Countries we work in
Kenya
In Kenya, Farm Africa works with small-scale farmers, farm workers and small businesses to help them find sustainable ways to increase their productivity and incomes.
Agriculture is an essential part of Kenya’s economy, directly contributing 33% of the total gross domestic product (GDP),¹ with 75% of Kenyans depending on the crops they grow and the animals they keep for their livelihoods and survival.²
Over the last 40 years, Kenya has achieved impressive progress in reducing poverty and increasing social economic development.
Challenges
The changing climate and the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic both present new challenges that may undo previous growth.
As a country that is classified mainly as arid or semi-arid, climate change is a significant threat to the lives and livelihoods of people in rural Kenya. Adapting to the climate is a vital goal for farmers to ensure they can withstand the impacts long-term.
Other challenges such as a growing population, ecosystem degradation and unsustainable farming practices pose a risk to agricultural production and productivity and leave rural communities vulnerable to food insecurity.
"I envision a future where agriculture surges forward, cultivating sustainable solutions, uplifting communities and nurturing our precious planet."
Mary Nyale
Kenya Country Director, Farm Africa
Farm Africa in Kenya
Farm Africa works with small-scale farmers, women and young people in Kenya on adopting sustainable agriculture practices, from regenerative agriculture to fish farming, so they can make a living and lift themselves out of poverty.
Our technical experts provide farmers with advice on growing climate-resilient crops, accessing finance and markets, building resilience to climate change and tapping into the carbon market.
Women and young people
We support the creation of sustainable work opportunities for young people, who make up 25% of Kenya’s population,³ and 84% of the unemployed population. Due to a lack of formal job opportunities, many young people from low-income communities, in particular young women, are forced to take up informal jobs in vulnerable conditions.
84%
Young people make up 84% of the unemployed population of Kenya.
Supporting businesses
Farm Africa works closely with growing enterprises and rural agribusinesses to generate jobs and income, increase productivity and sustainably manage natural resources. We also partner with private companies and local governments who can continue the work of our projects long after they end.
Our programmes in Kenya
Active
Entrepreneurship for young refugees
Running since
2022
Country
Kenya
Target reach
105
Key focus areas
Boost youth employment
Increase access to finance
Support businesses
Entrepreneurship for young refugees
Running since
2022
Country
Kenya
Target reach
105
Key focus areas
Boost youth employment
Increase access to finance
Support businesses
Active
Entrepreneurship for young refugees
Farm Africa and the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) are addressing the challenges faced by small businesses in Kakuma and Kalobeyei refugee camps in northern Kenya, where the arid environment makes agricultural production difficult, the local population has effectively prohibited refugees from keeping livestock and there is poor access to markets and minimal employment opportunities. The project’s main focus is to stimulate innovation and strengthen economic opportunities for refugee and host community entrepreneurs.
The project is providing financing and business development services to micro and small enterprises (MSEs), including tailored mentorship, ensuring they gain the expertise and financial support they need to generate both revenue and local jobs.
Running since
2022
Country
Kenya
Target reach
105
Key focus areas
Boost youth employment
Increase access to finance
Support businesses
Active
Sustainable agricultural value chain enterprises in central Kenya (SAVES)
Running since
2024
Country
Kenya
Target reach
120,000
Key focus areas
Act on climate change
Boost productivity
Increase incomes
Sustainable agricultural value chain enterprises in central Kenya (SAVES)
Running since
2024
Country
Kenya
Target reach
120,000
Key focus areas
Act on climate change
Boost productivity
Increase incomes
Active
Sustainable agricultural value chain enterprises in central Kenya (SAVES)
With funding from AGRA, the Sustainable agricultural value chain enterprises in central Kenya (SAVES) project is creating sustainable and inclusive agricultural systems that increase food security, incomes and climate resilience for smallholder farmers and broader rural communities.
Working with farmers in Kenya’s Meru, Kirinyaga and Laikipia counties, we are building resilient agricultural systems resilient that are tailored to the local region. We are encouraging the use of nutritious, drought-tolerant crops, water-efficient agronomic practices and sustainable agriculture to help farmers stabilize their crop yields despite climate challenges.
We are promoting crops such as maize, beans and leafy vegetables, alongside offering support for improved seed production. We are delivering training to farmers in seed selection, management and multiplication, and the adoption of sustainable climate-resilient and locally adapted seeds. With better access to high-quality seeds, crop losses have reduced by 30%, enhancing farmers’ resilience to climate shocks.
Running since
2024
Country
Kenya
Target reach
120,000
Key focus areas
Act on climate change
Boost productivity
Increase incomes
Active
Youth in sustainable aquaculture
Running since
2023
Country
Kenya
Target reach
150,000
Key focus areas
Boost youth employment
Connect farmers to markets
Increase incomes
Youth in sustainable aquaculture
Running since
2023
Country
Kenya
Target reach
150,000
Key focus areas
Boost youth employment
Connect farmers to markets
Increase incomes
Active
Youth in sustainable aquaculture
The surging demand for fish in Kenya presents a promising opportunity for economic growth through the aquaculture and mariculture sectors. However, despite their potential, these sectors remain largely untapped by young men and women seeking employment and work opportunities.
Recognising this untapped potential, the Mastercard Foundation is joining forces with Farm Africa and partners to build thriving, dynamic aquaculture and mariculture sectors.
Running since
2023
Country
Kenya
Target reach
150,000
Key focus areas
Boost youth employment
Connect farmers to markets
Increase incomes
The latest from Kenya
Watch
Resources
Growing green – how agroforestry and carbon markets are transforming farming in eastern Kenya
More info
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Act on climate change
Increase incomes
Protect ecosystems
Growing green – how agroforestry and carbon markets are transforming farming in eastern Kenya
This report charts the progress of more than 21,500 farmers in Embu and Tharaka Nithi counties in eastern Kenya who have planted trees and adopted climate-smart farming techniques.
Download (1.95mb)
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Act on climate change
Increase incomes
Protect ecosystems
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Empower women
Increase incomes
Strengthen food systems
Growing Resilience And Opportunities for Women (GROW) Roundtable Report
In October 2024, Farm Africa convened a roundtable discussion with female industry leaders in Nairobi, Kenya as part of its Growing Resilience and Opportunities for Women (GROW) initiative. This report summarises the key themes and conclusion of the discussion, which explored women’s role in the global food system and ways to drive positive change.
Download (2.16mb)
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Empower women
Increase incomes
Strengthen food systems
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Boost productivity
Increase incomes
Strengthen food systems
The Village-Based Advisor (VBA) model
Agricultural extension services to farmers are vital for enhancing productivity and production of agricultural produce in Kenya. However, the ratio of agricultural extension workers to farmers stands at 1:5,000 compared to the recommended ratio of 1:400. This paper outlines how Farm Africa and AGRA are helping to plug this gap in Embu and Tharaka Nithi counties by creating a network of Village-based Advisors (VBAs) made up of well-informed, passionate farmers who receive specialised training to provide technical extension services, inputs and market linkages to other services to other farmers.
Download (4.21mb)
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Boost productivity
Increase incomes
Strengthen food systems
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Act on climate change
Boost productivity
Increase food security and nutrition
Regenerative agriculture factsheet
A comprehensive overview of Farm Africa’s Regenerative Agriculture project in Embu and Tharaka-Nithi counties in Kenya, funded by the IKEA Foundation through AGRA.
Download (2.84mb)
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Act on climate change
Boost productivity
Increase food security and nutrition
Farm Africa response to the Core Carbon Principles proposed by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM)
More info
Country
DR Congo
Key focus areas
Act on climate change
Increase incomes
Protect ecosystems
Farm Africa response to the Core Carbon Principles proposed by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM)
This PDF is the response Farm Africa submitted in September 2022 to a public consultation on the draft Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) and Assessment Framework (AF) being developed by the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM)’s Expert Panel. The CCPs and AF will set new threshold standards for high-quality carbon credits, provide guidance on how to apply the CCPs, and define which carbon-crediting programmes and methodology types are CCP-eligible. The Core Carbon Principles and Assessment Framework will be issued in Q4 2022, following the public consultation, which launched in July 2022.
Download (606.24kb)
Country
DR Congo
Key focus areas
Act on climate change
Increase incomes
Protect ecosystems
Regenerating our Soils – Cases and Success Stories from the Regenerative Agriculture project in Kenya
More info
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Boost productivity
Increase food security and nutrition
Protect ecosystems
Regenerating our Soils – Cases and Success Stories from the Regenerative Agriculture project in Kenya
This booklet tells the stories of farmers involved in AGRA’s “Regenerative agriculture through the development of the pulses value chain” pilot project, which ran from July 2020 to October 2021, AGRA, with funding from IKEA Foundation, and in partnership with Farm Africa and Cereal Growers Association (CGA) in Embu and Makueni Counties of Kenya.
Download (10.03mb)
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Boost productivity
Increase food security and nutrition
Protect ecosystems
