BEING A PART OF POLICIES DEVELOPMENT IN KENYA

ANDY is a part of the team who are actualizing the objective of increasing people’s participation in good governance and development through the Non-State Actors Support Programme. The realisation of the objective is spear headed by the NSA-NET in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs with support from the European Union. ANDY attended the Nairobi forum which was held from 31st October- 1st November, the forum was attended by participants representing various sectors such as Community Based Organisations, Disabled Persons Organisations, International non-governmental among others comprised of various issues on policy and networking such as the Role of Non-State Actors in the three sectors theory namely people, power and politics, formation of networks and coalitions, identifying policy issues and planning for policy influencing both in the short and long term.
Organisations should realise that for them to be effective in their various functions it is important for them to learn of the various dynamics of power and how they can work against or for you, the dynamics include;
Power over: this is associated with repression, force, coercion, corruption and abuse
Power to act: this is the power to shape people’s future and create more equitable relationships and structures of power
Power within ourselves: this is the sense of self worth, values and self knowledge central to individual and group understanding of various issues.
Power with others: finding common ground among different interests and building collective strength to challenge injustice.
An evaluation is critical to understand how the power relates to its level of influence within various organisations.

Network
The definition of a network is individuals or organisations willing to assist one another or collaborate on a common goal, ANDY has had the advantages of networking as it has helped in broadening its support base and ensuring there is credibility and visibility within their partner organisations. The networks which ANDY has created has assisted in reducing duplication of some activities which we are involved in, increment of connectivity and sharing of knowledge, skills and funds.

ANDY among other organisations designs policies which seek to ensure persons living with disabilities are included in community developments and participation projects. In developing policies it is important to consider the following steps;
a) Problem definition
b) Determination of evaluation criteria
c) Identification of alternative policies
d) Evaluation of alternative policies ,and
e) Implementation and monitoring the policy
Policies are designed either in the short term or in the long term, during the forum, various issues were brought out which required policies to be made around them. The issues are clustered in four categories;
Most of the issues identified were allocated to be addressed both during the short term and the long term

Peace, National Cohesion and Security
1. Peace Building
2. National cohesion and integration
3. Safety and Security
4. Climate Change

Implementation of the Constitution
1. Bill of Rights (this includes socioeconomic rights, pastoralists, women etc)
2. Reforms (this includes institutional governance e.g judicial, electoral, land etc)
3. Affirmative Action (this includes for persons living with disabilities and women)

Civic Education and Popular Participation
1. Civic education
2. Networking and capacity building of non-state actors and self regulation
3. Popular people’s participation
4. Governance and leadership
5. Media strengthening

Youth Empowerment and Livelihoods
1. Youth empowerment (including employment)
2. Improvement of livelihoods


To ensure that the policies will be implemented fully a working document will be worked on by the Non State Actors Network by the end of the program which will end in September 2012. It is crucial for organisations which are part of NAS-NET to attend the forums with countrywide representatives and come up with a solid document which will ensure that there is strengthening of mechanisms, networks and capacities for deepening and broadening of the NSA involvement in the development processes.

By Nancy Nteere