Emer Higgins
Ceist:449. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the way that the Irish embassy in Kenya is delivering the Irish Aid programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13364/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 10 March 2021
Ceisteanna (449)
Freagraí scríofa
The Government’s policy for international development, ‘A Better World’, launched in February 2019, commits to scaling Ireland’s investment across four policy priorities: gender equality; reducing humanitarian need; climate action and strengthening governance.
This policy was complemented, in November 2019, by the Government’s Strategy for Africa to 2025, which builds on Ireland’s long history of engagement in the continent and commits to working with African countries in their efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, with a particular focus on reaching those furthest behind first. In May 2020, an OECD review recognised the excellence of Irish Aid, Ireland’s international development programme, which helps Ireland play a leading role advocating for poverty reduction, channelling our assistance to where it is needed most.
The Embassy of Ireland in Kenya has three pillars of development focus: 1) trade promotion and private sector engagement with a focus on women’s economic empowerment; 2) implementation of the Ireland Kenya Agri-Food Strategy; and 3) promotion of opportunities for youth and women through the Young Scientists Kenya (YSK) Initiative, and gender/gender based violence interventions. In 2021, the Embassy will also focus on strengthening governance in response to the evolving elections landscape in Kenya.
A highlight of Kenya’s development cooperation programme has been the flagship Young Scientists Kenya initiative, of which President Kenyatta is patron. In 2021, the Embassy will continue to support YSK’s efforts to reach youth in all 47 counties, and in particular the most disadvantaged. In 2020, YSK, with the Embassy’s support, was able to pivot online following the COVID-19 outbreak and continue its activities virtually, reaching 13,000 students directly before the outbreak COVID-19, and subsequently more than 10,000 through online outreach.
To implement the Ireland Kenya Agri-Food Strategy, the Embassy will work in partnership with Irish and Kenyan institutions focused on dairy, fisheries and potato initiatives which benefit smallholder farmers, in particular female farmers, as well as supporting climate change adaptation. In 2020, 3,827 smallholder farmers were trained on good agricultural practices and 197 ‘farmer field business schools’ were established which have improved farmer income and enhanced awareness on finance and credit.
In 2020, Irish Aid funding was also allocated to urgent humanitarian needs arising from COVID-19. This included supporting a social safety nets project providing cash transfers to vulnerable households in urban settlements implemented by an NGO consortium that included Concern. Additionally, the Embassy provided small grants to organisations addressing the impacts of COVID-19 on gender based violence and supporting female traders to protect their small businesses.