OTHER PROJECT INFORMATION

MDG Sectorwide reports available
The Millennium Development Goals Needs Assessment report on goal number three to promote Gender Equality and Women Empowerment is a publication that explains among other things the importance of recognizing the need for women's economic rights, access to employment, appropriate working conditions and control over the economic resources, markets and trade.

Education and training enhance the women and men's attainment of overall social economic advancement, improvement of their literacy levels and enhancement of their earning capacities and thus lowers their incidence of poverty. On page 18, the book elaborates on why enrolment of girls is lower at secondary schools level as compared to that of boys. Women and health, the book explains why maternal mortality has been on the rise 365 in 1993 to 590 by 1998. The book also comes at a timely period in Kenya's history (General election year). The section on 'Women in Power and decision making' reveals that over the years there has been an under-representation of women in parliament. Click to read the 2006 MDG sectorwide reports that have been published jointly by UNDP and Embassy of Finland.

Launch of the Government-CSOs partnership on localizing MDG -12 March 2008

The official launch of the Government-CSOs partnership on localizing MDGs is a great milestone in rallying various stakeholders to team up with the Government in addressing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs represent commitments by all countries and stakeholders including Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to collaborate in implementing strategies that are geared towards better quality of life for citizens. This initiative, therefore, is a testimony of the commitment of the Government in working with other stakeholders to achieve various national goals and objectives, especially the MDGs. National strategies to achieve the MDGs require full support and involvement of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). CSOs play a unique role among the stakeholders in development since they represent important segments of the population whom they relate directly with and therefore better understand what affects these communities most. This is indeed the reason why the government has confidence in working with CSOs to ensure the realization of MDGs at community level. The government is aware that CSOs have the capacity to contribute to national and community levels with initiatives that can turn around the economy to achieve the MDGs. The government is also aware that CSOs are excellent in advocacy/public awareness work, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities, hands on engagement with the communities among others.

Kisumu Investment Guide with Millennium Cities Initiative

This roundtable was attended by 200 participants that included representatives of the private sector from Europe, their counterparts in Kenya, representatives from various government departments led by the Ministry of Planning and National Development Permanent Secretary Dr. Edward Sambili, Civil Society Representatives and members of the 4th Estate. The meeting dubbed 'Kisumu Day' coincided with the Commemorations of the IDEP and aimed at discussing Kisumu's investment potential with business delegations from Europe and Kisumu. The meeting also saw the launch of the Kisumu Investment Guide as well as the inauguration of the Kenya Investment Promotion Office; especially tapping on the kind of opportunities that Kisumu provides in terms of markets in and around the East African region.Click to read the Kisumu Investment guide