The UN Country Team In Kenya.

Outside the Country: ILO

Other Agencies with programme activities in Kenya include: ITU, UNCTAD IMO and WTO. Nairobi also houses 10 regional offices: UNICEF, ICAO, UNHCR, UNESCO, UNDCP, UNIFEM, SG/DHA Great Lakes, DH/IRIN, and UNCRD. In addition to the UN regional offices, Nairobi is the global headquarters of UNEP and UN-Habitat and the DDC/UNDP.

Mission of the United Nations in Kenya

The United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2004-2008

The UNDAF in Kenya is the country-level strategy for the UN system to ensure enhanced collaboration and co-operation of the various funds, programmes and specialized agencies of the United Nations organizations operating in Kenya. Through UNDAF, UN assistance is delivered in a coordinated and mutually reinforcing manner.

I. TO PROMOTE AND CONTRIBUTE TO GOOD GOVERNANCE AND THE REALIZATION OF RIGHTS.

This area of co-operation is guided by the desire of the UN to strengthen the capacity for good governance accountability, transparency and responsiveness in all sectors. Specifically, in the area of good governance, focus will be on:

• Strengthening national capacity for enhanced and accountability
• Support to the on-going constitutional review
• Support to efforts at decentralization

With regard to the provision of basic social services, attention will be to:

• Education: to ensure equal access of girls and boys to basic education
• Health and Nutrition: to improve standards of sustainable health services as well as sustainable nutritional status.
• Water and Sanitation: to increase household access to safe water and adequate sanitation.

II. REDUCE THE INCIDENCE AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF HIV/AIDS, MALARIA AND TUBERCULOSIS.

This area of co-operation aims to address the three diseases HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB which either singly or collectively pose one of the greatest threats to personal safety and security of the Kenyan people. With an adult prevalence rate of some 14%, and with over 700 daily HIV/AIDS-related mortalities, HIV/AIDS has a catastrophic impact on Kenya's social and economic life with a potential effect on its political stability. HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB will reverse all gains so far experienced in the other sectors unless urgent measures are taken to reverse the trends. Specific interventions:

HIV/AIDS: to support the implementation of the national multi-sectoral strategy to combat HIV/AIDS and security mechanisms for those affected by HIV/IDS, especially aids orphans, and research for impact mitigation.

Malaria and TB: to support the reduction in the prevalence rates of malaria and TB particularly in the most affected parts of Kenya, and to strengthen surveillance, data management, analysis and utilization for their control.

III. STRENGTHEN NATIONAL AND LOCAL SYSTEMS FOR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, PREVENTION, RESPONSE AND MITIGATION.

This area of co-operation will support the development of a strategic framework for disaster preparedness and management as well as peace building and conflict prevention. Its specific components will be:

Disaster management: to minimize potential national disasters specific to Kenya and their impact on national development especially;

Natural and man-made disasters: to enhance national and local mechanisms for preparedness, prevention, response and mitigation of natural disasters;

Refugees: to promote the essential protection, material assistance and solutions and needs of refugees and surrounding host populations in accordance with internationally established standards.

Peace building and conflict resolution: to support the strengthening of national institutions for peace building and conflict resolution.

IV. PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS AND PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT.

This area of co-operation aims to contribute to the sustainable use of natural resources to meet the needs of present and future generations; it will also promote access to food security and sustenance of livelihoods. Specific areas of focus will be:

Improved food security and rural livelihoods: to support local and district authorities to make appropriate resource allocation choices, focusing on women's economic security and HIV/AIDS

Natural resource management: to promote sustainable community-based natural resource management.

Production and income diversification: to promote employment and economic growth through credit access, training and SME development.

CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES

o Gender
o Population
o Research and information

UNDAF is complementary to other development partner's poverty reduction strategies, especially the World Bank's Country Assistance Strategy (CAS).

UNDAF IMPLEMENTATION STRUCTURES

The UN Country Team has mandated three theme groups to be the vehicles for spearheading collaboration around the four areas of co-operation outlined above. The three groups, their lead agencies and membership are as follows:

1. Governance and Rights
Lead Agency: UNDP; Alternate: UNICEF

Members: UNIFEM, WB, UNIDO, UNDCP, UN-HABITAT, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNFPA, WHO, WFP.

2. HIV/AIDS
Lead Agency: UNFPA Coordinating Agency: UNAIDS

Members: UNDP, WHO, UNICEF, UNDCP, WB, UNESCO, WFP, UNHCR, UNIFEM.

3. Disaster Prevention and Sustainable livelihoods
Lead Agency: WFP; Alternate: FAO

Members: OCHA, IOM, UNHCR, UNICEF,
UNDP, UNON, WB, WHO, UNIFEM, ICAO,
UNFPA, UNAIDS, WMO.

MAJOR CO-OPERATION STRATEGIES

The major co-operation strategies to be deployed by the UN and partners include:

1. Promoting advocacy and policy dialogue
2. Decentralized planning
3. Strategic partnership building
4. Capacity development
5. Joint, parallel, or collaborative programming
6. Mainstreaming cross-cutting issues
7. Targeting vulnerable groups and regions
8. Monitoring the MDGS

PARTNERSHIPS

UNDAF is comparable and complementary to the co-operation programmes of other development partners such as the Bretton Woods Institutions; the EU, bilateral agencies; the private sector; CSOs; and communities.