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BACK TO OFFICE REPORT

I. GENERAL INFORMATION
a). Mission date(s) 26th JULY 2023, WEDNESDAY
b). Mission to ITALIAN AGENCY FOR DEVELOPMENT AND CO-OPERATION,
OFFICES, Nairobi City County

c). Activity (if applicable) CONSULTATIVE MEETING BETWEEN COUNTY

d). Mission member(s)
e). Institutions represented
f). BTOR distribution list
ASSEMBLIES FORUM AND ITALIAN AGENCY FOR
DEVELOPMENT AND CO-OPERATION.
Hon. Chege Mwaura- Secretary General
Ms. Lonah Losem- Ag. Secretary General
Mr, Austin Munene- Legislative Officer.
CAF, ITALIAN AGENCY FOR DEVELOPMENT AND CO-
OPERATION,
Executive Committee, CAF Secretariat.

REPORT TITLE: CONSULTATIVE MEETING BETWEEN COUNTY

ASSEMBLIES’ FORUM AND ITALIAN AGENCY FOR
DEVELOPMENT AND CO-OPERATION

I. INTRODUCTION

This report summarizes the outcomes of a consultative meeting between the County
Assemblies Forum (CAF) and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. The meeting
aimed to explore opportunities for partnership and cooperation to strengthen the mandate of
Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) and County Assemblies in Kenya. The meeting
included a presentation by CAF's legal officer on its governance structures, and the Ag. CEO
provided data on the increasing number of women MCAs. The Italian Agency for
Development Cooperation's Team Leader, Ms. Miriam Bulbarelli, responded by informing
CAF about their funding approach and current engagements in Kenya.

II. DESCRIPTION OF MISSION ACHIEVEMENTS/TASKS COMPLETED

During the consultative meeting, the following achievements and tasks were completed:

1. CAF presented an overview of CAF's governance structures and the 10 chapters that
guide its operations.
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2. CAF shared data indicating an increase in the number of women MCAs to a total of
715, highlighting the need to partner with the Italian Agency to strengthen the
mandate of MCAs and County Assemblies.
3. Ms. Miriam Bulbarelli, the Team Leader of the Italian Agency for Development
Cooperation, provided information about their funding approach, indicating that they
do not directly fund institutions like CAF but rather channel funds through
institutions such as UNDP and Ministries.
4. The Italian Agency shared its current program with the Ministry of Health to provide
basic healthcare to women in Kilifi County and informed CAF that there was no
direct funding for devolution in the present financial year, suggesting a potential
collaboration in the future.
5. CAF inquired if there were other programs the two institutions could cooperate on or
if the Italian Agency could support CAF in establishing sector-based
offices/departments under CAF.

III. RECOMMENDATIONS/NEXT STEPS/FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS:

Based on the outcomes of the meeting, the following recommendations and next steps are
proposed:

1. CAF should explore potential partnership opportunities with GIZ (German

Development Agency) to establish sector-based platforms in Agriculture or Health.
This can be pursued to strengthen CAF's capacity in specific thematic areas and
enhance its services to County Assemblies.
2. Continue engaging with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in the
future, considering their potential funding opportunities for devolution-related
projects after a few years.
3. CAF should actively explore other avenues for funding and collaborations with
international development agencies, UNDP, and other Ministries to support its
capacity-building and mandate-strengthening initiatives.

IV. KEY OBSERVATIONS/REMARKS:

During the meeting, the following key observations and remarks were noted:

1. The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation focuses on funding projects

through other institutions rather than directly funding organizations like CAF.
2. The Italian Agency's current program with the Ministry of Health in Kilifi County
demonstrates their commitment to supporting gender, governance, and access to
basic services in Kenya.
3. CAF's inquiry about cooperation in establishing sector-based offices/departments
aligns with the organization's goal of enhancing its capacity and services in specific
areas.

V. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF NEXT STEPS/FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS:

To move forward, the following are the next steps and follow-up actions:
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1. CAF should reach out to GIZ to explore potential collaboration opportunities and
funding support for the establishment of sector-based platforms in Agriculture or
Health.
2. Continue to maintain communication and networking with the Italian Agency for
Development Cooperation, seeking potential collaboration opportunities when they
have funding available for devolution-related projects.
3. CAF should actively engage with other international development agencies, UNDP,
and Ministries to explore potential partnerships and funding avenues for their
capacity-building initiatives.

VI. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, LESSONS LEARNED, AND PARTNERSHIP

POSSIBILITIES EMERGED AS A RESULT OF NETWORKING ACTIVITIES:
As a result of networking activities during the consultative meeting, the following additional
information, lessons learned, and potential partnership possibilities emerged:
1. The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation's focus on working through other
institutions can be both a challenge and an opportunity for CAF to seek indirect
funding and support through collaboration with these partner institutions.
2. The engagement with the Italian Agency highlighted the importance of being
proactive in seeking potential partnership opportunities and exploring various
funding channels to support CAF's capacity-building programs and mandate-
strengthening initiatives.
3. The potential collaboration with GIZ presents a promising opportunity for CAF to
access specialized expertise and resources in specific thematic areas.

In conclusion, the consultative meeting between CAF and the Italian Agency for
Development Cooperation was informative and led to potential collaboration opportunities.
While the Italian Agency does not directly fund institutions like CAF, exploring partnerships
with other development agencies and ministries can provide avenues for funding and support.
The potential collaboration with GIZ in establishing sector-based platforms offers the
possibility of enhancing CAF's capacity and services in targeted areas. Moving forward, CAF
should proactively explore these opportunities to strengthen its mandate and support County
Assemblies effectively.