The Effectiveness of Aid to Kenya: A Case Study

SUMMARY This article reviews the effectiveness of official aid to Kenya. Major features include an increase in non?project aid in response to Kenya's economic difficulties of the early 1980s, and an associated intensification of policy?related conditions. Sector reviews (agriculture, transport, rural water, energy and population) show mixed results, with an overall decrease in aid effectiveness over the past decade. The article highlights the need for better aid coordination and for a continuing learning process. SOMMAIRE L'efficacité de l'aide au Kenya: un cas d'étude Cet article examine l'efficacité de l'aide officielle au Kenya, Parmi les facteurs déterminants on discerne une hausse de l'aide non?liée aux projets (au début des années 80s, lié aux difficultés économiques du Kenya), et une intensification associée des conditions de politique. Des examens sectoriels (de l'agriculture, du transport, de l'eau rurale, de l'énergie et de la population) produisent des résultats mixtes, avec une baisse générale de l'efficacité de l'aide au cours de la dernière décennie. L'article souligne le besoin d'une meilleure coordination de l'aide, et un processus continuel d'apprentissage. RESUMEN La efectividad de la ayuda a Kenya: un estudio de caso Este artículo examina la efectividad de la ayuda oficial a Kenya. Las principales características incluyen un aumento en la ayuda no asociada a proyectos en respuesta a las dificultades económicas del país a principios de la década de 1980, así como una intensificación de las condiciones políticamente relacionadas. El análisis sectorial (agricultura, transporte, agua rural, energía y población) evidencia resultados mixtos con una constante declinación de la efectividad de la ayuda en la década pasada. El artículo destaca la necesidad de una mejor coordinación en la ayuda y de un continuo proceso de aprendizaje

Multinational Firms and the State in Kenya

SUMMARY This article discusses the role of the State in relations between foreign and local capital in Kenya. Because of their control over the technology that accelerates capital accumulation, multinational firms have considerable leverage vis?a?vis the Kenyan state. But that state still plays a critical, independent role : though it shapes privileges for the multinationals, it also enforces local sharing of them and disciplines local capital. The State emerges as a key instrument in shaping a new?style inequality in Kenya, with an emerging indigenous bourgeoisie and multinationals benefiting heavily, and most Kenyans excluded. RESUME Les multi?nationales et l'Etat, au Kenya Cet article discute du rôle de l'Etat dans les rapports entre capital étranger et capital local, au Kenya. Possédant le contrôle de la technologie accélératrice de l'accroissement du capital, les compagnies multi?nationales ont une prise considérable sur l'Etat. Mais, cet Etat joue encore un rôle crucial, indépendamment : bien qu'il façonne les privilèges des multi?nationales, il règle également leur partage, à l'échelon local, et discipline le capital local. L'Etat apparait comme un facteur?clef dans la formation d'une inégalité de type nouveau au Kenya, dont la bourgeoisie indigène naissante et les compagnies multi?nationales sont les principaux bénéficiaires, et dont sont exclus la plupart des indigènes. RESUMEN Las empresas multinacionales y el Estado en Kenya En este artículo se analiza la función del Estado en las relaciones entre el capital extranjero y el nacional en Kenya. Debido a su control de la tecnología que acelera la acumulación de capital, las empresas multinacionales tienen bastante fuerza en relación con el Estado de Kenya. Pero dicho Estado todavía desempeña una función independiente crítica: aunque todavía da forma a los privilegios de las empresas multinacionales, también impone la participación nacional en ellas, así como la disciplina en el capital nacional. El Estado surge como el instrumento clave para dar forma a una desigualdad de nuevo estilo en Kenya, merced a la cual se benefician intensamente una burguesía indígena que emerge y las empresas multinacionales, mientras quedan excluidos la mayoría de los ciudadanos de Kenya

Intensification of dairy production can increase the GHG mitigation potential of the land use sector in East Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) could face food shortages in the future because of its growing population. Agricultural expansion causes forest degradation in SSA through livestock grazing, reducing forest carbon (C) sinks and increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Therefore, intensification should produce more food while reducing pressure on forests. This study assessed the potential for the dairy sector in Kenya to contribute to low-emissions development by exploring three feeding scenarios. The analyses used empirical spatially explicit data, and a simulation model to quantify milk production, agricultural emissions and forest C loss due to grazing. The scenarios explored improvements in forage quality (Fo), feed conservation (Fe) and concentrate supplementation (Co): FoCo fed high-quality Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum), FeCo supplemented maize silage and FoFeCo a combination of Napier, silage and concentrates. Land shortages and forest C loss due to grazing were quantified with land requirements and feed availability around forests. All scenarios increased milk yields by 44%–51%, FoCo reduced GHG emission intensity from 2.4 ± 0.1 to 1.6 ± 0.1 kg CO2eq per kg milk, FeCo reduced it to 2.2 ± 0.1, whereas FoFeCo increased it to 2.7 ± 0.2 kg CO2eq per kg milk because of land use change emissions. Closing the yield gap of maize by increasing N fertilizer use reduced emission intensities by 17% due to reduced emissions from conversion of grazing land. FoCo was the only scenario that mitigated agricultural and forest emissions by reducing emission intensity by 33% and overall emissions by 2.5% showing that intensification of dairy in a low-income country can increase milk yields without increasing emissions. There are, however, risks of C leakage if agricultural and forest policies are not aligned leading to loss of forest to produce concentrates. This approach will aid the assessment of the climate-smartness of livestock production practices at the national level in East Africa

A Poverty of Rights: Six Ways to Fix the MDGs

The reactions of the human rights community to the MDGs have been diverse. The goals have given a clear, communicable and quantitative focus to development but they arguably distract attention from important issues and are structurally flawed. In looking backwards, we need to consider whether the human rights gaps in the MDGs architecture are partly responsible for the mixed success of the enterprise and whether the MDGs are also being used to avoid human rights commitments. This reflection is used to look forwards to 2015 and it is argued that, even if we accept the target?based approach, human rights can make six key contributions, namely: (1) increasing participation in target selection; (2) ensuring targets better reflect human rights; (3) aiming for equality not just average improvements; (4) adjusting the targets for resource availability; (5) locating economic trade?offs within a human rights?based normative framework; and (6) improving the accountability infrastructure

Assessment of Coastal Governance for Climate Change Adaptation in Kenya

The coastline of Kenya already experiences effects of climate change, adding to existing pressures such as urbanization. Integrated coastal management (ICM) is increasingly recognized as a key policy response to deal with the multiple challenges facing coastal zones, including climate change. It can create an enabling governance environment for effective local action on climate change by facilitating a structured approach to dealing with coastal issues. It encompasses the actions of a wide range of actors, including local governments close to people and their activities affected by climate change. Functioning ICM also offers opportunities for reducing risks and building resilience. This article applied a modified capitals approach framework (CAF), consisting of five “capitals,” to assess the status of county government capacity to respond to climate change within the context of coastal governance in three county governments in Kenya. The baseline was defined in terms of governance relating to the implementation of the interrelated policy systems of ICM and coastal climate change adaptation (CCA). The CAF framework provided a systematic approach to building a governance baseline against which to assess the progress of county governments in responding to climate change. It identified gaps in human capacity, financial resource allocation to adaptation and access to climate change information. Furthermore, it showed that having well-developed institutions, including regulatory frameworks at the national level can facilitate but does not automatically enable adaptation at the county level

Childhood disability in Turkana, Kenya:Understanding how carers cope in a complex humanitarian setting

Background: Although the consequences of disability are magnified in humanitarian contexts, research into the difficulties of caring for children with a disability in such settings has received limited attention.Methods: Based on in-depth interviews with 31 families, key informants and focus group discussions in Turkana, Kenya, this article explores the lives of families caring for children with a range of impairments (hearing, vision, physical and intellectual) in a complex humanitarian context characterised by drought, flooding, armed conflict, poverty and historical marginalisation.Results: The challenging environmental and social conditions of Turkana magnified not only the impact of impairment on children, but also the burden of caregiving. The remoteness of Turkana, along with the paucity and fragmentation of health, rehabilitation and social services, posed major challenges and created opportunity costs for families. Disability-related stigma isolated mothers of children with disabilities, especially, increasing their burden of care and further limiting their access to services and humanitarian programmes. In a context where social systems are already stressed, the combination of these factors compounded the vulnerabilities faced by children with disabilities and their families.Conclusion: The needs of children with disabilities and their carers in Turkana are not being met by either community social support systems or humanitarian aid programmes. There is an urgent need to mainstream disability into Turkana services and programmes.</jats:p

Priority setting for health in the context of devolution in Kenya: implications for health equity and community-based primary care

Devolution changes the locus of power within a country from central to sub-national levels. In 2013, Kenya devolved health and other services from central government to 47 new sub-national governments (known as counties). This transition seeks to strengthen democracy and accountability, increase community participation, improve efficiency and reduce inequities. With changing responsibilities and power following devolution reforms, comes the need for priority-setting at the new county level. Priority-setting arises as a consequence of the needs and demand for healthcare resources exceeding the resources available, resulting in the need for some means of choosing between competing demands. We sought to explore the impact of devolution on priority-setting for health equity and community health services. We conducted key informant and in-depth interviews with health policymakers, health providers and politicians from 10 counties (n = 269 individuals) and 14 focus group discussions with community members based in 2 counties (n = 146 individuals). Qualitative data were analysed using the framework approach. We found Kenya’s devolution reforms were driven by the need to demonstrate responsiveness to county contexts, with positive ramifications for health equity in previously neglected counties. The rapidity of the process, however, combined with limited technical capacity and guidance has meant that decision-making and prioritization have been captured and distorted for political and power interests. Less visible community health services that focus on health promotion, disease prevention and referral have been neglected within the prioritization process in favour of more tangible curative health services. The rapid transition in power carries a degree of risk of not meeting stated objectives. As Kenya moves forward, decision-makers need to address the community health gap and lay down institutional structures, processes and norms which promote health equity for all Kenyans