About UNDP in Kenya

When did UNDP begin operations in Kenya?

UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help build a better life. In November 1964, an agreement was signed between the Government of Kenya and the UN System. UNDP was at the time known as the Technical Assistance Board (TAB). The Resident Representative of TAB Mr. B Chidzero signed on behalf of other agencies for the commencement of operations in Kenya.

Thematic Areas of UNDP-Kenya

UNDP operates projects under the umbrella of five priority areas namely: Poverty Reduction, Democratic Governance, Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Energy and Environment, and Disaster Risk Reduction. The cross cutting initiatives such as Millennium Development Goals are implemented through the Strategic Policy Advisory Unit, UNV Volunteers Country Office, Communications Unit and the Country Director’s Support Team.

Poverty Reduction undertakes projects that directly involve the impoverished groups where employment is created and regular income generation are possible. Democratic Governance entails, advocacy of human rights, gender, police and judicial reforms. Disaster Risk Reduction unit carries out HIV/AIDS , peace and security projects.

Energy and Environment unit largely addresses the conservation of today's natural resources for future generations to come. The Strategic Policy Advisory Team promotes partnerships for aid and donor coordination as well as advocacy initiatives related to sustainable human development and its mainstreaming into the country's policy, planning and visioning frameworks. It also provides periodic analysis of, and intelligence on socio-economic trends, advocating while promoting a culture of achieving the Millennium Development Goals as a whole. The UNV Country office is instrumental in facilitating the use of UNV volunteers to implement programmes that contribute to capacity development as well as to promote volunteerism for development at all levels

COUNTRY PROGRAMME ACTION PLAN (CPAP)

UNDP will contribute to Kenya’s development through four key programmatic component goals: i) help Kenya offer expanded opportunities to its poor; ii) enhance empowerment of Kenya’s citizens through effective participation in decision-making processes; iii) help the Government of Kenya guarantee better levels of security to its people so that their empowerment cannot be compromised by unforeseen threats; iv) ensure the long-term sustainability of the Kenyan nation and build on the three previous goals by reversing the erosion of its resource base. To view the country programme document please see visit the following link.

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FRAMEWORK (UNDAF)

The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr Aeneas Chuma, launched the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, commonly referred to as UNDAF, for the period 2009 – 2013. This is a five year strategic plan for the UN programmes in Kenya emerging from partnerships between the Government and UN agencies and programmes working in Kenya.

 The UNDAF seeks to coordinate and harmonise its work across agencies for improved aid effectiveness and the crucial MDG achievements, and build national ownership over aid programming by focusing on what the UN does best. This UNDAF is rooted in the vision 2030 and Medium Term Plan of the government, and is fully aligned in recognition to the importance of development of Kenya. To this end, the 2009 – 2013 UNDAF is based on a review of the Vision 2030, UN agencies mandates and areas of expertise.

This is the third UNDAF for Kenya and is based on three priority areas namely:

• Improving Governance and realization of human rights;
• Empowering people who are poor and reducing disparities and vulnerabilities;
• Promoting sustainable and equitable economic growth for poverty and hunger reduction with a focus on vulnerable groups.

Additionally, the UNDAF focuses on four cross-cutting themes; Gender equality; HIV and AIDS; Migration and Displacement and Climate change,  all recognised by the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) as themes to be addressed and relevant to each of the six UNDAF outcomes. The UNCT will oversee the implementation of the UNDAF with support of the outcome groups around each UNDAF outcome, and the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office. Approximately US$ 635 million will be needed over the five year period (2009 – 2013) to achieve the intended six UNDAF outcome.

DECISION MAKING

Under the Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP) between the government of Kenya and UNDP all decision must be made by the Resident Representative on the side of UNDP and by the Minister for Finance from the part of the Government.

The UNDAF (2009-2013) may be downloaded through the following link: http://www.undg.org/docs/11551/KEN-UNDAF-2009-13.pdf

UNDP has a mandate to work with countries to address national development challenges. Through supporting the Government on implementation and developing national capacity, UNDP is contributing to its goal of building and sharing solutions to national needs and furthering the effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, to promote growth and reduce poverty.

UNDP Kenya has a strong relationship with the Government of Kenya and is fully committed to further strengthening this partnership. The overall focus of UNDP in Kenya is to support the Government of Kenya to promote enhanced opportunities, empowerment, security (HIV/AIDS, natural and man-made disasters), sustainability and strategic outreach, all of which are detailed in the Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP) for the years 2009 to 2013 as outlined in the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for Kenya.

Kenya's Reform Process

Under the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation process that ended the 2008 violence, UNDP supported actions to restore fundamental rights and libertieInternational Day of democracys, address the humanitarian crisis and promote healing and reconciliation, resolve the political crisis, and address long-term issues. In 2010, UNDP played a key role supporting the Committee of Experts on the Constitutional Review Process, including recruitment of legislative drafters and researchers, purchase of equipment; stakeholder meetings and consensus building among various stakeholders. These efforts resulted in the adoption of the new constitution which is now being implemented.

 
Highlights of UNDP support for the constitution making process

UNDP supported the InterimIndependent Electoral Commission in the recruitment of a professional secretariat that included a senior technical expert, a voter registration expert and two logistics experts. In addition UNDP supported electoral process by carrying out nationwide voter education campaigns, supporting national voter registration drive that saw more than 12.4 million voters registered and capacity building that included training of the electoral commission officers to manage a free and fair referendum including introduction of the electronic voter transmission kit. The referendum process was cleared by both the international and local observers to have been free and fair. The opposing team also accepted the final results that showed 6,092,593 (68.5 %) of the voters accepted the proposed constitution while 2,795,059 (31.4%) of the voters voted to reject the proposed constitution. In total UNDP with the support of donors invested US$12.4 million in the referendum process.

Kigezi Ndoto 130UNDP also supports a new peace campaign called UWIANO (or Cohesion), a partnership between UNDP, several civil society groups that is aimed at encouraging national cohesion and peaceful co-existence. The initiative's main objectives are to build partnerships of national actors, strengthen conflict early warning and early response, and establish a solid foundation for national cohesion and integration. This is done through Conflict Mapping across the country. In addition peace caravans and peace vigils were held across the country. These initiatives were supported through Media engagement, publicity and campaigns, consolidating partnerships including national and local-level coordination; data collection and analysis; and rapid response and intervention. The Uwiano activities partly contributed to the peaceful referendum process that the country experienced.

UNDP also funded the establishment of an elaborate early warning and response system called amanikenya@108 was established in 2010. In addition 60 peace monitors have been trained in the use of the system and deployed to over 100 districts in the country. The programme aims to train and install about 2000 peace brigades in peace building, conflict management and armed violence reduction initiatives.