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Overview
The 2023 Horn of Africa drought significantly impacted Kenya, with 4.4 million individuals experiencing acute food insecurity and approximately 1.1 million women and children facing acute malnutrition. Refugee arrivals increased by 13 percent compared to June 2022, pushing the national refugee population above 700,000, further straining resources and elevating food security needs. Navigating this complex humanitarian landscape, WFP Kenya adapted its activities, showcasing agility and commitment to leaving no one behind by enhancing food security for 2.2 million people.
In response to the drought crisis, WFP scaled up its Lisha Jamii 2 relief programme across 15 arid and semi-arid counties[1]. This expansion enabled WFP to reach 64 percent more individuals compared to Lisha Jamii Phase 1. Over 1.6 million drought-affected Kenyans received lifesaving food assistance, including nutrition support to women and children to treat and prevent acute malnutrition, and a safety net for drought-affected smallholder farmers. WFP provided cash transfers, in-kind food assistance, specialized and fortified nutrition commodities, and capacity-building initiatives. This comprehensive response, facilitated by effective coordination, partnerships and rapid resource mobilization, enhanced access to minimum food and nutrition requirements for those most in need.
WFP delivered food assistance to over 641,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Dadaab, Kakuma, and Kalobeyei.
This was the highest annual figure reached since 2018. Due to funding challenges, refugees received an average of 80 percent of the minimum food basket. Nevertheless, WFP successfully accommodated unplanned food needs arising from the influx of new arrivals through effective prioritization, and utilizing foreign exchange rate gains. WFP food assistance for refugees, combined with resilience-building initiatives, contributed to positive food security outcomes for refugees with a 29 percent increase in households consuming adequate and diverse food and meal frequency compared to the programme's end target.
WFP fostered a holistic approach to resilience-building by interlinking initiatives to support over 618,000 smallholder farmers, building their resilience against climate shocks and improve food security. More than 5,600 young agri-entrepreneurs received financial assistance, mentorship, training, and support on risk-management strategies through crop insurance leading to a 30 percent increase in insurance enrolment. WFP facilitated market access for over 244,000 farmers, aggregating and selling 6,300 mt of farm produce valued at USD 3.7 million, while also expanding access to financial services for over 274,000 farmers through Village Savings and Loan Associations.
Through technical support and training, government testing facilities and capacities for aflatoxin analysis were strengthened. In addition, by using weed bioherbicide to mitigate weed infestation in maize farms, supported farmers achieved up to 90 percent yield increase.
This shift to long-term investments aims to contribute to a robust and resilient food system, and promote scale-up by Government, the private sector, and civil society organizations. This will ensure programme impact goes beyond WFP's direct engagement, leading to sustainable pathways to address food insecurity.
WFP's capacity-building efforts yielded significant results by 2023. Targeted advocacy and partnerships have led to the Government more than doubling its funding for the National School Meals Programme, from USD 15 million to USD 40 million, with plans to expand its reach to 10 million children by 2030. Social protection coverage is also planned to doubled, from 1.2 million to 2.5 million households by 2026, reflecting the Government's increasingly strong commitment to social safety nets. WFP supported the State Department for Social Protection in enhancing delivery systems for this expansion. WFP's strategic engagement with the Government shifted towards influencing high-level policy decisions, as evidenced by the President's direct involvement in securing additional resources for both programmes. This shift towards government ownership and increased domestic investments pave the way for a more sustainable future for Kenya's social protection and food security systems. WFP will continue to play a supportive role as a catalyst and enabler for long-term development.
WFP's new Country Strategic Plan for 2023-2027 builds on past successes with an emphasis on scaling up innovative, integrated, and risk-informed programming. This approach aims to maximize long-term and sustainable impact through the "changing lives to save lives" agenda. The plan seeks to transition from short-term relief to resilience building, aligning humanitarian action with national and county development priorities. By strengthening systems and building capacity, WFP aims to achieve measurable impact on the root causes of food insecurity and malnutrition in Kenya.