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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08 February 2023

A Gift of Resilience: 2,250 Galla Goats handed to Taita Taveta farmers.

Taita Taveta County farmers erupted into joyous celebration as they received 2,250 Galla goats from the County Government of Taita Taveta and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO. With the goal of empowering farmers and boosting food and nutrition security through milk production, this project could not have come at a better time for Taita Taveta County, which is facing prolonged drought in its arid and semi-arid regions. The ceremonial handover presided over by Deputy Governor Christine Kilalo and Dr. Barrack Okoba, FAO's team lead for Resilient Food and Livelihood Systems, was a feast for the senses, with farmers breaking into song, ululation, and dance. Senior government officials and local leaders were in attendance. "I once participated in a chicken auction here some years back. I bought very nice chicken here and went on to become a poultry farmer, stated Dr. Barack Okoba before adding. "I want to come back next year and participate in a Galla goat auction from the stock we are giving today so that, once again, I become a goat farmer." According to FAO Field Programs Specialist Abedih Mbatha, the farmers chose the value chain through community action planning. The farmers were trained on various value chains and were given the option to choose what they thought would best serve their needs. Goats are the ideal animal for arid and semi-arid regions, being relatively easy to keep, feed, and survive even in harsh conditions. With Kenya facing one of its worst droughts in recent history, United Nations in Kenya, through agencies like FAO, is collaborating with the Government of Kenya in various initiatives to help farmers and communities cope with the impacts of the drought, including the distribution of drought-resistant crops, resilient livestock breeds like the Galla goats amongst others. Galla goats, local breeds native to East Africa, are well adapted to the harsh conditions of the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), making them valuable assets for farmers. Additionally, Galla goats have a high twinning rate, which allows their populations to grow quickly and contributes to the food and nutrition security of farmers through milk production. By distributing Galla goats to farmers, FAO is effectively enhancing their resilience to the increasing climate change's impacts and improving their food and livelihood security. Addressing the farmers at the handover ceremony, Taita Taveta Deputy Governor Christine Kilalo hailed FAO's strategic collaboration towards building the local farmers' resilience to climate change and reaffirmed the County Government's commitment to the same, "As a county, we have a plan to ensure this county is food sufficient through improved agriculture production. We shall work with partners like FAO, who have been invaluable in ensuring that such resources entrusted to you, like these goats, are given good care to yield milk, meat, and money for you."
Christine Kilalo, Taita Taveta Deputy Governor The 510 farmers from 22 groups received the Galla goats, aggregated into six clusters based on their location. This allows for the utilisation of male goats for breeding purposes. The Galla goats were handed as part of the Agricultural Climate Resilient Enhancement Initiative (ACREI), a project funded by the Adaptation Fund and implemented by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in partnership with FAO and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC). The project seeks to improve adaptive capacity and resilience to climate variability and change among targeted farmers, agro-pastoralists and pastoralist communities.

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08 February 2023

UN Women Kenya trains motorcycle taxi operators on safety and GBV prevention and response

UN Women Kenya in collaboration with Honda Kenya trained 30 motorcycle taxi operators from Kakuma town on safety riding as well as GBV prevention and response, culminating with a showcase at the Kakuma airstrip on the 17th of November 2022. The training sensitized the taxi drivers on the available GBV response services and locations where the services could be accessed across the Kakuma refugee camps. Motorcycle taxi operators are usually the first responders in the area due to the lack of availability of other forms of public transport. The roads within the area are rough, making them unsuitable for most vehicles. Honda Motorcycle Kenya Ltd. and the Automobile Association of Kenya (AAK) conducted road safety awareness and traffic compliance training. As a result, all the trainees were able to obtain the Kenyan motorcycle driving license issued by AAK. In Turkana County where the Kakuma refugee camps are hosted, most motorcycle riders do not obtain a license due to financial and documentation challenges. The 30 taxi operators will continue sensitizing other operators in Kakuma during and after the project period. Currently, 3,000 riders are registered in the Kakuma Motorcycle Cooperative with only 1 woman member, who attended the training. Representatives from the Turkana County Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Public Work and the Turkana West Sub-County Office provided remarks on the contribution of the training to the society and the importance of knowledge and compliance with traffic rules among taxi operators given the fact that most traffic accidents are caused by human errors. UNHCR Protection Officer, Robin Masinde Lyambila thanked UN Women, Peace Winds Japan, and Honda Kenya for the training stating that the training is beneficial not only for motorcycle taxi operators but also for the passengers, hence having a positive impact on the entire community. The UN Women Deputy Country Representative a.i, Idil Absiye, welcomed a good initiative through the collaboration of humanitarian, development, and private actors to support the community, especially women and girls. She encouraged the Kakuma Motorcycle Cooperative to provide more chance to female taxi operators given that motorcycle taxi is the only means of public transportation in Kakuma and critical livelihood opportunities for community members, even for women. During the safety riding training, UN Women’s partner on GBV response, International Rescue Committee (IRC), conducted a session to sensitize GBV referral pathways for motorcycle taxi drivers. As a result of previous stakeholder engagements, it was learned that motorcycle taxi operators are a key link in the transportation of survivors of gender-based violence to nearby health facilities. Under the UN Women project, IRC supports GBV survivors in Kakuma refugee camps and host communities providing comprehensive, timely, and quality clinical and psychosocial care to survivors. Since the project's inception in November 2021, IRC provided services to more than 3,000 survivors at their 2 GBV One-Stop Centers and 2 Women’s Safe Spaces.

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A motorcycle taxi operator during the training showcase in Kakuma, Turkana County on 17th November 2022.

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09 December 2022

Sweden, Norway and UN Kenya Commit to Supporting Kenya’s Green Transition

Sweden, Norway and the United Nations working together to support Kenya through the current drought emergency and onto the massive economic potentials of the "green transition" - these were the key themes when the new Swedish Minister for International Development, Johan Forssell, Norwegian Minister of International Development, Ms. Anne Beathe Tvinnereim and UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya, Stephen Jackson sat down together during the bilaterals following their recent visit to Kenya. Kenya's deep drought emergency took centre stage in the discussions with both delegations. Its unprecedented depth, in its severity and longevity, represents something completely new, triggering an intense response from the Government. “Kenya is on the frontline of the climate emergency. The ravages of the Climate Emergency and extreme weather conditions represent Kenya's new normal.”
Dr. Stephen Jackson The Norwegian Minister, Ms. Tvinnereim, appreciated the great work that United Nations is undertaking and further called on UN Kenya to develop a programming model that is adaptive and flexible to the changing context. “UN funds need to be flexible to respond effectively to emergencies and emerging opportunities,” said Ms. Tvinnereim. The drought has affected the whole region, and it was generally agreed that it was vital to sustaining support to Kenya both for Kenya itself and for the strategic role Kenya plays in the region. But the crisis also presented an opportunity. Both bilateral discussions with Sweden and Norway focused on the huge economic development and investment possibilities under the green transition, facilitating and investing in Kenya’s green transition. In a bilateral, the Swedish Minister and the Resident Coordinator discussed how Sweden and the UN might together support the green transition on the country level and how Swedish expertise and the Swedish private sector could benefit through new business opportunities and creating new green markets with new green jobs, thereby leapfrogging an outdated and unsustainable development model. The Resident Coordinator also appraised the delegations on the UN "development system reforms". The reforms had strengthened the UN's ability to act as One during the COVID-19 pandemic. And now, the convening power and the role as an honest broker of the RC was facilitating rapid response and smooth communication between the Government, the UN agencies and private sector actors all coming together in Kenya. Joined-up actions by the UN agencies would now drive UN Kenya's new "Cooperation Framework" (2022-2026), enabling scaled-up and accelerated development impacts. Finally, the Swedish Minister and the RC further discussed how the UN could push for regional economic integration in the Africa region, such as the East Africa Community. Regional trade was still an under-exploited driver for Kenya's development - here again, there was much opportunity for Swedish energy and entrepreneurship, given the two countries' historical cooperation. The delegation from Sweden and Norway also got to experience the UN work in Kenya through a range of field visits and engaged with young entrepreneurs, women’s groups, researchers, conservationists, Government representatives and the broader UN family.

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22 November 2022

United Nations and partners call for $472.6 million to respond in 2023 as the drought in Kenya deepens

The United Nations, the Government of Kenya and humanitarian partners in Kenya are appealing for $472.6 million to help 4.3 million drought-affected people in 2023, in support of the Government-led response, as the crisis is expected to worsen. During a visit to Garissa County on 21 November, the Deputy President of Kenya, His Excellency Rigathi Gachagua, the UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya, Dr. Stephen Jackson, and the UN Environment Programme Executive Director, Inger Andersen, called on the international community to step-up their solidarity with communities who are facing the devastating consequences of the longest and most severe drought in Kenya’s recent history. The Deputy President of Kenya said: “We are here today in Garissa to bring a spotlight to the suffering being endured by Kenyans as a result of the global climate crisis. Our resources cannot be sufficient to address the challenges of climate change. Therefore, the Government is appealing for assistance to address the resource gap in implementing drought interventions to minimise losses and catastrophic farming yields.” Needs in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) of Kenya continue to rise as the region faces its fifth consecutive below-average rainy season from October to December 2022. Humanitarian partners estimate that there will be 6.4 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in 2023 in the ASALs region of Kenya. At least 4.35 million people are going to bed hungry and about 5 million people cannot access enough water for drinking, cooking and cleaning. Families are taking desperate measures to survive, including fleeing their homes in search of sustenance, and the risks faced by women and girls have risen sharply since the drought began. There are also growing reports of children dropping out of school and child marriage cases. The UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya, Dr. Stephen Jackson, said: “The Government and humanitarian partners have stepped up our collective response in 2022 to help save lives and alleviate the suffering caused by this unprecedented drought, but we urgently need more funding to avert the worst-case scenario in 2023. Let us hold in our heads and hearts that each one of those 6.4 million who urgently need our help, is an individual with hopes and dreams like Asha Kasmis. The 6-year-old Asha was forced to flee her home with her family, here in Garissa, and drop out of school to help her mother cope with the drought.” He adds, “We must not, we cannot, and we will not fail Asha Kasmis!” Despite being an underfunded crisis, 89 humanitarian partners reached nearly 1 million people with vital assistance between January and September 2022, complementing the Government-led response to the drought. This includes 763,000 people who were assisted with access to safe drinking water, received sanitation and hygiene items. Humanitarians also reached 600,000 people with food assistance, including in-kind food, cash transfers or livelihood support. In addition, 293,000 children under age five and pregnant and lactating women received treatment for severe or moderate acute malnutrition. Multi-purpose cash was delivered to 176,000 people, enabling them to make dignified choices and purchase what they most needed. However, the exceptional duration and severity of this drought—which is longer than any in recent history—is outpacing the response. In pastoral areas, herders have already lost 2.5 million livestock as a result of the drought. Early projections indicate the possibility of a sixth consecutive poor rainy season from March to May 2023. The Executive Director of UNEP said: “What we are seeing in Garissa today is the human face of the climate crisis. The people of Kenya—who contribute less than 0.1 per cent of global greenhouse gases—are bearing the brunt of global warming and urgently need our support, both now and well into the future. It is critical that climate finances are immediately unlocked to help people like those I’ve met here to rapidly adapt to their changing environment.” The Deputy President was joined by Cabinet Secretaries Alice Wahome and Rebecca Miano for Water and Sanitation, and the East African Community (EAC) and (ASALs) and Regional Development, respectively. The delegation was hosted by the Governor of Garissa, Nathif Jama Adam, Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, who serves as the Deputy Chair of the Council of Governors and local area members of parliament.

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A father gives his thirsty son water in Lagdera, Garissa County.

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10 June 2022

Sweden signs a partnership agreement with UN Kenya towards pooled funding for SDGs

Joined-up funding enables joined-up United Nations development support to Kenya: that was the message today as the Embassy of Sweden in Kenya and United Nations Kenya today signed a new partnership agreement supporting capacity for the newly established “SDG Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) Kenya”. The $4 Million partnership support will give the UN Kenya SDG MPTF Secretariat the necessary capacity to launch joint UN programming to help Kenya’s Government and people accelerate towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The partnership agreement signed by Stephen Jackson, UN Resident Coordinator – Kenya, and Annika Otterstedt, the Head of Development Cooperation, Embassy of Sweden – is also intended to help unlock scaled-up private sector investment in SDG attainment for Kenya. Significantly, this Sweden-UN Kenya partnership sets the stage for catalysing financing for the SDGs in Kenya and comes just after the recently concluded SDGs Africa Investment Mobilisation Summit (SDGs AIMS) in May here in Nairobi, where Sweden, through Ambassador Caroline Vicini, affirmed its commitment to development coordination and aid effectiveness in Kenya. "Joined up funding enables joined up delivery for the #SDGs and to help the UN better support countries like Kenya to build back better after the COVID-19 pandemic" - Ambassador Caroline Vicini Stephen Jackson, the UN Resident Coordinator for Kenya, said that “this generous Swedish support comes at the right moment, as UN Kenya is finalising with the Government of Kenya a new Cooperation Framework in which joint UN action to support Kenya’s Government and people is at the core”. During the multi-stakeholder validation meeting in early May, Annika Otterstedt affirmed that the UNSCDF aligned with Kenya's Vision 2030 development priorities as well as Sweden's Development Cooperation priorities for Kenya. "The objectives and the vision of the UNSDCF very much align with our understanding of the needs of Kenya and Kenya's government and represent an innovative shift for the work of the UN in Kenya" - Annika Otterstedt

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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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