A mission of the Italian Development Cooperation System took place in Kenya – a priority country for Italian Development Cooperation and the Mattei Plan – from March 24 to 27, 2026, with the aim of strengthening and expanding the strategic partnership.
During the visit, high-level institutional meetings were held with the Prime Minister and senior representatives of several Kenyan Ministries. Those meetings allowed to align strategic priorities, and review the progress of programmes, with a particular focus on agri-food supply chains and local market development. The main achievements included the launch of the “Coffee Training Centre” as part of the ACT Coffee Programme and the strengthening of the “Green Cities” initiative, dedicated to sustainable waste management, green urban development, and improving food systems in the cities of Nairobi and Kisumu.
The mission also enhanced the contribution of civil society and local partnerships, as well as the economic dimension of cooperation. In that context, participation in the Kenya International Investment Conference enabled us to promote Italian industrial excellence, particularly in the leather sector, and to develop new investment opportunities, also in the fields of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, thus strengthening the impact of Italian growth diplomacy in Kenya.
The delegation, led by the Director General for Development Cooperation, Stefano Gatti, consisted of over 70 participants and brought together a wide range of public and private stakeholders -central governments, local authorities, international organisations, civil society, and companies – as evidence of an integrated and systemic approach.
Participants:
– Public sector: Mission Structure for the Implementation of the Mattei Plan at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security, National Institute for the Promotion of the Health of Immigrant Populations and for Combating Diseases of Poverty
– Local authorities: ANCI (National Association of Italian Municipalities), Lombardy Region, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region
– International organisations: Bioversity International, CIHEAM Bari, FAO Rome, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, UNIDO
– Civil society: Amref, AVSI, E4Impact Foundation, Community of Sant’Egidio, Oxfam, and Save the Children Italy
– Private sector: Assomac, Campagna Amica, Illy, and Lavazza
