Nairobi, Kenya| Partnerships anchored in shared goals and aspirations are fundamental to achieving sustainable development. Recognizing this, Dr. James Lowasa, the Deputy Governor, led a high-level delegation to the National Partnerships for Resilience and Economic Growth (PREG) and Southern-Eastern Kenya (SEK) meeting today.
He was accompanied by Dade Boru, the County Secretary, and Mohamed Boru, Deputy County Secretary for NGOs Coordination and Partnerships.
The meeting, themed “Stronger Together: Celebrating Partnerships, Driving Resilience,” underscored the critical role of collaboration in tackling development challenges in Northern and Southern-Eastern Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) counties.
These counties, despite facing significant socio-economic hurdles, receive some of the least funding from the National Exchequer.
Addressing Development Disparities through Partnerships
Deputy Governor Lowasa emphasized the need for strengthened collaboration among stakeholders to address the pressing development issues affecting ASAL counties.
He noted that partnerships have already made a meaningful impact, particularly in reducing poverty levels and addressing malnutrition, which had previously reached alarming rates.
“Partnerships have played a vital role in improving the living standards of our people and must be strengthened further. We have witnessed tangible progress, but there is still much work to be done,” Lowasa stated.
He also highlighted the significance of institutionalizing the Joint Work Planning (JWP) model within county governments.
The JWP process, he explained, has been instrumental in minimizing competition and project duplication while fostering a two-way accountability mechanism between County Governments and development partners.
Role of Development and Private Sector Partners
Deputy Governor Lowasa expressed gratitude to USAID Regional Leadership and Advocacy (RLA) for its crucial role in coordinating the JWP process, which has significantly improved sectoral performance in county governments.
He also acknowledged the invaluable contributions of other USAID implementing partners, whose support has been integral to both the PREG and SEK counties.
In a key address during the meeting, Mohamed Boru outlined investment opportunities within the county, inviting private-sector players to explore and contribute to the region’s development.
He reiterated Governor Abdi Ibrahim’s commitment to fostering private-sector investments as a catalyst for economic growth.
High-Level Representation and Commitments
The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including high-level delegates from USAID Kenya and USAID East Africa, alongside representatives from the State Department of ASALs.
Their presence underscored the growing recognition of the need for robust partnerships to drive resilience and economic empowerment in ASAL regions.
As the discussions concluded, there was a shared commitment among all stakeholders to enhance collaboration, leverage existing resources, and work towards sustainable, inclusive development for the marginalized ASAL communities.
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