Attachments
OVERALL PROGRESS
Context
Kenya continued to face increasing humanitarian needs following the consecutive disasters over the past three years.
These include drought, recurrent floods, which all have affected livelihoods and driven widespread food insecurity.
Agriculture plays a significant role in Kenya’s economy, yet in recent years the country has faced severe food insecurity problems attributed to several factors. The changing nature and frequency of extreme weather events induced by the climate crisis climate (floods and drought) is shifting in Kenya, which in turn is increasing overall social and economic risk for a large proportion of the population. With most of Kenya’s income poor people engaged in the agriculture sector as a source of livelihood, such stagnation of agricultural outputs continues to have a ripple effect. Limited access and availability to sufficient and quality food impacts over 10 million people suffering from food insecurity and poor nutrition, with 2–4 million people requiring emergency food assistance. Following an increase in food prices and low purchasing power, the level of poverty also challenges the nutritional, and mental health status of communities.
Key achievements
During the reporting period, Kenya Red Cross Society implemented various operations with support from IFRC, participating National Societies and other partners including the government of Kenya.
Tree planting and care
The Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of the Environment and Forestry in collaboration with stakeholders in the Environmental Management sector, launched a Tree planting campaign to promote reforestation programs.
IFRC supports the National Societies in designing programs that contribute to IFRC’s Pan-African Tree Planting and Care initiative. Such initiatives include tree planting, the establishment of tree nurseries, combatting desertification, conservation of water catchments, and contributing to water, food, and livelihood security. IFRC is facilitating a strategic partnership with Kenya Red Cross that will enable planting and care of multipurpose trees and reporting will be included in the next reporting cycle.
Through its own initiative, Kenya Red Cross planted 86,932 trees in Western Kenya. The database for tree planting was not yet finalized at the time of consolidating this report so this update will be reflected in the annual report.
Zero Hunger
The changing nature and frequency of extreme weather events induced by the climate crisis climate (floods and drought) continued to shift in Kenya, which in turn has increased the overall social and economic risk for a large proportion of the population. The Kenya Red Cross through IFRC launched an Emergency Appeal that has been responding to the hunger crisis in Kenya. This was incorporated into the Unified plan for Kenya Red Cross. Through the Appeal, Kenya Red Cross has been able to reach people with livelihoods and basic needs support, and access to safe water. Kenya Red Cross is also supporting people through health outreach services and protection activities.
The progress on achievements is reported below under the ongoing emergency response. Other bilateral support to Kenya Red Cross from partners is reflected under the strategic priorities section below.
Red Ready
Kenya Red Cross, in addition to its auxiliary role, is designated as the first line of response in all sudden onset disasters by the Government and the Kenya Humanitarian Partnership Team (KHPT). The National Society works with the National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) in coordinating humanitarian emergencies and continued to be the partner of choice for emergencies in Kenya. IFRC supported Kenya Red Cross to strengthen the capacity of volunteers in order to be ready to respond. All volunteers engaged in operations were trained and insured.
National Society development (NSD)
IFRC through the Unified plan of Kenya Red Cross intends to ensure that all external support to National Society Development is aligned with National Society priorities as well as Movement standards, the Kenya Red Cross strategic plan, and annual NSD priorities. Kenya Red Cross has a funding pot for it’s branches capacity development which they continued to utilize in order to help fulfil their role as effective, principled and sustainable local humanitarian actors. Through the regional and branch Income Generation Activities (IGAs) fund, Kenya Red Cross various regions and branches.