Promoting Women’s Human Rights and Enhancing Gender Equality in Kenya

Abstract

In September 2004 the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) entered into an agreement for UNIFEM to technically backstop and administer Swedish funding to women’s human rights institutions in Kenya. As a consequence of this agreement, Sida support for women’s human rights and gender equality in Kenya is administered through a re-granting or indirect funding system under UNIFEM’s ‘Promoting Women’s Human Rights and Enhancing Gender Equality in Democratic Governance’ Program. Commenced in September 2004, the Promoting Women’s Human Rights and Enhancing Gender Equality in Democratic Governance Program (2004–2007) was scheduled for an external mid-term evaluation in 2006. The program was formulated to play an important role in creating an enabling environment and accountability to women especially those living in poverty, in order for them to enjoy their rights. The Promoting Women’s Human Rights and Enhancing Gender Equality in Democratic Governance Program has four support areas: • Protecting and promoting women’s rights through capacity building of women’s civil society organisations (CSOs) working in the human rights sector for training of paralegals, legal aid and advocacy; • Supporting CSOs in the Gender and Governance Program (GGP). A multi-donor program run through Action Aid Kenya (AAK) the Program Fund Management Agency (PFMA)1 • Complementary support to key government institutions to enhance the space for gender and governance • The Technical Advice Support Unit (TASU) providing technical support for quality implementation and monitoring; including technical support for the PFMA (AAK) and the Donor Steering Committee (DSC) The program commenced in September 2004 and was scheduled for an external mid-term evaluation in 2006 to fi nd out, among other things, the extent to which the program was meeting the stated objectives. This is the report of the mid-term evaluation which has been conducted from 12th June– 31st July 2006.