Tag Archive for: Poverty in Kenya

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Kenya’s Domestic Vaccine Financing

Kenya's Domestic Vaccine FinancingDespite the fact that 41% of Kenya’s children still live in monetary poverty and 52% live in multi-dimensional poverty, the country remains one of the strongest economies in Africa.

Providing access to vaccination programs in Kenya is essential, especially for rural communities where access to these vaccines is often scarce. These programs ensure less spreading and prevalence of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, polio, tuberculosis and hepatitis B. Immunization efforts help create herd immunity and protect elderly patients and children who cannot be vaccinated from illness.

Kenya’s Transition to Domestic Vaccine Financing

As international donor funding for global health becomes more expensive, Kenya’s transition toward domestic vaccine financing is advancing. With the country’s economy growing, health officials see Kenya as a leader in shifting away from reliance on outside aid toward self-sustained health budgets. Since 2001, Gavi has provided Kenya with vaccines and other supplies worth more than $940 million. The country entered the accelerated phase of its transition with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in 2022 after its gross national income per capita exceeded the alliance’s eligibility threshold for three consecutive years. Although Kenya depends on manufacturers at the moment, it is expected to become fully self-financing by 2029 or 2030.

Vaccine manufacturers have agreed to lower prices over time, easing the path for governments to eventually include vaccine procurement into their own national health budgets. At its June 2025 replenishment summit, Gavi secured up to $200 million in cost savings for its programs from manufacturers. They unlocked $4.5 billion in complementary financing from development finance institutions, both intended to stretch available resources further as donor contributions tighten.

Global health funding has become increasingly fragile. Gavi’s 2025 replenishment summit secured just more than $9 billion for 2026 to 2030, falling short of its $11.9 billion target, after the United States announced it would not contribute further to the alliance. The shortfall has forced donor-dependent countries to confront the sustainability of their immunization programs sooner than expected.

A Track Record to Build On

Kenya was also one of the original pilot countries for the malaria vaccine, giving it a track record of successful program delivery to build on. The country has received more than $940 million in vaccines and supplies from Gavi since 2001, covering immunizations including pneumococcal, rotavirus and malaria vaccines, and introduced the typhoid conjugate vaccine into its routine immunization schedule in 2025. Under a new funding arrangement approved as part of Gavi’s 2026-2030 strategy, Kenya will now receive vaccine funds directly, giving the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority greater control over procurement and planning.

Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale emphasized how important the process of safeguarding existing gains could strengthen domestic vaccine financing. Continued collaboration with partners will ease this process and facilitate full independence. Kenya’s Ministry of Health has emphasized that a carefully managed transition is essential to protect existing immunization gains while progressively building domestic financing capacity. The ministry’s next National Immunization Strategy, covering 2025 to 2030, is expected to translate evidence into action from ongoing reviews into stronger service delivery and expand access to vaccines.

Kenya’s Shift on Vaccine Availability

Kenya is working on establishing itself and transitioning from reliance on its partnership with Gavi. Local organizations like health nongovernmental organizations network (HENNET) and Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) are helping to elevate immunization financing on the nation’s agenda. The country is also working on paying off its Gavi co-financing obligation for the 2025-2026 year with 62% already paid off. This is a promising step toward full independence.

In addition, a Parliamentary Caucus on Immunization is giving vaccine financing an institutionalized home with leadership from Kenya. The shift from easy provision in national stores to enable availability and easy access in remote villages is a focus of the country’s health system. Now, vaccines are being delivered to 65 remote facilities in these villages.

Thanks to all these efforts, Laikipia County has established a dedicated 500,000 Kenyan shilling (about $3,875) budget line for immunization, a small but revolutionary step toward financial ownership at the county level. This provides a plan for all 47 counties, showcasing that local leadership can create resilience.

A Model for Other Nations

Kenya’s domestic vaccine financing transition offers lessons for other developing nations seeking to build durable, self-reliant health systems. As Gavi shifts more control and responsibility to national governments under its new strategy, Kenya’s experience navigating financing gaps, extended timelines and expanded local authority positions the country as an early test case for what local ownership of immunization programs looks like in practice. As the country continues to work to provide local assistance in vaccines to its citizens with the government paying for vaccines and immunization program costs, mothers who walk for hours find what they came looking for. This is what a partnership between civil society, the government and funders looks like. This is what a system that meets a mother where she arrives for the sake of a healthy Kenyan child looks like. This offers a possible model for other nations as global donor priorities continue to shift.

– Joy Kohol

Joy is based in Muncie, IN, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Space Technology is Reducing Food Insecurity

Space Technology is Reducing Food InsecurityThe concept of space technology is almost always associated with astronauts and exploration; however, some of the most important impacts are actually occurring on Earth. World hunger is becoming an increasing risk, particularly to developing nations, under the influence of the changing climate. An estimated 266 million people across 47 countries are facing acute food insecurity. Space technology is helping vulnerable countries such as Kenya, Bangladesh and Ethiopia predict climate risks, improve agricultural productivity and distribute aid more effectively. In Bangladesh, extreme poverty is projected at 9.3%, though nearly one-third of the population remains vulnerable. Kenya’s overall poverty rate sits at nearly 40%. Ethiopia projects an increase to 43%.

Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, space technology is reducing food insecurity by improving flood prediction and disaster management. Google has created its own platform called Flood Hub, an interactive map that satellite technology continuously monitors and updates. This platform allows individuals worldwide to check the expected risk severity of floods. It is particularly useful for farmers because it provides a high-resolution and accessible platform, transforming flood disaster management from reactive to anticipatory. This allows farmers to protect agriculture and food supplies, since its warnings incentivize them to harvest earlier and prevent large-scale crop losses.

A more recent and unique adaptation in Bangladesh to severe flooding and prolonged waterlogged land is the creation of “Floating Vegetable Gardens,” or dhap. Humanitarian agencies use satellite terrain data and historical inundation mapping to identify areas that remain flooded for months. This data guides the calculated placement of the dhaps to utilize wetland resources. As a result, communities gain up to 40% more arable land to grow nutrient-dense food, even when the landscape is underwater.

Kenya

In Kenya, 4.4 million people struggle to feed themselves. Space technology is reducing food insecurity by improving drought prediction and climate-smart farming. It does this by providing detailed information on the strength, location, spatial extent and duration of droughts. Satellites such as Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) can map soil moisture, since a stronger signal indicates a higher concentration of water in the soil. Another method that helps forecast droughts is the Vegetation Condition Index (VCI), which measures how green the vegetation in a specific area is compared to the past. Satellites photograph the land, allowing scientists to compare differences in wavelength bands across images and track how vegetation conditions change. This method can detect canopy moisture loss and thermal stress before visible signs of wilting appear, meaning experts can spot natural droughts weeks before they manifest on the ground.

Satellite technology can combat widespread hunger through smart farming. One example is where space data is paired with the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence tools on platforms such as Synnefa. Synnefa is a Kenyan agritech company founded in 2014 that operates across 13 African countries. It helps more than 32,000 farmers optimize operations through its FarmCloud platform and smart hardware. The platform gives farmers access to sensor data such as temperature, soil moisture and nitrogen levels in the soil. This access lets them make informed decisions about when to irrigate or fertilize their crops, which maximizes crop yield and reduces vegetation death.

Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, researchers are testing predictive machine learning models that use satellite data to help predict crop yields, forecast droughts and optimize harvests. These models scan the Earth using multispectral imagery combined with live vegetation index, historical weather patterns, soil health registries and temperature grids. The models then process this dense geospatial data and translate it for farmers through text messages, automated voice calls or interactive chat channels in native languages like Amharic or Oromo. Early research from Eastern Ethiopia shows these models can meaningfully improve crop yield forecasting accuracy. However, results vary by crop and region, and researchers say further work is needed before the technology can be deployed at scale across Ethiopian farms.

Although space technology may seem far removed from the daily realities of poverty and hunger, its impact is increasingly being felt in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. From improving flood forecasting in Bangladesh to enabling climate-smart farming in Kenya and AI-powered crop prediction research in Ethiopia, satellite technology is helping farmers make better decisions, protect livelihoods and increase food production in the face of climate change. As food insecurity continues to affect millions across the globe, investment in innovative technologies such as these could play an important role in building more resilient agricultural systems and advancing progress toward ending hunger.

– Sumi Shrestha

Sumi is based in Tonbridge, UK and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Sports Programs Fighting Poverty: Breaking the Cycle

Children playing basketball in a gym, part of sports programs fighting poverty.Sports and poverty reduction are closely connected through the work of organizations that use sports to help young people in low-income communities build better futures. Sports are not only about playing games or staying active. They can also support education, teach life skills and create job opportunities. Young people are hit hardest by poverty worldwide. The International Labour Organization reports that youth aged 15 to 24 are more than twice as likely as adults to be working poor. In sub-Saharan Africa, nearly half of employed young people live in working poverty. The five sports programs fighting poverty below help keep young people in school, build life skills and open doors to jobs. According to the United Nations, sports and poverty reduction can support development by improving education, health and the empowerment of young people.

Grassroot Soccer

Grassroot Soccer uses football to support sports and poverty reduction by teaching young people about health and life skills. According to the International Platform on Sport and Development, Tommy Clark founded the organization in 2002 after seeing how popular football was in Zimbabwe. He recognized it could be used to reach young people with important health information. Grassroot Soccer reports that its programs have reached more than 18 million young people in more than 60 countries, showing how sports programs fighting poverty can work at scale.

It also works with more than 13,000 trained coaches who deliver lessons through football activities. The organization partners with groups like United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to teach young people about Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention, sexual health and mental well-being. Recently, it has also added mental health support programs to help young people cope with stress and challenges in their lives.

Mathare Youth Sports Association

The Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) demonstrates how sports and poverty reduction can support community development. According to the International Platform on Sport and Development, young people in Nairobi, Kenya, founded MYSA in 1987 by organizing football games in their community. MYSA uses football to encourage young people to take part in activities that help their communities. These include cleaning up neighborhoods, attending school programs and learning leadership skills. The organization has grown beyond Kenya and now works in places like Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan, Botswana and refugee camps in Kakuma. MYSA reports that it has helped more than 200,000 young people through sports and poverty reduction programs that combine football with education and community service.

Magic Bus

Magic Bus is an organization in India that uses sports and poverty reduction programs to help young people from poor communities. According to the organization, Magic Bus started in 1999 in Mumbai. It uses sports activities to teach life skills such as communication, teamwork and problem-solving. Magic Bus explains that its “Childhood to Livelihood” program helps young people stay in school and later find jobs. As reported by CSR Universe, the organization works across 24 states in India and reached about 1.8 million young people in 2023-24. More than 100,000 young people have found jobs through its programs, illustrating how sports programs fighting poverty can improve education and employment opportunities.

Fight for Peace

Fight for Peace uses boxing and martial arts as part of its sports and poverty reduction approach to support young people living in unsafe and low-income communities. According to Partners of the Americas, Luke Dowdney started Fight for Peace in 2000 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Fight for Peace uses a “Five Pillars” model that combines sports with education, job training, mentoring and personal development support. This helps young people build discipline, confidence and skills for work. The organization works in several countries and supports thousands of young people every year. According to the organization, it recorded more than 20,000 visits to its training programs in 2025, highlighting the reach of its sports and poverty reduction work.

Skateistan

Skateistan uses skateboarding to support sports and poverty reduction for children in poor and underserved communities. According to the BBC, in 2007 its founder started Skateistan in Kabul, Afghanistan, teaching children how to skateboard as a way to connect them with learning opportunities. Skateistan says its programs combine skateboarding with classroom learning, art and life skills education. More than half of its participants are girls and it has reached more than 10,000 young people. Today, Skateistan runs permanent Skate Schools in Afghanistan, Cambodia and South Africa. It also runs the Goodpush Alliance, which connects more than 1,000 skate programs around the world. This helps expand sports and poverty reduction efforts globally.

Sports and poverty reduction programs show that sports can do more than entertain. They can also help young people learn, grow and find opportunities for the future. While sports alone cannot end poverty, they can open doors to education and jobs. Organizations like Grassroot Soccer, MYSA, Magic Bus, Fight for Peace and Skateistan demonstrate what sports programs fighting poverty can look like in practice and how they improve lives in many parts of the world.

– Abisola Oladipupo

Abisola is based in Hatfield, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Textile Recycling in Kenya is Creating Green Jobs

Textile Recycling in KenyaTextile waste is becoming a growing environmental challenge in many countries, including Kenya. Every year, thousands of tons of used clothing and fabric waste end up in landfills or are burned, contributing to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. According to World Bank data, close to 40% of Kenya’s population lives below the national poverty line. It is within this context that a growing number of organizations demonstrate that textile recycling in Kenya can be a driver of employment and entrepreneurship, particularly for low-income households. By collecting discarded clothing, recycling textiles into new products and supporting small businesses, these organizations are creating green jobs while helping to build a more circular economy.

The Role of UNEP

The United Nations Environment Programme highlights that the fashion and textile industry creates significant environmental challenges because of high resource use and increasing textile waste. Circular economy approaches, which focus on keeping materials in use for longer through reuse, repair and recycling, are becoming important solutions for reducing waste and supporting sustainable development.

Africa Collect Textiles Creates Jobs

Africa Collect Textiles (ACT) is one of Kenya’s organizations working to develop a circular fashion system. The company collects unwanted clothing and footwear through collection points and partnerships before sorting materials for reuse, upcycling and recycling. According to a 2025 profile of the organization by AMI, ACT has created more than 120 direct and indirect jobs so far, mainly for women, and can source up to two tons of unsold clothing a day from Nairobi’s Gikomba Market, East Africa’s largest second-hand clothing hub, recovering uniforms, off-cuts and other materials that would otherwise be burned or dumped. The same report notes that ACT is now working to install mechanical recycling equipment, with a longer-term goal of scaling up local fiber recovery across the continent.

ACT’s first Impact Report explains that the organization has developed textile collection, sorting and upcycling systems while focusing on poverty reduction, responsible consumption and job creation, particularly for women. The report highlights that ACT’s work creates both direct and indirect employment opportunities within the textile recovery process.

According to a profile by Start-Up Africa, ACT’s holistic approach aims to serve low-income communities directly, giving women and youth in Nairobi’s informal economy a steady income tied to a growing industry. UNEP also highlights ACT as part of its efforts to support sustainable textile practices in Kenya. The organization has transformed textile waste into products such as rugs, toys and yarn, demonstrating how discarded materials can become valuable resources.

Agricultural Waste Into Sustainable Fashion

While some organizations focus on recovering used textiles, others are creating new approaches to sustainable fashion by using alternative materials. Rethread Africa is one example of a Kenyan initiative that transforms agricultural waste into environmentally friendly textile materials. Impact Hub Nairobi reports that Rethread Africa uses maize husks, a byproduct of agricultural production, to create sustainable textile alternatives. According to Impact Hub, the initiative worked with 35 smallholder farmers during a pilot program in Homa Bay County and plans to expand this to more than 100 farmers within the next two years, giving them a new source of income from agricultural waste that would otherwise be discarded. A separate account of the initiative published by What Design Can Do reports that the resulting fabric uses 99% less water than cotton, cuts carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by roughly 80%, and has helped participating smallholder farmers increase their income by around 40%.

This income boost matters because rural poverty in Kenya runs well above the national average. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics reported an overall rural poverty rate of 42.9% in 2022, compared with 33.2% in urban areas, with smallholder farming households among those most exposed. By giving farmers an additional buyer for material that used to be worthless, Rethread Africa targets income growth in exactly the population where poverty is most concentrated.

The organization’s approach shows how innovation can connect agriculture, fashion and employment. By developing new materials and supporting sustainable production, Rethread Africa helps create opportunities for entrepreneurs and communities while reducing reliance on traditional textile materials.

TakaTaka Solutions Builds Kenya’s Recycling Economy

TakaTaka Solutions shows the same principle at work in Kenya’s broader waste economy. The company sorts collected waste into more than 40 categories and recycles around 90% of what it receives. According to a United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) case study, the company was deliberately designed to create jobs for youth from lower-income areas of Nairobi, offering steadier work than informal waste-picking. Though its focus is plastic and household waste rather than textiles specifically, TakaTaka illustrates the broader potential for Kenya’s recycling sector to create jobs while addressing environmental challenges.

Conclusion

Textile recycling in Kenya demonstrates that waste can become a resource. Through collection, reuse and upcycling, organizations are creating new opportunities for employment while addressing environmental challenges. According to the International Labour Organization, green industries create new jobs while helping countries transition toward more sustainable economic models. While recycling alone will not eliminate poverty in a country where, per World Bank figures, close to 40% of the population lives below the national poverty line, these initiatives show how green businesses create employment, support entrepreneurship and encourage sustainable development. With continued investment in circular economy solutions, textile recycling in Kenya is helping build a future where waste becomes a resource and communities gain new opportunities for economic growth.

– Abisola Oladipupo

Abisola is based in Hatfield, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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How Water ATMs in Kenya Are Expanding Access to Clean Water

Water ATMs in KenyaFor millions of people, access to clean drinking water remains one of the biggest barriers to good health and economic opportunity. In Kenya, only about 68% of the population has access to basic drinking water services, meaning nearly one in three people still lack even a basic source of safe drinking water, with access dropping to just 56% in rural areas. Water ATMs in Kenya are helping change that reality by providing affordable and safe drinking water through prepaid smart cards and mobile payments. These automated systems reduce dependence on unsafe water sources while improving transparency, lowering costs and strengthening local water services. As organizations, local utilities and government partners continue expanding the technology, thousands of Kenyan families benefit from more reliable access to clean water.

A Smarter Way to Access Water

Unlike traditional water kiosks that rely on cash payments and attendants, water ATMs in Kenya allow users to purchase only the amount of water they need using prepaid smart cards or mobile money services. The automated systems operate throughout the day, reducing long lines while making water available whenever communities need it. Digital monitoring also allows operators to track water use, revenue and maintenance needs in real time. This helps reduce water theft and improve financial accountability.

Grundfos developed its AQtap water ATM technology in partnership with organizations including World Vision, county governments and Safaricom. In rural Kenyan communities, more than 20,000 people now receive clean drinking water through 60 automated water ATMs that provide a sustainable source of funding for ongoing maintenance and repairs.

Expanding Long-Term Water Security

As droughts and rapid urbanization place increasing pressure on Kenya’s water resources, innovative technologies become essential for long-term water security. Water ATMs create a sustainable system where affordable user payments help fund maintenance rather than relying solely on outside aid. For example, in Kwale County, the Kenya RAPID program introduced prepaid water ATMs managed by local water service providers. Because every transaction is recorded electronically, communities can clearly see how water fees are collected and used. This increased transparency and strengthened trust between residents and water providers while reducing opportunities for financial mismanagement.

With continued support from organizations such as Grundfos, Oxfam, local utilities and county governments, water ATMs in Kenya demonstrate how simple technology can improve public health and expand reliable access to clean water. Their growing success offers a practical example of how innovation can help communities build a healthier and more sustainable future.

The success of water ATMs in Kenya shows that innovation can help address global poverty. Expanding access to clean water starts with supporting proven solutions like water ATMs in Kenya. Continued investment and awareness will allow more communities to gain reliable access to safe drinking water. Together, these efforts can improve health and create lasting opportunities for future generations.

– Masa Qasim

Masa is based in Toronto, Canada and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Mangrove Restoration Reduces Poverty in Kenya

Poverty in KenyaPoverty continues to affect millions of people in Kenya, particularly in rural and coastal communities that depend on natural resources for their livelihoods. According to the World Bank, about one-third of Kenyans live below the national poverty line. Along Kenya’s coastline, many families rely on fishing and small-scale agriculture, making them especially vulnerable to climate change and environmental degradation. Mangrove restoration in Kenya is helping address these challenges by protecting coastal ecosystems while creating new economic opportunities for local communities.

Why Mangroves Matter

For many families living along Kenya’s coast, healthy mangrove forests directly support daily life. Fishermen depend on mangroves because they provide nursery habitats where young fish and shellfish can grow before moving into open waters. When mangrove forests decline due to deforestation or coastal development, fish populations decrease, making it more difficult for families to earn a living. Restoring these forests helps protect both the environment and the livelihoods that depend on it.

Community-Led Restoration Creates New Opportunities

One of Kenya’s best-known restoration efforts is Mikoko Pamoja, a community-led conservation project located in Gazi Bay, a coastal village in southeastern Kenya, that launched in 2010. The initiative protects 117 hectares of mangrove forest while restoring more than 8,000 mangrove trees each year. Instead of relying only on outside funding, the project generates revenue by selling blue carbon credits, which allow organizations and businesses to financially support projects that store carbon while protecting natural ecosystems. The project reinvests this income into community programs that improve daily life for local residents.

The project has produced measurable benefits beyond environmental conservation. Revenue from carbon credits has helped provide clean water to approximately 3,500 people, educational materials for more than 700 schoolchildren and funding for roads and other community infrastructure. According to Mikoko Pamoja, local residents also participate directly in mangrove restoration by collecting seeds, maintaining tree nurseries and monitoring forest health, creating paid employment opportunities while protecting the environment.

Reducing Poverty in Kenya Through Conservation

Mangrove restoration supports local economies in several ways. Community members earn income by collecting mangrove propagules, raising seedlings in nurseries and participating in restoration and monitoring activities. Healthy mangrove forests also improve fish populations, helping sustain the fisheries that thousands of coastal families depend on for food and income.

The project demonstrates that environmental conservation and economic development can work together. By protecting natural resources, communities strengthen their fishing industry while generating additional revenue through blue carbon financing. Although long-term funding and climate change continue to present challenges, community participation has helped keep restoration efforts active for more than a decade.

Looking Ahead

Mangrove restoration in Kenya demonstrates that nature-based solutions can improve both environmental and economic outcomes. Community-led initiatives such as Mikoko Pamoja protect biodiversity, strengthen coastal resilience and generate funding for education, clean water and local development. As the changing climate continues to threaten vulnerable communities, investments in mangrove restoration offer a sustainable way to reduce poverty in Kenya while protecting the coastline for future generations. The project’s success also shows how local communities can lead conservation efforts while improving livelihoods, providing a model that other coastal regions can adapt to meet their own environmental and economic challenges.

– Violette Bardouil

Violette is based in Paris, France and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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How a Twice-Yearly Shot Is Transforming HIV Prevention in Kenya

HIV prevention in KenyaIn February 2026, Kenya received its first shipment of 21,000 doses of lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable requiring only two shots a year, marking a major step forward in HIV prevention in Kenya. The drug recorded more than 96% effectiveness at preventing HIV in clinical trials, one of the most significant advances in global health since daily oral medication became the standard prevention tool.

HIV and Poverty in Kenya

Nearly 45.5% of Kenyans live below the international poverty line of $3 a day, according to the World Bank. For low-income communities, HIV carries consequences that extend well beyond health. At the household level, the cost of care depletes savings, reduces economic productivity and can trap families in cycles of intergenerational poverty. Preventing new infections is therefore not only a public health priority, it is an economic one.

Why a Twice-Yearly Shot Matters

For years, the primary tool for preventing HIV in people at high risk had been oral pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, a pill that must be taken every day. Consistent use is a genuine challenge for many people, particularly in communities where irregular health care access and demanding daily routines make routine medication difficult to maintain. In many communities, carrying daily HIV medication can lead others to assume a person is HIV-positive, a stigma that drives some people to stop taking the pill altogether.

Lenacapavir addresses this challenge directly. A single injection provides six months of protection, removing the need for daily pills. The World Health Organization endorsed the drug in July 2025, making it the first twice-yearly injectable PrEP option to be officially recommended for global use.

Kenya’s Rollout: Fast and Phased

Kenya’s Pharmacy and Poisons Board completed its regulatory review and registered lenacapavir for national use in January 2026. The first consignment of 21,000 doses arrived in Nairobi on Feb. 17, 2026, delivered through a partnership between the Ministry of Health and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The Global Fund coordinated procurement and negotiated access pricing, while the Ministry of Health managed regulatory approval and national distribution strategy. An additional 12,000 doses followed in April, and the U.S. government pledged a further 25,000 to support early implementation.

The Ministry of Health launched Phase 1 in March 2026, targeting 152 health facilities across 15 high-burden counties, with an estimated 58,000 individuals expected to receive the injection in the first phase alone. Two additional phases are planned, with the aim of reaching nationwide coverage by 2027. Health officials say this milestone reflects the country’s readiness to integrate modern prevention tools through its Universal Health Coverage framework.

Making It Affordable

Cost has historically been one of the biggest barriers to equitable HIV prevention in Kenya and across sub-Saharan Africa. Lenacapavir carries a global list price exceeding $42,000 per patient per year, but the Ministry of Health is offering it free of charge at selected public health facilities. For the health system, the estimated annual cost is approximately $60 per patient. This dramatic price reduction was made possible through licensing agreements and Global Fund procurement support.

Peter Sands, executive director of the Global Fund, described the moment as one requiring urgency and ambition. “Long-acting lenacapavir could reshape HIV prevention by overcoming the structural challenges that have long constrained uptake,” Sands said. He added that the task is now to translate scientific progress into rapid, broad and equitable access.

The Road Ahead

Kenya has approximately 1.4 million people living with HIV. The national rollout directly supports prevention of mother-to-child transmission, a stated priority of the Ministry of Health, with the overarching goal of ensuring every child born in Kenya is HIV-free.

Generic versions of lenacapavir are expected to reach markets by 2027 at an estimated yearly cost of $40 per person. This development could open access far beyond Kenya’s borders. The phased, data-driven structure of Kenya’s rollout has positioned the country as a model for how HIV prevention can evolve to be accessible and equitable and for how protecting public health and reducing poverty can go hand in hand.

– Gonzalo Rodriguez Da Fonte Martins

Gonzalo is based in London, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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3 Ways ‘Moving The Goalposts’ is Empowering Girls in Kenya

Empowering Girls in KenyaEmpowerment means having the confidence, resources and opportunities to make decisions about one’s own life. However, many women in Kenya still face significant barriers to achieving this due to persistent poverty, unequal access to education, restrictive gender norms and limited economic opportunities. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that in rural areas of Kenya only 27.6% of women are considered empowered, while girls are much less likely than boys to complete their education due to factors such as poverty, child marriage and teenage pregnancy.

To address these challenges, the nonprofit organization Moving The Goalposts (MTG) has been using football as a tool for social change since 2001. Founded in Kilifi County, MTG describes itself as “a movement powered by sport, community and purpose.” Through its sports, education and health programs, the organization has reached over 50,000 girls and young women ages 9 to 25 across Kenya. Here are three ways Moving The Goalposts is empowering girls in Kenya.

Building Female Leadership Skills

Moving The Goalposts empowers girls by developing them into leaders within their own communities. The football program trains girls as peer mentors, referees and coaches, giving them the opportunities to develop leadership and communication skills on and off the pitch. There are 6,000 women in the program serving as mentors, supporting younger girls and acting as role models in their communities. These leadership abilities build confidence and encourage girls to use their voice to advocate for their rights in education and community development, as well as improving their future employment opportunities.

This is especially important as gender inequality persists in Kenya. Women’s opportunities take a hit after an early marriage or pregnancy, closing the door to higher education. A lack of affordable, quality child care worsens this cycle. The World Bank states that about 31% of 19-year-old girls are already married or have children, a figure that jumps to 49% among the poorest. Helping girls stay engaged in education is therefore key to MTG’s mission.

Supporting Education and School Retention

Education is one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty, yet in Kenya many women leave school without completing their education. According to the World Bank, in Kenya’s poorest areas, 51.3% of women have no education, compared to a national average of 17%. The MTG education program aims to reduce the number of girls who drop out by supporting their educational development, from primary to secondary school and even through vocational training. MTG has a 90% transition rate from primary to secondary school through its academic program and has supported the education of more than 5,000 girls.

To achieve this, MTG provides essential resources such as school fees and learning materials, allowing girls from low-income backgrounds to continue their education. This also gives them the opportunity to increase their future earning potential and improve outcomes for their families, helping break the cycle of poverty.

Improving Health Knowledge

The program considers access to health care and knowledge a fundamental right and trains peer mentors to educate girls on women’s health. MTG has provided these services to more than 50,000 girls and young women. This support is particularly important as teenage pregnancy remains common among girls living in poorer communities; in Kenya, 21% of women living in the poorest communities reported having experienced a teenage pregnancy. By providing accurate health information and peer support, MTG allows girls to make informed decisions about their futures. Better health outcomes can help girls stay in school, pursue employment opportunities and improve their long-term economic prospects.

Empowering Girls in Kenya

As Kenya continues working toward greater gender equality, organizations such as Moving The Goalposts demonstrate how sport can serve as a powerful tool for social and economic development. By helping girls develop leadership qualities, stay in school and make informed choices about their health and futures, the organization is creating opportunities that extend far beyond the football field. In doing so, MTG is helping thousands of young women in Kenya build brighter futures while contributing to the long-term fight against poverty.

– Emma Wheeler

Emma is based in Valencia, Spain and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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The Impact of USAID Cuts on an HIV-Prevention Program in Kenya

HIV-Prevention Program in KenyaDREAMS CONNECT is a project that aims to educate and empower young women and girls in Kenya through a range of programs and group-based activities that promote sexual health and safety awareness, as well as creating awareness of sexual harassment and violence among women. The name ‘DREAMS’ is an acronym for ‘Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AS-free, Mentored and Safe lives.’ Here is information about DREAMS including how USAID cuts are affecting this HIV-prevention program in Kenya.

Vision

Initiated in October 2021, the project was one of many Hope Worldwide Kenya (HWWK) programs in Mukuru informal settlement in Nairobi funded by the U.S. dating back to 2003, with the aim of preventing HIV among thousands of vulnerable youth, particularly adolescent girls and young women, through a variety of care and support programs. In a documentary commissioned by PBS NewsHour in the U.S., journalists spoke to many young women who came through the program. They tell of being educated on simple but potentially life-saving interventions, such as how to use a condom, in addition to compassionate reminders that each of them has inherent value and worth.

USAID Closure

DREAMS, however, despite its proven successes, is facing an existential crisis due to the shuttering of USAID by the Trump administration in early 2025, which left staff suddenly unemployed and vital funding withdrawn, endangering not just DREAMS but thousands of humanitarian programs worldwide.

Both statistical evidence and personal accounts demonstrate the success of DREAMS’s endeavors. Almost all of the 66,000 women and girls who came through DREAMS remained HIV-free during the three-year program. Stacy Njeri, an 18-year-old woman from Mwiki, Kasarani Sub-county in Nairobi, describes how the program introduced her to a Youth Savings and Loans Association which allowed her to start her own nail salon, a decision she says “changed her life.”

With many women’s enrolment cut short due to foreign aid cuts, however, the concern now is that HIV cases among young women may begin to rise again, and that the cuts will discontinue the salutary work that the organization carries out, not only in preventing the deadly disease, but also in caring for young women and girls and equipping them with vitally important life skills and encouragement. PBS NewsHour’s documentary already reported that some women began to turn to prostitution as a means of supporting themselves following the end of DREAMS.

Future

Yet, the three-year stint of this HIV-prevention program in Kenya has shown that the methods used are highly successful and potentially far-reaching; it is only a matter of repairing the broken aid infrastructure. With the decline of USAID, it remains to be seen whether other countries will step in to fill the humanitarian void. Other wealthy nations like the U.K., France and Germany all responded to the U.S. change in policy by cutting back their own foreign aid expenditure, with the U.K. reducing its ODA (Official Development Assistance Budget) from 0.7% to 0.3% of Gross National Income in order to bolster defense spending. 

It may take some time for a viable solution for DREAMS to materialize, but what the scaling back of U.S. foreign aid has shown is just what kind of valuable and quietly empowering programs in Kenya and around the world are being threatened by an increasingly volatile global humanitarian landscape.

– Tomás Quinn

Tomás is based in Glasgow, Scotland and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Project AI Evidence: 3 Ways This Initiative Tackles Poverty

Project AI EvidencePeople often consider AI a groundbreaking technology that is set to reshape lives in the future, both near and far. In recent times, the technology has drawn increased scrutiny due to its harmful effects, such as its water consumption, disruption of the job market and myriad other issues.

One initiative seeking to reap the benefits of AI is Project AI Evidence (PAIE), which the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) at MIT launched in February 2026. The initiative connects governments, NGOs and tech companies with experts in fields such as economics at MIT. This article outlines three ways Project AI Evidence is working to lift people out of poverty.

1. Closing Gaps in the Classroom

Kenya’s education system faces deep challenges that make personalized learning especially valuable. According to UNICEF, the pupil-to-teacher ratio reaches 77 to one in counties such as Turkana, and roughly nine in 10 children from poor households fail to complete eighth grade. The country also contends with a teacher deficit of more than 90,000, overcrowded classrooms and stark regional inequalities in learning outcomes. Against this backdrop, tools that help teachers tailor instruction to individual students could reshape how millions of children learn.

The education social enterprise EIDU has developed an AI tool in Kenya that caters classroom teaching to the individual needs of students. The tool identifies gaps in student learning and flags areas that require more attention. EIDU’s platform combines structured pedagogy with digital personalized learning content, and the organization has agreements with 46 out of 47 Kenyan counties to provide the platform to all pre-primary schools, with a goal of reaching two million learners by 2026. In India, the NGO Pratham has incorporated AI into its evidence-informed “Teaching at the Right Level” approach to expand personalized learning. J-PAL researchers Daron Acemoglu, Iqbal Dhaliwal and Francisco Gallego will lead studies evaluating both cases, measuring key outcomes such as teacher productivity and student learning.

2. Classroom Gender Bias Reduction

In Italy, researchers are collaborating with the Ministry of Education to test whether AI tools can address classroom gender bias. The research targets gaps in student performance and the subconscious bias educators may hold toward their students based on gender. Project AI Evidence is studying two tools. One helps teachers predict student performance, while the other provides real-time feedback on the diversity of teachers’ classroom decisions.

3. Use of AI in Finding Job Opportunities

Returning to Kenya, the stakes for youth employment are considerable. The Federation of Kenya Employers reports that young people aged 15 to 34 make up roughly 35% of the population but face an unemployment rate of nearly 67%, about five times the national average. More than 1 million young Kenyans enter the labor market each year, many without the skills employers seek. The World Bank places the narrower youth unemployment rate for those aged 15 to 24 at 15.25% in 2025.

Jasmin Baier and J-PAL researcher Christian Meyer, in collaboration with NGOs Swahilipot and Tabiya, are evaluating a career guidance AI tool called Compass. Tabiya has launched Compass as an open-source chatbot that helps job seekers explore and articulate their skills, including those gained through informal work. The tool is designed to recognize capabilities from both formal and informal work experiences and to match job seekers with opportunities suited to their actual skill sets. Pilot programs are running in Kenya, South Africa and Ethiopia, and more than 600 youth on Kenya’s coast have already received training in soft skills and AI through Swahilipot’s programs to boost job prospects. The J-PAL evaluation will measure how the tool changes job search strategies and employment outcomes. The research aims to aid career counsellors rather than replace them.

Why Poverty Is at the Heart of the Initiative

The three projects share a common thread. Each targets a country where poverty, education and employment reinforce one another. In Italy, absolute poverty reached 5.7 million people in 2024, according to the national statistics agency ISTAT. The divide is sharply regional. Households in absolute poverty reached 10.5% in the South compared with 6.5% in the Center, and ISTAT’s data show that the incidence falls significantly as the educational qualification of the household reference person rises. Italian children and young people have borne much of the burden, with more than 1.28 million minors in absolute poverty.

In Kenya, the picture is even starker. According to UNICEF, approximately 1.13 million children of primary school age are not enrolled in school, and hidden costs such as uniforms push many families out of the system entirely. A 2024 peer-reviewed study published in Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education found that the financial burden of school uniforms was among the largest contributors to dropout decisions in Kenya. Access to higher education remains deeply constrained: the World Bank puts Kenya’s tertiary enrollment ratio at around 10% of the relevant age group, and many graduates still find their skills misaligned with labor market needs. Education and employment form a tight loop. Without schooling, young people struggle to find dignified work, and without work, families cannot break cycles of poverty that keep the next generation out of school.

By targeting both ends of this loop, personalizing classroom instruction and connecting job seekers to overlooked opportunities, Project AI Evidence attempts to address poverty at the points where AI tools can realistically intervene.

Conclusion

As AI expands its reach into most facets of modern society, research such as that conducted at Project AI Evidence aims to highlight the positive effects the technology can have on issues such as poverty alleviation through better education, reducing gender-based bias and surfacing job opportunities. Funders, including Google.org, Community Jameel, Canada’s International Development Research Centre, U.K. International Development and Amazon Web Services, provide strong financial backing to expand the research and potentially implement further tools.

J-PAL plans to expand its reach and connect with governments across the globe. The organization aims to achieve its goals responsibly through data-driven scientific measures. With tools such as these, policymakers can draw on new evaluations to address the myriad issues that pertain to global poverty in the years ahead.

– Jamie Noone

Jamie is based in Dublin, Ireland and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr