The county government of Garissa has moved to deepen its partnership with UNICEF in a bid to strengthen service delivery and build resilience among vulnerable communities across the county.
This follows a courtesy visit by a high-level UNICEF delegation led by Deputy Country Representative Mahboob Ahmed Bajwa to the Garissa County Government, where both sides discussed strategic areas of cooperation and opportunities for expanded collaboration.
The meeting focused on key sectors including water, sanitation and hygiene, education, health, youth, and gender programming.
Discussions also emphasized sustainable service delivery, institutional strengthening, and long-term resilience-building for communities facing social and economic vulnerabilities.
Garissa County officials thanked UNICEF for its consistent investment and long-standing support, describing the agency as a dependable and strategic development partner.
They noted that UNICEF has played an important role in both emergency response and long-term systems strengthening in the county.
The county leadership said the partnership has been critical in supporting essential services, especially in areas affected by recurrent shocks, limited access to basic services, and the needs of vulnerable populations.
The meeting brought together officials from the Department of Water Services, county water utilities GAWASCO and GARUWASCO, and representatives from the departments of Health, Education, and Economic Planning.
County officials said the broad participation reflected Garissa’s integrated and multi-sectoral approach to development and service delivery, aimed at ensuring that interventions are coordinated and responsive to community needs.
The involvement of water utilities was particularly significant as WASH remains one of the priority areas of cooperation between Garissa County and UNICEF.
Strengthening water and sanitation services is expected to improve health outcomes, support schools and households, and enhance resilience in underserved areas.
The discussions also explored ways to improve education, health, youth empowerment, and gender programming through stronger coordination between county departments and development partners.
UNICEF’s engagement with Garissa County is expected to continue supporting both immediate humanitarian needs and long-term development priorities.
The county government said it remains committed to working closely with UNICEF and other partners to strengthen institutions, improve service delivery, and ensure that vulnerable communities receive sustainable and inclusive support.