Policy Dialogue - East Africa

General Information

Country: Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania
Number: P-19-357
Sector: Human Rights & Civil Society
Start: 01.01.2019
End: 31.12.2022

Partner organisation: Horizont3000 Regional Office

Budget: 188,404 EUR
Co-Financed by: ADA, DKA
Cross-cutting issue Environment: General relevance

Cross-cutting issue Gender: General

Project desk officer: Jonathan Job Bua
Regional Director: Franz Eichinger

Project Partner

HORIZONT3000 is an Austrian Organization for Development Cooperation i.e an Austrian Non-Government Organization working in the field of development cooperation with its Head Office in Vienna, Austria and field offices in various countries including Uganda.

The organization supports its partners to implement projects with funding from mainly Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) and contributions from the member organisations. In East Africa country of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, HORIZONT3000 regional program focuses on three main sectors: Sustainable Use of Natural Resources; Integrated Rural Development and; Peace building, Conflict Resolution and Human Rights.

Short Description

HORIZONT3000 is implementing the Policy Dialogue – East Africa Project running from 2019 – 2022. The Project is currently working with 12 partners in the region: Tanzania -Mama’s Hope for Legal Assistance (MHOLA), Human Life Defence – Rulenge, Women’s Economy and Gender Support (WEGS), Mbeya, Ileje, Isangati Consortia (MIICO), Justice & Peace Commission – Kigoma, Hakiardhi. In Kenya - Community Education and Empowerment Center (CEEC), Jesuit Hakimani Center (JHC), Diocese of Lodwar and in Uganda - Resource Rights Africa (RRA), Caritas Mityana and Pathway Initiative for Development (PID).

Project Objectives

To strengthen the capacities of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in East Africa to engage effectively in Policy Dialogue with more attention put on strengthening research and advocacy skills of CSOs to influence policy processes and reforms at different levels.

Expected Results

The expected results include that:

• Capacity of CSOs strengthened to effectively engage in Policy dialogue
• At least 8 organisations have institutionalised and streamlined Policy Dialogue in their organisations
• Knowledge transferred experience and best / worst practices in Policy Dialogue work shared and documented.

Rescue Dada Centre: Kenya

Economic strengthening of Caregivers of Street Connected Girls

General Information

Country: Kenya
Number: A-18-206
Sector: Human rights
Start: 01.10.2018
End: 31.03.2021
Partner organisation: RESCUE DADA Centre

Budget: 34,000 EUR
Co-Financed by: City of Vienna and DKA
Cross-cutting issue Environment: general relevance

Cross-cutting issue Gender: specific relevance
Project desk officer: Ulrike Bey
Regional Director: Franz Eichinger

Project Partner

Established in 1992, Rescue Dada Centre has grown from a two room rescue operation in Nairobi’s Mathare Slum to an experienced, registered Charitable Children’s Institution with the capacity to rescue, rehabilitate, reintegrate and resocialise 70 street girls every year. Its expertise in the field of rehabilitation and reintegration is recognised amongst numerous actors in the field, including the government's Children’s Department and various CCIs and (international) NGOs

Short Description

While the government of Kenya generally lacks a systematic and comprehensive strategy to protect and combat the issues facing street children Rescue Dada Centre is one of the few organizations in Nairobi that promote the rights of street children, with a specific focus on street girls, i.e. rescues, rehabilitates and reintegrates 70 girls into family based care each year. Core to Rescue Dada success is the ability to empower the caregivers of the girls (i.e. parents and/or guardians) to provide a safe family environment where the children’s basic rights can be provided for at point of reintegration of the girl. This can only be achieved if the caregivers are supported holistically from the start of the girls’ rehabilitation and throughout the follow up period of the girl after her reintegration. Therefore, RDC works with the caregivers in various ways, including psycho social support, and economic strengthening through training in business skills, provision of small grants and the organisation of saving and loaning groups. Limited resources, however, have left a gap in developing the capacity of caregivers in terms of a specific (vocational) skill that could support them to actually generate an income beyond being self-employed.

Project Objectives

The overall objective of the project at hand is to contribute to the reduction of the number of street connected children in Kenya. Specifically, it wants to empower street connected children in Nairobi by increasing self-reliance of care givers families and enabling children to realize their full range of rights.

Expected Results and Activities

To improve the livelihood of 45 caregivers of girls under rehabilitation or in follow-up within Rescue Dada Centre Programmes until March 2021

Activities: Market survey and needs assessment; creating a network of training providers; creation of a database to link the target group to different training institutes; skills training concept development; search for employment opportunities; search for and cooperation with potential employers relevant to the training offered; career guidance/Accompaniment; forming of an Alumni Association; Sponsorship for skills training.

GROOTS, Kenya

Money Power: Enhancing grassroots women, youth, marginalized and indigenous people's voice and influence on public budget and fiscal policy at county level in Kenya

General Information

Country: Kenya
Number: E-20-203
Sector: Human Rights – Civil Society
Start: 01.01.2019
End: 31.12.2022
Partner organisation: GROOTS Kenya

Budget: 540,000 EUR
Co-Financed by: European Union (EU) ADA and DKA
Cross-cutting issue Environment: general relevance
Cross-cutting issue Gender: specific relevance

Project desk officer: Ulrike Bey
Regional Director: Franz Eichinger

Project Partner

GROOTS is a national movement of grassroots women-led community-based groups (CBOs) and Self Help Groups (SHGs) in Kenya. GROOTS Kenya has invested in nearly 2,500 women-led groups across 14 counties out of the 47 where we have direct presence. Founded in 1995 after the fourth UN Conference on Women in Beijing, China, GROOTS Kenya began as a response to the lack of visibility of grassroots women in development processes and decision-making forums that affect them and their communities.

Short Description

To adhere to the principles of the Kenyan Constitution, the Government has put in place legal, policy and institutional mechanisms such as The Public Finance Management Act 2012, The County Government Act 2012 and the County Public Participation Guidelines 2016. However, compliance to these laws and policies is often undermined by low political goodwill, a persistent culture of corruption and to a certain extent capacity gaps especially at the county level. The overall objective of this proposed action is to contribute to building strong, effective and transparent public institutions at county level through enhanced responsive, inclusive and participatory decision making as envisioned in the Constitution of Kenya and Sustainable Development Goal 16. This is in line with one of the EU core value of reinforcing the accountability and capacity of institutions and public administrations to provide high quality public services, the call (Lot 2) objective 1 of promoting effective and transparent Public Participation by National and County Governments as enshrined in the Kenya Constitution 2010 and existing legal frameworks and Lot 2- specific objective 3 of improving the capacity of public administrations to provide public services in an efficient, transparent and accountable manner.

Project Objectives

The specific objective of the proposed action is to promote and strengthen the public participation of grassroots women, youth, marginalized and indigenous people in public finance management for effective service delivery and reduced social (gender, generational and income) inequalities in Muranga and Laikipia Counties.

Expected Results

• Strengthened solidarity movement of women, youth, marginalized and indigenous people.
• Enhanced knowledge of women, youth, marginalized and indigenous people in Public Finance Management and in political advocacy.
• Enhanced capacity of county government and policy makers to deliver in effective public participation.
• Establishment of a functional platform of policy makers and citizen groups on Public Finance Management.
• Strengthened networking with mainstream and social media and experiences capitalized and shared.

Diocese of Lodwar

Water Supply and basic sanitation in Turkana County, Kenya

General Information

Country: Kenya
Number: P-19-321
Sector: Rural Development - Natural Resource Management
Start: 01.01.2019
End: 31.12.2022
Partner organisation:

Budget: 800,000EUR
Co-Financed by: ADA and DKA, and eRko.
Cross-cutting issue Environment: specific relevance

Cross-cutting issue Gender: general relevance
Project desk officer: Ulrike Bey
Regional Director: Franz Eichinger

Project Partner

In 1982, through the initiative of Fr. Bernhard (a German priest working at kakuma parish) and the first Bishop of diocese of Lodwar, the diocesan water project (Turkana Water Project) was started. It was first started as a parish project and later it was adapted as a diocesan project. The initial water project had 3 phases that ran from 1982 to 1990. During this period 288 boreholes were drilled with a 45% success rate. In 2001, Diocese of Lodwar started partnership with HORIZONT3000, and in 2003 eRko started the funding of PMU. At first the partnership was about water interventions for both partners. However, in the last two phases, the partnership was changed from water, to rural development. These include water, but also sanitation and livelihood. The Diocese of Lodwar, has a long track record in water projects. The diocesan water project (Turkana Water Project) was started in 1982, when the first boreholes were drilled. Since 2001 the diocese of Lodwar partners with HORIZONT3000, over time adding sanitation and livelihood aspects to their water project partnership.

Short Description

The provision of adequate water and sanitation services is one of the most critical challenges in Turkana. Since there are very few water bearing rivers in Turkana County, most of the water for human and livestock consumption is groundwater, which has to be pumped up to the surface. A majority of these pumps are operated by muscular power. Often the pumps fail. In particular the rural population faces increasing health-related problems due to limited or unreliable access to water for domestic consumption and inadequate sanitation. The majority of the people lead a nomadic or semi-nomadic way of life, suffering from cyclical droughts that lead to high food insecurity. As a result, a big number of the population is periodically dependent on the distribution of relief food. To mitigate the effects of droughts it is essential to develop alternative sources of food and income. As the 4th phase, the current intervention builds on the experience and knowledge gain of three preceding phases since 2001. The project’s activities are extended to new parishes and prior parishes are further strengthened.

Project Objectives

The overall objective aims at alleviated poverty and improved health of the inhabitants of rural Turkana. The project aim is to provide sustainable access to adequate, clean and safe water, to improve livelihoods and to promote sanitation and personal hygiene of the target group. The current intervention plans to strengthen and broaden the existing integrated ecological approach for sustainable village development of the previous project phases. 65,000 people from 6 parishes directly benefit through the improved water supply, trainings and project activities, gaining access to safe water supply within walking distance. Further 200.000 people from the other 20 parishes in Turkana County will benefit from repairs and maintenance of water systems and solar systems by the professionally trained maintenance units.

Expected Results

The intervention combines the development and maintenance of the water infrastructure with the strengthening of livelihoods. Two new boreholes will be drilled and equipped with pumps and handed over to the target communities, and 25 existing water points will be rehabilitated. As a result, safe, sustainable, reliable and well managed water facilities are accessible to the target community and economically usable for food production. In addition, new solar and wind driven systems for water pumping and lighting will be installed. The management of water points will be improved and new water management committees created. To use water sources most effectively, livelihood supporting initiatives like kitchen gardens will be implemented. Strengthened maintenance units for water and solar system will continue to maintain and repair pumps and solar systems throughout the county. To improve the hygiene situation, communities and selected pilot schools will be trained in the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach, and latrines will be constructed. The staff of the water department of the diocese will be trained in policy dialogue. Furthermore, the sustainability of the intervention and the ownership of the communities will be secured through accompanying trainings and capacity building.

MSDP, Kenya

Creating Opportunities and Alternatives to Street Life for Children and Youths in Mukuru Slums/Nairobi, Kenya

General Information

Country: Kenya
Number: D-18-203
Sector:  Human Rights – Civil Society
Start: 01.01.2018
End: 31.12.2020
Partner organisation: Mukuru Slums Development Projects (MSDP)
Budget: 215,500 EUR
Co-Financed by: DKA and MEDICOR Foundation Liechtenstein
Cross-cutting issue Environment: general relevance
Cross-cutting issue Gender: general relevance

Project desk officer: Ulrike Bey
Regional Director: Franz Eichinger

Project Partner

Mukuru Slums Development Projects (MSDP) is a registered non-governmental organization which has been operating in Mukuru for twelve years and now works directly with women, children and youth in the target area. MSDP was created in 2005 following the merger from previous projects in Mukuru, and it is particularly well known and accepted by the inhabitants of the Mukuru slum. MSDP focuses on the rehabilitation, reintegration and education of street children and youth as well as on the economic empowerment of women. MSDP has currently 23 employees. It works with other local organisations in the sector of social development like Mukuru Promotion Centre and Mwangaza Rehabilitation Centre and also collaborates with international partners, in particular the DKA Austria, GOAL Kenya, Concern Worldwide, and Africa Direct (Ireland), as well as with various private firms and donors. Between Feb 2015 and Feb 2017 MSDP received EU funds for the implementation of a livelihood project.

Short Description

Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, is home to about 4 million inhabitants and the slums account for about 60% of these numbers. Mukuru is a slum situated in the eastern side of Nairobi. It is one of the largest slums in the city with a population of around 700,000 people. Most of the residents of Mukuru slums cannot guarantee the welfare of their children and youth since they are also in need of support. Children and youth - there are around 300.000 street children in Kenya, with 60.000 living in Nairobi - are all the more vulnerable. The expanse slum of Mukuru is administratively located in the eastern part of Nairobi and sits in three constituencies - Makadara, Embakasi and Starehe. The fact that the three constituencies make Mukuru, which would be expected to offer support to the residents from the different funds allocated by the Government to the constituencies gives a false picture of hope to an outsider. For several years Mukuru has been neglected both by the Government through lack of provision of basic amenities like schools, hospitals among others and equally by politicians who only give token appreciations to the residents during the electioneering periods

Project Objectives

The project seeks to reduce the number of children and youth living in the streets by addressing the push and pull factors, and providing opportunities and alternative livelihood support.

We aspire to revive the lost hope into the young people, and instil necessary and relevant skills that meet their needs and help them to contribute to their social and economic development, and the community at large.

Expected Results

• 300 street children rehabilitated and successfully reintegrated back to their families with family support; they continue with education or vocational skills training.
• 150 vulnerable youth equipped with business management /apprenticeship/vocational skills and start entrepreneurship/join employment.
• Social and economic empowerment of 90 parents/care givers facilitated.
• 920 youths equipped with skills to nurture and develop their talent in sports, music and drama to enhance their employment opportunities.

DESECE, Kenya

Promotion of sustainable agriculture and human rights, Kenya

General Information

Country: Kenya
Number: P-19-322
Sector: Human Rights – Civil Society
Start: 01.01.2019 End: 31.12.2020
Partner organisation: Development Education Services for Community Empowerment (DESECE)
Budget:  78,000EUR
Financed by: ADA and BSI
Cross-cutting issue Environment: general relevance
Cross-cutting issue Environment: specific relevance

Project desk officer: Ulrike Bey
Regional Director: Franz Eichinger

Project Partner

Our local partner DESECE – Development Education Services for Community Empowerment – is successfully implementing projects with HORIZONT3000 since 2013. During the last project phases, DESECE’s work has improved the social, political and economic situation of its beneficiaries in more than 90 communities.

Short Description

The population in the project area still struggles with huge economic, social and political challenges. Due to ethnic and political rivalries many parts of the country where excluded from development processes. The large majority of the populations in the project region are smallholder farmers under increasing pressure through demographic growth and soil degradation. Often missing land titles prohibit access to capital. The conflicts in Cheptais (Mount Elgon region) led to displacements, landlessness, rape and murder. The community in the project area suffers from an increased prevalence of HIV, alcohol and drug abuse, human trafficking, high rates of criminality, violence against women and children and human rights abuses in general. The present phasing out phase builds on the experiences and learnings of the preceding phases since 2013. In order to make the DESECE initiatives sustainably fit for the future, it further strengthens the activities in sustainable agriculture and human rights in the existing project area.

Project Objective

The overall objective of this phasing out project is to contribute to poverty and hunger reduction, gender equality, climate action, peace, justice and strong institutions through DESECE’s initiatives. The intervention’s specific objective is to empower community members to practice sustainable agriculture for food production and income, decide on what to produce for the market, have diversified sources of income, and actively participate in community development, while enhancing the capacities of DESECE’s staff and properly documenting best practices and knowledge to continuously deliver better services. The project benefits 917 direct beneficiaries, including farmer groups, youth groups, paralegals, animators and facilitators. The project works through the train the trainer concept, where the trained trainees in turn become trainers. The 288 people reached in this way are the indirect beneficiaries.

Expected Results

Along with exchange programs, trainings and workshops in agricultural production, sustainable organic agriculture and post-harvest handling will be conducted for newly formed and existing farmer groups and their success monitored, to enable the community members to practice sustainable agriculture for sustainable food production and income. In order that farmer groups sell their produce to identified markets and earn profits, groups will receive training in marketing, market research and on-farm research will be conducted and new enterprises will be established. To increase awareness and response to gender equality and human rights protection in the 5 sub counties, youth groups will receive training in entrepreneurial skills, paralegals will deal with human rights violations and provide mediation, legal aid and financial support will be provided to victims, trainings on human rights and gender and peace tournaments will be conducted, and children right clubs at schools established. Through training in knowledge and financial management, staff capacity building and a workshop on strategic planning, the capacity of DESECE will be enhanced to improve the provision of services.