External and Internal Context Analysis for Country Strategy Review 2021 87 views0 applications

In 2009 ActionAid International Kenya (AAIK) became an affiliate of ActionAid International Federation and has its Country Program with its Centre office in Nairobi, with the rest of the operational areas referred to as Local Rights Programmes (LRPs) that are distributed in 7 counties: Kilifi (Bamburi and Marafa LRPs), Homa Bay (Nyokal LRP), Embu (Makima LRP), Garissa (Kamuthe LRP), Taita Taveta (Kishushe LRP), Kajiado (Elangata Wuas LRP) and Makueni (Kathonzweni LRP). The organization also has an active presence in Isiolo County and operates through a Global Platform unit that is based in Nairobi and Nanyuki (Laikipia County).
In additional to these Local Rights Programmes ActionAid International Kenya also has several urban Programmes in three informal settlements of Mukuru, Bangladesh, Ziwa La Ngombe and Nyalenda in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu cities respectively. Since 1972, the organization has worked in partnership with more than one million people living in poverty and exclusion across the country. Today ActionAid International Kenya has a presence in 13 Local Rights Program (LRPs) and works with partners in 17 counties across the country to facilitate processes that eradicate poverty and ensure social justice through anti-poverty initiatives, local institutional capacity building and public policy influencing processes.
In 2017 during the development of the new strategy in the spirit of dual citizenship AAIK committed to align with the Global Strategy requirements to develop a longer strategy to replace the previous 5-year ones. The federation and countries adopted longer 10-year strategy with 3-year reviews to ensure that the strategy responds to the constantly changing context. According to ActionAid’s Accountability, Learning and Planning System (ALPS), an independent critical external and internal analysis of the Country Context should be undertaken as an initial step to informing any changes on the 2028 Country Strategic Paper, Our Rights for Justice.
AAIK has been implementing its current Country Strategic Plan (CSP) Our Rights for Justice for 2 years since its inception in 2018 and is now due for the initial the three year review in line with the current requirement after the adoption of the ten year strategies. During this period, AAIK’s work has been focused on 5 interconnected strategic objectives namely:
• Empower 500,000 Women and girls living in poverty and exclusion challenge violence and secure political participation
• Communities living in poverty and exclusion facilitated to realise their rights to just and democratic governance with a focus on Gender Response Public Services (GRPS)
• Advance for communities and women living in poverty and exclusion to secure their rights to land and other natural resources for improved livelihood through sustainable agriculture
• Create communities whose lives and livelihoods are more resilient to all forms of disasters
• Empower young wo/men living in poverty and exclusion to engage in advancement of productive employment.

2.0 Purpose and Scope of the Analysis

This external and internal review by an independent reviewer is to cover an external context analysis of Kenya’s Political, Economic and Socio-cultural environment, Kenya’s role in the East African Community and Africa Union; global changes’ impact on Kenya and an internal context analysis of key internal changes within AAIK and the wider federation. With regards to the internal context the review is envisioned to inform AAIK’s geographical spread and strategic fit.
Overall learning from the review process shall inform strategic priorities/overall focus, strategies, and approaches for any revisions of the ten year AAIK strategy Our Rights for Justice and also inform internal reorganisation.
Specifically, the External and Internal context Analysis seeks to:

1. Analyse current context; the political, economic, and socio-cultural shifts in Kenya and document learning and emerging context,
2. Assess the role of Kenya in the regional blocs, the East African Community, Africa Union, and global platform; shifts& direction and how this role impacts work on rights and poverty, and on the lives of people living in poverty and exclusion including the youth.
3. Provide a nuanced assessment of the donor trends in the country and in the region in responding to emerging political, social, and economic shifts
4. Assess the internal Federation change processes and their impact on AAIK’s strategic fit, priorities, and organisation
5. Identify and document national and global trends, challenges, and opportunities for AAIK by developing some strategic priorities/focus areas, priority scenarios with proposals for the geographic spread and reorganisation.**2.1 Overview of the Methodology and Process**

To conduct this analysis, various methodologies and tools shall be used by the reviewer. These will entail conducting a detailed desk review of key government/national documents (not limited to Vision 2030, current medium term plans, including published auditor general reports/constitutional commission reports) documents from AAIK, AAI (funding opportunities) and other sources such as CSOs; carrying out key informants interviews with select CSOs across from the Counties to the National level, strategic partners including Kenya Parliamentarian Human Rights Association, government partners and other development actors; and analysing the information and preparing a report that shall provide the analysis, the conclusions/ key trends, and opportunities.
The reviewer will also help facilitate a national process with staff and some national level partners and AAIK staff to understand and validate the context analysis report.

2.2 Deliverables

The key deliverables will be a consolidated report that provides information on:
• Emerging contexts and major political, economic and socio-cultural shifts
• Emerging role of Kenya in the regional blocks of EAC, AU and global platform and impact on the country
• Key Internal federation change processes and their impact on AAIK
• Key trends, challenges and opportunities (including funding opportunities) for AAIK.
• Suggestions on the areas of focus for a revised country strategy period 2020 – 2028 (strategic focus and implications on the geographical spread, organizations systems and mechanisms).
• Context Analysis Report and Presentation.

3.0 Management of the Review

AAIK’s Compliance Unit will provide overall guidance and supervision of the review. The lead consultant/ reviewer / team will work closely with the Executive Director, the Programs and Strategy Lead and the Technical Leads and any other National relevant staff who will provide pertinent information or guidance.
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3.1 Required Qualifications

The lead consultant/ reviewer should have the following:
• Masters degree in social sciences
• 7 years and above similar work experience
• At least 5 years of experience in undertaking national field surveys, data analysis and interpretation, monitoring and evaluation
• Knowledgeable and practical experience in participatory evaluations and analysis
• Background in Human Rights Based Approach
• Proficient in English
• Be able to display knowledge in coordinating and articulating informaton and teams at the national and/or iternational level.3.2 Work plan and Duration**

The CSP Review work is expected to take a maximum of 14 days in total including consolidating the final report.