Programs

ABOUT GRADIF-K GOVERNANCE PROGRAM

Governance concerns the state’s ability to serve her citizens. It refers to the rules, processes and behavior by which interests are articulated, resources are managed, and power is exercised in society. GRADIF-K believes that the government, organizations and other agencies make better decisions and have greater positive impact on the communities/citizens when they increase the frequency, range, and level of engagement of communities. GRADIF-K recognizes that communities can only be said to play an effective role in decision-making if they are actively involved in defining the issues, identifying solutions, and developing priorities for action and resources. Significant gaps and barriers exist to effective citizen engagement. In many rural communities in Kenya where GRADIF-K works, there is limited citizens’ participation and engagement on crucial decisions that affect their daily lives, and there is often a lack of trust between them and government officials and or other policy makers. GRADIF-K acknowledges that a crucial bridge over this gap is the use of appropriate strategies and tools to encourage citizens and government officers/other policy makers to interact and engage regularly. This has an inherent capacity to greater participation by citizens in decision-making processes and involves consensus-building and civic awareness. GRADIF-K governance program does this through increasing citizens’ knowledge about an issue of concern to them and creating opportunities for engagement with relevant organs.

Key components of this Programme include:

• Civic education and awareness

• Participating and or organizing relevant policy advocacy forums

• Development and dissemination of popular versions of relevant policy documents for ease of conceptuialisation by targeted citizens.

ABOUT GRADIF-K’S EDUCATION PROGRAM

GRADIF-K recognizes the role of education in both the development of individuals, families , communities and the nation as a whole and supports all the key components of a quality education programmes which promotes holistic development of children, successful transition and progression of children at all levels. The goal of education is to promote literacy rates among community members for meaningful social-economic, moral and political development. GRADIF-K further believes that Education is a process through which the “learner/child” acquires relevant knowledge, appropriate and useful skills (both technical and life skills), right attitudes and living values which enables him or her to fit well in the society and become a responsible citizen. Efforts are made to ensure that children receive a quality education which promotes their holistic development to become responsible citizens.

Key components of this Programme include:

• Early childhood Development Programme for children 0-9 years; Early Childhood is supported as the foundation for children’s lives which determines the kind of an individual each person grows into

• Primary school Education and Post Primary school education; targeted support for children from vulnerable families

• Girl Child Education Project for children in disadvantaged districts.

ABOUT GRADIF-K MATERNAL HEALTH AND CHILD SURVIVAL PROGRAM

GRADIF MNCH program is informed by the fact that maternal mortality in Kenya has remained unacceptably high and that most maternal deaths are due to causes directly related to pregnancy and childbirth, unsafe abortion and obstetric complications such as severe bleeding, infection, hypertensive disorders, and obstructed labor while others are due to causes such as malaria, diabetes, hepatitis, and anaemia, which are aggravated by pregnancy. GRADIF-K MNCH program is also informed that children living in Africa have a much higher chance of dying before the age of five, and among those, are the children of the poorest families who will suffer most. Acknowledging that of these 1 in 4 deaths occur during the neonatal period and aware that issues of the newborn cannot be addressed separately as they are intrinsically entwined with pregnancy, labour, delivery and postpartum care. Hence addressing maternity care automatically translates to improved newborn health.

Key components of this Programme include:

• Mobilising pregnant mothers to women make the recommended number of antenatal care visits especially so in rural areas

• Sensitizing communities to uptake modern methods of contraceptives

• Mobilising communities to uptake infant and young children immunization

• Sensitizing communities on diarrheal management, pneumonia management, maternal and pediatric nutrition and the importance of hand washing.

• Integrated HIV/AIDS and TB prevention, mitigation and care and support within the health system

ABOUT GRADIF-K Environmental Conservation Programme

Natural resources have great cultural, social and economical impacts on any society and have been the source of conflicts in some communities. Thus the goal of this Programme is to conserve our environment and ensure sustainable utilization of natural resources for the current and future generations. It is envisaged that this intervention will also mitigate the impact of climate change on our environment and the risk posed to agriculture and food security.

Key components of this Programme include:

• Documenting indicator species (plant and animals) for monitoring environmental changes

• Mobilizing and training communities on environmental conservation

• Establishing nurseries and planting trees

• Establishment of nature based enterprises

• Advocacy for decentralized natural resource management

About GRADIF-K Women Empowerment and Gender Development Program

GRADIF-K women and gender development program is aimed at addressing unequal power relations between men and women and unearth the underlying factors that prevent women from accessing resources and power. The goal of this program is to increase community awareness on human rights, promote meaningful participation of women in the country’s development initiatives, reduce incidences of gender based violence directed to women, curb violation of children’s rights and promote sustainable development through awareness on gender and development.

Key components of this Programme include:

• Capacity building of communities on human rights

• Mentorship and leadership skills building on selected women

• Advocacy for women empowerment