FOCUS: TO ACCELERATE THE WOMEN’S CAUSE FOR COMPETITIVE ACHIEVEMENT OF GENDER EQUALITY AND EQUITY IN LEADERSHIP AND DECISION MAKING FRONTS AS GUARANTEED IN THE CONSTITUTION OF KENYA.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This is an Initiative of Interlink Care, a not for profit NGO in Kenya with vast wealth of experience working with diverse communities in leadership fronts who are engaging the men constituency to bring their stone to help build, encourage, support, strengthen, accelerate and sustain the course of women to competitively join leadership and decision making positions as guaranteed in the gender inclusive agenda of the Kenya’s New Constitution, The Millennium Development Goals and Kenya’s Vision 2030 development Blue Print.
Men for Women Initiative aims at objectively fostering deliberate incorporation, involvement and ownership of the women leadership agenda promotion among 130 lead County’s stakeholders and opinion leaders in each of the 47 Counties in Kenya by December 2012.
This initiative is based on the realization that while the benefits of the women inclusion in leadership cannot be overemphasized, the role of men as prime agents of change has been missing and if consciously and objectively harnessed can be instrumental in fast tracking this assured women’s cause from the enacted one-third provision in new constitution to 50-50 men–women representation at all levels of leadership and decision making.
It is a call from men for more conscious contribution of fellow men towards accelerating the ongoing effort of competent women inclusion in leadership and decision making fronts as “no tool for development is more effective than empowerment of women” said the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
The guiding reflection for this Initiative’s Conversation being cascaded in all the Counties is ‘from paper to reality’. This is with reference to the role of ‘We the people’ in regard to the implementation context of the gender provisions in the new constitution.
The guiding reflection for this Initiative’s Conversation being cascaded in all the Counties is ‘from paper to reality’. This is with reference to the role of ‘We the people’ in regard to the implementation context of the gender provisions in the new constitution.
INTRODUCTION/PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Women in Kenya have consistently agitated for the equality inclusion and empowerment. Over the years ,robust women movement and forums led by the academics, civil society activists, politicians and the lobby groups have been extremely vocal about issues such as democratization, women rights and freedoms ,women’s participation in leadership and governance affairs among other pertinent representational concerns of women. The lone voice of women has been too loud to be ignored. Various ratifications , conventions, recommendations, declarations, frame works, protocols ,affirmative actions, researches and way forwards have been charted by our government, women movements and policy makers. These efforts have been cascaded to the lowest levels with conscious and directional women empowerment discourse taking place in churches, women’s cells, women groups and “Chamas”, women seminars and work shops, women magazines and books as well as women blogs and interactive social media.
Consequently, these efforts have yielded results. The guaranteed and assured provisions on gender representation among other women’s rights are now entrenched in the new constitution of this land. However, despite huge investment in the above efforts ,coupled by the renewed pace set by giving unto ourselves the new constitution, the provisions operationalization is increasingly under real threat with many obstacles, perceived and real, psychological and actual, institutional and policy, already on the way of the realization and implementation of the one-third gender representation constitutional requirement. A perception that this is a far-fetched dream which is almost impossible to be achieved is slowly gaining grounds.
Historically, men still retain a near absolute hold on power throughout Kenyan society. Leadership has been, and largely remains exclusively the domain of men in our government, the private sectors, civil society and the family unit. This has left the women as the single largest untapped pool of human potential in our country and indeed in the entire world.
According to a 2009 survey by the Ministry of Gender, only 30.9 per cent of those employed in Kenya’s public service are women, 72 per cent of who are in the lower cadres. This same inequity exists in the Judiciary, in the leadership of political parties, and in political fronts. Women hold only about 10 per cent of the seats in the 10th Parliament, trailing far behind the global average of 18.8 per cent women representation in parliaments.
The public appointment trends currently going on in various government bodies send an alarming signal if the number of the applications being received from women is any thing to refer. A number of commissions have had to extend or re-advertise the application period of some key decision making positions since the received applications from the women have made it difficult to achieve the one-third gender compliance thresh hold.
In contemporary Kenyan society, women have been talking to women about men in leadership. More women are also talking with women about women leadership. Further, men are talking to women about men in leadership. However, fewer men are talking with men about the possibility of sound and competitive women leadership. This is what Interlink Care is addressing, cognizant that women movements in Kenya need men. We are complementing the tireless efforts being put by women movements through creating and reaching out for this missing link, by having men too, owning and championing the cause of women leadership among their fellow men, from the lowest to the highest levels of decision making.
Interlink Care is mobilizing a critical mass of men especially in leadership positions to support the cause of gender equity, equality and justice for women , whose effect will catalyze the achievement of this cause. Men for Women Initiative therefore envisions achieving a country where 50-50 gender representation among men and women in leadership and decision making position will be competitively realized by December 2012.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM AND JUSTIFICATION
Since independence, very few women in Kenya have been able to clinch the top positions in leadership. Others have taken a lot of time to excel in male dominated careers. Indeed, the journey has not been any easier in their quest to competitively achieve these positions due to immense barriers including Traditional ,Cultural ,Economic ,Political Social ,Historical, Biological, Gender, Spiritual ,Religious, Self inflicting, Own Enemy among other barriers.
The new constitution of Kenya stipulates that at least 1/3 of the appointed and electoral bodies’ positions should be of either gender. However, Kenya may face a constitutional crisis if efforts to achieve these guaranteed provisions are not enhanced by all stakeholders. While a gender top-up nomination option is being explored in all the elective positions in Kenya, this may lead to bloated and unsustainable overhead costs, with devastating economic consequences. Further, it may increase the possibility of inclusion of incompetent persons in leadership. This has been exacerbated by the reluctance of key stakeholders and interest groups especially among men to spearhead this vital cause due to polarized implementation environment.
The current gender policy framework created through the new constitution is very friendly for Women to aggressively and competitively seek leadership and decision making positions. Men for Women Initiative therefore seeks to fill this lacuna by creating an objective national dialogue, a platform, a call to action among men to talk about women and their potentials and to champion for the women competitive inclusion in leadership and decision making .
PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Goal 1: Establish and promote a conscious national dialogue among men on women leadership.
Objective 1a – Create a moderated e-mail data base to serve for our information e-alert system and subscribe 10,000 government and private sector agencies, policy makers and political leaders, civil society, NGOs, Local print and electronic media, social sites and blogs, Foreign Embassies, relevant activists and ordinary citizenry by November 30th 2011.
Objective 1b – Develop a pyramid phone system with 47 volunteers, each per County who have committed to calling and sending short messages to 100 people each in 72 hours when we have an action alert that is time sensitive.
Objective 1 c – Make and distribute 1,430 branded Caps, 5,000 stickers, 5,000 branded plastic hand bands and 2,000 branded calendars per County with men for women initiative advocacy messages.
Objective 1 d –Activate 1 lobby group of 50 stakeholders to organize 1 Men for Women Initiative sensitization walk per County by December 2012.
Goal 2: To empower more men with information, knowledge, skills and capacity to become advocates/ambassadors for advocacy of competent women inclusion in leadership.
Objective 2a – Carry out 47 County forums, targeting 130 stakeholders and opinion shapers per County by December 2012 to create a forum for training, dialogue and advocacy on women and leadership.
Objective 2b – Register and train 1 member per County to participate in regular outreach and consultation, monitoring and evaluation as well as building awareness concerning men for women initiative.
Objective 2c – Use meetings, visits, flyers, questionnaires, interviews, e-mail alerts and media reminders with previous participants to increase participation from 130 County stakeholders and opinion shapers to 2,600 stakeholders per County by December 2012.
Goal 3: To establish a network of men for women as partners in development
Objective 3a –Launch men for women initiative forums in 100 faith based organizations, 8 community based organizations, 50 Self-help groups, 2 government agencies, 8 NGOs and 4 institutions of higher learning per County.
Organization Vision
A country where 50-50 gender representation among men and women in leadership and decision making position at all levels will be competitively realized.
Organization Mission
To consciously initiate more inclusive space for men to support, encourage, strengthen, accelerate and sustain the course of the women to competitively join leadership and decision making positions as guaranteed in the gender inclusive agenda of the New Constitution, the Millennium Development Goals and Vision 2030 through deliberate ,objective and prime engagement of the men constituency.
Core Values
i. Integrity
ii. Excellence
iii. Innovation
ORGANIZATION KEY STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE THE MISSION
Goal 1: Establish and promote a conscious national dialogue among men on women leadership
October 2011- Hire four new staff full-time to organize and coordinate the Men for Women Initiative programme.
October through November 2011: Dispatch 2000 hard copies of Men for Women concept note to 2,000 stakeholders throughout the country.
October through November 2011: Send 5,000 soft copies of Men for Women concept note to 5,000 stakeholders within and outside the country.
Goal 2: To empower more men with information, knowledge, skills and capacity to become advocates/ambassadors for advocacy of women inclusion in leadership
October through November 2011: Create one Men for Women Interactive Blog in social media site.
October through November 2011: Recruit 2 key organizational spokespersons and train them.
October 2011-December 2012-Staff conducts information and recruitment drive to build effective membership, pyramid phone system, enabling rapid response to the Initiative’s organizational and coalition action alerts, establish E-mail Action Alert Network and membership e-mail database.
October through December 2011: Attend and participate in 6 media programme forums in the Country’s leading broadcasters and post 10 articles in the leading Print media.
October 2011 through February 2012: Run 10 media adverts per vernacular radio station in support of Men for Women Initiative in 20 vernacular radio stations countrywide.
Goal 3: To establish a network of men for women as partners in development
October through December 2011: Mobilize strategic partners, donors, well wishers, volunteers and supporters in raising funds for the implementation of the Initiative’s programmes.
October through December 2011: Research and design effective Men for Women Initiative Advocacy Slogans, Music and Messages for inclusion in the publicity materials per County.
November through December 2011-Make presentation to 100 interest groups and stakeholders on Men for Women Initiative
November through December 2011- Identify and Train 1 contact person per County on Men for Women Initiative to strengthen mechanisms for communication.
December 2011-December 2012-Working with staff and stakeholders, progressively roll out a countrywide Men for Women Initiative Engagement Forums in all the Counties in Kenya.
December 2011-December 2012- Print and disseminate advocacy and publicity materials required per County.
November 2011-December 2012-Working with staff and other enlisted stakeholders, commission, conduct, collect, collate, analyze, document and publish research findings on Men for Women Initiative progress and feedbacks per County.
December 2011-December 2012 : Continue project publicity, monitoring , evaluation, impact assessment and back grounding as necessary to build critical support for competitive Women inclusion in Leadership and decision making as well as maintaining active interactions and networking with target groups on pyramid phone system , social media and e-mail action network activities as needed.
December 2012: Hold a National Conference on Men for Women Initiative.
ORGANIZATIONAL BUDGET INFORMATION
Interlink Care requests Kshs 6,164,500.00, (61,645 USD) in cash and in kind ,the budget required for the programme implementation in 1 County. Interlink Care seeks partial or full financial partnership for the implementation of this programme.
The total budget for the successful implementation of the 1st phase of the Men for Women Initiative programme countrywide is Kshs 292,731,500.00 (2,927,315 USD)
We acknowledge our sponsors and strategic partners by printing their logos and names on publicity brochures, adverts, banners and news articles generated.
A number of fundraising activities are in progress. Would you like to be involved?
Everyone is welcome to fully partner and participate.
Everyone is welcome to fully partner and participate.
The budget breakdown is available for discussion with the partners and donors.(individual or organizations)
THE SUSTAINABILITY
Men for Women Initiative is designed to have a continuous multiplier effect for sustainability beyond the life of the grant. This initiative is structured in a manner that establishes lasting dialogue platform networks for direct and indirect beneficiaries, through perpetual stakeholders’ engagements platform creation and training, as well as continued use of project deliverable measures cascaded and demonstrated at lowest level of targeted groups.
Interlink Care endeavors to continually mobilize support from strategic partners, volunteers, and government agencies who also have ample platforms and are capacity-built key stakeholders in pushing the advocacy of more space for Women competitive Inclusion in Leadership and decision making position.
RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN.
a) Political Interference and Concept misinterpretations.
Whilst Men for Women Initiative is not politically affiliated to any political group ,party or individual, it is faced with misinformed and misguided interpretation from political leaders who view this initiative as a threat to their political survival resulting to reluctance in support and orchestrated interruptions, propaganda and threats during implementation.
In mitigation, Interlink Care endeavours to inform and explain the concept to all leaders of the target area both orally and in writing.
b) Traditional and Cultural Shocks.
The Initiative faces a serious traditional and cultural backlash in the quest for achieving its objective. Traditional and Cultural affiliations are strongly embedded in most of the targeted communities, forming a formidable barrier towards realisation of more space for Women inclusion in leadership. A misinformed perception that this initiative is intrusive and bent to introduce and propagate some alien school of thought in some communities’ cultures and practices has led to emergence of some pockets of resistance in some communities.
Interlink Care therefore is creating mechanism for collaboration, partnership and establishing cooperative relationships with the communities’ council of elders and senior citizens for easier implementation, ownership and continuity.
c) Insecurity in some targeted zones.
Most of the targeted areas of project implementation are currently faced with insecurity problem. Forms of insecurity such as cattle rustling, ethnic conflict and acts of terrorism are prevalent in some targeted area making it extremely risky to hold a meeting.
Interlink Care is partnering with the security organs of government to ensure safety and smooth implementation of the project in all Counties.
PROJECT MONITORING AND EVALUATION (M&E) PLAN
Interlink Care has established a Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of Men for Women Initiative Project. This Unit demonstrates capacity for engaging in outcome-based evaluations and identification of outputs and outcomes to measure how the project activities will achieve the project’s strategic objectives.
The M&E Plan will include output- and outcome-based indicators, baseline and targets for each indicator, monitoring and evaluation tools, data sources, and frequency of monitoring and evaluation. This Initiative seeks to incorporate an independent audit and evaluation, including a midterm and final assessment reports.
INITIATIVE'S IMPACT.
This Initiative has clear resultant benefits and wide spread societal impacts among them:
- a) Greater linkages with existing government agencies, Men and Women Movements and Organisations, Groups and individuals advocating for competitive inclusion of Women in Leadership and decision making fronts at local and national levels for sustainable advocacy.
- b) A greater participation by local communities in accelerating the pace of change through inclusion of more men in the cause of women empowerment.
- c) Improved leadership and governance among women from grass-root to national levels in both appointed and elected positions of leadership and decision making.
- d) Enhanced impact of the work of Interlink Care and other strategic partners in coordination of advocacy due to improved organizational and technical capacity (e.g. in governance, resources, advocacy and technical skills).
- e) Increase the number of men who share the same goals of greater equity for women competitive participation in positions of leadership without feeling they (men) are being targeted as perpetrators of the historical injustice against women.
- f) Breaks the long held stereotypic notions, myths and barriers on women and leadership.
- g) Discard an out-of-date paradigm where men and women’s issues are seen as separate.
- h) Catalyze and catapult more women to competitively seek positions of leadership throughout society by making them more visible.
- i) A 50:50 percent of women-men representation in all decision making and leadership positions competitively realized / achieved by December 2012 in the entire country.
Lets all join hands. We can do this,together.whilst the window is still open.
There are unlimited ways to participate, and everyone has a role. Let’s do something.However little. Right from the family unit,to the Public Forums.Spread the word. Encourage a lady .Affirm one today. Accommodate a view.
Give an opportunity. Listen more, Facilitate, Inspire a woman to go for it. Make a post. Tweet and re-tweet again,Blog, Strike some dialogue.Lets all engage. Make a declaration, Hold a rally.
Host a show, Shoot a song, Write an article about the issues, Celebrate the achievements. Preach if you must, But by all means, Lets keep the conversation on. because, its no longer about 'Them versus Us'
Its about us.Its about all of us.
From :
Rukomia Maina
Team Leader
INTERLINK CARE
EXCHANGE BUILDING
2nd Flr TELPOSTA TOWERS,KOINANGE STREET
ADDRESS P.O BOX 105303-00101
NAIROBI, KENYA.
Mobile: +254 706 637 249
Land line: +254 20 310123/4
Email: Interlink.mefwi@gmail.com
Facebook page: Interlink Care
Twitter: @interlinkcare.
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