JANUARY 2016
INVESTING IN KENYANS WORKING TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE THEIR NATION’S POTENTIAL
RANELLE SYKES | USAID
RIC FRANCIS | USAID
“The growing threat of climate change could define the contours of this century more dramatically than any other.� ~ U.S. President Barack Obama COP 21 Conference, November 2015
USAID worked closely with the Government of Kenya to prepare for the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, known as COP21. Kenya was one of the first countries to submit its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC), a pledge to cut emissions 30 percent by 2030 from a 2010 baseline.
PREPARING YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE WORKFORCE These recent graduates of Generation Kenya have landed jobs in banking and insurance. Generation Kenya is a partnership between USAID and the McKinsey Social Initiative that provides opportunities for young people to learn relevant employment skills, both in their field, and in other important areas such as communication, teamwork and organizational behavior. To date, all 490 training participants have secured gainful employment in their target sectors. Many are now outperforming their job peers. McKINSEY SOCIAL INITIATIVE | USAID
HELPING COMMUNITIES END FGM The members of the Tuiyoluk Women’s Group in Nandi County were once active perpetrators of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), but now they advocate against it. FGM scars thousands of young women and girls in Kenya, physically and emotionally, for life. Through USAID support, civil-society groups such as Rural Women Peace Link, have helped reform FGM perpetrators, like these women, into influential community leaders who shun the practice, and promote the safe development of girls.
INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE | USAID
BUILDING STRONGER LIVELIHOODS A pastoralist trades goats at the Merille Livestock Market in Marsabit County. The large, modern market is one of two opened with USAID support in 2015. The markets facilitate sale of animals based on factors such as grade and health, and provides pastoralists with access to savings, livestock loans and veterinary services. These services could help them keep their animals healthy and earn more money, making them less vulnerable to drought.
RANELLE SYKES | USAID
LEVERAGING CLIMATE-SMART TECHNOLOGIES This farmer in Makueni County used to rely on seasonal rivers to water her crops. She could cultivate crops only during certain times of year, and barely harvested enough to feed her family. With assistance from USAID, her farming group now reuses rainwater collected in a nearby farm pond to grow crops year round. The group members have even ventured into commercial agriculture, and are able to support their families by selling fruits and vegetables at local markets. USAID helps farmers adopt climatesmart agricultural methods, such as solar water pumps and rainwater harvesting technology. These techniques help farmers use natural energy and resources wisely and sustain production throughout dry seasons.
MWANGI KIRUBI | USAID
CONNECTING KENYANS TO DEVOLUTION Geraldine Munyua, an intern at the Council of Governors’ (COG) Resource Center, catches up on county news. In 2015, USAID provided the center with information-technology equipment and supported the redesign of the website cog.go.ke. The website enables many Kenyans to access information on devolution, including information on county development plans, policies and laws. COG brings together the 47 county governors to share best practices and work collectively with the national government to improve county governance. SUNY | USAID
MWANGI KIRUBI | USAID
RESOLVING COMMUNITY CONFLICTS Two sheiks discuss a recent peace agreement between two clans in Garissa County. USAID worked with religious leaders to end a year-long conflict over access, control and use of scarce natural resources, especially water and grazing pasture. The clans agreed to an unconditional ceasefire and the return of all stolen animals.
HELPING ALL CHILDREN READ Class 1 pupils at Halane Primary School in Wajir County are following a reading lesson using new textbooks. In 2015, USAID and the Government of Kenya started a nationwide, early-grade reading program, which introduced new methods and materials proven to help pupils read two to three times more quickly and effectively than in previous years.
MWANGI KIRUBI | USAID
This year, we distributed more than 2.7 million English and Kiswahili textbooks, and trained 26,730 teachers how to implement the cutting-edge program. Teachers from all 47 counties participated in the training, including those from conflict-affected areas, such as Wajir.
IRENE ANGWENYI | USAID
INCREASING ACCESS TO TREATMENT Leticia Njagi is a health worker at Nembure Health Center in Embu County. “Making sure we have the right medicines and supplies is a matter of life and death,� she said. With additional training, Leticia better understands how to properly manage clinic inventory and plan procurement to prohibit stock-outs. In addition to helping health workers learn how to manage commodities, USAID supports the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) to procure and distribute health supplies. In 2015, KEMSA received the largest bilateral contract ever awarded by USAID to facilitate the efficient and timely supply of all U.S. Government health commodities to clinics throughout the country.
FOCUSING ON NUTRITION A health worker in West Pokot County measures the circumference of 2-year-old Blessing’s arm. Regular measuring helps identify undernourished children early, to allow for appropriate nutrition interventions. Blessing is one of more than three million children who received nutrition services, such as growth monitoring, through USAID support in 2015. Receiving good nutrition in the first 1,000 days (conception through two years of age), contributes to optimal physical and mental development, and gives infants and young children a stronger foundation to achieve their full potential. IRENE ANGWENYI | USAID
PSI KENYA | USAID
DEFEATING MALARIA A mother breastfeeds her baby under an insecticide-treated mosquito net (ITN). Over the last 10 years, Kenya has made significant progress in reducing the burden of malaria, largely through the proper use of bed nets along with improved diagnosis and treatment. USAID is a major contributor to the Government of Kenya routine ITN procurement and distribution for at-risk groups, particularly pregnant women and children younger than one. In 2015, with funds from the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative, we procured 5.1 million ITNs of the total 13.2 million distributed across Kenya.
INCREASING YOUTH INFLUENCE Members of a youth “bunge,� or local parliament, discuss upcoming business ventures in Kilifi County. Since 2011, USAID has helped connect more than one million young people across the country with opportunities to improve their lives. By registering each village bunge as a selfhelp group, and linking it to youth-led county and national bodies, young Kenyans have become powerful actors in the development of their communities and country. They have forged meaningful partnerships with national and county governments, as well as the private sector.
AXEL FASSIO | USAID
RICARDO GANGALE | USAID
EXPANDING TRADE OPPORTUNITIES Wangari Nyanjui from Peperuka Apparel was one of 50 owners of Kenyan small and medium-sized businesses who participated in a workshop to prepare them to export their goods under the U.S. African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). AGOA helps increase African exports to the U.S. in sectors such as textile, apparel and footwear.
AXEL FASSIO | USAID
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