coastweek.com/3749-Aga-Khan-Foundation-confirm-deal-to-empower-civil-society-in-Kenya.htm
Thursday, 18 December 2014
Aga Khan Foundation sign deal to empower Kenyan civil society
NAIROBI (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. (AKF USA) on Thursday signed a 6-million-dollar partnership deal in Nairobi to support role of civil society in Kenya.
The four-year activity, called the Yetu Initiative, is designed to empower Kenyan civil society organizations, help Kenyan communities and civil society organizations jointly tackle the country’s most pressing challenges.
"The Yetu Initiative will work with Kenyan civil society organizations to strengthen their assets and capacity as well as build community trust," USAID said in a statement issued in Nairobi.
"Yetu", which means "ours" in Kiswahili, will build local ownership and support for civil society organizations, enabling them to sustain their advocacy for the Kenyan people over the long run.
Yetu will also engage communities in fundraising or awareness- raising campaigns, connect civil society organizations with an online capacity-building platform and mentoring opportunities, and develop online and mobile philanthropy platforms for Kenyans to donate money, time, and skills to support Kenyan civil society organizations.
The Yetu Initiative is the first country-level project of USAID and AKF USA’s Global Alliance for Community Philanthropy.
This Alliance, which includes the C.S. Mott Foundation and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, provides a global platform to exchange best practices and different approaches on strengthening civil society sustainability.
The Yetu Initiative will also contribute lessons learned, and provide an opportunity for other countries to learn from Kenya.