Oxfam GB has worked in the Kenya Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) since the early 1960s. Due to chronic poverty, structural marginalization and increasing vulnerability of ASAL communities, Oxfam has increasingly embarked on longer-term programme interventions focused on livelihoods and the rights of communities in the ASAL. Critical to the success of the programmes is the capacity building of their community partners. Oxfam GB engaged PEN to undertake Institutional Capacity Building for Oxfam GB Partners in Turkana and West Pokot.
Poverty Eradication Network (PEN) is now a GB strategic partner as at the end of 2009.
In March 2009, PEN undertook an organizational capacity assessment for Oxfam GB partners in Turkana and West Pokot in Kenya. These partners were Riam Riam, TEFA (Turkana Education for All), TWADO (Turkana Women Advocacy and Development Organization), and TUDOF (Turkana Development Organizations Forum) in Turkana. The other partner that was assessed is SIKOM Peace Network for Development in West Pokot. The assessments were carried along eight capacity areas which included legal and statutory requirements and SIKOM compliance, organizational identity, work and programming, resource mobilization and utilization, networking and external relations, systems and policies, and organizational culture and leadership. Based on the key findings from the assessments, PEN facilitated the production of organizational development (OD) plans and implementation schedules for each respective organization. The plans consisted of existing capacity gaps, training needs and provided possible interventions which were expected to be implemented later.
Board Development Support to Turkana Education for All (TEFA)
Based on the finding of the organizational assessment done for TEFA , PEN was contracted to facilitate a workshop in August 2009 for TEFA Board of Directors and Management on strengthening of the Board to enable them provide good governance to the organization, Identifying gaps in TEFA Strategy Plan and Constitution and recommending ways of addressing them. This intervention has led to stronger and more effective governing and management functions for TEFA to be able to deliver on their mandate for their beneficiaries.
Contribution of TEFA to Improved Education in Turkana
Oxfam GB Turkana Education programme mandate is to ensure provision of quality education to children in Turkana. In the period 2008-2009, Oxfam GB Turkana education programme implemented activities taking in hand its 3 strategic objectives: increasing overall enrolment in schools, improving academic performance and building the capacity of TEFA. Despite Turkana region ranking high in Kenya’s poverty index (94%) and the status being expected to impact negatively on school enrolment, this programme observed a positive enrolment trend where enrolment has moved from 23% in 2003 to 43% in 2007 and to 54% in 2009. This impressive outcome is attributed to the role and contribution of TEFA to the education sector in the greater Turkana.
“Please remember all the successes were realized as a result of TEFA Board efficiency attributable to their capacity building by Oxfam GB through Poverty Eradication Network (PEN)” Joyce Emanikor, Education Programme Officer, Oxfam GB Turkana.
