University of NairobiThe civil society and humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons in Africa

Abstract

This dissertation is premised on and informed by primary and secondary data based on the civil society and humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Africa, focusing on a case study of the Catholic Church in Kenya (1992-2000). The study undertakes an overview of internal displacement in Africa and points out the contributing factors to internal displacement. ,Attention has been given to internal displacement .. in Kenya in the period 1992-2000, focusing on Rift Valley, Nyanza, Western and Coast provinces, At another level the study looks into the role of the civil society in provision of humanitarian assistance to IDPs in Africa. Areas of strength, challenges and constraints encountered by the civil society are identified. Conditions for effective functioning of the civil society are also mentioned. The study finds that the civil society, that is found to be functional on social, economic and political processes, should fill the gap left by the State in terms of humanitarian assistance to IDPs. The study also focuses on the Catholic Church in provision of humanitarian assistance to IDPs in Kenya in 1992-2000. It highlights the Catholic Church's profile, constraints, Catholic Church- State cooperation, barriers to this cooperation and conditions for enhancing this cooperation. It finds that the Catholic Church should use its' net.w. ork competently and lobby the provincial administrators, the local authority leaders. the legislators and policy makers to be sensitive towards the initiatives the Catholic Church endeavours to provide humanitarian assistance to IDPs. Finally, the study provides a synthesis of the research findings and makes recommendations for the way forward. It concludes that the Catholic Church and the State should cooperate in provision of humanitarian assistance to IDPs, by identifying each other as complements and seek consultation towards alleviating the suffering of IDPs. This research forms fundamental reference for policy makers and actors in humanitarian assistance to IDPs.