Concern in Kenya puts people at the forefront. Our approach focuses on mobilizing citizen participation, supporting communities as they increasing economic stability, and paving the way for children to access free, quality education.
“I have learned to prepare land, establish a nursery, transplant mulch, use minimum tillage, correct spacing, and pest and disease control.”
— Kalle Malmalo, Concern Marsabit program participant
The latest poverty data from The World Bank indicates that 36% of people in Kenya are still living below the poverty line, while youth unemployment stands at 39%. Concern’s work is concentrated where there are also high rates of poverty: in rural, arid and semi-arid lands in the north, as well as in the informal settlements of Nairobi.
*We are currently responding to the threat of COVID-19 in Kenya. Find out more about our response here.
Climate change continues to seriously impact pastoralists in rural areas of Kenya, which regularly experience devastating droughts. Politically, devolution of power has been extended to county level, however implementation still faces key challenges.
We are committed to addressing the root causes of poverty in urban and rural program areas by strengthening the capacity of public service providers to meet basic needs and by enhancing the income and well-being of those currently dealing with extreme poverty.
In the arid lands of northern Kenya, strengthening citizen engagement in pasture and water management is playing a critical role in disaster risk reduction. These activities foster greater contact between remote and poor communities, along with veterinary and agricultural workers.
In 2018, as a result of advocacy and engagement by Concern and local citizens, Marsabit County allocated a significantly larger budget for health and nutrition. This led to the employment of over 50 nutritionists and 100 community health assistants.
Concern’s Urban Early Warning Early Action (UEWEA) program in Nairobi has resulted in regular food and nutrition surveillance being undertaken by the county government. This means that slow onset emergencies, such as widespread malnutrition, can be detected — and acted on — early.
Our programs in Kenya balance urban and rural areas, working to provide access to free, quality education for children, increase economic independence and stability for their parents, and respond to the deepening climate crisis in drought-affected rural regions.
© 2023 Concern Worldwide U.S., Inc
© 2023 Concern Worldwide U.S., Inc
