Economic Growth

 Overview

Kenya is one of 20 strategic partners under the United States Global Hunger and Food Security Initiative, also known as Feed the Future. Over the next five years in Kenya, Feed the Future aims to help an estimated 502,000 vulnerable Kenyan women, children and family members—mostly smallholder farmers—escape hunger and poverty. More than 230,000 children will be reached with services to improve their nutrition and prevent stunting and child mortality. Significant numbers of additional rural populations will achieve improved income and nutritional status from strategic policy engagement and institutional investments.

USAID/Kenya’s strategic approach to reduce chronic hunger and increase the incomes of the rural poor centers on strengthening the value chains of key, nutritious commodities: dairy, maize, livestock and horticulture crops such as the orange-fleshed sweet potato and leafy green vegetables. In 2011, $146 million worth of purchases from small holder farmers were facilitated by USAID value chain programs.

USAID programs also helps small holder farmers and microenterprises to grow through access to finance. By providing training and loan guarantees to Kenyan banks and microfinance institutions, USAID mobilized $110 milllion in agricultural financing in 2011.