ASAL STAKEHOLDER FORUM (ASF) ASF OVERVIEW 3/1/2017 County Forum training February 2017 1
Background ASAL covers nearly 90% of land mass & home to 30% of population 70% of livestock & Home to most national parks and hence wildlife Historically marginalized Northern counties were closed districts during colonial time After independence marginalization institutionalized in Sessional Paper No. 10 of 1965 on African Socialism and its Application to Planning in Kenya 3/1/2017 2
Session paper No. 10 of 1965 One of our problems is to decide how much priority we should give in investing in less developed provinces. To make the economy as a whole grow as fast as possible, development money should be invested where it will yield the largest increase in net output. This approach will clearly favour the development of areas having abundant natural resources, good land and rainfall, transport and power facilities and, people receptive to and active in development. (Sessional Paper No. 10 of 1965, para 133) 3/1/2017 County Forum training February 2017 3
Policy shift Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper 1990 government Acknowledged need to address development needs of ASAL Formation of pastoralist thematic group Incorporation of pastoralist concerns in poverty reduction strategy paper Economic recovery strategy paper by NARC government 2003 Failure of past government policies and economic potential of ASALs appreciated Potential of ASAL: livestock production, fisheries, mining, tourism, energy etc. Challenges constraining realization of ASAL potential identified 3/1/2017 County Forum training February 2017 4
Policy shift Kenya Vision 2030: ASALs integral to inclusive development V2030 three pillars of economic, social and political governance are of direct relevance to the ASALs Economic pillar: achieve and sustain an average economic growth rate of 10 per cent per annum The social pillar : to create a just, cohesive and equitable social development in a clean and secure environment Political pillar : build an issue-based, people-centered, result-oriented and accountable democratic system 3/1/2017 County Forum training February 2017 5
Policy shift Constitution of Kenya 2010 Preamble: the aspiration of all Kenyans for a government based on the essential values of human rights, equality, freedom, democracy, social justice and the rule of law Article 56: provides for affirmative action to redress historical marginalization, effectively providing constitutional backing to strategies for addressing the historical marginalization Articles 174: to protect and promote the interests and rights of minorities and marginalized communities and to ensure equitable sharing of national and local resources throughout Kenya affirmative action, devolution address historical marginalization Article 204: Equalization Fund Article 63: community land 3/1/2017 County Forum training February 2017 6
Affirmative action in CoK 2010( Article 56) The State shall put in place affirmative action programmes designed to ensure that minorities and marginalized groups (a)participate and are represented in governance and other spheres of life: (b)are provided special opportunities in educational and economic fields; (c)are provided special opportunities for access to employment; (d)develop their cultural values, languages and practices; and (e)have reasonable access to water, health services and infrastructure 3/1/2017 County Forum training February 2017 7
The ASAL Policy: An Analytical Presentation Sessional paper No. 8 of 2012 Rationale : The Government recognizes that Kenya will not achieve sustained growth in her economy and progress as a nation if the ASALs are not appropriately factored into national planning and development. Trickle down approaches from areas which already have more favourable investment climates have not worked; moreover the potential for significant growth in these areas is now limited. Intervention: The policy acknowledges and responds to the specific ecological, social, economic and political realities in the ASALs that distinguish them from the rest of Kenya 3/1/2017 County Forum training February 2017 8
ASAL Policy Goal and Objectives 3/1/2017 County Forum training February 2017 9
Institutional framework: ASAL transformation institutions 1. Core ASAL Transformation Structures Cabinet Sub- Committee Inter-Ministerial Coordination Committee Technical Coordination Committee 3. ASAL Stakeholder Forum 4. ASAL Secretariat Knowledge management Policy coherence Coordination 2. Specialist ASALfocused institutions State (within parent Ministries) National Drought Management Authority Livestock Marketing Board National Commission on Nomadic Education Non-State Northern Kenya Education Trust Northern Kenya Investment Fund 3/1/2017 County Forum training February 2017 10
WHAT IS ASF The ASAL Stakeholder Forum (ASF) is a platform for all stakeholders working in Kenya s ASALs created through ASAL policy as part of ASAL transformation institution It is a place where development actors working in the ASALs can engage with: Each other; The government; Potential partners and supporters; The national and county governments 3/1/2017 County Forum training February 2017 11
ASF MEMBERSHIP Membership, at both national and county levels, is on an organisational or institutional basis. It is open to organisations or institutions working in, or interested in working in, the ASALs, or working in support of development in the region. Government institutions: departments, parastatals, research institutions, universities CSO: NGOs, CBOs, FBOs, producer groups, cultural institution Private sector/investors 3/1/2017 County Forum training February 2017 12
Why ASF (objective) Coordination: Engagements amongst development actors will strengthen cross-sectoral and cross-agency coordination of developments Joint action/ learning: Create greater synergy in interventions and sharing of experiences, with a view to optimizing use of resources for benefit of ASAL communities Advocacy: Provide platform for ASAL communities to engage governments, media, investors, and development partners to influence policies and programmes Enhance Accountability of development actors to communities : Build consensus about effective approaches to ASAL development based on agreed standards and best practice, and where stakeholders can mutually ensure compliance. 3/1/2017 County Forum training February 2017 13
Objectives of ASF Networking and coordination: Closer networking will improve the quality of ASAL development policy and practice, strengthen coordination of stakeholder activities in the interests of efficiency, effectiveness and impact. Advocacy and resource mobilisation for ASALs: Advocate for the interests of ASAL communities to those with power, influence and resources, including governments, media, investors, and development partners. Joint action: Maximise the collective voice and influence of ASAL stakeholders by planning, implementing and evaluating joint activities. Accountability: Build consensus about effective approaches to ASAL development based on agreed standards and best practice, and where stakeholders can mutually ensure compliance. 3/1/2017 County Forum training February 2017 14
STRUCTURE OF THE ASF The ASF operate at two levels: National (ASF) - will mainly concentrate on issues affecting all or a section of the ASAL counties. County (CSF) - will largely deal with issues affecting the county, bearing in mind that counties have different challenges and therefore priorities. Each level will be managed by a Steering Committee i.e. National Steering Committee (NSC) and County Steering Committee (CSC). There will also be a Secretariat at both levels to support the Steering Committees. 3/1/2017 County Forum training February 2017 15
Priorities for 2017 Development of members data base at county levels Mapping of development actors at county level: who, what, where,( make mapping tool operation) Identification of advocacy issues in counties with forums, development of strategies and linkage with potential sources of funding ASF AGM in Nov 2017: sharing of experiences ASF strategic plan County forums as vehicle for public participation: national and county level policy influencing 3/1/2017 County Forum training February 2017 16
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Ministry of Devolution (ASAL Secretariat) National Drought Management Authority -EDE EU-KRDP RECONCILE FAO DANIDA Cordaid IUCN/CIFA KAS 3/1/2017 County Forum training February 2017 17
Achievements to date Establishment of ASF National Secretariat, housed at the Ministry of Devolution Special Programmes Department Recruitment of National Coordinator with support from KRDP/NDMA-EDE SP6 Development and launch of the ASF website and online mapping tool Holding 4 AGM forums to-date Establishing and launching 14 ASF County Forums Conducting capacity building trainings to 8 ASF County Forums 3/1/2017 County Forum training February 2017 18
Challenges Operationalization of mapping tool in counties with CSF. Recommended that synergy be sought Fundraising for ASF activities especially for the AGMs Firming up ASF National Secretariat Legal status of ASF and inability to secure direct funding 3/1/2017 County Forum training February 2017 19
Way forward Communication channels to be transparent Continued hosting of the National Secretariat office Partnership/joint activities 3/1/2017 County Forum training February 2017 20
THANK YOU! 3/1/2017 County Forum training February 2017 21