Matteo Marchisio Begins Role as IFAD Kenya Country Director

You will see that Matteo Marchisio has assumed the role of IFAD Kenya Country Director and presented his credentials to Musalia Mudavadi Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs in Nairobi on fifteen October twenty twenty six. The partnership between the organization and the Government of Kenya now approaches five decades of cooperation. This long relationship continues to deliver results for rural communities across the country in Kenya.

You will hear that IFAD Kenya remains firmly committed to supporting rural livelihoods food security and climate resilience. IFAD remains firmly committed to supporting rural livelihoods, food security and climate resilience. Mutual commitment and shared ownership guide the partnership with Kenya and the organization looks forward to expanding collaboration with government and partners to advance national priorities and create opportunities for rural communities.

You will find that IFAD Kenya aligns closely with Kenya's vision for agricultural transformation which emphasizes empowering farmers reducing production costs and strengthening value addition and agribusiness. The partnership also focuses on mobilising public and private investment to create jobs and opportunities in rural areas across the country. These efforts aim to boost productivity and improve market access for smallholder producers in Kenya.

You will see that IFAD Kenya invests in smallholder farmers rural enterprises and financial services while strengthening value chains market access sustainable natural resource management and resilience to climate change. The organization also adapts its investments to emerging challenges such as El Niño preparedness by identifying early warning measures risk reduction actions and protection for vulnerable households and productive assets. These steps support rapid recovery and longer term resilience for communities facing climate shocks in Kenya.

You will learn that IFAD Kenya will prepare its next country strategy for Kenya in 2027 to harness emerging opportunities and align future investments with government priorities. The strategy will build on partnerships with national and county governments the private sector farmers organizations and development partners to contribute to the long term development vision. This collaborative approach aims to deepen impact for rural populations across the nation in Kenya.

You will note that IFAD Kenya plays an active role in IFAD governance and has contributed to shaping the institution while pledging to the Fourteenth Replenishment. This pledge shows Kenya's commitment to multilateral cooperation and sustainable rural development in a fiscal environment. Since 1977 Kenya has been a member of IFAD and the partnership has financed more than twenty programmes and projects. Mobilising almost one point four billion US dollars has improved livelihoods increased resilience and created opportunities for millions of rural Kenyans.