Minister Simon Coveney launched the Ireland Kenya Agri-food Strategy on 8th November 2017 during his visit to Kenya

Our Shared Interest: The Ireland/Kenya Agri-food Strategy 2017-2021

The Embassy has led the development of Our Shared Interest: The Ireland/Kenya Agri-food Strategy 2017-2021.  A team comprising the Embassy of Ireland Nairobi, Business Ireland Kenya, Teagasc, Sustainable Food Systems Ireland and Gorta/Self Help Africa oversaw the development of the Strategy, in consultation with a wide range of Kenyan and Irish stakeholders.

Our Shared Interest is based on Ireland's policy priorities as reflected in The Global Island: Ireland Connected, One World One Future, and our Africa Strategy. It is fully consistent with Government of Kenya's plans for agriculture development as outlined in Vision 2030 and the Kenya Agriculture Development Strategy 2010-2020.

The Strategy sets out a medium-term vision for Irish-Kenyan interest in agri-food, encompassing stronger development partnerships and enhanced trade and investment. It identifies the objectives, outcomes and principles of engagement by which inclusive economic growth will be assessed and achieved.  It focuses specifically on agri-food. This is an area in which Ireland has a clear global advantage and a reputation for excellence and expertise and which is of direct relevance to Kenya's ambitions in this sector.

Through this Strategy, the Embassy is pledging its support for Ireland's 'whole-of-government' approach, which sees a potential role for different Government Departments and agencies, as well as the private sector, in supporting its objectives. As such, it provides a coherent framework within which existing and potential new Irish stakeholders can develop and grow their agri-business engagement in Kenya. 

The Strategy includes some innovative and distinctive elements:

• A Team Ireland approach, led by the Embassy, was adopted in developing the strategy. Likewise, its implementation will be overseen by the Embassy (with the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) in cooperation with Enterprise Ireland, Business Ireland Kenya and IFIAD.
• The strategy brings together Ireland's objectives in development cooperation, trade promotion and the development of institutional linkages in a manner that is mutually reinforcing and coherent.
• It recognises the benefit of, and facilitates the planning of, objectives that can bring benefits both to Kenya and to Ireland
• It facilitates the development of public & private partnerships that can work together for sustainable development, consistent with SDG 17.
• Its delivery will be financed through several mechanisms. Resources to be provided by development cooperation, other public funding, private sector investment, funding through investment banks and international financing institutions.