Justice Systems in Kisumu. Additionally, the project also provides pro bono assistance and legal literacy to the large proportion of poor people in the county. In addition, the project provides improved partnership working with the formal justice system and the AJS and the judicial officers to ensure enforcement of AJS resolutions, and continuous capacity building in the areas of gender sensitivity and response for the AJS.

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10 November 2021

UNHCR Joins SDG Partnership Platform

UNHCR has joined the huge network of the SDG Partnership Platform, an important ecosystem that enables in the transition from SDG funding to financing for emerging middle income countries. The Platform is a unique co created entity cocreated by the Government of Kenya and the UN system at the UN General Assembly in 2017 to convene connect, and catalyze SDG Partnership investments and financing to unlock and influence private capital flows towards private collaborations on a shared volume basis to help drive profit ith purpose for simultaneous economic and social benefits This partnership comes at an opportune time as the UN System in Kenya advances on the development of the Cooperation framework with Government of Kenya to address key development challenges and resource gaps in the evolving 21st Century context. The Platform has four strategic objectives: 1) joint advocacy and policy dialogue to create an enabling environment where partnership thrives; 2) partnering at scale for impact: support to identify large-scale public-private partnerships and collaborations; Identify and broker large scale PPPs that align with the SDG themes reflected in the Kenya UNDAF Strategic Result Areas, and drive shared value creation 3) maximizing innovative finance; and -Raise required investments for the PPPs under 2 above, through optimizing blended financing instruments and redirection of capital flows towards SDG implementation, engaging a wide range of stakeholders from public and private sector 4) facilitating data management, learning and research to inform progressive policy and practice for SDG partnerships. The Platform is a UN Development Assistance Framework flagship initiative which will take leadership on overarching facilitation,

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Press Release

11 April 2022

Kenya’s Adolescents the Winners as United Nations Joint SDG Fund Doubles its Portfolio to $114 Million in Catalytic Impact Investments  

Selected from a global pool of submissions from over 100 countries, the proposals submitted by Kenya, Madagascar, North Macedonia, Suriname, and Zimbabwe emerged as the strongest, most impactful, and investment-ready to take public.  The investments constitute an ambitious and concerted response by the UN to the challenges of our generation: from health in a world still plagued by the COVID-19 pandemic to youth empowerment to climate change. Under the leadership of UN Resident Coordinators, implementation of these programmes will fuel the UN footprint in the five nations, ushering in a new generation of collaborative action across the UN, Governments, civil society, and private sector investors.   According to Dr. Stephen Jackson, the UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya, “Vulnerable adolescent girls are amongst those at most risk of being left behind anywhere in the world. Our programme on Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health will help Kenya reach vulnerable adolescent girls with Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and HIV services to achieve gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment, reaching the furthest behind first. We’ll be helping Kenya blend public and private investment to push forward work in an area as delicate and sensitive as it is crucial to advancing Kenya’s youth”. This announcement comes less than one year after the Fund launched its first investment of US $41 million in four transformative programmes in Fiji, Indonesia, Malawi, and Uruguay. In 2021, a US $17.9 million programme in Papua New Guinea was added, and with the addition of these five new programmes, the Joint SDG Fund’s Catalytic Investment portfolio will grow to US $114 million. The portfolio is expected to leverage US $5 billion toward the SDGs across the 10 programmatic countries.   In partnership with development banks and local financial institutions, Kenya’s newly created programme will support the scale up of the world’s first Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) development impact bond in Kenya that promises to not only transform adolescent health outcomes in Kenya but also open up endless opportunities for private and public investment, in public health. Recognizing the immense support in the implementation of the UN joint programme initiatives, the JSDGF is exceedingly grateful for the level of cooperation from the dynamic inter-agency team in Kenya comprising of the SDG Partnership Platform Kenya at UNRCO, UNFPA, WHO, UNAIDS,CIFF, Triggerise and KOIS, as well as the Government of Kenya through the Ministry of Health, Council of Governors, participating county governments. The Fund also marks its sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Monaco, Kingdom of Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and our private sector funding partners, this milestone marks a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030. (United Nations Capital Development Fund, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Children's Fund, United Nations Population Fund, International Labour Organization, World Food Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization, International Organization for Migration, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, International Fund for Agricultural Development, UNAIDS, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, United Nations Environment Programme, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, UN Women, World Health Organization and World Meteorological Organization.)    About: The UN Joint SDG Fund is a multi-partner trust fund established by the United Nations General Assembly. The Fund supports UN member states by de-risking investments that drive financing solutions to accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our goal is to disburse US$ 1 billion in grants annually in the race to 2030. All programmes share one critical element: their ability to leverage multi-million-dollar grants from the Joint SDG Fund into billions for sustainable development. Learn more: https://www.jointsdgfund.org/ 

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Press Release

09 August 2021

FAO and Kenyan Government sign action plan to mitigate drought in ASALs Counties

15/07/2021 Nairobi - Kenya: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Devolution and the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) today signed the Anticipatory Action and Response Plan for Pastoral and Agropastoral Communities in ASAL Counties of Samburu, Isiolo, Turkana, Garissa, Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir and Tana River. This is in response to drought alert sent in June 2021 where 12 of the 23 ASAL counties were in the alert drought phase, while 16 reported a declining trend. This is an abnormal occurrence at the immediate end of the season. ‘Livelihood conditions have declined as a result of reduced access to pasture even as 56% of the ASAL counties reported increased trekking distances to water sources for livestock and domestic use. This is expected to get worse in the coming months hence the need for urgent anticipatory action,’ said Carla Mucavi - the FAOR Representative to Kenya during the signing. ‘The Government welcomes the support and collaboration of partners such as FAO in addressing this situation. This call for anticipatory action will go a long way in building the resilience of the communities in the affected Counties. Urgent action and a coordinated response is needed from donors and other concerned stakeholders before the situation deteriorates further,’ said the Cabinet Secretary for Ministry of Devolution and the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) Hon. Eugene Wamalwa. The ASAL situation since 2020 The 2020 Short Rains Assessment established that the season had performed poorly. As of February 2021, 1.4 million people in ASAL counties were already experiencing acute food insecurity. This was aggravated by other factors including the COVID-19 pandemic, the desert locust invasion, food commodity price spikes, and livestock diseases. Since then, the long rains in March-May 2021 have also under-performed. The onset of the season was late, the amount of rainfall was below normal in most ASAL counties, and its distribution in both space and time was poor. Current drought indicators An estimated two million people in ASAL counties are now in need of assistance. This figure is likely to rise as the situation worsens. There is a severe deficit of vegetation in Isiolo county and in Lagdera sub-county of Garissa, while the rest of Garissa and Kilifi, Marsabit, Tana River, and Wajir counties report a moderate vegetation deficit. The proportion of children at risk of malnutrition is already above average in seven ASAL counties (Embu, Taita Taveta, Makueni, Narok, Kjiado, Meru, Nyeri). In addition to that, families are now forced to cover longer distances to access water for domestic and livestock use as water sources have dried up. Resources needed for drought mitigation Kenya’s drought response plan requires a total of Kshs. 9.4 billion for the period July – November 2021: Kshs. 5.8 billion for food and safety net support and Kshs. 3.6 billion for non-food interventions. FAO is seeking a total of USD 15,007,460 (Ksh 1,500,746,000 billion) to cushion livestock assets and vulnerable pastoral households against the adverse effects of the drought, to support water interventions for increased access to water for Livestock and domestic used to enhance access to food and nutrition. This includes basic needs by farming households and to strengthen the institutional and technical capacity of National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) for effective implementation of the early warning mechanism.

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Press Release

07 May 2021

Statement from the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Winnie Byanyima on the decision by the United States of America to support the TRIPS waiver for COVID-19 vaccines

5 May 2021 I applaud the announcement from United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai supporting the waiving of intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines. This is the kind of global leadership the world desperately needs as we witness horrific scenes in countries like India, where only nine in 100 people have been vaccinated. To date, more than 1.1 billion doses of vaccines have been administered globally, but more than 80% of those have been administered in high- and upper-middle-income countries, while just 0.3% have been administered in low-income countries. We are in a race to vaccinate the majority of the world’s population to curb death tolls and before more potent variants of COVID-19 emerge, rendering current vaccines ineffective. The faster we can scale up global vaccine supply, the faster we can contain the virus and the less chance we will face a day when variants prove resistant to existing vaccines. As the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres has said “no one is safe until everyone is safe”. The TRIPS waiver would enable the sharing of technologies, data, know-how, patents and other intellectual property rights across the world. The announcement of the US administration sends a powerful signal to the rest of the G7 and to the European Union to also support the World Trade Organization TRIPS Waiver and inspire other countries to take a powerful stand in favour of people before profits. This remarkable position from the US government is a fundamental step towards a People’s Vaccine. To ensure everyone, everywhere has access to a lifesaving vaccine, we also need to see a pooling of technology through the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Technology Access Pool, as well as financing to help build a network of vaccine manufacturing in developing countries. These three actions can together build a sustainable system to vaccinate the world, reach the needed herd immunity and open the paths to make the world best prepared for future pandemics. As we have learned from 40 years of fighting AIDS, equitable access to medical technologies is critical both for saving lives and for decreasing the impact of infectious diseases on people, communities and nations. We are grateful to President Biden and his Administration for the generous humanitarian pledges made on COVID-19 and for today’s announcement. UNAIDS The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube

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Press Release

16 May 2021

Joint statement by the Government of Kenya and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees: Dadaab and Kakuma Refugee Camps Roadmap

President Uhuru Kenyatta met today with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi in Nairobi to discuss issues surrounding refugees and asylum seekers in the region, as well as receive a briefing on the status of Kakuma and Dadaab refugees camps, following the UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ meetings with Cabinet Secretaries Dr. Fred Matiang’i and Amb. Raychelle Omamo. This meeting comes in the wake of the Government’s communicated intention to work toward the closure of the refugee camps in Kenya. A joint team comprising officials from the Government and the UN agency will therefore be formed to finalize and implement a roadmap on the next steps towards a humane management of refugees in both camps. The roadmap, which was presented to the Government of Kenya in the beginning of April, includes voluntary return for refugees in safety and dignity, departures to third countries under various arrangements, and alternative stay options in Kenya for certain refugees from East African Community (EAC) countries. “We are serious about completing the repatriation programme which we started in 2016, in full view of our international obligations and our domestic responsibility. We therefore reiterate our earlier position to close both Dadaab and Kakuma camps by 30 June, 2022,” said Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i. The Government of Kenya and UNHCR agree that refugee camps are not a long-term solution to forced displacement and are committed to working together to find alternative solutions that are in line with the responsibility sharing principles and goals of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR). “I believe that the Government and people of Kenya will continue to show their generous hospitality towards refugees as they have done for nearly three decades, while we carry on discussions on a strategy to find the most durable, appropriate and rights-based solutions for refugees and asylum-seekers residing in the refugee camps in Dadaab and Kakuma,” said the UN High Commissioner. “Closure of the camps must be seen as an aspiration. We are not chasing people away, but a camp is not a permanent thing. It is a place of limbo. No one should live in a place of uncertainty or indignity generation after generation. What we are now working on is how to achieve this cooperatively which is in line with Global Compact on Refugees,” said Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amb. Raychelle Omamo. High Commissioner Grandi welcomed the government’s continued commitment to the GCR during this process. “I am reassured by the government’s assurances that they will continue to provide protection and services for asylum-seekers and refugees in Kenya while various solutions are pursued.” Among the precursory activities contained in the government’s roadmap is a unanimous resolution that was recently endorsed by ambassadors and representatives from East African countries which have a mutual diplomatic relationship with Kenya when they met a delegation led by Interior Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Fred Matiang’i. “Refugees from East African countries will be given the option of being issued a work permit for free so that they can integrate into Kenyan communities or return to their country of origin,’’ said Dr. Matiang’i. Digital verification of Kenyans currently also registered as refugees is set to begin in due course. This will inform the issuance of appropriate documentation to Kenyan citizens and ensure their removal from the refugee database. Kenya has shouldered the burden of sheltering refugees for almost three decades, and the swelling camps have overstretched their capacity to host populations. The government has also expressed grave concerns over the security of both Kenyans and refugees at the camp. There are currently 433,765 refugees living in Dadaab and Kakuma camps.

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Press Release

17 May 2021

Country Level Food Systems Dialogues in Kenya

Building healthier, more sustainable, and equitable food systems are recognized as a powerful and essential requirement to deliver on all SDGs. The term “food system” refers to the constellation of activities involved in producing, processing, transporting, and consuming food. Food systems touch every aspect of human existence. The health of our food systems profoundly affects the health of our bodies, as well as the health of our environment, our economies, and our cultures. When they function well, food systems have the power to bring us together as families, communities, and nations. But too many of the world’s food systems are fragile, unexamined, and vulnerable to collapse, as millions of people around the globe experienced first-hand during the COVID-19 crisis. When our food systems fail, the resulting disorder threatens our education, health and economy, as well as human rights, peace and security. As in so many cases, those who are already poor or marginalized are the most vulnerable. Some countries and regions face unique circumstances, which can increase their vulnerability. In 2021, UN Secretary-General António Guterres will convene a Food Systems Summit as part of the Decade of Action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. With only 10 years remaining, many of the 17 SDGs remain far out of reach. In many cases, unsafe or unsustainable food systems are part of the problem. The UN Food Systems Summit will serve as a turning point in the world’s journey to achieve all the SDGs. We know what we need to do to get back on track: Scientists agree that transforming our food systems is among the most powerful ways to change course and realize the vision of the 2030 Agenda. Rebuilding the food systems of the world will also enable us to answer the UN Secretary-General’s call to “build back better” from COVID-19. We are all part of the food system, and so we all must come together to bring about the transformation that the world needs The need is urgent, and our ambition is high. The UN Food Systems Summit will launch bold new actions, solutions and strategies to deliver progress on all 17 SDGs, each of which relies to some degree on healthier, more sustainable and equitable food systems. The Summit will awaken the world to the fact that we all must work together to transform the way the world produces, consumes and thinks about food. “We believe in a world where healthy, sustainable and inclusive food systems allow people and planet to thrive. It is a world without poverty or hunger, a world of inclusive growth, environmental sustainability and social justice. It is a resilient world where no one is left behind.” Said AGNES KALIBATA, Special Envoy for the UN Food Systems Summit

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