KENYA: CAFOD Global Strategic Framework, A significant Roadmap for AMECEA

The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) in East Africa has from August 28-29 been involved in a strategic planning meeting with its partners from Kenya and Uganda. The meeting which was held at JJ McCarthy Centre in Nairobi-Kenya was attended by the CAFOD staff, partners from six dioceses and five Catholic institutions in Kenya and partners from three arch/dioceses (Gulu, Moroto and Kotido) as well as the National Justice and Peace Office in Uganda.

According to Ms. Catherine Ogolla, the Regional Director for CAFOD East Africa, the purpose of the meeting was to plan together for the future as they brainstorm on their next strategic plan for Kenya and Uganda.

“This strategic plan which is formed by CAFOD Global Strategic Framework under the theme Our Common Home as inspired by the Papal Encyclical Laudato Si of Pope Francis, mandates us to look at the twin cries of the poor and the earth. We are therefore building on the issues that are emerging from the Laudato Si on the twin crisis, namely the social crisis and environmental crisis,” Ms Ogolla explained.

According to Sr. Tabitha Nyawira, ASN, Programs Officer in AMECEA’s Department of Integral Human Development, Our Common Home Strategy is a great source of inspiration to the work carried out by the AMECEA’s Integral Human Development as it complements its efforts to respond to challenges related to the environment and the needs of the less privileged in the society.

“The strategy is a significant roadmap for the Department in its future programming to increase enthusiasm in living the aspirations of the Laudato Si,” Sr. Tabitha said.

Dr. Emmanuel Kiiza Aliba, National Executive Secretary for Justice and Peace Commission at Uganda Episcopal Conference who for a long time have partnered with CAFOD explained that “… the unique thing about CAFOD is that they plan together with their partners such that they get involved from its very basic level.”

“We are planning for the next five years having moved from the past theme, entering into Our Common Home, a strategy that is meant to guide our operations for next five years. So we are here to plan together so that we move together into Our Common Home strategy.”

According to CAFOD East Africa Regional Director Ms. Catherine Ogolla, CAFOD has been working through a partnership model whereby the Regional office which is based in Nairobi is not operational but rather works towards building and strengthening the capacities of the partners who do the work on the ground.

“The work we are focusing on is integrated food security, governance and advocacy including peace building and conflict resolutions. We are also implementing projects related to humanitarian crisis or emergencies in Kenya and Uganda, for example the refugee situation in Uganda and the drought in northern Kenya,” she said adding that currently they have a total of eleven partners in Kenya and four partners in Uganda.

“CAFOD cherishes long term partnerships so we have journeyed with our partners in Kenya and Uganda for quit a long time and we will continue to support their work,” she assured.

However, she also reiterated the fact that the context is changing very fast in terms of funding. For example, Kenya is now considered a middle income country by international standards, thus raising serious challenges for fundraising.

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By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News