Groundbreaking Investment in Kenya’s Food Systems Will Increase Incomes for 200,000 and Boost Nutrition and Resilience

TechnoServe will lead the implementation of the Kenya Feed the Future Local Food Systems Activity

NAIROBI (September 3, 2024) – A new $49 million initiative aims to help 200,000 Kenyans increase their incomes by 50% and improve nutrition for 37,000 women and 21,000 children over the next five years. The Kenya Feed the Future Local Food Systems Activity (FtF), launched today by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and international nonprofit TechnoServe, will focus on improving food production, distribution, and access in Kenya’s most food-insecure regions. Also supporting the initiative are Farm Input Promotions (FIPS)–Africa, the Busara Center for Behavioral Economics, and Save the Children, who will also work closely with national and local stakeholders.

Over five years, the FtF initiative is expected to support:

• 200,000 individuals–more than two-thirds of them women–to increase their incomes by 50%
• 190,000 smallholder farmers to adopt new technologies
• 56,000 households to diversify their livelihoods
• 3,000 micro and small enterprises and county institutions to improve their service offerings
• 37,000 women and 21,000 children to improve their nutrition
• Processors to produce 192,000 MT of nutritious foods for low-income households each year

Food systems are critical to Kenya’s economic development, accounting for more than half of the nation’s gross domestic product and employing over 70% of the rural population. However, fragmented and inefficient value chains, low productivity, and other obstacles make it difficult for many–particularly women and youth–to earn sustainable livelihoods. FtF will ensure local food systems are more prosperous, inclusive, nutritious, resilient, and regenerative by engaging a variety of sectors to spark lasting change in first- and last-mile service provision, enterprise development, feed markets, and food processing.

“In Kenya, TechnoServe has a long track record of supporting regenerative agriculture, nutritious and inclusive food processing, and distribution in base-of-the-pyramid communities,” said Kris Ansin, TechnoServe’s Kenya country director. “The FtF Initiative is exciting because it brings together this expertise–and our partners’ expertise–in one initiative to help transform the country’s food systems.”

The program will catalyze new investment and work with existing public, private, and community investments. It will also boost livelihoods–particularly for women–while strengthening the capacity of communities and markets to anticipate and adapt to climate shocks. Lastly, it will improve nutrition by improving the production and consumption of healthy foods.

“Across FtF’s activities, our north star will be empowering households and local communities,” said the program’s chief of party, Elizabeth Eckert. “We will work with more than 1,000 local actors to identify needs, create solutions, and share learnings.”

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Media contact:

• Nairobi: Liz Kariuki, Communications Manager, ekariuki@tns.org

About USAID-Feed the Future

Feed the Future is America’s initiative to combat global hunger. Led by USAID, the initiative brings partners together to address the root causes of hunger and poverty by boosting agriculture-led growth, resilience and nutrition in countries with great need and opportunity for improvement.

Feed the Future: Twitter: @FeedtheFuture | Facebook: @FeedtheFuture | LinkedIn: @FeedtheFuture 

USAID: Twitter: @USAID |  Facebook: @USAID | LinkedIn: @USAID  

About TechnoServe

Founded in 1968, TechnoServe is a leader in harnessing the power of the private sector to help people lift themselves out of poverty for good. A non-profit organization working in around 35 countries, we work with people to build a better future through regenerative farms, businesses, and markets that increase incomes. Our vision is a sustainable world where all people in low-income communities have the opportunity to prosper. 

Twitter: @TechnoServe | Facebook: @TechnoServe | LinkedIn: @TechnoServe