Kenya and WFP forge partnership for climate-resilient food systems

By Robert Mutasi

Government is heightening its quest to ensure food security and overcome the negative impacts of climate change through an innovative partnership with the World Food Programme.

Aden Duale, the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry, hosted WFP Kenya Country Director Lauren Landis in Nairobi to advance discussions on the proposed Government of Kenya-World Food Programme GOK-WFP Climate Resilient and Inclusive Food Systems programme. Central to the initiative is a new form of climate financing: the "food-for-food security swaps" model.

WFP will play the role of Development Impact Provider in cooperation with national and county institutions to address some of the most critical challenges facing Kenya's Arid and Semi-Arid Lands.

These areas are highly prone to the vagaries of climate change, which manifest as frequent droughts, reduced agricultural production, and increased food insecurity.

The meeting follows the October workshop in Naivasha, where stakeholders, including state officials and climate experts, deliberated on ways through which the intersection of climate change, food insecurity, and fiscal constraints can be countered.

The program is aimed at driving a transformational climate resilience methodology through integrating financial innovation with appropriate sustainable agricultural practices in the ASALs.

"Food security and climate resilience are deeply intertwined in Kenya, so in addition to life-saving food assistance, we want to ensure long-term viability for the most at-risk populations," said Duale.

He was accompanied by some officials from the Climate Change Directorate who accompanied him, including Mr. Kennedy Olwasi and Mr. Lerenten Lelekoiten, and he underscored that collaboration would be of cardinal importance in building adaptive capacity.

Ms. Landis reiterated WFP's commitment to supporting Kenya's efforts in creating inclusive and sustainable food systems.

"This programme is a testament to the power of partnerships in tackling complex challenges like climate change and food insecurity," she said.

Kenya’s ASALs account for over 80% of the country's land area and are home to millions of pastoralists and farmers who are increasingly affected by erratic weather patterns.

The proposed programme aims to support these communities through capacity-building initiatives, improved agricultural practices, and climate-smart solutions.

The partnership of GOK-WFP therefore is bound to make Kenya the pace-setter for any nation that may be affected similarly, using global solidarity as an anchor toward a sustainable future for its citizens.