Kenya

GAIN in Kenya

Healthier diets
FOR ALL

GAIN’s mission is to advance nutrition outcomes by improving the consumption of nutritious and safe food.

From fast food to fresh: How to shift Kenya's eating habits to nutritious, farm-to-fork foods

Consume diverse vegetables for improved nutrition

Better nutrition. For Kenya.

The Cost of Hunger in Africa (COHA) Kenya Study (2019) estimated a loss of Kenya Shillings 373.9 billion (USD 3.1 billion) equivalent to 6.9 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2014 due to child undernutrition. Childhood malnutrition results in reduced productivity, high costs of health-related treatment of malnutrition, and high education costs due to class repetition and absenteeism.

UNDERNUTRITION

Children bear the brunt of malnutrition, which negatively impacts their future productivity

18% Stunting Icon

Stunting
Low height for age

Wasting
Too thin for their height

10%

Underweight
Low weight for their age

MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES

Zinc, vitamin A, iron, and iodine are the most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies.

70% Zinc Icon

National zinc deficiency prevalence.
81.6% of preschool children under 5 years and 67.9% of pregnant women.

41.6%

of women of reproductive age, aged 15 to 49 years have anaemia,and 69% of children suffer from iron deficiency

22%

children (6 -23 months) consume a minimum acceptable diet

OVER-NUTRITION

Overweight and obesity and associated diet-related non- communicable diseases.

The rate of diet-related NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES continues to rise

1 IN 4 adults

is overweight and/or obese

5.2%

Only 5.2% of Kenyan adults consume the recommended five servings of fruit and vegetables per day

GAIN's Contribution

Kenya is one of the countries impacted by malnutrition. GAIN’s Strategy aims to transform food systems to make healthier diets from sustainable food systems accessible to all people and especially those whose are most vulnerable to shocks. By 2027, we aim to improve the access of 1.5 billion people to nutritionally enhanced staple foods, improve the access of 25 million people to healthier diets, and support positive food system change in 10 countries.

GAIN has been improving nutrition in Kenya since 2010, initially supporting the Government of Kenya in fortifying staple foods. Over time, GAIN has expanded its approach to strengthen food systems by enhancing access to and demand for nutritious, safe food. Through partnerships with governments, businesses, and civil society, GAIN works to sustainably improve food availability and consumption, especially for vulnerable populations. By supporting national and county governments with expertise in nutrition and policy development, GAIN plays a key role in shaping food systems governance and driving transformation.

Impact

GAIN Kenya has achieved remarkable progress in enhancing nutrition and health across the nation.

Initiatives to improve Nutritional Quality

Years of Impact Improving Health and Nutrition

Children reached with nutrition programs

Impact Stories

Our Strategy in Kenya

GAIN’s strategy aims to transform food systems, making healthier diets accessible to all, especially the vulnerable.

We focus on:

Strengthening the policy environment for increased consumption of safe, affordable, nutritious and healthy foods.
Creating demand for safe, nutritious food for all, especially for those at risk of poor nutrition.
Scaling up large-scale fortification and biofortification across national and county levels.
Strengthening supply chains for nutritious foods.
Strengthening social inclusion, gender equity and empowerment for advancing nutrition among the vulnerable groups.

Vision for 2027

1.5 Billion people with access to nutritionally enhanced staple foods.

7Million Kenyans with access to healthier diets.

Positive food system changes in 10/47 Counties.

GAIN Kenya Business Plan

Head of Office-GAIN Kenya

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Ruth Okowa

Country Director, Kenya

Programmes and Partnerships

CAtalyzing Strengthened policy aCtion for heAlthy Diets and ResiliencE (CASCADE)

CASCADE is a Dutch-funded project whose goal is to improve food security and contribute to the reduction of malnutrition of at least 5 million women of reproductive age and children under five in Benin, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Mozambique.

Vegetables for All

Vegetables for All is a Dutch Government-funded five-year project that aims to improve dietary diversity for 1.1 million urban and peri-urban Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) consumers by increasing consumption of vegetables in alignment with global guidelines

Nutrition in ASALs Within Integrated Resilient Institutions (Nawiri)

Nutrition in ASALs Within Integrated Resilient Institutions (Nawiri), is a USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) five-year research and development program that is being implemented in the arid and semi-arid counties of Isiolo and Marsabit in Kenya.

SUN Business Network (SBN)

Scaling Up Nutrition Business Network (SBN) is the world’s leading private sector focused nutrition initiative. SBN is one of the six Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) networks (Government Network, UN Network, Academia and Research Network, Civil Society, and Donor Network).

GAIN KE Programmes and Partnerships

Resources and Assets

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GAIN Kenya on X

Interview Cruncher

Join us as we mark us mark International Women's Day celebrating the achievements of women around the world. We speak to some incredible female leaders around the world striving to #EmbraceEquity.

BITE the talk- a GAIN podcast series

In this podcast series powered by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition or GAIN, we will encounter a myriad of intersecting issues, themes, and solutions. We will hear from regular folks like farmers and mothers around the world trying to put nutritious food on the table for their families. We will also talk with food systems leaders, social entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and people like you.