Preface

Joining forces with the CSOs is key to boost impact and accelerate achievement towards the Sustainable Development Goals. CSOs serve as bridges between governments, the private and the public sectors. They facilitate dialogue, build consensus, and foster collaboration to address the complex multidimensional and global challenges we are facing today. Promoting partnerships and creating networks within the system of development cooperation is in the DNA of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), as it is stated in the Law 25/2014 that has reengineered the Italian Cooperation.

The mosaic of the Italian CSOs in Kenya is incredibly dynamic and diversified. Their interventions range from the protection of minors in disadvantaged contexts, with a special attention to young people with disabilities, to the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices; from the valorisation of the blue economy and the precious coastal ecosystem of Kenya to the improvement in the access to health services for mothers and new-borns. Through the Global Fund, our CSOs are multiplying their efforts to contrast HIV, tuberculosis and malaria and ensure a healthier, safer, equitable future for all. Italian CSOs can be found in almost every county of the country and are one of the main partners of AICS. In this regard, it is worth noting that for the period 2022-2024, the portfolio of for initiatives to be realized by CSOs.

Working together, working better: in this spirit the Italian CSOs have created their coordination body COIKE in 2017, and inspired by the same principle we as AICS have greatly reinforced our collaboration with the civil society through the establishment of a renewed dialogue and the creation of a space of collaboration and exchange. This is the path we have designed towards the launch of the Kenya-Italy Sustainable Development Partnership, the multi-annual strategy that will drive our efforts in Kenya in the next five years. This document builds on the experience and best practices of our CSOs in Kenya, with the hope to enhance our impact and ensure sustainability. With the sincere hope that this description of the dynamic action of Italian CSOs in Kenya will lead towards even more fruitful cooperation and partnerships in the future, enjoy the read.

Mr. Giovanni Grandi Head of Office, AICS Nairobi

“A successful sustainable development agenda requires partnerships between governments, the private sector and civil society. These inclusive partnerships built upon principles and values, a shared vision, and shared goals that place people and the planet at the centre, are needed at the global, regional, national and local level”

UNITED NATIONS, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 17

It has been six years since the inception of COIKE, and five since the first edition of "Nia Moja, One Aim, Una Meta". During these years, the global scenario has been reshaped by many key challenges. To mention a few, the Covid19 pandemic with the consequent economic crisis, the drastic and further impoverishment of the vulnerable groups, the exacerbation of inequalities; the impact of climate change, and the prolonged drought in the Horn of Africa; the persistent fragility and instabilities in Kenya's neighbouring countries; the war in Ukraine with its worldwide repercussions; the sharp reduction in funding streams earmarked for development cooperation and humanitarian aid; the evolving debate over the localization and decolonization of aid, calling for a shift of power and resources to address power imbalances between the global North and South.

Despite of the abovementioned challenges, the commitment of the Italian CSOs in Kenya has strengthened, with CSOs willing to join efforts to enhance the impact of their programmes while maximizing the effectiveness and the accountability to affected populations. In this perspective, the coordination and information sharing purposes of COIKE have become even more crucial in holding the CSOs together towards the common objective –“Nia Moja, One aim, Una meta”.

The Italian Civil Society system is multidimensional, multifaced and dynamic; it comprises numerous organizations, with differences in terms of legal framework of reference, size of the structures, approaches, sectoral expertise, and levels of intervention. COIKE perceives this variety as the peculiar richness of the Italian CSOs in Kenya and operates to enhance and value diversity and the complementarity of the different member organizations. Strengthening the coordination, promoting partnerships, facilitating information sharing and channeling concerns and opinions within the members and stakeholders is the main scope of COIKE and stands as a compass for the coming years.

This new edition of “Nia Moja” provides an updated picture of the Italian CSOs registered in Italy and operating in Kenya. It describes their individualities, their area of work, and their achievements, confirming that robust partnerships are in place between Civil Society in Italy and Kenya.

Nia Moja 2.0 is the result of a collaborative effort; we the Secretariat of COIKE would like to acknowledge the contribution provided by the representatives of the Italian CSOs, their staff and volunteers in the preparation process of Nia Moja 2.0. A special word of thanks goes to Grazia Orsolato, Carlotta Toniato, Vanni De Michele and Andrea Bollini for their dedication in collecting materials, analyzing data and supervising the editing while meeting tight internal deadlines. The Secretariat is also grateful to the AICS and its Director in the Nairobi Office, Mr. Giovanni Grandi, for the commitment to bear the printing costs of Nia Moja 2.0 and for the truly collaborative and supportive relationship established with COIKE.

Our sincere gratitude goes to the Italian Ambassador Roberto Natali for the attention and interest demonstrated to the work of the Italian CSOs in Kenya and his will to nourish an open dialogue with the members of COIKE and the sector at large.

Since the establishment of COIKE in 2017, our relationships with different actors and stakeholders have grown into real partnerships. We will continue to work towards their strengthening and growth so to increase collaboration and synergies towards our common goals.

We hope that reading “Nia Moja 2.0” will inform you further about how the Italian CSOs in Kenya and their partners are putting their commitment into practice.

COIKE Secretariat

COIKE: WHO WE ARE

COIKE is the coordination body for the Italian CSOs registered in Italy operating in Kenya. The acronymous stands for “Coordination of the Italian CSOs in Kenya” (in Italian “Coordinamento delle OSC italiane in Kenya”). The inception of COIKE in Nairobi in 2017 was a factual answer to the demand of the Italian CSOs and their stakeholders to create a platform of reference for coordination and information sharing purposes. COIKE is an unregistered body that operates based on voluntarism, with no type of refund mechanism in place or fees for its members. The apex of COIKE governance system is represented by the Secretariat, which is led by the Chairperson and the Deputy Chairperson, a Communication Focal Point and a Secretary, with the support of thematic Technical Advisors. The Secretariat is elected through majority of votes expressed by the Country Directors of the CSOs members, every three years.