RTI International and USAID to improve agricultural market systems and reduce poverty and malnutrition in Kenya

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC— The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is partnering with RTI International on a new cooperative agreement to help increase agricultural production and reduce poverty and malnutrition in Kenya.  The Kenya Feed the Future Crops and Dairy Market Systems Development Activity will spur competitive, resilient market systems in Kenya’s horticulture and dairy sectors. The project is part of Feed the Future, America’s initiative to combat global hunger and poverty.

Building on RTI’s more than 40 years in international development and experience across more than 75 countries, the effort will lead to sustainable agriculture-led economic growth, strengthened resilience among people and systems and a well-nourished Kenyan population, especially women and children. The project has a lifetime budget of approximately $65 million, including $5 million in cost-sharing and is expected to run from October 2017 through September 2022.

“As a world-renowned organization working to improve the human condition, we are pleased to bring our expertise, global footprint and implementation excellence to bear to help end hunger, poverty and malnutrition through inclusive agricultural development,” said RTI International President and CEO E. Wayne Holden, Ph. D. “The Kenya Feed the Future Crops and Dairy Market Systems Development Activity complements RTI’s robust market systems facilitation portfolio for food security and agriculture. The work will support the Kenyan people and also contribute toward enhancing economic opportunities and security for the American people.”

Aligned with the U.S. Government’s 2016 Global Food Security Strategy, the Kenya Feed the Future Crops and Dairy Market Systems Development Activity supports five priority areas to improve the agricultural landscape in Kenya:

• A competitive, inclusive and resilient agricultural market system
• Diverse agricultural production and improved productivity
• An improved policy environment for market systems development
• Integration of youth into agricultural market systems
• Collaborative action and learning for market systems change

RTI’s partners on the project include East Africa Market Development Associates, Open Capital Advisors, the International Livestock Research Institute, Farm Input Promotions Africa, Making Cents International, and the Busara Center for Behavioral Economics.