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MS Kenya Annual Report 2001

Summary

2001 has been a busy and intense year in MS Kenya. The formulation of a new policy paper has without a doubt been the PABs most time-consuming and challenging task. The end result reflects the outcome of numerous thought provoking and principled discussions and is seen to provide a good framework and sense of direction for the programme in the years to come.

Principled discussions have also formed part of the negotiations between MS Kenya and the Royal Danish Embassy concerning collaboration on Danida's Human Rights, Good Governance and Democratisation programme in Kenya. Towards the end of the year, the two parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding and took the first steps in implementing the collaboration. In December, the process came to a stand still due to budgetary uncertainties emanating from the new Danish government's announcement that it aims to cut down on development assistance. It is hoped and expected that the collaboration will nonetheless take off in early 2002.

The past year has been challenging also in the sense that whereas the year 2000 was marked by persistent drought and consequent negative influences on partner activities, this year has seen uncertainty in the political arena increase.

Kenya is headed towards an election year and there is much strategizing going on in all political camps. Meanwhile, the Kenyan economy is not picking up in any significant way, donors are still putting pressure on the government and it is not an easy bet to predict where Kenya will be one year down the line. The stakes are high and everybody knows it.

Alongside all the worrisome developments in the country, there are also very positive trends. These were outlined in the annual report for 2000 and appear to be growing stronger. A cross-section of Kenyans seem to be simultaneously realizing that they have power to question and challenge the status quo. This display of some form of public unity comes at a time when it is all to clear that the state is increasingly becoming an entity, which Kenyans work around instead of with and is a therefore an exciting development. Not only is it good for the country in general, it also bodes well for the more political approach, MS Kenya in the years to come aims to take towards development cooperation.

Some partner organisations have in 2001 made impressive achievements when it comes to advocacy, developing concepts of sustainability and dealing with sensitive issues in Kenya. At a time when so many appear to doubt the value of development cooperation, this is in itself gratifying. The partner achievements furthermore serve as examples from which inspiration and courage can be drawn in the next few years.

MS Kenya in 2001 stepped up information work and North-South collaboration. Maintaining the momentum is going to be important also in 2002 where Kenya will not only be in the limelight because of national elections but possibly also because of the political climate in Denmark.

There is no need to apologize for the efforts or the results that have thus far been put into the development processes to which MS Kenya and partners are party. We do, however, need to acknowledge that with the present writing on the wall, the context within which we work is not going to get easier. Development assistance is under pressure. Many people in the North– and some also in the South – are asking 'What difference does development work make? Is anything being accomplished?' These are questions that we cannot let go unanswered. Pulling together, maximizing our resources and putting in concerted efforts to reach our goals is therefore going to be even more crucial in the years to come.

Download the full report as a Word document here! (114 kb)