Rimini, 22 January 2024 – The 45th edition of the International Ice Cream, Pastry, Artisan Bakery and Coffee Exhibition (SIGEP) has begun at the Rimini exhibition centre. Thanks to the collaboration between the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and Italian Trade Office (ITA/ICE) offices in Nairobi, a representation of six coffee cooperatives, part of the entrusted initiative "Revamping the Gourmet Coffee Production in Kenya" (AID 11767), is present at the fair, to promote coffee Kenyan on foreign markets and foster connections between coffee growers' cooperatives and buyers. Yesterday, the members of the cooperatives have already paid a visit to an Italian roaster, to understand better the technologies used, the required standards and the operating methods of the Italian roasters.

During the days of the exhibition, there will be a broad vision of the role of the Agency and, in particular, of the intervention carried out in the coffee sector in Kenya. In fact, coffee tastings from the cooperatives participating in the initiative and B2B moments with potential interested parties and buyers are planned.

The ITA/ICE Agency is collaborating with AICS to optimize the project results, creating opportunities for direct meetings between the cooperatives and the Italian roasters/producers, potentially interested in directly acquiring the selected green coffee and high-quality from the Cooperative themselves.

The cultivation of coffee in Kenya, mainly Arabica, dates back to the beginning of the last century and for a long time represented one of the first national exports and a constant and reliable source of livelihood for millions of families; today it is estimated that there are six million people who work directly and indirectly around coffee. However, this cultivation has progressively lost importance over the last 30 years.

Now the initiative financed by Italian cooperation and implemented by the NGO Cefa, in partnership with Avsi and E4Impact, aims to exploit the unexpressed potential of the sector by involving 21 cooperatives in seven counties, for a total of around 45,000 farmers.

“Our commitment in the coffee sector, an Italian excellence, is an example of the attention that the Nairobi office of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation dedicates to the Planet pillar of the 2030 Agenda, through a 'climate-smart' approach that it allows us to enhance and make the coffee supply chain sustainable”, says the owner of the Kenyan branch of Aics, Giovanni Grandi. These measures include correct pruning and irrigation, and fertilization through compost, to improve the yield and quality of the plants, while at the same time enhancing their resistance to climate change and diseases.

During the fair, there will be three meetings organized by AICS and ICE aimed at the public:

Sunday 21 January, 3pm – 3.15pm | Coffee Arena – TED TALK AICS/ARABIKA “A journey through Kenya through the flavors of coffee: cup profiles, olfactory notes and hints of excellence.”

Tuesday 23 January, 4.00pm – 4.45pm | Choco Arena – TED TALK AICS/ARABIKA “From bean to cup: how Kenya and Italy collaborate to revive the production of quality coffee.”

Wednesday 24 January, 1.00pm – 2.00pm | Vision Plaza – Panel “Partnership in the coffee supply chain: challenges, prospects and role of the Italian system”.

The event on Wednesday 24 January includes the participation of the Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation Marco Riccardo Rusconi, the Director General of the ICE Lorenzo Galanti and Anthony Muriithi, Agriculture Attaché of the Embassy of Kenya in Italy.
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Nairobi, 07 June 2023 – On the sidelines of the Second Assembly of UN Habitat currently underway at the United Nations in Nairobi, the Ambassador of Italy in Kenya and Permanent Representative to UNEP and UN Habitat, Roberto Natali, and the Director of UN Habitat's Global Solutions Division, Rafael Tuts, signed the agreements to kick off the “Waste Wise Korogocho Chapter” project. The two-year initiative is financed by the Italian Cooperation and implemented by UN Habitat.
The event saw the presence of the Undersecretary of State at the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, Hon. Claudio Barbaro, of the Secretary of Housing of the Ministry of Land, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development of Kenya, Said Athman, and Giovanni Grandi, Head of the Regional Office of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) in Nairobi.

The project aims to start a sustainable waste management system in order to improve the social, health and economic conditions of the inhabitants of Korogocho, one of the largest informal settlements in the Kenyan capital. In recent years, the same area has benefited from redevelopment interventions by the Italian Cooperation as part of the Italian-Kenyan debt conversion programme, for a total value of approximately 46 million euros.

As Ambassador Natali said, "The initiative represents a further example of the partnership with UN-Habitat and with the Kenyan authorities, aimed at greater sustainability of urban areas from an environmental perspective. Thanks to the funding of the Waste Wise-Korogocho project, there will be a further positive impact in a neighborhood where Italy's commitment has been continuous, concretely changing the lives of those who unfortunately still live in precarious conditions today". The words of the Ambassador were echoed by what was also expressed by Undersecretary Barbaro, regarding this example of cooperation "perfectly in line with the issues we are addressing in this session of the Assembly" of UN Habitat, which will "positively affect the health of people and on an expansion of their job opportunities”.

Dr Grandi said: “This initiative will introduce a pilot approach to solid waste management in Nairobi, which we hope can be replicated elsewhere. The long-term goal is to work with the private sector, formal and informal, to build a sustainable waste supply chain in Korogocho and Kenya."

Secretary Athman and Director Tuts both expressed heartfelt thanks to Italy for the support, stating, the first, that "the intervention is perfectly in line with the priorities of the Kenyan government" and, the second, that this "represents a powerful testament to the shared vision, values and goals that unite us and underscores our commitment to sustainable development in Kenya by promoting the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Mombasa, 17 May 2023 – The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (Aics) today proceeded with the official delivery of 26 boats, acquired through the 'Go Blue' Program financed by the European Union, to the governors of the Counties of Mombasa, Kilifi and Lamu, who have committed to transfer them to fishermen five cooperatives ('Beach Management Unit') distributed on the counties bordering the Indian Ocean in Kenya. The ceremony, which was attended by the Head of the Nairobi Office of Aics, Giovanni Grandi, was attended by the Vice-President of Kenya, Rigathi Gachagua and the Representative of the European Union in Kenya, Henriette Geiger, at the head of a Delegation of ten Ambassadors of as many EU member states, together with Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Mines, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Salim Mvurya, as well as the three Governors of the partner counties.

In Kenya, the shortage of boats and fishing equipment available to community organizations that manage fisheries locally, the Beach Management Units, forces fishermen to turn to intermediaries for boat rentals, often at high costs. Thanks to funding from the European Union, Italian cooperation through Go Blue is intervening in the weakest phases of the artisanal fishing chain: a series of interventions is planned, including infrastructural works, training for fishermen, the introduction of a labelling system that certifies the quality of the fish on the market.

'The delivery of the boats represents a milestone for the Italian component of Go Blue', said Giovanni Grandi, owner of the Aics office in Nairobi. 'We believe that this can increase the activities and income of the partner cooperatives. We are also working together with our technical partner CIHEAM Bari on the design of a revolving fund-like boat management scheme, which will allow supplied vessels to generate capital and enable fishermen to acquire additional boats. It is our shared responsibility to ensure that the resources of the blue economy are used in the most sustainable way,' he concluded.

'Go Blue has put coastal communities and their needs at the heart of our interventions, with its three different interconnected components, all aimed at achieving sustained economic growth, protecting the environment and adapting to challenges related to urbanisation', declared the European Union Representative in Kenya, Henriette Geiger. 'The European Union is giving central importance to the development of the blue economy, and we are present to provide our support'.

At the conclusion of the event, the Vice-President of Kenya Rigathi Gachagua wanted to thank the European Union 'for the great support it is giving to our country and to our people. We don't take that for granted and we're very grateful for that."

Nairobi, 31st of May 2023 – The Ambassador of Italy to Kenya, Roberto Natali, and UN Women Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Dr. Maxime Houinato, signed this morning the Agreement to kick-start the project “Let it not Happen Again: Safeguarding the Rights of GBV Survivors through Access to Justice”, a 3-year initiative worth 1,8 Million EUR (approximately 268 Million KES) funded by the Italian Cooperation and implemented by UN WOMEN in partnership with OHCHR. The event counted on the presence of Ms. Veronica Nduva, Principal Secretary for the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action of Kenya, Mr. Giovanni Grandi, Head of the Regional Office of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Nairobi, Mr. Anthony Ngororano, UN Resident Coordinator ad interim, Ms. Anna Mutavati, UN WOMEN Country Representative for Kenya, representatives from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Right (OHCHR), from the National Police Service and from the civil society.
The initiative, that will be realized in the counties of Nairobi, Kisumu, Kilifi, Isiolo, Bungoma and Vihiga. It will support the implementation of policy reforms and the strengthening of relevant institutions it will focus on women empowerment, the recognition of the role and rights of women in society and access to justice for victims of violence.
As Ambassador Natali said, “Italy firmly believes that gender equality and women empowerment are essential to eradicate poverty and build a society based on sustainable development, social justice and human rights. The message we want to launch once again today is: Let it not happen again!”
Giovanni Grandi, Head of Aics Regional Office, said: “This new phase marks a transition in the approach of the Italian Cooperation in Kenya to the fight against GBV, having a wider scope in terms of time duration, financial resources allocated and number of counties of intervention”.

According to Dr Houinato, “One of the major results from this partnership was that Kenya’s elections were largely peaceful with considerably fewer cases of VAWE reported, as compared to elections of the past. However, our work is not yet finished. While GBV still persists in Kenya, we must build on our lessons learnt to support comprehensive prevention and response programming, that addresses the social and structural factors that drive GBV.”