WFP and Kenya's Ministry of Devolution and ASALs sign agreement on food security and humanitarian relief

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and Kenya’s Ministry of Devolution and the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) have agreed to collaborate on the coordination, formulation and implementation of policies on food security, resilience building and relief assistance to achieve food and nutrition security in Kenya.

This strategic agreement builds on WFP’s current Country Strategic Plan for Kenya (2018-2023) which will see a shift away from the direct delivery of food assistance to strengthening the capacities of national and county institutions to offer appropriate hunger solutions to vulnerable and food insecure people.

“This agreement represents a new vision for our work with the Government. In accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals, Kenya Vision 2030 and the government’s Big Four Agenda, WFP is joining forces with Kenya to achieve zero hunger,” said WFP Country Director Annalisa Conte.

WFP’s strategy is guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – in particular, SDG 2 to end hunger globally and SDG 17 on revitalizing partnerships. Kenya Vision 2030 is a blueprint for Kenya to reach middle-income status by 2030. The Big Four Agenda names food security, manufacturing and affordable housing and healthcare as priorities for economic development.

The agreement with the ministry is a framework defining what needs to be done, responsibilities and commitments in order to strengthen the Ministry’s institutional and technical capacities to design and manage resilience programmes, to develop a national relief assistance management policy and to enhance the early warning and food security assessment system among others. A joint programme of operations and a joint budget will be formulated in the coming weeks.

Following the successful completion of a Capacity Needs Mapping exercise in 14 ASAL counties, WFP has signed agreements with 6 county governments – Baringo, Garissa, Isiolo, Marsabit, Turkana and Wajir – to help them achieve food and nutrition security. Agreements with other counties are under discussion.

WFP looks forward to working with the ministry and county governments in translating this strategic agreement into practical actions for the greater well-being of the people of Kenya.

Original source: WFP
Published on 04 June 2019