RFPs: Sustainably Unlocking the Economic Potential of Lake Turkana Programme (Kenya)

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), in collaboration with the County Governments of Turkana and Marsabit, is launching a new initiative titled “Sustainably Unlocking the Economic Potential of Lake Turkana.”

This multi-year programme is being implemented in partnership with UNESCO and financially supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN). It aims to enhance food security and improve the economic well-being of vulnerable populations around Lake Turkana, especially in response to the impacts of climate change.

The programme follows an integrated systems approach to develop the economic potential of the fisheries sector. It will focus on building climate-resilient livelihoods and strengthening the fish value chain, ensuring food and nutrition security, and advancing knowledge, management, and stewardship of local resources.

To ensure long-term impact, the programme will also incorporate cross-cutting themes such as conflict sensitivity, inclusive community engagement, gender equality, youth empowerment, protection mainstreaming, and good governance.

Key areas of specialization for this initiative include conflict sensitivity, emergency preparedness, gender empowerment, monitoring and evaluation, research, data analysis, resource mobilization, capacity development, and youth participation. The programme will also cover food security components such as agricultural inputs, early warning systems, food assistance, and seasonal nutrition assessments.

For livelihoods, the programme will support community mobilization, fisheries and aquaculture, microfinance schemes, self-reliance efforts, and market access for smallholder farmers. Nutrition interventions will also be included to support general health and well-being.

The assignment is set to begin in September 2025 and will run for a duration of 24 months. It will primarily focus on the Turkana and Marsabit counties in Kenya.

WFP invites proposals and innovative ideas from local NGOs and cooperating partners to help drive sustainable development in the region. Proposals will be assessed based on their local engagement, especially experience working in communities around Lake Turkana, technical expertise in livelihood development, and the strength of the proposed partnerships with county governments and the private sector.