NAIROBI, Kenya- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Government of Japan are joining forces to kick off a vital project aimed at improving water management in Kenya and Rwanda.
Set to benefit 31,375 people, the initiative focuses on addressing water access for both household use and irrigation, a crucial step toward enhancing food security in Eastern Africa.
This project couldn’t come at a better time. As Farayi Zimudzi, FAO’s acting Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa, put it, “The project is timely to support the livelihoods of vulnerable communities… and serve as proof of concept that disastrous floods may be turned into productive use by rehabilitating water infrastructures.”
By converting excess stormwater into stored resources, the initiative will not only mitigate the immediate impacts of flooding but also address root causes that contribute to recurring issues in Kenya and Rwanda.
In Kenya, the focus will be on Migori County, where community water reservoirs will be constructed to store up to 70,000 cubic meters of storm runoff.
This will prevent flooding that could otherwise damage farms, roads, and settlements in lowland areas. The stored water will be used to irrigate over 100 acres of land, helping about 500 households, or 2,500 people, grow nutritious crops, including hybrid rice seeds.
The project will also provide economic opportunities for youth and women through grain threshers, which will be used for rice and cereal processing.
Meanwhile, in Rwanda, the project will rehabilitate essential flood control structures like canals, retention ponds, and culverts in Rutsiro and Burera Districts.
These efforts aim to support 5,775 households, benefiting a total of 28,875 people. Beyond infrastructure, the initiative will raise awareness about water-related disaster risks and preparedness, ensuring communities are equipped to respond to future challenges.
Eastern Africa continues to grapple with food insecurity, with an estimated 41 million people at risk.
The region faces the aftermath of extreme climate events, including a historic six-season drought in the Horn of Africa and severe flooding.
Tetsuto Inagaki, from Japan’s Mission to the African Union, expressed confidence in the partnership with FAO, stating that the project will help vulnerable communities overcome these challenges and alleviate food insecurity.
By rehabilitating critical water infrastructure, the FAO-Japan collaboration sets the stage for a more resilient agricultural landscape in both Kenya and Rwanda.
It’s a significant step toward stabilizing food supplies and empowering communities to take control of their futures.
