Appeal no.01.06/2003 Appeal target: CHF 211,021 (USD 143,195, EUR 143,394)
Period covered: July - November 2003
The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 180 countries. For more information: www.ifrc.org
In Brief
Appeal coverage: 46.8% ; Click here to go to attached Contributions List or refer to the Federation's website
Outstanding needs: CHF 112,175 (USD 89,811, EUR 71,907)
Related Emergency or Annual Appeals: Kenya Floods Emergency Appeal 12/2003
Programme Summary: The Federation is supporting two programmes of the Kenya Re d Cross Society through the Sub-regional Office for East Africa namely (1) organizational development and support to coordination activities, and (2) the global Federation agreement with Nestlé for HIV/AIDS activities of which Kenya and Nigeria are part of in Africa; the Nestlé support is additional to the Appeal.
The Nairobi Regional Delegation provides advisory and technical support in water and sanitation, disaster management and humanitarian values, whereas programme activities are implemented and supported bilaterally. Partial funding of the Appeal has prevented a number of activities from being implemented in water and sanitation. The regional delegation support will be reported in the half-yearly report of the Regional Delegation.
Operational developments
The Kenya Red Cross coordinated non-food assistance to flood victims on behalf of the Kenya government from May 2003; upon request from the national society, the Federation launched an emergency Appeal to cover part of the total needs included in the government Appeal. The national society has successful managed the operation and the Emergency Appeal has now been fully reported upon.
The national society held its annual partnership meeting in October in which both the Cooperation Agreement Strategy (CAS) and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) were ratified as the framework for cooperation with partners assisting the national society in implementing the priorities identified in its development plan.
Organizational Development
Goal: To establish a well functioning national society with the capacity to effectively implement its mandate in a timely manner.
Objective: Secretariat support has helped Kenya Red Cross decentralise, improve governance at all levels, and improve volunteer management and resource mobilisation.
Progress
Kenya Red Cross, Uganda Red Cross and Tanzania Red Cross are involved in a Lake Victoria Project supported by SIDA (Swedish International Development Agency) through the Swedish Red Cross. The Kenya Red Cross has been instrumental in hosting workshops to develop plans of action and budgets from each country and to harmonize efforts. A task force steering the programme consists of the three Secretaries General from the respective national societies, representatives from the Swedish Red Cross, and the Head of the Sub-Regional Office for East Africa who represents the Federation and coordinates technical assistance from the Nairobi Regional Delegation. In addition, there is a technical team consisting of the Kenya Red Cross Director of Disaster Preparedness as the focal person, Tanzania Red Cross' Director of Organizational Development, and the National Branch Coordinator from Uganda Red Cross. The Kenya Red Cross Director of Disaster Preparedness has played a critical role in the disaster preparedness and response component of the programme drawing upon his vast experience within this field.
The computerization of the finance reporting system which was implemented with assistance from the Federation Capacity Building Fund (CBF) has greatly improved the quality and timeliness of reporting. The Kenya Red Cross is in the process of developing standard quarterly reporting formats for the narrative and financial reports; it also plans to computerize strategic branches in an effort to further improve the financial reporting system.
The Federation has taken a new initiative to hold quarterly Finance Directors' meeting for the three national societies in East Africa. During the first meeting held in November 2003, a standard format for reporting was developed to be effected in 2004. The possibility of standardizing core cost structure was also discussed and will be followed up at the next meeting.
The level of political and financial support to the national society has grown over the last year. With the launch of the national Appeal for flood victims and the nomination of Kenya Red Cross as the lead agency for all non-food distribution during the emergency, the national society has consolidated its image as respectable and capable of assisting the most vulnerable in Kenya. Public relations functions are well attended, and the national society has been able to build a solid image vis a vis the national public, the business community, the government and donors.
The national society is making very good progress with its national fundraisin g efforts and the yearly fundraising dinner has now become a permanent feature in Kenya's social calendar. It has drawn attendance from the diplomatic community, UN organizations, the private sector as well as other partners and has managed to raise more than USD 15,000 in one evening.
The Kenya Red Cross annual partnership meeting was held in October and was attended by all partners supporting the national society including partner national societies1, the governmental and non-governmental sector, UN organizations and the private sector. A standard format for cooperation - the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) - was presented to partners including the reporting structure, budgeting, and external audit; this was complemented by a presentation by the Secretary General of the Uganda Red Cross of their experiences with a similar cooperation structure. The document was later signed by the eight sister national societies and the Federation during the International Conference in Geneva after a round of comments and feedback from partners; it became effective in January 2004.
A director of the Organizational Development department has been recruited to join the senior management team. The national society has clarified its objective for branch development, volunteer management, fundraising, improvement of governance, promotion of humanitarian values, and recruitment of members. The department is seen as critical to reach the strategic objective of strengthening the functions of the national society and to improve the quality of service delivery to the vulnerable in communities.
Impact
The respect and image of the Kenya Red Cross has gained considerable ground during the period. The national society has shown its capacity to lead is own national organizational development process and at the same time contribute to regional cooperation and development.
Constraints
The departure of the former director of the Organizational Development department led to delays in some of the planned activities.
Health and care
Goal: While improving the overall health through it's programming in targeted communities, the capacity of the Kenya Red Cross in health is strengthened.
Objective: The Secretariat supports the national society capacity to implement community based health care programs, including HIV/AIDS and water and sanitation programming, thereby improving the general health situation in targeted communities and increasing the communities' coping capacity
Progress
Kenya Red Cross has been able to expand its activities in HIV/AIDS through support from the Regional HIV/AIDS advisor and funding from Nestlé , one of its corporate partners. The home-based and community care programme to support persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) is expected to reach out to 1,000 PLWHA clients by the end of 2004. Activities planned in two branches during the third quarter of 2003 to supplement the National Aids Control Committee (NACC) funding had to be deferred to 2004 after NACC funding failed to come through due to internal difficulties.
The Peer Education Programme is expected to reach out to 35,000 youth in-and out of school and equip them with life skills by the end of 2004. Branches have been identified to start implementation; recruitment of programme staff in seven out of nine branches has taken place and an orientation workshop held in September. Baseline surveys have been conducted in all branches and work plans for branch activities have been presented.
As part of the Kenya Red Cross HIV/AIDS strategic plan, the second draft policy for the HIV/AIDS workplace programme has been finalized and ready for circulation. A concept paper for the development of a commercial workplace project has also been finalized. M isunderstanding in some branches led to a delay in policy development which also delayed the development of the commercial work place programme. However, five branches in Western Province have been visited and the workplace programme clarified and ten peer educators that were trained are in place carrying out programme activities. Work plans have been submitted by twenty five branches, and an orientation workshop for focal persons was conducted in December 2003.
The national society made a very impressive presentation of its HIV/AIDS work place programme and partnership with PLWHA in a workshop during the International Conference in Geneva and elicited a lively discussion from participants. The national society was represented by thirteen staff and volunteers at the 13th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) in Nairobi.
Water and Sanitation
The first draft of the WatSan2 strategy has been completed and will be finalized in the first quarter of 2004. Meanwhile, the recruitment of a water and sanitation coordinator has strengthened the national society's capacity; since the position is funded bilaterally, funds allocated in the Federation's Appeal budget are now being allocated towards implementation of activities.
The planned provision of safe water and adequate sanitation to 6,000 people in Kajiado Branch was initiated through training of the water committee to oversee the implementation.
The digging to replace plastic pipes with metal pipes has taken place; plans to replace the water tank have been rescheduled to the first quarter of 2004 due to inadequate funds. Sensitization of the communities for improved hygiene behavior will follow as soon as the hardware component is fully implemented by installing the tank; the software component will follow immediately through community sensitization.
Kajiado Branch staff and volunteers are better equipped and are critical in the implementation of the water and sanitation programme. However, the establishment of twenty PHAST3 teams was postponed to 2004 due to inadequate funding.
Impact
The capacity of the Kenya Red Cross to fund-raise, manage, implement, monitor and evaluate its HIV/AIDS programme has been strengthened. The national society has successful implemented the workplace programme at headquarter level and is rolling it out to branches. Advocacy by the Kenya Red Cross is making significant impact at international level; the national society is being solicited to share its experiences and best practices.
A water and sanitation coordinator was recruited and the WatSan programme is now fully under implementation and will be boosted further with the completion of the draft policy in 2004.
Constraints
Late transfer of funds from Nestlé in June delayed the yearly plan but the programme has picked up well during the third and fourth quarters. Low donor response towards the WatSan programme has led to postponement of some of the activities to 2004.
Federation Coordination
Goal: To build capacity and empower Kenya Red Cross Society to achieve its mandate through better partnerships.
Objective: The Federation secretariat assists the national society in and advisory function while the national society leads its own development process toward a strong national society with sufficient resources and capacities to be a recognized partner in civil society.
Progress
A sub-regional office for East Africa based in Uganda was created in January 2003 and covers Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. It is headed by one delegate supported by a local national senior officer specialized in financial development assistance to the national societies. The Head of the Sub Regional Office for East Africa provides regular coaching to the senior management team of the Kenya Red Cross and advises on the use of technical expertise in support of its programmes.
Upon the initiative of the Federation and as a follow up of discussions during the partnership meeting, regular coordination meetings have been scheduled for 2004 between the Kenya Red Cross, the ICRC, bilateral partners and the Head of the Sub Regional Office for East Africa as the representative of the Federation. These meetings are aimed at achieving coordinated and complementary assistance to the Kenya Red Cross and to give partners an opportunity to discuss technical issues on a regular basis.
The Kenya Red Cross Director of Health chairs the sub committee for Health and Care of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Network for East Africa (RC-NET) and has played a critical role in reviving the committee; in establishing a plan of action, a funding plan and the holding of regular meetings. In this role, the Director was very instrumental in tailoring and negotiating with sister national societies and the Federation the ownership of a pledge initiated by the RC-NET during the International Conference in Geneva. The pledge commits all 14 national societies in the region to give special focus in HIV/AIDS especially in providing assistance to mother to child transmission.
Impact
Kenya Red Cross has proven its capability and efficiency to plan, raise funds, manage and report on relief and development programmes. The national society has clearly shown its capacity to not only manage national programmes, but also impact on regional programmes and initiatives.
The Development of the Cooperation Agreement Strategy (CAS) has contributed to better coordination of programmes and their compliance to the framework of the national society development plan. The CAS process has also contributed to a better coordination mechanism between the stakeholders in the country.
Constraints
The Head of the Sub Regional Office for East Africa is covering three countries and the amount of time available for each of the individual national societies is not always sufficient.
International Representation
Goal: The Federation has a high profile as a key humanitarian actor and advocate in the region with the added advantage of a network of national societies able to deliver services at community level.
Objective: The Federation is an effective and reliable partner in support of Kenya Red Cross Society and in addressing the needs of the most vulnerable.
Progress/Achievements
Quarterly senior management meeting between the Secretaries General from Rwandan Red Cross, Kenya Red Cross and Uganda Red Cross facilitated by the Head of the Sub Regional Office for East Africa has contributed to increased cooperation across borders. The meetings address common issues and concerns, harmonize efforts where possible and draw upon each other's experiences. To make them cost effective, the meetings are planned to coincide with the quarterly RC-NET meetings. The Lake Victoria Project Task Force incorporated their quarterly meeting into the already existing structures in the region.
At the initiative of the Sub Regional Office for East Africa, quarterly meetings for finance directors from the three countries have been actualized.
Impact
International recognition of the achievements of the Kenya Red Cross is showing tangible results in form of increased non-traditional programme support to complement funding agreements. The senior management meetings between the Secretaries General of the three national societies are generating constructive dynamic s in the region. The development of a sub-regional working group to improve financial management has proven to be successful.
Constraints
Having to support three countries does not leave much time to the Head of Sub regional Office to work on international representation, thereby leading to some missed opportunities.
Footnotes
1 American Red Cross, Danish Red Cross, French Red Cross, German Red Cross, Netherlands Red Cross, Norwegian Red Cross, Spanish Red Cross, and Swedish Red Cross
2 WatSan - Water and Sanitation
3 PHAST - Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation
For further information please contact:
Mary Kuria, Secretary General, Kenya Red Cross Society, Nairobi; Email Mary.Kuria@Kenyaredcross.org; Phone 254 020 600 669; Fax 254 020 603 589
Anitta Underlin, Federation Head of East Africa Regional Office, Kampala ; Email ifrcke42@ifrc.org; Phone 256 77 760 56; Fax 256 41 258 184
Josse Gillijns, Federation Regional Officer, Africa Department, Geneva; Email josse.gillijns@ifrc.org; Phone 41 22 730 42 24; Fax 41 22 733 03 95
All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (SPHERE Project) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable.
For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, please access the Federation website at http://www.ifrc.org
Annex 1
Kenya APPEAL No. 01.06/2003 |
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PLEDGES RECEIVED
|
07/01/2004
|
|||||
DONOR
|
CATEGORY
|
QUANTITY
|
UNIT
|
VALUE CHF
|
DATE
|
COMMENT
|
CASH | ||||||
REQUESTED IN APPEAL CHF |
211,021
|
TOTAL COVERAGE 46.8%
|
||||
CASH CARRIED FORWARD | ||||||
CYPRUS - RC |
344
|
24/01/2003
|
||||
DANISH - RC |
53,475
|
07.03.03
|
REGIONAL DELEGATION | |||
SWEDISH - GOVT |
200,000
|
SEK
|
33,200
|
23.06.03
|
ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT | |
SUB/TOTAL RECEIVED IN CASH |
87,019
|
CHF
|
41.2%
|
|||
KIND AND SERVICES (INCLUDING PERSONNEL) | ||||||
DONOR
|
CATEGORY
|
QUANTITY
|
UNIT
|
VALUE CHF
|
DATE
|
COMMENT
|
DENMARK |
DELEGATE(S)
|
11,827
|
||||
SUB/TOTAL RECEIVED IN KIND/SERVICES |
11,827
|
CHF
|
5.6%
|
|||
ADDITIONAL TO APPEAL BUDGET | ||||||
DONOR
|
CATEGORY
|
QUANTITY
|
UNIT
|
VALUE CHF
|
DATE
|
COMMENT
|
SUB/TOTAL RECEIVED |
CHF
|