Stakeholders have officially launched the ProGRESA Project in Garissa County, marking the start of an 18-month initiative aimed at strengthening food security, disaster risk management, and protection services for vulnerable communities in Garissa and Tana River counties.
The project, formally known as Protection, Risk Management and Food Security in Kenya, is funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and will be implemented in partnership with CESVI, WHH Kenya, and the Pastoralist Girls Initiative.
The launch, held on May 20, 2026, brought together county government officials, national government representatives, humanitarian agencies, and development partners to align efforts toward building safer and more resilient communities affected by poverty, drought, and climate shocks.
The initiative will focus on three key areas: livelihoods and food security, disaster risk reduction and early warning systems, and protection services.
Through these interventions, the project seeks to improve the ability of communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from recurring shocks.
According to the implementing partners, ProGRESA will target more than 19,400 people, with direct support to 600 vulnerable households.
Priority groups include women, youth, and persons with disabilities, who are often disproportionately affected by drought, food insecurity, and protection risks.
The project will promote climate-smart agriculture to improve household food production and resilience to changing weather patterns.
It will also support Village Savings and Loan Associations to strengthen community-level financial inclusion and help households build savings, access credit, and invest in livelihoods.
In addition, ProGRESA will support community disaster risk reduction planning and strengthen early warning systems to improve preparedness for climate-related emergencies.
Protection services will also form a major component of the initiative, ensuring that vulnerable groups have better access to support mechanisms and safer community structures.
The launch was attended by representatives from Garissa County Government departments including; Agriculture, Special Programmes, Health, Water, and Economic Planning. National Government representatives and the National Drought Management Authority also participated in the event.
Development and humanitarian partners present included the World Food Programme, Islamic Relief Kenya, Save the Children Kenya and Madagascar, and the Kenya Red Cross.
Stakeholders said the multi-sectoral participation reflected the importance of coordinated action in addressing the complex challenges facing communities in arid and semi-arid areas.
The Pastoralist Girls Initiative said the launch marked an important step toward building stronger, safer, and more resilient communities in Garissa and Tana River.
As implementation begins, the ProGRESA Project is expected to contribute to improved livelihoods, stronger community preparedness, enhanced protection services, and greater resilience among households facing recurrent climate and economic shocks.