Read our 2021 annual report
Concern's objectives, activities and achievements in 2021 can be found in our new annual report.
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Kenya
Why are we in Kenya? 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 most of Kenya’s poor live: 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.
A significant proportion of Kenya’s population lacks access to basic services such as education, health, electricity and safe drinking water
Climate change continues to seriously impact the poor in rural areas, with Kenya regularly experiencing devastating droughts. In 2022, Kenya is experiencing its worst drought in decades following three consecutive poor rainy seasons, resulting in widespread water scarcity, mass livestock deaths, and millions facing extreme hunger.
People living in affected areas have no time to recover from one emergency to the next. One outcome of this is increased migration towards urban centres. 2019 census data indicates that 60% of Nairobi's 4.3 million people live in slums. The provision of basic services such as health, education and sanitation is failing.
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 programme areas by strengthening the capacity of public service providers to meet basic needs and by enhancing the income and wellbeing of the extremely poor.
Concern's programmes in Kenya
Our work spans four main programme areas: Livelihoods, Disaster Risk Reduction, Education, Health and Nutrition that are underpinned by governance and advocacy and women empowerment.
Our primary focus for humanitarian emergency response is food and nutrition security.
Concern works with people living in conditions of extreme poverty in the northern arid and semi-arid lands in Marsabit, Turkana, Isiolo, West Pokot and Tana River and the (often hidden) poor in the informal settlements of Nairobi.
Health and nutrition
Our focus is to:
- Prevent under-nutrition and extreme hunger.
- Improve maternal and child health.
- Improve access to clean water and sanitation.
Education
Livelihoods
Governance and advocacy
Latest achievements
Emergency response
In 2021, Concern responded to COVID 19, Drought and Locust infestation related emergencies directly reaching 119,733 people.
We focused on maintaining our existing programme, raising awareness to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and supporting the communities most impacted by crisis. The indirect impact of our work reached to more than 1.4 million people in Kenya.
Health and nutrition
Education
Gatoto Community School, Nairobi, Kenya Photo: Jennifer Nolan / Concern Worldwide
Kennith Wambugu, Health and Nutrition manager for Concern Worldwide Marsabit, points out a nutrition chart in Gus dispensary in Gus, Marsabit county in Kenya on 21/12/2021 Photo: Ed Ram/Concern Worldwide
A family sits in Guss near North Horr in Marsabit Country, Kenya on 22/12/2021 Photo: Ed Ram/Concern Worldwide
International Women's Day Kenya celebration at Nairobi Office. We marked the day by holding a virtual brown bag session where both female and male staff got an opportunity to share personal experiences of #breakinggenderbias#. Majority of the inspiring stories shared by the speakers highlighted the key role that men can play as allies in breaking gender bias and promoting gender equality. The session concluded with an energetic photo session where staff renewed their commitment to break the bias everyday in their personal and professional lives. Staff also wore traditional African attire to celebrate this special day. Photo: Concern Worldwide
Concern's Education Cluster Mobiliser Ann Titiha visited informal settlements in Korogocho. She is pictured with mother Nasra Adan Kala (23) and her daughter, Salwa (3) and son Adinan (1) outside their home, Nairobi. Both of Nasra's children have a physical disability and are unable to walk. Nasra and her husband cannot afford the surgery needed to help their children. Photo: Ed Ram / Concern Worldwide
Toti Wari stands with his camels in an Oasis near the Chalabi desert in Marsabit Country, Kenya on 22/12/2021 Photo: Ed Ram/Concern Worldwide
Margret Winjiru and baby Charlyne on the railway tracks in Kibera, Kenya Photo: Ed Ram / Concern Worldwide
How we're helping Kenya
We are working hard to combat suffering and build resilience in Kenya. We are doing this by implementing programmes which will strengthen resilience, respond to emergencies and provide access to quality education.
Access to services
Food security
Improved governance
Michael Darragh Macauley programme visit
To announce Dublin inter-county footballer Michael Darragh Macauley becoming a Concern ambassador, the five-time All-Ireland winning star visited our education programmes in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya.
Concern Kenya: Michael Darragh MacAuley
Alexi Lubomirski programme visit
Royal wedding photographer and Concern ambassador Alexi Lubomirski visited our education and nutrition programmes in Kenya. This video shows the inspiring people he met in Nairobi.
Fashion photographer Alexi Lubomirski visits Concern KenyaLatest from Kenya
Related publications
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Accountability
