NAIROBI, Feb. 14, (Xinhua/GNA) — Kenya is strengthening partnership with United Nations agencies, to accelerate sustainable development in the country’s arid and semi-arid regions, a senior government official said on Wednesday.
Beatrice Askul Moe, cabinet secretary for the Kenyan Ministry of East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development, told journalists in the country’s capital of Nairobi that the initiative, seeks to leverage financial and technical support from development partners, to enhance food security, build resilience, and improve livelihoods of communities in the 23 arid and semi-arid counties, facing recurrent drought and climate-related challenges. “Through joint efforts, Kenya and UN agencies are working toward supporting humanitarian programs that provide lifesaving assistance while investing in long-term solutions to foster self-sufficiency and resilience among affected communities,” Moe said during the consultative meeting with development partners.
Claudin Ah Poe, head of climate change, resilience and food systems at the World Food Program in Kenya, emphasized the importance of working together to scale up food aid, and find long-term solutions to reduce dependence on emergency aid. “Partnerships can help scale up investments in climate-smart agriculture and nutrition programs, to build resilience,” Poe added.
Abdi Maalim Hassan, a water, sanitation and hygiene specialist at the United Nations Children’s Fund in Kenya, said the most suitable solution to cope with perennial drought in the country, is through shared efforts to tap the abundant groundwater resources in the arid areas. He noted that UNICEF is focusing on enhancing access to education and clean water for children in marginalized areas.
Joseph Mathooko, coordinator of emergency preparation and response at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, underscored the role of collaborative initiatives in improving the adaptation of modern agricultural technologies, to increase productivity in drylands.
GNA