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Kenya is set to redirect about KSh52 billion from existing World Bank-funded projects to tackle urgent climate and health emergencies.
The funding, equivalent to roughly $400 million, will be channelled through the Kenya Contingent Emergency Response Project as the country prepares for multiple risks.
Funds Will Not Be New Borrowing
The emergency allocation will come through the World Bank’s Rapid Response Option, allowing part of undisbursed project financing to be redirected when an eligible crisis occurs.
This means the KSh51.96 billion is not being presented as an entirely new borrowing package, but as a reallocation of existing World Bank financing.
The arrangement is expected to provide the government with resources that can be deployed more quickly when emergencies affect vulnerable communities.
Five Areas to Receive Support
The emergency programme will focus on five broad areas, including agricultural and livestock support, water and sanitation, health emergencies, cash transfers and coordination.
Farmers and pastoral communities could benefit from support for agricultural inputs and animal health, while emergency water interventions will target communities affected by climate-related shocks.
Health-related funding will also be used to strengthen emergency preparedness and response as disease outbreaks continue to pose risks across the region.
Cash Support for Vulnerable Households
Part of the funding is expected to be directed towards cash transfers for households affected by emergencies.
The programme comes as Kenya faces overlapping risks linked to drought, flooding, disease outbreaks and disruptions affecting essential supplies.
The World Bank has described the Contingent Emergency Response Project as a facility designed to strengthen Kenya’s ability to respond rapidly when major emergencies occur.
The six-year project can be activated more than once, with each activation designed to address a specific crisis over an approximately 12-month period.
The latest financing therefore provides Kenya with an emergency mechanism that can be activated when qualifying shocks threaten livelihoods, essential services and vulnerable households.
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