Kenyan farmers are set to gain from a Ksh2.8 billion initiative.

Kenyan farmers will benefit from a $22 million (approximately Ksh2.8 billion) donation from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), according to a WFP report released on Tuesday, December 10.

The initiative, titled Building Climate Resilience for Food Security in the Fragile Setting of the Horn of Africa, aims to assist around 570,000 people across Kenya, Somalia, and South Sudan over the next three years. Of the total beneficiaries, Kenya is set to receive the largest share, with 331,000 farmers targeted. Somalia will benefit 150,000 people, and South Sudan will receive support for 88,000 beneficiaries.

The funds will be used to strengthen climate resilience and food security, benefiting all types of farmers, including smallholder farmers, livestock keepers, and marginalized groups. The three countries were chosen for the program due to the severe impact of floods and the ongoing recovery from the longest drought on record.

Laurent Bukera, WFP’s Regional Director for Eastern Africa, emphasized that climate extremes like floods and droughts have devastated East African livelihoods, leading to increased food prices, reduced crop yields, and declining livestock populations. With KOICA’s funding, WFP aims to break the cycle of vulnerability by combining early action, recovery, and climate-smart solutions to boost resilience and enhance food security.

Over the next three years, the program will improve the lives of 570,000 farmers through initiatives such as early warning systems, climate risk insurance, financial inclusion, sustainable farming and livestock practices, water management, and land restoration.

Songi Han, KOICA’s Acting Country Director in Kenya, highlighted the agency’s long-standing support for vulnerable communities in Eastern Africa. She noted the growing frequency and intensity of climate events like floods and droughts, which have severely impacted ecosystems and economies in Kenya, South Sudan, and Somalia. The project is designed to enhance community resilience by promoting risk-reduction activities and sustainable livelihoods.