About UNDP in Kenya

UNDP began operations in Kenya in November 1964. UNDP was at the time known as the Technical Assistance Board (TAB). The Resident Representative of the TAB, Mr. Chidzero, signed on behalf of other agencies for the commencement of operations in Kenya.

Thematic areas

UNDP operates projects under four strategic programme priority areas:

1. Devolution and accountability;
2. Productive sectors and trade;
3. Environmental sustainability, renewable energy and sustainable land management; and
4. Community security, cohesion and resilience.

Cross-cutting initiatives are implemented through the Strategic Policy Advisory Unit, the UN Volunteers Country Office, the Communications Unit and the Country Director’s Support Team.

Country Programme Document (CPD)

The Country Programme is closely aligned to the Government of Kenya (GoK) Second Medium Term and UNDP's Strategic Plan. Our programmes are designed to address the interlinked issues of poverty, inequality and exclusion towards achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

Decisions are made by the Resident Representative on the side of UNDP and by the Minister for Finance from the part of the Government.

United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF)

The 2018-2022 UNDAF has been developed according to the UN principles of 'Delivering as One' (DaO), aimed at ensuring Goverment ownership, demonstrated through UNDAF’s full alignment to Goverment priorities and planning cycles, as well as internal coherence among UN agencies and programmes operating in Kenya.

Developed under the leadership of the Government, the UNDAF reflects the efforts of all UN agencies working in Kenya and is shaped by five UNDG programming principles: Human Rights-based approach, gender equality, environmental sustainability, capacity development, and results-based management.

The United Nations Country Team, under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator, is responsible for the implementation of the UNDAF. Under the DaO “One Leader” approach, the Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team are responsible for the oversight of the Results Groups, the Operations Management Team and the Country Communications Group. The National Steering Committee oversees directly the One Budgetary Framework and Programme.

Results

• County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs) supported by UNDP, saw 100% of the 21 select county governments continue to implement their CIDPs and budgets. This has helped to increase the level of public confidence in devolved governance from 69.7% in April 2015 to 78% by September 2016.
• UNDP supported the electoral reform process led by the Joint Parliamentary Select Committee, which culminated in the enactment of the Election Laws (Amendment) Act 2016 and Electoral Offences Act 2016. These are some of the processes contributed to enhanced public confidence in IEBC’s preparedness for the 2017 General Elections from 21% in June 2016 to 35% in September 2016.
• UNDP supported the re-establishment of the Uwiano (cohesion) Platform for Peace, which brings together key stakeholders from the government, civil society and private sector to monitor peace and security processes.
• Further, violent extremism remains a major threat to Kenya’s security. The government launched the National Strategy to Counter-Violence Extremism, which articulates the country’s prevention efforts against terrorism and violent extremism.
• Key attention was also directed to frontier counties, with UNDP convening a seminal consultative forum between the national government and the Frontier Counties Development Commission to enable dialogue on priority actions to address issues of endemic drought, violent extremism and poor service delivery. 
• In addition, Kenya with the support of UNDP, reinforced its global commitment to environmental conservation and made progress with regards to environmental sustainability, renewable energy and land management. The government approved the Climate Change Act (2016) and revised the Climate Change Policy.
• Kenya further demonstrated its global commitment to environmental conservation where 105 tonnes of ivory (from 6,500 elephants) and 1.35 tons of rhino horn (from 450 rhinos) were set aflame to signal commitment to animal conservation by fighting illegal poaching.