From March 24 to 27, 2026, a mission of the Italian Development Cooperation system took place in Kenya, a priority country for both Italian Cooperation and the Mattei Plan, with the aim of consolidating and expanding the strategic partnership.
During the visit, high-level institutional meetings were held with the Prime Minister and senior representatives of various Kenyan ministries. These meetings made it possible to align strategic priorities and assess the progress of ongoing programs, with particular attention to agri-food value chains and the development of local markets. Among the main outcomes were the launch of the “Coffee Training Centre” under the ACT Coffee Programme and the strengthening of the “Green Cities” initiative, focused on sustainable waste management, green urban development, and the improvement of food systems in the cities of Nairobi and Kisumu.
The mission also highlighted the contribution of civil society and territorial partnerships, as well as the economic dimension of development cooperation. In this context, participation in the Kenya International Investment Conference provided an opportunity to promote Italian industrial excellence—particularly in the leather sector—and to develop new investment opportunities, including in the fields of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, thereby reinforcing the outreach of Italy’s growth diplomacy in Kenya.
The delegation, led by the Director General for Development Cooperation, Stefano Gatti, included more than 70 participants and brought together a wide range of public and private actors—central administrations, local authorities, international organizations, civil society, and businesses—demonstrating an integrated, system-wide 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 for the Environment and Energy Security, National Institute for Health Promotion among Migrant Populations and for the Fight against Poverty-related Diseases
Local authorities: ANCI (National Association of Italian Municipalities), Lombardy Region, Friuli Venezia Giulia Region
International organizations: 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, Save the Children Italy
Private sector: Assomac, Campagna Amica, Illy, Lavazza
Source: Esteri.it