Nairobi, Kenya, 12 May 2026 — The United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, in partnership with the Government of Japan, today launched two new projects aimed at strengthening sexual and reproductive health and rights, preventing and responding to gender-based violence, and empowering women and young people in Kenya.
Funded through the Government of Japan’s Supplementary Budget and the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) framework, the projects will directly benefit more than 195,000 people in Nairobi, Narok, Turkana, and Garissa counties over the next year.
The projects will support training for frontline service providers, strengthen accountability and survivor support systems, improve access to menstrual health products, and provide livelihood and economic empowerment opportunities for women and youth, including GBV and FGM survivors.
They include an initiative aimed at strengthening access to integrated health and protection services for refugees and host communities in Kakuma and Dadaab municipalities, which is expected to benefit 107,136 people and support peaceful coexistence through improved access to quality sexual and reproductive health information, maternal health care, family planning services, psychosocial support, and survivor-centred GBV prevention and response services.
The second initiative, “Kenya-Japan ARISE: Action for Resilience, Innovation, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights and Empowerment for Women and Youth,” will leverage technology and innovative digital solutions to reach 88,500 adolescents, youth and women in Nairobi and Narok Counties with sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence prevention, menstrual health management and economic empowerment support services. The initiative will also foster collaboration between Kenyan and Japanese youth, researchers and private sector actors to co-design solutions addressing harmful practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM), adolescent pregnancy and technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
Speaking during the launch, H.E. Hiroshi Matsuura, Ambassador of Japan to Kenya, said, “Japan is proud to partner with UNFPA and the Government of Kenya in advancing the health, dignity, and empowerment of women and young people. These projects reflect Japan’s commitment to human security, which is the guiding principle for Japan’s assistance, aimed at empowering individuals and communities, especially the most vulnerable, to live with dignity and security.”
Dr. Pilar de la Corte Molina, UNFPA Kenya Deputy Representative and Officer in Charge, emphasized the urgency of investing in women and young people, particularly in underserved and crisis-affected areas. “These projects come at a critical moment for Kenya, where too many women and girls still face barriers to accessing lifesaving sexual and reproductive health information and services. Through the generous support of the Government of Japan, UNFPA and partners will strengthen sexual and reproductive health and protection systems, expand opportunities for young people, and support communities to build resilience.”
Kenya continues to face significant sexual and reproductive health and protection challenges. The country’s maternal mortality ratio remains high at 355 deaths per 100,000 live births, while adolescent pregnancy and gender-based violence continue to disproportionately affect women and girls, especially in informal settlements, arid and semi-arid counties, and refugee-hosting areas.
As of March 2026, Kenya hosts one of the world's largest refugee populations, totaling 841,207 individuals. In recognition of the scale of this humanitarian commitment, the Government, in coordination with development partners, established the Shirika Plan. The Japan Supplementary Budget Emergency Humanitarian Assistance will contribute towards the Shirika Plan, which is designed to provide essential services to both refugees and host communities, with health and protection identified as paramount priorities.
The projects will be implemented in collaboration with county governments, Kenya Red Cross Society, Africa Coordinating Centre for Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation (ACCAF), and Japanese private sector partners, including Unicharm Corporation and Pigeon Baby Lab Kenya, Nagasaki University, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
