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
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
Acorn agroforestry
Running since
2020
Country
Kenya
Target reach
21,000
Key focus areas
Act on climate change
Increase incomes
Protect ecosystems
Acorn agroforestry
Running since
2020
Country
Kenya
Target reach
21,000
Key focus areas
Act on climate change
Increase incomes
Protect ecosystems
Active
Acorn agroforestry
Farm Africa’s Acorn agroforestry project, launched in 2020 in partnership with Acorn, Rabobank and AGRA, integrates carbon-based incentives with sustainable agriculture.
The project supports farmers in Embu and Tharaka Nithi counties to adopt agroforestry, a technique that integrates trees into traditional farming systems. When trees grow, carbon is captured from the atmosphere and stored in trees.Â
The Acorn initiative, short for ‘Agroforestry CRUs for the Organic Restoration of Nature’ creates Carbon Removal Units (CRUs). A CRU represents one tonne of carbon removed from the atmosphere. Acorn sells the CRUs to corporations that want to offset their unavoidable emissions and returns 80% of the revenue generated to the farmers. In this way, the Acorn initiative allows farmers to monetise the carbon stored in their trees and be financially rewarded for their contribution to mitigate climate change.
Running since
2020
Country
Kenya
Target reach
21,000
Key focus areas
Act on climate change
Increase incomes
Protect ecosystems
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
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Boost youth employment
Increase food security and nutrition
Increase incomes
Impact stories from the YISA programme quarter 3 2025
A collection of stories from June to August 2025 from the Youth in Sustainable Aquaculture, a partnership programme in Kenya with the Mastercard Foundation and consortium partners led by Farm Africa that aims to strengthen resilient livelihoods through innovative aquaculture practices, enabling work opportunities for young women and men.
Download (4.96mb)
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Boost youth employment
Increase food security and nutrition
Increase incomes
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Boost productivity
Connect farmers to markets
Protect ecosystems
Kenya projects overview 2025
Farm Africa supports small-scale farmers, women,and young people in Kenya to adopt sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture that protects livelihoods and natural resources.This overview summarises the projects Farm Africa is running across Kenya in 2025.
Download (2.99mb)
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Boost productivity
Connect farmers to markets
Protect ecosystems
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Act on climate change
Boost productivity
Increase incomes
SAVES project factsheet
With funding from AGRA, Farm Africa’s 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 in Meru, Kirinyaga and Laikipia counties.
Download (1.37mb)
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Act on climate change
Boost productivity
Increase incomes
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Act on climate change
Boost productivity
Protect ecosystems
Farm Africa regenerative agriculture evidence in Embu and Tharaka Nithi counties
This presentation outlines the evidence of the impact of the use of regenerative agricultural practices on soil’s health, microbial diversity, organic carbon and fertility; crop yields; income streams and tree density on farms in Embu and Tharaka Nithi counties in Kenya. The practices were adopted by farmers participating in Farm Africa and AGRA’s regenerative agriculture project.
Download (1.77mb)
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Act on climate change
Boost productivity
Protect ecosystems
Cultivating the future – how regenerative agriculture is transforming lives in eastern Kenya
More info
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Boost productivity
Protect ecosystems
Strengthen food systems
Cultivating the future – how regenerative agriculture is transforming lives in eastern Kenya
Smallholder farmers across eastern Kenya are witnessing dramatic transformations in their yields, incomes and resilience to climate change, thanks to Farm Africa’s Strengthening Regenerative Agriculture in Kenya (STRAK) project. Funded by the IKEA Foundation through AGRA, the STRAK initiative is redefining sustainable farming in Embu and Tharaka Nithi counties. Over 50,000 farmers have been directly supported to adopt regenerative agricultural practices that restore soil health, conserve water and boost profits, all while safeguarding the environment.
Download (2.65mb)
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Boost productivity
Protect ecosystems
Strengthen food systems
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Boost productivity
Boost youth employment
Increase incomes
Impact stories from the YISA programme
A collection of stories from the Youth in Sustainable Aquaculture, a partnership programme with the Mastercard Foundation and consortium partners led by Farm Africa that aims to strengthen resilient livelihoods through innovative aquaculture practices, enabling work opportunities for young women and men.
Download (3.33mb)
Country
Kenya
Key focus areas
Boost productivity
Boost youth employment
Increase incomes
