Kenya has obtained a Ksh270 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to tackle climate resilience and boost the country’s agricultural productivity, the National Treasury confirmed on Thursday, October 29, 2026.
The funding, totalling USD2.08 million, is intended to reinforce the country’s ability to withstand harsh climatic conditions that continue to hinder agricultural growth nationwide. The Treasury confirmed that the money will be channelled through the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), which has worked with Kenya on agricultural transformation for years.
The grant agreement was signed by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi under a programme known as the Climate Smart Agribusiness Partnerships for Resilience (CSAPR), a multi-sectoral initiative supported by the Gates Foundation.
“CS Hon FCPA John Mbadi has signed a US$2.08 million Climate Smart Agribusiness Partnerships for Resilience (CSAPR) Grant Agreement funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, strengthening Kenya’s efforts to build climate resilience in agriculture,” the Treasury stated.
According to the Treasury, the funding will complement the Integrated Natural Resources Management Programme (INReMP), an initiative partly funded by the Government of Kenya to oversee agricultural activities across the country by integrating Climate Information Systems into agricultural value chains. Through this system, farmers will be able to access and use climate information to manage risks and improve productivity.
The initiative comes at a critical time, as the country grapples with harsh climatic conditions that have stifled the nation’s food basket, impacting key facets such as maize and milk production. Kenya, which belongs to the Greater Horn of Africa region, has also been flagged to experience El Niño conditions, culminating in heatwaves, drought and, in most cases, floods that could interfere with the nation’s food basket.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation supports projects in Kenya covering healthcare, agriculture, sanitation, gender equality and financial services, among other sectors. In January 2026, the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) received Ksh516 million from the foundation to lead an African women’s health research initiative. The foundation also funds maternal healthcare, immunisation and child health research, including projects tracking maternal and infant deaths and improving care during pregnancy.
The latest grant underscores the foundation’s continued commitment to Kenya’s development agenda and comes amid broader efforts by the government to strengthen food security and build resilience against climate change. Agriculture remains the backbone of Kenya’s economy, employing a significant portion of the population and contributing substantially to the country’s GDP. However, erratic weather patterns, including prolonged droughts and sudden floods, have repeatedly threatened harvests and livestock production, pushing up food prices and straining household incomes.
By integrating climate information systems into agricultural value chains, the CSAPR programme is expected to equip farmers with timely, actionable data on weather patterns, enabling them to make informed decisions about planting, irrigation and harvesting. This, in turn, is expected to reduce losses and improve yields, contributing to the government’s broader food security goals.
The Treasury noted that the partnership with IFAD would ensure the funds are effectively utilised, given the organisation’s long-standing experience in supporting agricultural transformation in Kenya. Officials expressed optimism that the grant would serve as a catalyst for further investment in climate-smart agriculture, encouraging farmers to adopt sustainable practices that safeguard both livelihoods and the environment.
The signing of the agreement was witnessed by representatives of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the National Treasury, marking another milestone in the growing partnership between Kenya and international development partners in the agricultural sector.
