Bilateral Relations
Development of Cooperation and Cultural Relations
April 20th, 2016
Germany is a major development partner in political, economic and cultural co-operation. Its wide-ranging cooperation makes Germany one of the main donors to Kenya after the World Bank, the EU, Japan, the United Kingdom and the USA. Kenya also ranks amongst the leading recipients of German Development Assistance in sub-Saharan Africa.
Development co-operation between Kenya and Germany commenced soon after Kenyan Independence when a Technical Agreement was signed in 1964. Germany’s bilateral assistance is usually disbursed under Technical Co-operation (grants) and Financial Co-operation (low interest rate loans). This assistance has been supporting programs in economic and social infrastructure, rural development, agriculture, natural resources, conservation, health and education. The assistance is normally channeled through the Development Loan Corporation (KFW), the German Agency for Technical Co-operation (GTZ) and the Investment Development Bank (DEG).
Various German political foundations also maintain regional offices in the country e.g. the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Hans Seidel Foundation and the Heinrich Foundation. Other German institutions involved in activities in Kenya include German Churches, the German Volunteer Service and various social groups.
German development cooperation in Kenya currently focuses on: agriculture and Rural Development, water resource management and sanitation and health
Cultural cooperation between Kenya and Germany, focuses on scholarships, scientific collaboration and the promotion of sports. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), an organization of the institutions of higher education and student bodies in Germany, promotes international academic exchanges. It is also an intermediary for the implementation of foreign cultural and academic policy, as well as educational cooperation with developing countries.
The DAAD regional office in Nairobi which was established in 1973, supports educational stays in Germany by Kenyans in various programmers, primarily to promote doctoral projects. DAAD arranges for about 80 students and post-graduates to travel to Germany every year.
The Goethe Institute in Nairobi, organizes and supports a broad spectrum of cultural events in order to develop and strengthen cultural ties and partnerships between Kenya and Germany. The main focus of its cultural programmer is on visual arts and contemporary culture from Germany and Kenya. The events are normally public.
References and Links
S.C., Berlin Global
