NAIROBI, Dec 14 (Reuters) - United Nations agencies based in Kenya said on Friday they would give nearly $635 million for projects ranging from fighting poverty and climate change to promoting gender equality.

The money will be provided over five years under the U.N. Development Assistance Framework. A similar funding programme that runs between 2004 and 2008 gave some $400 million.

"To achieve the envisaged growth and social development, we will as a country require to mobilise substantial resources to finance the large investment needed," Joseph Kinyua, permanent secretary in Kenya's Finance Ministry, said after signing the funding agreement with the UN.

The U.N. resident coordinator, Elizabeth Lwanga, said the money would also be used for steps to combat HIV/AIDS and for improving governance in the east African country. (Reporting by Helen Nyambura-Mwaura, Editing by Matthew Jones)

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