NGOs Mandated to Match Donor Aid with Bottom-Up Development Goals

NGOs Mandated to Match Donor Aid with Bottom-Up Development Goals

All Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Public Benefits Organizations (PBOs) operating in Kenya have been instructed to align their operations with President William Ruto’s bottom-up agenda.

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said in a statement released on Friday that the directive was issued in response to revelations that the donor aid model favored the interests of international donor organizations over Kenya’s national development agenda.

By the bottom-up economic agenda, which focuses on encouraging the investments of ordinary Kenyans and empowering them financially, he noted that the order would be advantageous to the local community development initiatives.

“This will guarantee greater partnership and synergies among different parties working in the aid industry to ensure that donor aid is not only producing better impacts for Kenya but also benefits local communities,” Omollo said.

“Our prime focus is on optimizing the value of all projects and programs funded through international aid to ensure they complement our developmental plan outlined in the bottom-up agenda.”

According to the Interior PS, the demand for operational changes was prompted by a review of registered NGOs and PBOs in the country.

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Local and international NGOs contribute to the socioeconomic development of Kenya by employing tens of thousands of Kenyans, in addition to their financial contributions.

According to the 2023 NGO Sector Report, 12,162 organizations have been granted permission to operate in the country, and over Ksh175.9 billion was sent in the previous fiscal year.

Ksh102 billion was allocated to development projects in Kenya, while Ksh16 billion was allocated to projects in other countries.

A total of Ksh31 billion was allocated to health projects, followed by Ksh10.5 billion to child development programs, Ksh10.1 billion to education projects, and Ksh3.7 billion to refugee assistance projects.

In June, PS Omollo urged NGOs to align their priorities with the government’s agenda of providing credit and affordable housing to the needy.

“These initiatives should now be aligned with government priorities of access to affordable credit for low-income earners, informal traders, women, and youth enterprises through the now famous Hustler Fund and the provision of affordable housing,” he said.

NGOs Mandated to Match Donor Aid with Bottom-Up Development Goals