Outcome Harvest for the Enhancing Youth and Women Access to Land for Sustainable Economic Development in Western Kenya

Kakamega County, KENYA 

P4T, in collaboration with Community Change Agents (CCAs/FSCs) under GFA, hosted a landmark Close-Out Outcome Harvest Meeting for the GIZ Agri-jobs 4 Youth project. The event celebrated a transformative milestone in the fight for equitable land access and agricultural empowerment across Western Kenya.

The primary goal of the project was to improve women and youth access to land for agricultural production. Through a combination of intergenerational dialogues, sensitization forums, and paralegal clinics, the initiative has successfully dismantled long-standing cultural and systemic barriers.

Breaking Cultural Barriers for Women and Youth

Historically, deeply rooted cultural norms have prevented young people and women from fully owning, inheriting, or controlling land, severely limiting their participation in agriculture. This project has directly challenged and shifted these dynamics.

Through targeted community dialogues across the five project counties—Kisumu, Kakamega, Vihiga, Siaya, and Bungoma—the project has empowered women to access land for both household consumption and commercial sale. Furthermore, over 100 youths have successfully gained secure land access by signing formal lease agreements.

The ripple effect has been profound: landowners are now highly sensitized and have actively begun the process of formalizing land succession, as well as transitioning to formal, legally binding land leases.

The Power of Intergenerational Dialogue

The success of this initiative is largely attributed to the project’s intergenerational dialogue approach. By bringing older landowners and young, aspiring farmers to the same table, P4T and its partners have fostered mutual understanding and trust.

This approach has created a strong foundation for better land tenure security and promoted community-driven solutions. Already, a significant number of farmers and landowners have taken proactive steps to formalize land lease agreements, paving the way for more equitable and sustainable agricultural growth in the region.

Shifting the Focus to the Soil

With the critical hurdle of land access overcome, the project’s focus has now shifted to the soil. Secured land has unlocked new economic opportunities, with youth, women, and landowners actively partnering to venture into lucrative agribusiness value chains.

Beneficiaries are now engaging in:

• 🥛 Dairy Farming

• 🥬 African Leafy Vegetables (ALVs)

• 🐟 Aquaculture

• 🫘 Soybean Production

• 🐔 Poultry Keeping

A Sustainable Future

The close-out outcome harvest meeting was not just a celebration of past successes but a launchpad for the future. By empowering youth and women with secure land tenure and agricultural knowledge, the GIZ Agri-jobs 4 Youth project has laid the groundwork for long-term food security, poverty reduction, and robust economic growth in Western Kenya.

P4T extends its deepest gratitude to GIZ, GFA, the Community Change Agents (CCAs/FSCs), and the resilient communities of Western Kenya for their unwavering commitment to this transformative journey.

Together, we are not just growing crops; we are cultivating a more equitable and prosperous future.