Bondo Model: A decentralized plan for Kenya unveiled

The Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) process is recognized in many developing countries as a viable attempt to link grassroot priorities with government resource allocations. In Kenya the PRSP process has opened discussion on how to create institutional capacities at District level to respond effectively to demands for services and funds. But there is a frightening lack of good experience in the decentralized management of rural services on which to base the design of the implementation arrangements.

The United Nations system has been spearheading the adoption of a model that is contextualized for Kenya. The major tasks that faces the UN in Kenya is to find ways of supporting community-driven development in ways that build on local strength, (particularly of local women and youth groups) and linking these to public resource allocation decisions at the district level. Bondo was therefore selected as a pilot district to test the model with the intention of replicating lessons learnt across 16 other districts in Kenya.

In March 2003, an orientation workshop was held in Bondo District, in South Western Kenya. During this function the Bondo Model, a methodology for creating linkages between government resources and grassroot needs, was unveiled. During the function the UN through a UNDP project, Africa 2000 Network donated US$38,000 to 10 community groups to support micro-projects on a pilot basis. 50 participants represented the women, youth and community groups.

Speaking at the function, Mr. Musumba, a District Officer in Bondo said " ...the choice of Bondo to try out decentralized planning with its success likely to be replicated elsewhere will go a long way in motivating the local communities to work hard to achieve the desired objectives". Over US$20,000 has so far been disbursed in Bondo.

The Model's strategy is to use United Nations Volunteers (UNVs) to facilitate  intermediation between civil society and the authorities, helping CBOs and local NGOs to write project proposals that fit the criteria of the various funding mechanisms, establishing accounting, monitoring, training, evaluation and informal mechanisms to help the CSOs measure their progress or lack of it, and more generally, building up capacity within the informal sector to drive development in its sector or location.

For further information please contact: situma.mwichabe@undp.org

 

Edition 1 / March 2003