The World Food Programme (WFP) is seeking to fill a funding gap of Sh4.3 billion ($33.5 million) to support its food aid and humanitarian operations in Kenya for the first half of 2025.
According to WFP’s financial projections, while the agency has been allocated Sh12.5 billion ($97 million) for the whole year, it estimates that it will need $130.5 million in the first six months alone, creating a significant gap between available funds and actual needs.
The organisation fears the funding gap could affect critical programmes that support vulnerable populations.
The United Nations-backed humanitarian organisation is also working to meet its overall funding requirement of Sh44.98 billion ($348.7 million) for its Country Strategic Plan (2023-27), against the backdrop of uncertainties over USAid funding.
“Through cash-based transfers, the World Food Programme has distributed $4.8 million(Sh619.2 million), enabling families to buy food and essential items. However, to continue its operations, the organisation faces a funding gap of $130.5 million(Sh16.85 billion) for the first half of 2025, which could affect its ability to maintain critical programmes,” WFP said in its latest country brief.
The shortfall threatens several key initiatives, including food distribution, school feeding programmes, and disaster response. Despite these challenges, WFP said it has already distributed 2,931 metric tonnes of food commodities, providing essential assistance to vulnerable communities.
“The worst living conditions are in the eight arid and semi-arid counties (ASAL) of Turkana, Marsabit, Samburu, Isiolo, Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, and Tana River, which are underdeveloped, prone to drought and affected by frequent tribal and resource-based conflicts. The number of people in need of food assistance in 2024 is one million, an improvement from two million in February 2024. Approximately 760,488 children aged six to 59 months and 112,401 pregnant and lactating women and girls are at risk of acute malnutrition,” the brief says.
This challenge is compounded by a recent executive order issued by the US, which imposes stricter regulations on financial flows, international financial transactions, and donor contributions to global organisations.
This policy has created uncertainty among some of WFP's key donors, particularly corporate and philanthropic partners, who now face additional compliance requirements before committing funds.
The Executive Order has also affected multilateral funding efforts, as financial institutions and government agencies reassess their engagement strategies to align with the new regulatory landscape.
For WFP, this means an urgent need to diversify its funding sources while ensuring compliance with evolving financial regulations. It also puts additional pressure on traditional donor governments, which may now be expected to fill funding gaps left by private sector reluctance.
