The director of a youth group in Lamu, Kenya, looks down from the balcony of a pink-painted building.

Noor Dahir, director of the Kiunga Youth Bunge Initiative (KYBI) in Lamu, Kenya - KYBI is one of many youth …

AKDN / Christopher Wilton-Steer

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In Kenya, AKF is working with youth groups, government and the private sector to support young people to …

AKDN / Christopher Wilton-Steer

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Kinango Village, Kwale County, Coast Province, Kenya.

AKDN / Lucas Cuervo Moura

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A youth dialogue organised by the East African Institute (EAI) in Nairobi, in an effort to encourage …

AKDN / Stephen Ouma

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Kenya | Civil Society

1 million

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) supports civil society organisations that reach a million people in Kenya

This community library is the only library in this coastal Kenyan village. It is one of more than 1,100 established in East Africa, creating opportunities for families to read and learn together. AKDN
This community library is the only library in this coastal Kenyan village. It is one of more than 1,100 established in East Africa, creating opportunities for families to read and learn together.

AKDN

Strengthening Civil Society Organisations

AKF uses the Organisational Capacity Assessment tool and Organisational Performance Index to assist local organisations to identify institutional gaps. It then works with them to develop institutional strengthening plans, using face-to-face and video-based training and mentoring.


Supporting Philanthropic Giving


AKF improves the capacity of organisations to engage in philanthropic giving, including through the use of technology. It teaches them to employ new skills and approaches such as co-creation and outcome harvesting. One such organisation is Yetu. Established by AKF, Yetu trains CSOs on how to mobilise local resources and engage with communities, organisations and government.


Promoting Engagement with Government


AKF supports civil society organisations to engage with government and private sector actors in local education, health, food security and livelihoods systems. In Coastal Kenya, the Citizen Voice in Devolved Governance project is developing a vibrant civil society by assisting selected organisations in Kwale County to better communicate, innovate and engage with government. It works with networks of community-based organisations to increase civic engagement in the development and implementation of county government programmes. It also responds to local priorities with effective programming; measures and documents results; and shares its lessons with governments, donors and development actors, amplifying its impact by influencing enabling policies and practice.