The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) took part in the Kenya Meat Expo 2024 backing deliberations on expanding economic opportunities for livestock keepers.
This was done through the Feed the Future Kenya Livestock Market Systems Activity (USAID LMS), USAID Kuza, and USAID Resilience Learning Activity (RLA).
It comes amidst ongoing efforts to diversify the country’s meat industry.
USAID LMS announced it has directly supported over 111,125 households in Garissa, Isiolo, Marsabit, Samburu, Turkana, and Wajir counties through market system development initiatives.
Through stimulus grants to small- and medium-sized businesses, 69 per cent of which are women-owned, 5,497 businesses reported a 43 per cent increase in household incomes.
Additionally, these enterprises have created 1,200 direct and indirect jobs, improving food and market access for over 100,000 families, the organisation said.
The activity works closely with USAID Kuza, which has allocated $1.9 million (Sh265 million) to the livestock market sector.
This is to create and support economic opportunities for livestock farmers, promote self-reliance, and reduce the need for humanitarian assistance.
The activity also coordinates efforts with USAID Resilience Learning Activity which brings together USAID implementing partners, government, and other donors together to facilitate co-created, co-implemented, and co-monitored activities with local government to optimise resiliency programme investments.
Through RLA, USAID has mobilised over Sh37 billion in co-investments with nine county governments.
US Government Feed the Future Country Coordinator at USAID Kenya/East Africa Andrew McCown said they are committed to partner with Kenya to create jobs, increase access to services, and incomes for livestock producers in Kenya aimed at wealth creation through value addition such as 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 Party of USAID LMS said over the past seven years the organisation has boosted Northern Kenya's resilience by enhancing market access for pastoralists and traders through targeted interventions and strategic partnerships.
The event themed “Revolutionising the Meat Industry for Bottom-Up Economic Transformation” was organised in partnership with the State Department of Livestock.
It provided a dynamic platform for businesses in the meat industry and livestock sector to forge invaluable connections and strategic partnerships.
During the event, USAID LMS facilitated discussions on the need for co-investments between the government and private entities in the livestock value chain, the vital role of cooperatives in the sector, concerted efforts towards drought and flood mitigation, and inclusive livestock market systems.
Additionally, USAID will support small- and medium-sized enterprises in showcasing advancements in the meat value chain and reflecting on the achievements and lessons learned over the past seven years in Northern Kenya.