Eldoret, May 23, 2023 (Governor’s Press Service) – The County Government of Turkana and the World Food Programme (WFP) are meeting this week in Eldoret to develop strategic plans which will guide partnership programmes in the county.
The four-day workshop, which began on Monday, is expected to finalize a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organizations, as well as a plan of operation and an Annual Work Plan for the upcoming Financial Year.
Deputy Governor Dr John Erus, who officially opened the workshop today, commended the partnership between the County Government and WFP, saying it has been instrumental in supporting the county’s food security agenda, drought response and the integration programme of refugees and host communities.
“The people of Turkana appreciate the long-term collaboration with WFP and we want to thank the organization for supporting the county drought response and for making a significant contribution to the integration process of refugees and host communities.
He urged the stakeholders in the food security sector to inspire more youth participation in food production, saying that Turkana has the potential to be a food-producing county in the region.
“This generation is ageing very fast. The third generation of Turkana will transform the county if we take a deliberate effort to position the development agenda as a springboard to see that process going forward,” he said.
He added that Turkana had the potential to be a food-producing county in the region with enough land and needed resources to exploit this potential.
Dr Erus, who represented the Governor in the meeting, said the planning documents under development will guide the partnership and help identify priorities, ensuring the success and sustainability of investments. He emphasized the County Government’s commitment to collaboration and strategic partnerships, in line with their nine-point agenda.
“The review of the MoU that we are undertaking today is a significant step in the right direction, and we intend to pursue similar endeavours with other partner organizations operating in Turkana. We aim to ensure that all programs align closely with the priorities of the people of Turkana,” he said.
The workshop is attended by representatives from the County Government, WFP, and other stakeholders. County Executives David Erukudi (Agriculture, Livestock Development and Fisheries), Dr Iris Mariao (Tourism, Culture, Natural Resources and Climate Change) and Elizabeth Loote (Trade) led a team from the county which included a host of Chief Officers and senior other technical staff.
In his remarks, Emmanuel Bigenimana, Deputy Country Director of the World Food Programme, highlighted the importance of adapting to climate change and achieving food security for the population they serve by 2030. He emphasized the need to renew the existing partnership and build upon the achievements and lessons learned thus far.
Mr Bigenimana reaffirmed the commitment of the World Food Programme to supporting food security and nutrition in Turkana County. He stressed the necessity of forging more partnerships to effectively achieve this objective. The World Food Programme is currently completing its strategic plan for the period 2018-2023 and concurrently developing a plan for the next five years. This aligns with the timely development of the next-generation County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP).
He said WFP was dedicated to upholding the principle of “Leave no one behind” by ensuring the inclusion of vulnerable populations. This includes people living in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), women and girls, children and youth, people in informal settlements, and individuals living with disabilities.
