Kenya

"United Nations Volunteer Intermediation Strategy (UNVIS) ."

Background
The United Nations Volunteer Intermediation Strategy (UNVIS) project, established in June 2004 built on a joint UN decision, to confront institutional challenges implied during the Kenya's Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper formulation process. The project focused on ways to foster institutional capacities at the district level. The project has been supporting national efforts in combating poverty and improvement of livelihoods, development of district and community capacities for effective decentralization as well as enhancing community access to information and other strategic resources. The project has aimed at strengthening the capacity for decentralized and participatory development and is situated in 8 districts across the country in Kilifi, Garissa, Meru South, Muranga, Bungoma, Turkana, Suba and Bondo districts that were chosen based on their geographic distinction (Being in different provinces), existence of UNDP programmes and projects and infrastructure in those areas. Further, by the time the districts were being selected they had lower poverty indices in the respective provinces, based on the 1997 monitoring survey.

Click to read a recent e-journal about the project

The project purposes to institutionalize decentralization by connecting upstream activities to the district and community levels which would prepare communities to take charge of their own development by enhancing their capacities in accessing strategic resources - including information, training and funding, promoting people centered and transparent governance. More so, the project has targeted strengthening National and District level information frameworks, as a strategy for enhancing community development consultations and implementation at district and community level through improved access to information and strategic resources. The project is being integrated into the ongoing initiatives by the Ministry of Planning and National Development on Mainstreaming the MDGs into Kenya's Development process where the district framework would be utilized to roll out MDG mainstreaming activities in the 9 millennium districts on the basis of strengthening MDG based district planning, coordination and monitoring and evaluation.

ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE FOLLWING

Arid Lands Resource Management Project assisted in re-building by constructing five classrooms-.Currently, the school has a population of 200 pupils where they recently acquired boarding status with ALRMP providing beds and mattresses for sixty boarders- The dormitory was built with funds from Local Authority Transfer Fund (LATF), the CDF supported construction of a dining-cum-kitchen facility and ALRMP provided solar panels for electrification- ALRMP has also provided a gen-set towards water pumping from a nearby borehole. However, there is need for a water storage facility for the school

Find on the link below, some pictorial examples of one of the Water Pans funded by UNDP Kenya under Violence Reduction project in Garissa District.

Click here to see more pictures

Commemoration of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
The day was celebrated in solidarity with other similar events that were taking place around the world. The commemoration of the IDEP coincided with the Kisumu City business roundtable. The day was commemorated through a procession in Kisumu town that culminated in other activities at the Jomo Kenyatta grounds in Kisumu City. In the speech by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, read on his behalf by Elizabeth Lwanga the UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya who is also the UNDP resident representative, noted that the day fell just after the midpoint in the race to achievement of commitments by Nations Globally towards realization of the Millennium Development Goals by the target date of 2015. Further, the Day provided an important opportUnity to take stock of progress, and to re-energize joint efforts towards MDGs realization. The speech called on participation of citizens in policy making processes as well as strengthened partnerships between all actors for MDGs.

Kisumu Business Round Table and Kisumu Investment Guide Launch
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.