5. OTHER ACTIVITIES

5.1. Assistance to Refugee-Affected Areas

The objective of the Programme Assistance to Refugee-Affected Areas is to alleviate poverty among refugees and host communities. Currently, assistance is provided to regions in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Northwest Somalia (So-maliland) and Uganda. The Danish assistance to refugee-affected areas has a long-term perspective and is focused on areas where it is possible to contribute to improving the livelihood of the target groups, including refugees, internally displaced and host populations. Conflict prevention is an integrated element of the programme.

In Kenya, the programme is implemented in close cooperation with the Kenyan authorities and UNHCR. The long-term objective is that the Kenyan government protects asylum seekers and refugees in compliance with the country’s international obligations. Activities are aimed mainly at Sudanese and Somali refugees, who constitute the vast majority of the approximately 300,000 refugees living in Kenya. As the local host population often live under worse economic and social conditions than the refugees, the programme seeks to address the needs that exist among the refugees as well as among the local population. The programme therefore focuses on improving livelihood of refugees as well as the host population. To the extent that it is possible, the programme also seeks to support voluntary repatriation.

Furthermore, the programme includes a component aimed at building the capacity of the Kenyan refugee and asylum system. The Kenyan government is seeking to increase its involvement in the protection of and assistance to refugees and is preparing the adoption of a refugee bill. Denmark is supporting these efforts through assistance to the Kenyan Refugee Secretariat under the Ministry of Immigration and Registration of Persons.

5.2. Danish NGOs in Kenya

A number of Danish NGOs are active in Kenya: MS-Kenya (Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke-Kenya), DanChurch Aid (Folkekirkens Nødhjælp), the Danish Red Cross (Dansk Røde Kors), the Danish Outdoor Council (Friluftrådet), the Danish Boy Scouts Association (Fællesrådet for Danske Drengespejdere), the LO/FTF Council (U-landssekretariatet) and International Aid Services (Pin-sekirken). In 2000-2004, a total of DKK 103.8 million was disbursed through these organisations. The main areas of activity were: advocacy and capacity building; human rights; democratisation; civil education; children and youth; small-scale farmers; and natural resource management. MS-Kenya is the biggest Danish NGO in Kenya. DanChurch Aid mainly works with refugees from Sudan and Somalia, presently encamped in Kenya.

In general, the Danish NGOs contribute to broadening the scope of the development cooperation between Denmark and Kenya and are instrumental in securing public support in Denmark for development assistance to Kenya. With respect to support to the refugee relief work, the level will be closely linked to the peace processes in Somalia and Sudan and to the return of the refugees to their country of origin.

5.3. Research Activities

Direct cooperation between Danish and Kenyan research institutions and individuals can be supported outside the country frame through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, which funds research activities as part of Denmark’s International Development Cooperation. Research support is defined as funding given to research activities aiming at generating scientific knowledge as well as building research capacity. Furthermore, support can be provided for major collective research projects which aim to generate new problem-orientated knowledge relevant to the needs of developing countries. These strengthen cross-cutting research cooperation and innovative alliances between research environments, especially in the form of partnerships between Danish researchers and researchers from developing countries.

Through the support to international research, Denmark at present supports the following international agricultural research within the CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) institutions based in or with regional offices or activities in Kenya: ILRI (International Livestock Research Institute), ICRAF (World Agroforestry Centre), ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics) and IPGRI (International Plant Genetic Resources Institute). In addition, Denmark has supported other research institutions based in Kenya: ICIPE (International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology) and AERC (African Economic Research Consortium).

The research support schemes aim at strengthening closer coherence between research, development policy and the practical development cooperation. Furthermore, operational research can be supported through the SPSs.

5.4. Technical Advisers and Scholarships

As the ERSWEC unfolds with its civil service reforms, public expenditure reviews, parastatal reform and local government reform, Denmark, together with other development partners, will seek to transfer responsibility for management of SPS, including financial management to, Kenyan structures. Kenya has a comparatively skilled and well-educated labour force. However, the institutional capacity is poor, mainly due to decades of bad governance.

Technical assistance in the form of international and local advisers will be needed for the successful implementation of the country programme. Monitoring, evaluation and accountability of funds are areas where capacity building is especially needed. In moving towards SPS, a better integration of advisers in national structures will be secured through the implementation of Danida’s new technical assistance policy.

Scholarships to Kenyans will in the future be integrated in the sector programmes.

5.5. Multilateral Development Organisations Based in Kenya

A number of international organisations have global or regional offices in Nairobi. Furthermore, Kenya has a plethora of country offices for various organisations. The World Bank and the IMF are major players in the donor community. UN organisations are also present, often with strong regional offices, but play a less important role than they do in many other countries. Denmark engages actively with the IMF and the World Bank on their programmes in Kenya and simultaneously encourages UN funds and programmes to make their expertise available for joint development efforts through participation in the various coordination processes, including the ERSWEC.