Action Against Hunger in Kenya

JASW: Bringing Life-Saving Health and Nutrition Services Closer to Vulnerable Communities The Joint Action to Support Wasting (JASW) is a pilot initiative supporting Kenya in generating evidence to inform the adoption of the new World Health Organization Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Acute Malnutrition into national policy and practice. Implemented by Action Against Hunger in collaboration with UNICEF Kenya, the World Food Programme, the Ministry of Health, Kenya, and the West Pokot County Department of Health, the initiative is being carried out across 15 health facilities in West Pokot County. One of the key innovations under JASW is the use of integrated medical outreaches to reach children and families living in remote and underserved communities. In West Pokot County, many households walk up to 40 kilometers (25 miles) return trip to reach the nearest health facility, far beyond Kenya's recommended maximum distance of less than 5 kilometres one way. For many children, this means delayed diagnosis and treatment of acute malnutrition and limited access to essential health and nutrition services. In the video below, Action Against Hunger demonstrates how integrated medical outreaches are bringing life-saving health and nutrition services closer to remote communities. By providing a comprehensive package of health and nutrition interventions, these outreaches ensure that vulnerable children and mothers receive timely, integrated care without travelling long distances. At a time of shrinking humanitarian funding, JASW is also demonstrating that innovation can improve efficiency. By using motorcycles and other locally available efficient transport instead of conventional vehicle-based outreach teams, Action Against Hunger has reduced outreach costs between 30 and 70%, enabling more communities to be reached with the same limited resources while maintaining the quality of essential services. The impact is already evident. Data reported through the Government of Kenya's Kenya Health Information System (KHIS) show that more than 42% of all admissions for acute malnutrition across the 15 JASW-supported health facilities were identified through integrated medical outreaches. This demonstrates the effectiveness of low-cost, community-based integrated medical outreaches in improving early case finding, expanding access to treatment for hard-to-reach populations, and ensuring that vulnerable children receive timely, life-saving care. JASW is showing that evidence-based innovation, strong partnerships, and community-centred service delivery can strengthen health systems while improving access to essential nutrition services. The lessons generated through this pilot will contribute to Kenya's adoption of the new WHO Guidelines and help shape more effective approaches to preventing and treating acute malnutrition across the country. UNICEF UNICEF Kenya Kioko Kiamba Kipkoech Kurgat Francis Wambua

Samburu County Secretary Wilson Lesuuda has commended Action Against Hunger and the Kenya Humanitarian Fund (KHF) for supporting the rehabilitation of boreholes across the county by providing the critical spare parts needed to restore non-functional water systems and improve access to safe water for drought-affected communities. Speaking during the flag-off of the distribution of fast-moving borehole spare parts alongside the Samburu County CECM for Water, Environment, Natural Resources, Climate Change and Energy, Patrick Lekimain, the County Secretary noted that the initiative demonstrates the importance of strong partnerships in addressing water challenges and building resilience among communities affected by recurrent drought. With funding from the Kenya Humanitarian Fund (KHF), Action Against Hunger, in collaboration with the Samburu County Department of Water, is supporting the rehabilitation of 32 boreholes across the county. Of these, 27 boreholes are being rehabilitated through the Borehole Rapid Response Team (BRRT) by supplying and installing fast-moving spare parts, including pumps, motors, inverters, and other essential components. The rehabilitation exercise has officially commenced, with activities flagged off for 23 boreholes in Samburu North, Samburu Central, and Samburu East. In addition 5 selected boreholes will undergo major rehabilitation works, including solarization, construction of water storage tanks, pipeline extensions to water kiosks, and installation of livestock watering troughs, ensuring communities and their livestock have sustainable access to safe water. This is a major milestone in enhancing access to water for the drought affected communities of Sambura. United Nations OCHA

Kenya Humanitarian Fund: Strengthening Emergency Water Access for Drought-Affected Communities in Samburu Today, Action Against Hunger proudly flagged off fast-moving spare parts for 23 broken boreholes to restore clean water access across Samburu County. The consignment was officially flagged off by the CEC for Water, Mr. Patrick Lekimain, together with the County Secretary, Mr. Wilson Lesuuda, in the presence of Fahim Bishar, ACF Samburu Field Coordinator, and Mr. Abdub Hassan, ACF WASH Officer. This milestone marks a major step in sustaining community water systems and ensuring reliable supply for households. Supported through the Kenya Humanitarian Fund, the initiative is part of the ongoing Emergency Nutrition & WASH Response in Samburu. Once operational, the 23 boreholes will provide safe water to thousands of people affected by the water crisis in Samburu County, importantly, this effort is part of a larger commitment where 32 boreholes will be supported by the end of the project, reaching over 35,000 people with safe water, a significant milestone in enhancing access for drought-affected communities. Together, we are standing with communities, safeguarding health, and building resilience for a stronger future. 💧🤝 Fahim Bishar Abdub Habane United Nations OCHA https://lnkd.in/e76-jhra

Strengthening Nurturing Care Through #KuwaKocha The first years of a child's life lay the foundation for lifelong health, learning, and well-being. Every child deserves not only to survive, but also to thrive. Kuwa Kocha, meaning "Be a Coach", is an innovative approach that empowers parents, caregivers, and communities to provide the nurturing care children need to grow, learn, and reach their full potential. It promotes responsive caregiving and creates safe, stimulating environments where young children can play, learn, and develop while being protected from adversity. In West Pokot County, Action Against Hunger, with support from UNICEF Kenya, is strengthening the delivery of nurturing care by building the capacity of frontline health workers and Community Health Promoters (CHPs). Through training and mentorship, they are equipped to support families across the five components of nurturing care: 👶 Good health 🥗 Adequate nutrition ❤️ Responsive caregiving 📚 Opportunities for early learning 🛡️ Safety and security By strengthening community systems and empowering caregivers with practical knowledge and skills, we are helping ensure that every child receives the care, stimulation, and protection they need during the most critical years of life. Because investing in nurturing care today builds healthier, stronger, and more resilient communities tomorrow. Watch how #KuwaKocha is transforming the lives of children and families in West Pokot.

Big news: PharmaBox, our innovative partnership with the Fondation CMA CGM, has been recognized by Fast Company as a 2026 World Changing Idea. Designed for humanitarian emergencies, PharmaBox is a solar-powered, temperature-controlled mobile pharmacy that helps ensure lifesaving medicines reach people in crisis—wherever they are needed most. With deployments already underway in the Central African Republic, Chad, and Sudan, each PharmaBox can serve more than 500,000 patients over its 10-year lifespan. Innovation and action saves lives. Together, we're helping strengthen access to healthcare in some of the world's most challenging environments. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gkTpHXqp ACTION CONTRE LA FAIM

🌱 Building Partnerships for Sustainable Agriculture and the Blue Economy in Kenya Last week, Action Against Hunger in Kenya, together with our consortium partners CEFA Il seme della solidarietà and Muslim Women Advancement of Rights and Protection MWARP, officially launched stakeholder engagement activities for the AGROBLUE – Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and the Blue Economy in Kenya project in Kwale and Tana River counties. Funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation - Nairobi Office, AGROBLUE is a three-year initiative that aims to strengthen food security, nutrition, climate resilience, sustainable agriculture, and blue economy livelihoods among farming and fishing communities. Through climate-smart agriculture, improved water management, sustainable fisheries, nutrition-sensitive programming, value chain development, and women's economic empowerment, the project will build resilient livelihoods while promoting the sustainable management of natural resources and coastal ecosystems. As part of the inception process, the consortium engaged key county stakeholders, including the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), Kenya, County Steering Groups (CSGs), and the Departments of Agriculture, Water, Health, and Education in both counties. The project received a warm welcome, with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to technical support, coordination, and collaboration throughout implementation. A key milestone was the formal inclusion of AGROBLUE in the CSGs, strengthening coordination with government institutions and development partners. The project will also feature in county coordination platforms and monthly bulletins to enhance visibility, information sharing, and learning. The consultations generated valuable recommendations to strengthen implementation. Stakeholders emphasized aligning interventions with county priorities, promoting community ownership, building on local knowledge, strengthening governance of community structures, improving post-harvest management, supporting value addition and market access, and coordinating closely with existing county initiatives to maximize impact. A recurring message was the urgent need for increased investment in underserved areas, particularly Kinango and Samburu sub-counties in Kwale, which continue to face recurrent drought, water scarcity, poor accessibility, food insecurity, and malnutrition. While AGROBLUE will be implemented in its designated target areas, these discussions highlighted important priorities for future programming, partnerships, and resource mobilization. Together, we look forward to advancing sustainable agriculture, water security, and resilient livelihoods through this partnership.

💧 Seeds of Hope: How Water Sparked the Remarkable Transformation of Lowai "Water was never the end goal. It was the beginning of a much bigger story." There was a time when the people of Lowai village in Isiolo County believed farming was impossible. Masoud Mohamed, our Food Security and Livelihoods Officer, still recalls community members saying, "We don't know how to grow crops. We have never grown any!" In this dry landscape, where water was scarce, growing vegetables seemed unimaginable. Today, those same families are harvesting nutritious vegetables, feeding their households, selling surplus produce, saving together, and building a brighter future. Their transformation began with one simple intervention: water. With support from the UBS Optimus Foundation, a borehole was drilled, water tanks were installed, and pipelines were extended to provide reliable water, with support from Action Against Hunger Italy. But partners asked a bigger question: How can this water transform lives beyond drinking? The answer was the Lowai Kitchen Garden. Support from Sida added solar-powered pumping and drip irrigation, transforming the water project into a climate-smart food production system. The FIDINAM Foundation provided farm inputs and technical support, enabling families to grow vegetables for home consumption and sale. The journey had begun even earlier through The innocent foundation's SQ-LNS Project, Social and Behaviour Change (SBC). These groups later expanded into kitchen gardening, beadwork, and Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), mobilizing over KSh 200,000 (USD 1,550) in savings within three months. The impact extends even further. Together with the County Government of Isiolo and the Kenya Wildlife Service, the community established a wildlife watering trough away from homes and planted trees around the gardens, promoting biodiversity, climate resilience, and peaceful coexistence between people and wildlife. This is integration in action: 💧 Water for households, livestock, hygiene, and food production. ☀️ Renewable energy powering climate-smart irrigation. 🌱 Sustainable agriculture improving food security and incomes. 🥗 Better maternal and child nutrition through SBC and SQ-LNS. 👩🏾🌾 Women's groups driving livelihoods and financial inclusion. 🌳 Conservation supporting biodiversity and human-wildlife coexistence. 🤝 Partnerships multiplying impact. Walking through the flourishing gardens today, it is hard to imagine this is the same community where farming was once considered impossible. What a transformation! For Water. For Food. For Nutrition. For Sustainable Livelihoods. For Women's Empowerment. For Climate Resilience. For a Future Free from Hunger. Lowai is living proof that integration works. Every drop of water has become a seed of hope, every harvest a symbol of resilience, and every partnership a catalyst for lasting change. 🌱💧

Dear all, Thank you to everyone who has been visiting our Action Against Hunger Kenya LinkedIn page and engaging with our content. Your likes, comments, shares and reposts help amplify our impact, increase the visibility of our work and strengthen our advocacy efforts. We're pleased to share that our recent posts have received encouraging engagement: 🔹 Number 1: Action Against Hunger Advisory Council Visit to Kenya – 65 reactions and 8 reposts; https://lnkd.in/eE2yAMHN 🔹 Number 2: UNOCHA Donor Monitoring Visit to Samburu – 58 reactions and 6 reposts - https://lnkd.in/es_Ekwbz 🔹 Number 3: Advisory Council Member @Jan speaking with a community member about water challenges in Isiolo County – 35 reactions and 6 reposts https://lnkd.in/euaCPgm7 Join the conversation and share your thoughts on this important story. As we begin the month of July, we encourage everyone to: 👍 Follow the Action Against Hunger Kenya LinkedIn page (if you haven't already). ❤️ Like and react to our posts. 💬 Leave supportive comments. 🔄 Share and repost our content within your networks. Every interaction helps us reach new audiences, showcase our impact and advocate for the communities we serve. Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to your engagement throughout July! Action Against Hunger Communications Team

Action Against Hunger at #FINAS2026: Financing That Reaches the Farmers Who Need It Most Action Against Hunger is proud to participate in the Financing Agri-food Systems Sustainably (FINAS) Summit 2026, taking place from 30 June to 2 July 2026 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). The summit brings together governments, development partners, the private sector and civil society to shape sustainable food systems across Africa. We welcome the launch of Kenya's KSh 1.081 trillion National Agri-food Systems Investment Plan (NASIP) 2026–2030, a landmark framework to transform agriculture, strengthen food security, create jobs and build climate-resilient food systems. At #FINAS2026, Action Against Hunger is championing one clear message: Agricultural financing must intentionally reach small-scale farmers from vulnerable and resource-poor communities disproportionately affected by food insecurity and malnutrition. Across Kenya, we work with farming households facing droughts, climate shocks, limited market access, inadequate agricultural inputs and restricted access to affordable finance. These communities produce much of the country's food, from crops to livestock products, but are often excluded from formal financing because they lack collateral or are perceived as high-risk borrowers. 🌾🐄🐐🐓 These are the farmers growing our food and producing nutritious livestock products that nourish families, supply local markets and strengthen Kenya's food security. Action Against Hunger calls for: 🐄 Financing mechanisms that intentionally target vulnerable and marginalized smallholder farmers. 🐐 Greater use of grants, subsidies and blended financing to reduce the financial burden on resource-poor households. 🌾 Increased investment in climate-smart agriculture, nutrition-sensitive food systems and resilient livelihoods. 🐓 Financing that empowers women, youth and vulnerable communities to increase food production, improve household incomes and strengthen resilience. 🐝 Strong partnerships among government, development partners, financial institutions and the private sector to ensure no farmer is left behind. Affordable and inclusive financing is an investment in nutrition, health, resilience and sustainable development. Grants and targeted subsidies are catalytic investments that help vulnerable farmers withstand climate shocks, improve productivity and build resilient livelihoods. Together, we can build financing systems that enable every farmer to produce food with dignity, strengthen local food systems and contribute to a hunger-free, well-nourished Kenya. #FINAS2026 #FoodSystems #Agriculture #ClimateResilience #Nutrition #FoodSecurity #SmallholderFarmers #InclusiveFinance #AgriculturalFinance #SustainableAgriculture #ActionAgainstHunger #ZeroHunger #LeaveNoOneBehind