In Kenya, Pact’s cross-cutting approaches in governance and capacity development are leading to peace along the country’s borders with Somalia, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda as well as democratic reforms advocated by Kenyan NGOs.
For five years, Pact has been working to defuse border tensions, facilitating civilian-military dialogue, training hundreds of peacebuilding facilitators and supporting dozens of local peace groups and committees.
In 2012, we undertook 16 border-area peace-dividend projects that include community centers, schools, clinics and markets. In the same year, we piloted programs in support of 2,500-at-risk youths in the region.
As a result of Pact’s other efforts to help Kenya strengthen its democracy, nearly 80 civil society organizations and community nonprofits are more deeply engaging their government, advocating for reforms, pressing for more transparency and accountability, and working together to find legislative solutions. Last year, Pact's governance work supported 430 initiatives in those areas as well as conflict mitigation, peacebuilding, and health.
Recently, we began working with lead partner Management Sciences for Health and eight national civil society organizations to offer communities improved access to health care.