Northern Kenya Reaps Big As Over 5,000 Businesses Under USAID Support
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) participated in the Kenya Meat Expo 2024, supporting discussions about expanding economic opportunities for livestock keepers.
This was accomplished through the Feed the Future Kenya Livestock Market Systems Activity (USAID LMS), USAID Kuza, and the USAID Resilience Learning Activity (RLA).
It coincides with ongoing efforts to diversify the country’s meat industry.
USAID LMS announced that it has directly supported over 111,125 households in Garissa, Isiolo, Marsabit, Samburu, Turkana, and Wajir counties through market system development efforts.
5,497 small- and medium-sized businesses, 69% of which are owned by women, reported a 43% increase in household income as a result of stimulus grants.
“My name is Zahra, and this is my 3rd time at the #MeatExpo2024. I'll be back next year! Besides sales, I always learn new ways to add value to camel meat products, boosting my sales and driving economic growth for me and my community, especially the women I work with."… pic.twitter.com/cmW86kzaiX
— USAID Kenya (@USAIDKenya) June 13, 2024
Furthermore, these businesses have created 1,200 direct and indirect jobs, increasing food and market access for over 100,000 families, according to the organization.
The initiative collaborates closely with USAID Kuza, which has committed $1.9 million (Sh265 million) to the livestock market sector.
The goal is to create and support economic opportunities for livestock farmers, promote self-sufficiency, and reduce the need for humanitarian aid.
The activity also coordinates with the USAID Resilience Learning Activity.
The project brings together USAID implementing partners, the government, and other donors to facilitate co-creation, co-implementation, and co-monitoring activities with local governments in order to optimize resiliency program investments.
USAID has co-invested more than Sh37 billion with nine county governments through RLA.
Andrew McCown, the US Government Feed the Future Country Coordinator at USAID Kenya/East Africa, stated that they are committed to partnering with Kenya to create jobs, and increase access to services, and incomes for livestock producers in Kenya, with the goal of creating wealth through value addition in the meat sector.
“With the meat market in Kenya projected to grow by 10 percent by 2028, the country’s arid and semi-arid counties, which make the biggest contribution to the livestock sector, are poised for key investments aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of products from the region, building resilience against challenges, such as perennial droughts, and improving lives of communities in the region,” he said.
Joe Sanders, Chief of the Party of USAID LMS, stated that over the last seven years, the organization has strengthened Northern Kenya’s resilience by improving market access for pastoralists and traders through targeted interventions and strategic partnerships.
In collaboration with the State Department of Livestock, the event “Revolutionising the Meat Industry for Bottom-Up Economic Transformation” was held.
It provided a dynamic platform for businesses in the meat and livestock industries to form valuable connections and strategic alliances.
During the event, USAID LMS facilitated discussions about the importance of co-investment between the government and private entities in the livestock value chain.
They also emphasized the importance of cooperatives in the sector, collaborative efforts to mitigate drought and floods, and inclusive livestock market systems.
In addition, USAID will assist small and medium-sized businesses in showcasing advancements in the meat value chain and reflecting on their achievements and lessons learned over the last seven years in Northern Kenya.
Northern Kenya Reaps Big As Over 5,000 Businesses Under USAID Support
