| dc.description.abstract | The value of productive collaborations for building healthy, cohesive communities has long been clear to leaders of nonprofit social sector organizations. The challenges that society faces cannot be met, nor are the objectives of anyone organization fully realized by anyone organization and collaboration with other institutions is imperative. This study sought to establish the rationale behind the establishment of collaborative arrangements undertaken by international humanitarian organizations dealing with Refugees in Kenya as well as to examine the effectiveness. of their collaborative arrangements.
The research design adopted for the study was a descriptive survey. The survey design enabled the researcher to collect data from a broad range of population members, which was desired for comparative purposes. The population of the study consisted of international humanitarian organizations dealing with refugees in Kenya. All the 37 listed international humanitarian organizations in the 2005 10M mailing list (as per Appendix 1) and which were participating in Refugee operations were studied. A census survey was conducted. This was justified by the fact that the population of study was rather small, besides being accessible to the researcher. Primary data was collected using a semi¬structured questionnaire.
Results indicate collaborative arrangements between international humanitarian organizations dealing with Refugees irf Kenya exist and normally take the form of alliances, networks as well as joint arrangements for implementation of proj ects. The arrangements are normally sealed through legal arrangements involving the signing of memorandum of understanding while others are done based on mutual trust. The study further revealed that these arrangements are for undertaking a specific project while others are long-term arrangements. These arrangements would normally be terminated upon completion of the projects being undertaken or if required by the respective organizations' head office. Results further indicate that collaborative arrangements had been very effective in realizing the objectives of the collaboration. Specifically, the arrangements have been very effective with regard to joint implementation of projects.
outside the country, sharing of information as well as sharing of resources. Among the challenges facing the respective organizations as a result of the collaboration were the much time required to manage the collaborative arrangements as well as delay by some of the parties in meeting their part of the bargain. However organizations had taken steps to mitigate the effects of this by having consultative meeting and regular reports and updates. Several reasons for the success of the collaborative arrangements can be singled out as operating in similar locations, knowledge of partner's operations as well as long establishment of the collaborations. To improve on the current state of affairs there is need for organizations to be open when signing the agreements as well as weighing their partners to ascertain that they possessed the resources and capabilities required as input in a collaborative undertaking. In addition, there is need for organizations to learn from partners in order to build internal resources. | en |
