| dc.description.abstract | This study sought to understand the process of strategy formulation and implementation at United High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Kenya and how the organization has responded to the challenges of formulating and implementing its strategies. The rationale of the study arose out of the realization that Not-for-Profit making Organizations especially those of international stature experience challenges in formulating and implementing their strategies. Coming up with a global strategy when each region is unique; conflicting objectives and differing cultures and; the fact that donors are not the direct beneficiaries, impacts greatly on the process. The donors impose which kind of programs they want to fund and in what country thus reducing the autonomy of the organization.
Each region is unique so the issue of context arises. UNHCR Kenya being in a developing country faces unique challenges in its operations like poor infrastructure, poor health and environmental conditions at the refugee camps and insecurity among others. This is not the case for other branches thus global strategies formulated from the head office bring a challenge during implementation because of these unique situations on the ground.
This research project was a case study of UNHCR Kenya. The three objectives of the study were: To establish the process of strategy formulation and implementation at UNHCR Kenya; to determine the challenges in the process of strategy formulation and implementation and; to identify the responses of UNHCR Kenya towards these challenges.
In order to meet these objectives, the pertinent primary and secondary data was collected. Primary data was obtained from personal interviews with the respondents who are responsible for strategy formulation and implementation at UNHCR Kenya. The same interviewees are responsible for implementation. Secondary data was obtained from articles and books about UNHCR. The data was then analyzed qualitatively.
The study established that strategy formulation process at UNHCR Kenya is all inclusive and that the mission statement and organization values play a major role making their strategies. Once formulated, the strategies are communicated to employees. The study found out that donor influence represents the greatest impact in implementation of strategies at UNHCR Kenya. Not all strategies are implemented due to donor demands and failure to honour their pledges. Other challenges that surfaced include applying global strategies in a local context, lack of sufficient financial resources, poor infrastructure, cultural and religious factors among others.
According to the research findings, UNHCR Kenya has endeavoured to respond to the challenges posed by the process of strategy formulation and implementation at the organization. This is through decentralization of functions, changes in the organization's structure through reduction of reporting lines, out sourcing, new fundraising strategies, use of technology, good leadership and improved communication within the organization among others.
This study was based on how UNHCR Kenya formulates and implements its strategies, the challenges of that process and how it has responded to those challenges. A further study can, therefore be carried out in form of a cross sectional survey covering the whole sector of Not-for Profit making Organizations of international stature to determine how they formulate and implement their strategies, the challenges they face in that process and how they have responded to those challenges. This then will allow for sector generalizations to be made. | en |
