NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya is seeking to strengthen its social protection systems to better respond to rising economic pressures, climate-related shocks and the changing needs of vulnerable households.
The call is at the centre of the 4th Kenya Social Protection Conference 2026, which brings together policymakers, development partners, researchers, civil society organisations, practitioners and other stakeholders to discuss the future of social protection in the country.
The three-day conference, being held in Nairobi, is focusing on how Kenya can build social protection systems that are not only responsive to immediate needs but also help households withstand shocks and achieve more sustainable livelihoods.
Held under the theme “Re-imagining Social Protection in an Evolving Socio-Economic Landscape and Climate Change: Strengthening Adaptive, Transformative and Sustainable Social Protection Systems for Inclusive Development in Kenya,” the conference comes at a time when households continue to face challenges linked to the cost of living, unemployment, poverty and climate change.
Climate-related shocks such as droughts and floods can quickly erode household incomes, disrupt food production and push vulnerable families deeper into poverty. This has increased the need for social protection programmes that can respond rapidly when communities are affected.
Participants are also examining ways of expanding social protection across the life cycle, including support for children, young people, older persons, persons with disabilities and workers in the informal economy.
Digital technology is another key area of discussion. Stakeholders are exploring how digital systems, social registries, data and digital payments can improve the delivery of social protection programmes, while ensuring that vulnerable populations are not excluded.
The conference is also expected to examine sustainable financing of social protection, recognising that expanding coverage requires reliable and adequate resources.
Beyond cash transfers and other forms of social assistance, discussions are focusing on pathways that can help beneficiaries build resilience and improve their livelihoods. These include skills development, employment opportunities, financial inclusion and other interventions aimed at enabling households to become more economically secure.
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The conference is further highlighting the importance of inclusive social protection policies that take into account gender, disability and the circumstances of other vulnerable groups.
As Kenya confronts an evolving socio-economic and environmental landscape, stakeholders are calling for stronger coordination among government, development partners, communities, civil society and the private sector.
The discussions are expected to culminate in a Joint Call to Action Communiqué, setting out priorities for strengthening Kenya’s social protection systems beyond 2026.
The outcome could provide a roadmap for building programmes that are more adaptive to shocks, financially sustainable and better connected to broader efforts to reduce poverty and promote inclusive development.
For Kenya, the challenge is increasingly not only how to provide support when households fall into crisis, but how to design social protection systems that help people anticipate, withstand and recover from shocks while creating opportunities for a more secure future
