There has been a lot of violence and discrimination against women based on their mode of dressing especially in the Kenyan cities. This Project therefore aims at advocating for the rights of women and supports legal framework that will protect their dressing code and peace harmony. The overall goal of project is to transform the society geared towards socio-economic and political empowerment of the poor and the powerless in the society. Women in Africa have been rendered powerless and voiceless; project will therefore advocate for their rights and support the strengthening of a legal framework which will protect them against violence and discrimination. This project will fight for the rights of women through carrying out campaigns. This will be done through holding awareness creation campaigns on the rights of women. Gender specialists will be invited to speak on various topics during the lobby and advocacy campaigns.
Background Information
XXXXX is a not for profit making organization established as a program under Emviolenceerging Young Leaders-Africa (EYL) in 2003. Since then, XXXXXX has transformed into an integrated community development programme implementing activities in Kenya for the sole purpose of improving the livelihoods of the poor and powerless in the community. XXXXXX has continued to be dynamic in project implementation in order to address the ever-changing community needs through consultative approach.
XXXXXX has continued to enjoy a working relationship with the local communities, leaders, churches, the government and local and international organizations. The organization has partnered with the Ministry of Youth Affairs (MOYAs), Ministry of Gender, Ministry of Medical Services, Ministry of public health and sanitation, Evangelical Alliance of Kenya, and Association of Evangelical in Africa amongst other renowned churches and institutions.
The ultimate focus of XXXXXX is to see healthy people, a healthy community, and a healthy Nation. This has been achieved through making small but meaningful and realistic contributions towards community empowerment.
Vision
XXXXXX’s Vision is having a transformed and empowered leadership and a self-reliant community.
Mission
The Mission of XXXXXX is “Empowering and developing emerging leaders through mentoring, leadership development, entrepreneurship and vocational training.”
XXXXXX Thematic Areas
XXXXXX implements the following activities: –
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- Mentoring
- Leadership development
- Community development initiatives
In order to promote women, leadership and development, XXXXXX has 60 staff members embracing the affirmative action with 50 being women including the CEO Connie Kivuti.
Previous and Current Funding Sources
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- Evangelical Alliance of Kenya
- Tear fund
- USAID
- Parklands Baptist Church /CITAM Ministry
- Cooperative Bank of Kenya
List of Current Partner Organizations
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- Evangelical Alliance of Kenya
- Agenda for Change Youth Organization
- Emerging Young Leaders Africa
- The Barack H.Obama Foundation
XXXXXX learnt of Urgent Action Fund-Africa through its interaction with other development partners.
Situational Analysis
There has been a lot of violence and discrimination against women based on their mode of dressing especially in the Kenyan cities of Nairobi and Mombasa. This Project therefore aims at advocating for the rights of women and supports legal framework that will protect their dressing code and peace harmony.
The overall goal of XXXXXX is to transform the society geared towards socio-economic and political empowerment of the poor and the powerless in the society. Women in Africa have been rendered powerless and voiceless; XXXXXX will therefore advocate for their rights and support the strengthening of a legal framework which will protect them against violence and discrimination.
Nairobi City (Project area) is located in Nairobi Province and borders Kiambu, Machakos and Kajiado Counties. It is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name “Nairobi” comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nairobi, which translates to “cool water,” the Maasai name of the Nairobi River, which in turn lent its name to the city. This City is popularly known as the “Green City in the Sun” and is surrounded by several expanding suburbs. The city was founded by the British in 1899 as a simple rail depot on the railway linking Mombasa to Uganda and the town quickly grew to become the capital of British East Africa in 1907 and eventually the capital city of Kenya. During Kenya’s colonial period, the city became a centre for the colony’s coffee, tea and sisal industry. The city lies on the Nairobi River, has an elevation of 1795 m (5,889 ft) above sea level and enjoys a moderate climate. Nairobi has a subtropical highland climate. As Nairobi is situated close to the equator, the differences between the seasons are minimal. It is the most populous city in East Africa, with a current estimated population of 3,138,295 (2009 Census) and a density of 4,515 people per SQ KM. Nairobi is currently the 12th largest city in Africa and the first digital City in Africa. It is a home to thousands of Kenyan businesses and over 100 major international companies and organisations, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the main coordinating and headquarters for the UN in Africa and Middle East, the United Nations Office isin Nairobi (UNON). It is therefore an established hub for business and culture. Nairobi is divided into several constituencies which include: Makadara, Kamukunji, Starehe, Langata, Dagoretti, Westlands, Kasarani and Embakasi and is a cosmopolitan and multicultural city. Nairobi and other cities in Kenya have been unable to cope up with the pace of planning and infrastructural development to meet the demands of the ever-growing population. Rural-urban migration and the natural population growth has been largely absorbed in the fast growing urban informal and unplanned settlements of Mukuru, Korogocho, Dandora, Kibera, Mathare, Viwandani and many others. The residents of informal settlements live in congested housing with very poor living conditions and severe food insecurity. It is estimated that 60% of the 5 million residents live in informal settlements with no proper access to safe water and sanitation services (Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor 2012). The proportion of people living in poverty in urban areas has increased rapidly, from 29 percent in 1992 to 44 percent in 2003. According to the 2003 estimates from the Central Bureau of Statistic’s poverty mapping exercise, the poverty level is as high as over 70 percent mainly in the informal settlements.
Since the Kenyan Cities of Nairobi and Mombasa are cosmopolitan, dressing for women has followed diverse cultures and therefore there is no particular way of dressing for women. The vice of undressing women who are dressed in a particular way must be stopped and a legal framework developed to protect women from this humiliation.
Project Urgent Actions
Women Rights Advocacy and peace
This project will fight for the rights of women through carrying out campaigns in Mombasa and Nairobi. This will be done through holding awareness creation campaigns on the rights of women. Gender specialists will be invited to speak on various topics during the lobby and advocacy campaigns. Kenyan media will also be involved in these campaigns to ensure that this massage reaches everybody in the country. There will be peaceful demonstrations held to lobby for a strong legal framework that will protect women from violence and discrimination.
Legal redress of gender violence victims
The project will network with legal bodies fighting for the rights of women in Kenya such as FIDA to press for a legal transformation and ensure that Kenya embraces a strong legal protection for the rights of women. XXXXXX will support FIDA to fight for the rights of the recent undressing victims in Nairobi and Mombasa to ensure that those involved in the heinous acts are apprehended and convicted. In order to set precedence, XXXXXX will ensure that all cases of violence based on gender are reported and action taken as a lesson to those with such intention in future.
Monitoring and Evaluation
This project will be committed to continuous monitoring and evaluation of planed activities in order to track progress and ensure result-oriented planning and performance management. XXXXXX will support monitoring and evaluation efforts in line with its policies and guidelines. Project assessment will be based on the following guiding questions: –
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- What is the project achieving?
- Are efforts supported by the project producing the desired outcomes to address the identified problems
- Are there challenges hindering the progress of the undertaken interventions?
- What changes should be made in order to achieve the desired outcomes and impact?
Monitoring will seek to find out whether activities and interventions are accomplishing what was intended. Since XXXXXX has institutionalized monitoring and evaluation tools which will be used to assess project progress, monitoring will be participatory and dynamic in approach involving, CSO and FRIDA the project beneficiaries. XXXXXX will provide monthly reports on the progress of activities and realization of targets. Monitoring will therefore be a continuous process during project implementation.
Evaluation will capture the aggregate impact of all the interventions. During monitoring the project will identify the most critical indicators of progress that will support adjustment, alignment and learning. Evaluation will be used as a powerful tool that will help in informed decision making on how best to implement future activities in order to achieve the desired impact. This project shall support the involvement of partners in gender equality, women rights advocacy, anti-female genital mutilation groups and those fighting against domestic violence. Project evaluation will be domain a collaborative manner and will provide feedback to all partners so as to improve, adjust or decide on how best to achieve desired outcomes in future. Evaluation will be done at the end of the project period involving XXXXXX, partners and beneficiaries. XXXXXX will provide a Final Project Completion Report to CSO,and FRIDA all partners involved in the project.
Project Targets
The following will be achieved during the period: –
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- Four (4) lobby and advocacy campaigns done in the cities of Nairobi and Mombasa reaching out to 8,000 people directly
- Support women rights advocators such as FIDA to carry out investigations and institute a legal action against the perpetrators of the violent acts experienced in Nairobi and Mombasa.
Sustainability and Institutional Linkages
XXXXXX will sustain this project through development of new partnerships and collaboration in gender equality advocacy programs. Sustainability will be achieved through formation and capacity building of community organization with strong structures and the capacity to continue with the project with minimal support. The project will encourage community contributions of any kind to ensure continuity.
