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
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
Active
Regenerative agriculture
Running since
2020
Country
Kenya
Target reach
60,000
Key focus areas
Boost productivity
Increase food security and nutrition
Protect ecosystems
Regenerative agriculture
Running since
2020
Country
Kenya
Target reach
60,000
Key focus areas
Boost productivity
Increase food security and nutrition
Protect ecosystems
Active
Regenerative agriculture
Farm Africa is helping to increase the production, incomes and climate resilience of 60,000 farmers in Embu and Tharaka Nithi in Kenya by training 50 farmer groups, each with 200 members, in regenerative agriculture.
A key feature of the project is training 250 village-based advisors (VBAs) in regenerative agriculture techniques, who then share the knowledge with more farmers across the counties to support them to grow more fruit and vegetables at home for their families. The training covers post-harvest handling, storage, kitchen garden establishment and agribusiness acumen.
The project also builds the capacity of local and national governments in developing policies on the promotion of regenerative agriculture. We will influence research institutions to adopt regenerative agriculture best practices, as well as input distributors at a commercial level.
Running since
2020
Country
Kenya
Target reach
60,000
Key focus areas
Boost productivity
Increase food security and nutrition
Protect ecosystems
The latest from Kenya
Watch
Resources
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
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Boost youth employment
Support businesses
De-risking smallholders’ enterprises
This three-page document summarises the results and learning from Farm Africa’s Growing Futures youth horticulture project in western Kenya from 2019 to 2021.
Download (2.2mb)
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Boost youth employment
Support businesses
Country
DR Congo
Key focus areas
Act on climate change
Boost productivity
Boost youth employment
Connect farmers to markets
Empower women
Increase access to finance
Increase food security and nutrition
Increase incomes
Protect ecosystems
Strengthen food systems
Support businesses
Farm Africa strategic plan 2021-2025
Farm Africa is a leading NGO specialising in promoting sustainable agricultural practices, strengthening markets and protecting the environment in rural Africa. Our strategic plan for the years 2021-2025 outlines our ambitious plan to grow and unlock the potential of agriculture to transform rural Africa.
Download (1.47mb)
Country
DR Congo
Key focus areas
Act on climate change
Boost productivity
Boost youth employment
Connect farmers to markets
Empower women
Increase access to finance
Increase food security and nutrition
Increase incomes
Protect ecosystems
Strengthen food systems
Support businesses
Country
Ethiopia
Key focus areas
Connect farmers to markets
Support businesses
Cultivate overview
An overview of Cultivate, a business development services unit created by Farm Africa that supports rural small and growing agribusinesses across eastern Africa.
Download (3.83mb)
Country
Ethiopia
Key focus areas
Connect farmers to markets
Support businesses
