Deveopment cooperation with Kenya is a government guided strategy for the period 2009-2012. The goal is a Kenya in which all poor people have the opportunity to improve their living conditions, and where their human rights are realised. The Swedish strategy is based on the Kenya Joint Assistance Strategy, agreed by the Government of Kenya and its main development partners. The Swedish portfolio focuses on democratic governance and human rights (35%), natural resources and environment (54%), urban development (6%) and a continuous support to HIV/AIDS initiatives (3%). The rural roads support (2%) will be phased during the period. The foreseen amount of Swedish development cooperation with Kenya is approximately SEK 350 million (KES 3,5 billion) per year, all provided as grants.
Sweden works with the Kenyan Government to promote institutional reform and also with civil society in advocacy, dialogue and service delivery. Swedish development cooperation also supports improved service delivery, income and job opportunities for the poor, water resources management, rural roads, and HIV/AIDS prevention and care. Swedish support to democratic governance focuses on institutional development and reform in the justice and legal sector, improved public financial management, and a results-oriented public administration. Within natural resources and the environment, Swedish efforts focuses on support to land reform, securing access to water resources, clean water, increased productivity and the commercialisation of agriculture, and improved environmental management. For the urban sector, Sweden supports work to improve living conditions and strengthen the right of the urban poor to equal participation in decision-making as well as greater access to affordable housing. In the roads sector, the support of rural roads in Nyanza Province, will be phased out in 2011.
Major challenges remain in Kenya in a number of areas, foremost democratic governance and equitable distribution of resources and opportunities. There is also a need for a more balanced development in the country as a whole and continued reduction of poverty in all its dimensions. The situation that followed the 2007 elections highlighted issues which, though crucial to Kenya's development, have remained unresolved since independence. Swedish support is clearly linked to implementation of key reform initiatives agreed under the National Accord of February 2008. This means that Swedish support promotes and facilitates reforms. But it also means that Swedish support requires that reforms are being implemented. There is need for a new constitution, electoral reform, land reform, justice and security sector reforms, the need to end impunity for criminal actions including corruption and violence, and to address the problem in informal settlements in urban areas. There is also a need to address reconciliation and ethnic grievances for the Kenyan nation to heal and prosper.
Sweden is concerned about poor people’s rights. All Swedish development cooperation with Kenya therefore promotes non-discrimination, accountability, transparency, participation, rule of law and gender equality.
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