Sida's work in Kenya
Sweden’s development cooperation with Kenya helps to reduce poverty, strengthen human rights, create economic opportunities and promote sustainable management of natural resources and the climate. Sida supports a more inclusive, equal and sustainable society in which more people have the opportunity to shape their own lives.
Sida’s support in Kenya 2025
Why does Sida work in Kenya?
A country with great potential
Kenya is one of Africa’s largest economies and a key regional player in trade, innovation and for stability in East Africa. The country has made significant progress in economic development, digitalisation and entrepreneurship. At the same time, major challenges remain. Many people are unable to benefit from the growth and economic opportunities that this development creates.
Disparities and inequality
Despite economic progress, many people live in poverty and there is a high level of inequality. The disparities between urban and rural areas, as well as between women and men, are significant. Unemployment is high, particularly among young people. Corruption, limited accountability and human rights violations hamper development and erode people’s trust in public institutions. The media, human rights defenders and civil society face restrictions and pressure.
Climate change and natural resources
Kenya has a rich natural capital, with important natural resources and unique biodiversity that are central to people’s livelihoods and the country’s economy. At the same time, the country is highly vulnerable to climate change. Recurring droughts, floods and other extreme weather events affect people’s living conditions and livelihoods. Competition for land, water and other natural resources also contributes to increased tensions and conflicts.
Examples of what Sida contributes to:
Climate adaptation and natural resources
Sida supports initiatives that strengthen people’s resilience to climate change through climate adaptation, sustainable natural resource management, biodiversity and renewable energy.
Economic inclusion and jobs
Sida contributes to increased employment and better livelihood opportunities through support for vocational training, entrepreneurship, trade and small businesses, with a particular focus on young people, women and refugees.
Democracy and social protection
Sida supports efforts to promote human rights, gender equality and democratic participation, and strengthen social protection systems and access to basic public services for vulnerable groups.
Sida’s support to Kenya
Development cooperation in Kenya builds resilience – for people, the economy and the climate. Aid is also channeled into conflict prevention, anti-corruption and trade – areas that are important at a regional level too. A stable Kenya benefits far more than just its own population and national interests.
Sida works alongside a range of actors, including the World Bank, Kenyan authorities, the UN, civil society organisations and research institutes, to help Kenya achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Through Sida, Sweden supports the green transition and the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement through both emissions reductions and climate adaptation. The development cooperation contributes to, amongst other things, people’s increased access to renewable electricity and to ensure that natural resources are used in a more sustainable way.
Here are some examples of programs and projects that Sida supports:
Sida has an environment team that works with embassies in the region, the private sector, government agencies and Business Sweden to strengthen environmental and climate work. One example is the Cleantech platform, which connects Swedish and Kenyan companies to promote energy efficiency and reduced emissions. This initiative contributes to sustainable growth and enhanced competitiveness in sectors such as the tea industry.
The program Financing of Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) is implemented by the World Bank together with Kenyan authorities at national and local level. The program has achieved good results by financing local climate measures that strengthen resilience against climate change and natural disasters. The support has strengthened capacity at the county level, contributed to Kenya’s decentralized climate finance and promoted participation, democracy and equality at the local level
About the program: Financing Locally-Led Climate Action, at the Worldbank webpage
Kenya is home to unique wildlife and important natural resources that are vital to both people’s livelihoods and the country’s economy. Through its support for the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), Sida helps to protect biodiversity and strengthen people’s livelihoods. These initiatives promote sustainable land use, reduce conflicts between people and wildlife, and increase local communities’ opportunities to benefit from the economic value generated by nature conservation.
Sida supports the green transition in Kenya and Africa through initiatives carried out in collaboration with UNIDO and other partners. Through EELA (Energy Efficiency for Sustainable Livelihoods in Africa), the Industry Clean Tech Platform (ICTP) and LIFT (Leveraging Investments and Finance for a Green Transition), access to climate finance, technical expertise and strategic partnerships for investments in energy efficiency, electrification and other clean technologies is being strengthened. These initiatives help to mobilise private capital and promote competitive and sustainable industrial development.
About EELA on the programme’s website
Through a guarantee to I&M Bank, Sida is helping to increase funding for investments that support Kenya’s green transition. The guarantee enables lending to companies and projects in areas such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable transport, green buildings and water management. By sharing the risk with the bank, Sida is mobilising private capital and creating better conditions for investments that reduce emissions, strengthen climate adaptation and contribute to Kenya’s climate targets.
Sida supports work to promote human rights, democracy, gender equality and greater accountability in Kenya. By supporting civil society and human rights defenders, these initiatives help to strengthen people’s ability to claim their rights and participate in social development. Here are some examples of programs and projects supported by Sida:
Through Diakonia and ForumCiv, Sida supports civil society organisations working for gender equality, human rights and greater opportunities for citizens to hold decision-makers to account. This support helps to increase awareness of rights and strengthens democratic participation. Sida also supports human rights defenders through the National Coalition for Human Rights Defenders (NCHRD), which works to protect individuals and organisations promoting human rights in Kenya.
Sida’s contributes to a rule of law that treats all citizens equally and complies with laws and regulations. This is done, for example, through the International Development Law Organisation (IDLO), which cooperates with public authorities.
Through the International Development Law Organisation (IDLO), Sida supports efforts to improve access to justice and strengthen institutions under the rule of law. These initiatives help to strengthen the legal system’s capacity to treat people equally before the law and to increase people’s access to justice.
Through the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW), Sida supports work to promote gender equality, women’s rights and greater participation in political and economic processes. These initiatives also help to combat gender-based violence and strengthen women’s ability to exercise their rights.
Sida supports cooperation between Kenyan and Swedish public authorities to strengthen the capacity of public institutions and improve public services.
One example is the collaboration between Statistics Sweden (SCB) and the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), which contributes to the development of reliable and useful statistics, including gender statistics, that can form the basis for policy development and socio-economic planning.
Sida contributes to inclusive economic development in Kenya by strengthening people’s ability to earn a living, participate in the economy and benefit from society’s development. The initiatives focus in particular on groups at risk of being excluded from the labour market and economic growth.
Through support for civil society, entrepreneurship and increased economic participation, Sida helps to create more jobs, strengthen livelihoods and reduce inequality, particularly for women and young people.
Here are some examples of programs and projects supported by Sida:
The dairy sector is a key source of livelihoods and employment in Kenya, but many small-scale producers have limited access to knowledge, finance and markets.
Sida supports sustainable and profitable milk production through a partnership with UNIDO and Tetra Pak. The program helps small-scale farmers to increase productivity, improve milk quality and boost their incomes.
Through training and advice on entrepreneurship and sustainable production methods, the program particularly strengthens the opportunities for women and young people to access markets and financial services. The work contributes to increased food security and better livelihood opportunities.
About the Pathways to Profitable Dairy Farming program
Sida supports improved trading conditions in Kenya through a partnership with Trademark Africa. The initiative strengthens the trade and investment climate, streamline trade processes and increase businesses’ opportunities to grow and create jobs.
Through the KETEI program, Sida supports sustainable trade infrastructure, climate-smart trade solutions and increased resilience among small and medium-sized enterprises owned by women and young people. This work contributes to greener trade and enhanced competitiveness in Kenya and the region.
Sida supports the regional SWIFT (Swedish Initiative for Facilitating Trade in Africa) program, which works to reduce trade barriers and make trade in Africa simpler and more efficient. In Kenya, the support focuses on the LAPSSET trade corridor, which links Kenya with Ethiopia and South Sudan.
These efforts contribute to smoother cross-border trade, particularly at the Moyale border crossing between Kenya and Ethiopia, which facilitates trade and economic development in the region.
About the Swedish Initiative for Facilitating Trade in Africa (SWIFT) program – TradeMark Africa
Kenya is home to over 850,000 refugees and asylum seekers. Sida’s work on migration in the country aims to strengthen protection for people fleeing their homes and create better opportunities for refugees and host communities to live, work and develop together. The aid focuses on inclusion, livelihoods and sustainable solutions, and supports the development of asylum systems and the implementation of Kenya’s strategy for receiving people who have fled their homes, which aims, amongst other things, to improve refugees’ access to work, education, healthcare and social services. It is also intended to boost economic development for displaced people and for the populations of the communities to which they have fled.
Many displaced people have limited access to finance, work and other economic opportunities, despite the fact that, under Kenyan law, they have the right to set up and run businesses.
Through its partnership with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Sida supports entrepreneurship, financial inclusion and livelihood opportunities for refugee population and host communities. The program also includes a guarantee scheme in partnership with KCB Bank, which increases access to finance for entrepreneurs who would otherwise find it difficult to obtain loans.
Read about the Danish Refugee Councils work in Kenya on the organisation’s website
Sida supports the the work of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to strengthen the protection and inclusion of refugees living in the country’s refugee camps in Dadaab and Kukuma. This work aims to provide people with better opportunities to support themselves and participate in society alongside host communities.
Updated: July 1, 2026