This document discusses establishing partnerships between county governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Kenya to better coordinate resources and services for citizens. It provides an overview of NGOs in Kenya, outlines what could enable or disable collaboration, and proposes partnership principles of shared ownership, transparent governance, active citizenship, and shared prosperity. The goal is to improve policy and practice, reach more people efficiently, ensure public priorities, and promote social cohesion.

1. A Partnership framework
for coordinating resources and services to citizens
Irũngũ Houghton, Society for International Development
Email: irunguh@sidint.org | Twitter: @irunguhoughton
Prepared for KEPSA Council of Governors 1st Annual Conference, March 2014
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2. PBOs/NGOs: An Overview
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• 8,800 PBOs, 26 sectors, annual budget
Kshs 80 billion, employs 250,000;
• ¼ Kenyans enjoy PBO services w 240,000
PWAs & 290,000 WATSAN;
• Ripple effect in insurance, banking,
agriculture, health, education industries;
• 80% compliance with NGO Act up from
67% in 2011
• PBO Act 2013 receives presidential
assent, Ministry of Devolution & Planning
yet to commence;
• National Government & PBOs relations
tense following amendments;
• Sign up to PBO service charter;
• Petition calling for commencement of
PBO Act;

3. What would a disabling environment look like?
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1. Lack of PBO transparency and
standards;
2. Non-institutionalised partnerships
that rely on personalities;
3. Closed & exclusive county
governance;
4. Force us to give up X% of our funding
to County Governments;
5. New or additional registration
processes to national registration
requirement;
6. Demands for county running costs,
including fuel, salaries and overheads,
per diems or sitting allowances for
county officials working within the
county;
7. Denial of freedoms and rights
contained in our constitution
8. Disconnected investment plans,
rampant corruption and impunity

4. An enabling environment encourages us to
1. Increasingly align our own plans,
programmes and investment with County
Government plans;
2. Prioritise investments in county plans that
we believe are citizen led;
3. Increase investments in plans that have
been proven to be well and transparently
managed;
4. Invest in areas where we can get a return
such as training, infrastructure,
sensitisation, institution building;
5. Second or build capacity of county staff
and elected officials where required;
6. Invest in citizen or community led planning
and accountability processes;
7. Continue to invest in local civil society
partners
8. Increase investment and collaboration in
local private sector;
9. Help create links and learning between
county support programmes
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5. 10 Global Compact Principles
we could all adapt at county level
• Respect & support human rights
of all citizens (1+2)
• Uphold associative freedoms and
collective bargaining (3)
• Freedom from forced,
compulsory & child labor (4+5)
• Freedom from discriminatory
employment or occupational
practises (6)
• Take precautionary steps to
promote environment (7,8,9)
• Curb corruption (10)
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6. Partnership principles, actions & results
Principles Behavior Results
Shared
ownership &
Coordination
Joint goal setting and
planning, sign up to
global compact
Improves policy &
practise
Transparent &
open
governance
Clarity on resources
each party brings
Greater reach,
reduced duplication
& wastage
Active
citizenship
Inclusive & resourced
public participation
Public priorities
reflect public
interest, reduced
disruption
Shared
prosperity
Value addition,
industrialisation,
employment
Social cohesion
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