Kenya Country Plan Consultation

DFID’s country assistance plan is based on the Kenya Joint Assistance Strategy launched in September 2007. However due to the recent political crisis in Kenya we are inviting further comments from the public into the planning process.

Specific questions and details for submitting comments are set out below.

What is the KJAS?

The Kenya Joint Assistance Strategy (KJAS) was launched in Nairobi in September 2007. The objective of the KJAS is to support the government’s efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the targets that the Government has set for itself in its national and sector development strategies.

It has been prepared by 17 of Kenya’s development partners: African Development Bank, Canada, Denmark, EC, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, UK, US, UN and the World Bank. The Government of Kenya has also been a central player and the Minister of Finance launched the document.

The KJAS focuses partners’ efforts on the greatest challenges facing Kenya today:

• Significantly reducing corruption, improving public financial management, and reforming the public administration.
• Enhancing security and access to justice.
• Creating infrastructure, including information, communications, and technological networks, to serve as a platform for growth in Kenya and throughout the East African region.
• Upgrading informal settlements.
• Substantially improving the delivery of basic services to the poor, especially health, education, water and sanitation, and social protection.
• Greatly narrowing the income gap between Kenya’s richest and poorest citizens
• Improving the investment climate.
• Raising the productivity of agriculture.
• Promoting sound management of land, soils, forests, pastures, wildlife, water resources, and fisheries.

The key highlights of the KJAS include:

• Political, social and economic analysis, drawing largely from our Drivers of Change and Country Governance Assessment.
• explanation of the Government’s own Development Strategy with emphasis on the 2002-2007 Economic Recovery Strategy, the on-going sector strategies, and the evolving Vision 2030 (due to be launched in September)
• Scenarios section explaining in very broad terms what would constitute a high, base and low case, and what financial instruments are likely to be used in each. Noting that Kenya is not a budget support country, partners agreed to avoid strong commitments on volumes and on strict definitions of scenarios.
• Aid effectiveness monitoring table using the Paris targets. Partners recognise that the baseline data will require further work.
• Results framework for all JAS partners which draws largely on inputs from the donor sector groups.
• Division of labour matrix which represents a major step forward for streamlined development partner activity in Kenya. DFID Kenya has offered to lead in only four sectors over 2007-2012: Democratic Governance, Health and HIV/AIDS, Education, and Social Protection – though never more than 3 at any one time.

What areas will the UK focus on?

Under the KJAS, DFID has agreed with Government and other donors to focus on five key areas:

• Democratic Governance
• Education
• Health and HIV/AIDS
• Social Protection
• Private Sector Development

How can you find out more about DFID’s current work in Kenya?

Go to the Kenya Country page

How can you contribute to the Country Planning Process?

We would welcome your views and opinions to help us answer the following questions:

1. In view of the recent crisis what adjustments does the UK need to make to its contribution to the KJAS?

2. Within the sectors DFID has agreed to focus on are there issues or areas we should concentrate on to maximise our impact and assistance?

3. How can we best work with the Government of Kenya to reduce poverty and deliver the MDGs?

If you have responses to any of these questions, or indeed any other points or comments you wish to make, please send your response to the following e-mail address: Kenya-CAP@dfid.gov.uk 

Please send us your comments by 18 June 2008 when the consultation process will end. We are very grateful for your comments but cannot provide a response to all of them.

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