NCCK Signs MOU with Kitui County, HACA and Dorcas Aid
The NCCK has today birthed a partnership with the County Government of Kitui, the Help a Child Africa (HACA) and Dorcas Aid Internation for a comprehensive transformation for resilience, sustainability and community development in Athi and Ikutha Wards, Kitui County.
The partnership was cemented by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by HE Dr Julius Malombe, Governor of Kitui County, Rev Canon Chris Kinyanjui, the NCCK General Secretary, Rachel Kigame, HACA Country Director, and Edwin Onyancha, Dorcas Aid Country Director. The MOU was signed at the Office of the County Governor, Kitui, in the presence of all the County Executive Committee Members as well as clergy.
“We welcome the signing of this MOU which will us to co-create projects and initiatives as partners for the benefit of the people”, sad HE Dr Malobe.
Under the MOU, the NCCK will spearhead interventions in environmental conservation, access to water, sustainable livelihoods, and child centered community development. The partners will undertake joint resource mobilization and co-creation of project designs.
Among the initiatives to be undertaken by the NCCK will be the construction of 13 sand dams and desilting of 13 others. Piping for water supply to communities will be undertaken. To safeguard community food security, the NCCK will train 2,160 households on conservation agriculture and also support them with seeds and planting materials. Further, the NCCK is organizing community members to form 72 self help groups, 108 Village Savings and Loans Associations, and promote child protection and participation.
The interventions by the NCCK are supported by the Canadian Food Grains Bank (CFGB) through the United Church of Canada (UCC).
HACA on their part will support wellbeing of children by driving social-economic development and empowerment, in addition to supporting schooling for children in the community.
“We came to Kitui with a focus on supporting children and education, but have realized that the programming was not working since families spend so much time looking for water,” Rachel Kigame explained, adding that HACA had expanded the scope of interventions to include access to water.
Dorcas Aid committed to enhance community resilience by supporting protection of natural habitats and training tree planting teams.
To ensure success of the ventures, the County Government will provide a platform for coordination, ensure technical support in project design and supervision, secure policy and legal frameworks for betterment of the society, and avail land for a botanical garden and plant sanctuary.
