1 Capacity building workshop “Managing ESCs as a Driving Force of the National Dialogue on Economic and Social Policies” TOPIC: NESC Operations, Activities

1

Capacity building workshop

“Managing ESCs as a Driving Force of the National Dialogue on Economic and Social Policies”

TOPIC: NESC Operations, Activities and Knowledge Management

Julius M. Muia, Secretary,National Economic and Social Council, Kenya

7th March, 2011, Intercontinental Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya

PART A : Background about NESC

PART B: Role of NESC in facilitating dialogue between Public and Private sector

PART C: Past Outputs of NESC.

PART D: Overview of Knowledge Management

PART E: Challenges faced by NESC

PART F: Observations and Conclusions

AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION

Topic Timing: 20 Mins

3

•NESC is a high level advisory body to the Government of Kenya.

•Coordinated advise to Government on strategic policies aimed at promoting economic growth, social equity and employment creation, thereby reducing poverty and inequality.

•Has 49 members: serve for 3 years

•Half are cabinet Ministers + others with diverse experiences, knowledge and skills from Govt, Industry, Academia and Civil Society

•Chaired by H.E the President and alternate chairman is Rt. Hon Prime Minister

•Semi autonomous, under Office of the President-(Location Authority)

What is NESC ?

4

•Previous attempts were unsuccessful due to lack of political support.

• Presidential Commission of 1996 and

• Joint Industrial and Commercial Committee (JICC)

•Formed by Kenya Gazette Notice in 2004; The 2nd Council was appointed November 2008.

•Not Constitutional and not set up by act of parliament

•Bill has been drafted to strengthen NESC, autonomy

•ESC model is good for dialogue and policy formulation–UCESA, AICESIS, UNDESA, UNESCO.

Evolution of NESC

5

• Government: Ministries, Departments and State corporations/agencies.• Development Partners.• Private Sector-Businesses, Associations.• The Media.• Research Institutions.• Academia • Professional Groups and Associations.• The General Public.

Stakeholders

6

Funding and Sponsoring Agencies

•Government of Kenya - 80%

•BSPS I (2006-2010): - 20%DANIDA--------------------- 2/3UNDP------------------------ 1/3

UNDP-managed: Business Sector Programme Support -3 Outputs

Core funding of NESC: Human Resources

Allowances for Council members; Offices; Vehicles; Research; Council meetings;

7

Output 1: Work plan implementation:

Benchmarking and study tours for best practice:- Malaysia and Denmark (NESC model and Vision 2030)-Israel Food Security and Water and other technology-Singapore-cooperation on Special Economic Zones, e-Government,

Public housing, Integrated transport;-Paris; Ougadougou; Cairo-ESCs and Think tanks

Development of the Nairobi Metro 2030 plan and strategy. Facilitation and sponsorship of dissemination of Vision 2030

stakeholder forums and specialized groups

Capacity building: Resource Center manager, Administrator, Research Fellows, interns, sponsorship in courses etc.

BSPS I – Main Outputs

8

OUTPUT 2: Support facilities for NESC strengthened:

The Resource Centre with Intranet Capacity building of NESC senior staff.

OUTPUT 3: A process of Interaction and Monitoring with the Public and Private Sector established.

Communication Policy and Strategy Framework developed Monitoring and Evaluation Framework –on going Public–Private forums with KAM, KEPSA, Media owners etc

BSPS I –Main outputs









10

• Creates forums for Government, Businesses, academia, labour unions to discuss policy issues

• Gathers, analyze and compile information on key economic development trends and proposes policy alternatives.

• Develop and recommend to the Cabinet strategic policy interventions to promote social equity, economic growth, create employment and reduce poverty and inequality.

• Appraises Government policies for their effectiveness in achieving economic and social transformation.

• Mobilizes knowledge and technical resources from relevant knowledge networks, including research and education institutions.

Main Functions of NESC

11

Mode of Operation of NESC

•The council meets 4 times/year: has met 23 times since 1stJanuary 2005.

•Council is facilitated by a Secretariat based on 4th Floor, KICC building of 18 staff, 4 Research Fellows and 4 Interns.

•Secretariat originates Council agenda and follows up on issues raised/recommendations made during Council meetings.

•The policy assignments are usually in the form of:-Research papers prepared either by Gov. ministries or Strategic Research Institutions such as KIPPRA or- Innovative ideas on economic and social issues from individual

researchers or corporate institutions.

•NESC facilitates these assignments through: Sub-committees; Taskforces; Working groups; Consultative forums;

12

The 7 Committees of NESC:-

--

Economic Issues Committee:1. Energy2. Competitiveness3. Leveraging on US-Kenya

links4. National Industrialization5. Global Financial Crisis

Social Issues Committee

1. Food Security and Water2. Housing DEvelopment

13

Strategic Thrusts for NESC

Medium Term Strategy 2008-2012

Category 1:Deepening the

Drivers identified in Vision 2030

Category 2:Additional DriversNot Identified in

Vision 2030

Category 3:Drivers that will

influence national development

beyond2030

1. National Values to Support Vision 20302. Dealing with the Challenges of Climate Change3. Leveraging on ICT for Development.

1. Knowledge Economy 2. Population and Resource Maximization Dynamics in Kenya3. Mining and Mineral Deposits

1. Integrated Infrastructure Development2. Developing human capital and intellectual capacity for

Science and Technology3. Value Addition in industry4. Urban Planning and Development Strateg5. Financing of Affordable Health Care

14

Monitoring and Evaluation of NESC Work

What gets measured (internally and externally) gets done.

1.Evidence-based results as a measure of the effectiveness of policy implementation.

NESC score cards

Annual Progress Reports compiled by Monitoring and Evaluation Department of Ministry of Planning, National Development & Vision 2030

NESC developing electronic M&E

2. M&E of Activities and Work Plans: Government Performance Contacting system and BSPS I process









16

NESC Outputs: Summary

Policy Recommendations to government-letter and public press releases

Economic

Social

Political

Research and Studies-Published and disseminatedRelated to policy agenda of NESC.

Opinions- Mainly through policy briefs on ongoing agenda of NESC.

Initiate action on some policy agenda-Cluster strategy for productivity and competitiveness.

Influence implementation of policy as members of task forces etc.

17

FROM DEC 2006-DEC 2007 NESC FACILITATED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A VISION 2030 FOR KENYA’S DEVELOPMENT

Plans and implementation

Vi-sion

Strategy

EconomicTo maintain a

sustained economic growth of 10% p.a.

over the next 25 years

SocialA just and cohesive

society enjoying equitable social

development in a clean and secure

environment

PoliticalAn issue-based, people-centered,

result-oriented, and accountable

democratic political system

Overarching visionA globally competitive and

prosperous nation with a high quality of life by 2030

Transversal Reforms and Foundations

20061215_Inception report_Vision 2030_13h00

18

NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

www.nesc.go.ke

H. E. The President. Hon . Mwai Kibaki, Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Hon Raila A. Ondinga, Vice President, Hon. Steepeen Kalonzo Musyoka and the Minister for Planning, National Development and Vision 2030, Hon Wicliffe Opraranya during the Launch of the

Kenya Vision 2030 Ceremony at KICC, Nairobi on 10th June 2008.

19

Past Policy Agenda of NESC- General

Vision 2030: Long term Development plan: Infrastructure/foundations of the Vision, Economic pillar, Social pillar,Political pillar

Renaming of a Ministry to Ministry of Planning, National Development & Vision 2030

Building a positive image for Kenya, locally and internationally,

Making Nairobi a Regional Services-Hub that led to establishment of the Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan Development in 2008.

Science, Technology and Innovation Policy that led to the re-establishment of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology in 2008.

20

Past Policy Agenda of NESC –Economic

Monetary Policy Advisory Committee of Central Bank of Kenya.

Introduction of Infrastructure Bonds in Kenya as an alternative means to finance Infrastructure.

Value addition on tea, cotton and textiles, hides, skins & leather and leather products, nuts and edible oils.

Transformation of pension and retirement savings into long-term funds for financing investment.

21

Past Policy Agenda of NESC-Economic cont..

Harmonization and utilization of all devolved funds.

Comprehensive geological survey to determine the mineral potential in the country.

Strategies to transform Kenya into a 24 Hour Economy

Cluster Strategy for Productivity and Competitiveness in industry.

Advised on policy on Mining and Mineral deposits

22

Past Policy Agenda of NESC-Political

Government to embrace economic diplomacy in its foreign policy.

Leveraging on US-Kenya links

National Value policy for Kenya

Proposals for accessible and affordable health care financing strategy

Integrated Population Registration System (IPRS).

Initiation of Integrated Employment Creation led to Youth Ent Fund etc

Social Policies

Political Policies

23

Reports from Researches/Studies by NESC

Infrastructure Bond Report

Growth, Poverty and Inequality in Kenya: Suggested Policy Interventions

24 Hour economy-next frontier in Kenya’s development

Lake Victoria Fish Value Chain Project.-Min of Fisheries

Unemployment in Kenya: A situational analysis.

Communication Policy and Strategy Framework for NESC

Guidelines for Publication & Dissemination of NESC Papers

Economic

Social

KnowledgeManagement

24

Ongoing Studies/Reports by NESC

Social Policy. Integrating Vision 2030 into the curriculum of educational institutions

“Unemployment in Kenya: Proposed Policy Interventions”

National Values for Kenya: Policy and Publications

Economic Policy

Marketing Infrastructure

Enhancing Kenya’s Competitiveness in COMESA & East African Community

National Cluster Policy and National Cluster Programme









26

Knowledge Management Macro Aspects

Ministry of Planning, National Development and Vision 2030 spear heading “Knowledge Management Africa Initiative”

Science, Technology and Innovations Bill: Govt Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology.

E-government as a department in Office of the President

Ministry of Information and Communication.

NESC policy agenda on Knowledge Economy.

27

Knowledge Management Aspects Cont…

Creating Knowledge:

Council members are experts Committees of NESC that co-opt experts NESC secretariat has experts: Research fellowsUse of Resource Center-Internet/Library Resources etc Commission research on policy agendaConsultative meetings/BrainstormingWorkshops to seek consensus and disseminateReceive comments andsuggestion from public and

experts

28


Improving Knowledge Assets:

Capacity building of NESC secretariat and Council members through training, courses, study tours, participation in workshops, conferences

Seeking best practices by membership to UCESA, AICESIS

Collaboration and support from Development partners-Danida and UNDP

Use of ICT –Every member of Staff has a computerResource center facility with many resources available. Intranet facility for Resource Center to store

documents/materials

29


Enhancing Knowledge Environment:

NESC Communication Policy and StrategyPublication Guidelines:

Policy Briefs, Policy Recommendations, Press Releases, Research Papers etc

ICT infrastructureWeb-based communicationLinks with knowledge institutions-Think tanks,

Associations of ESCs etcDedicated Knowledge Management Resources Focus on M&E









31

Challenges

Too many requests and proposals from various stakeholders.

Interest of different groups for consideration as members of NESC e.g. disabled, MSMEs.

Achieving coordinating policy development (silos, empire building, information asymmetry).

Financial requirements to carry out tasks > budgetary allocations

Capacity constraints of resources: Time, Space; Human resources; Information (Data), research requirements etc.

32

Challenges Cont …

Developing country: Too many urgent and diversionary problems

Ethics and Values of Kenyans that hinder policy formulation and implementation.

Slow implementation of policies-Challenge to coordinate and choose.

Effective Communication to both internal and external stakeholders.

Indiscipline in timely delivery of results

Interferences in policy formulation and implementation by international org with incongruent interests.









34

Leverage position of NESC

NESC has established close relationships and interaction at all levels with: Government, Private sector, Academia, Development Partners etc

NESC has huge capacity to share knowledge and research on many areas by mounting inter-ministerial and cross-sectoral initiativies.

NESC has an established research network through experienced research fellows and is respected by stakeholders.

A lot of this initiatives by NESC are believable and are linked to the Kenya Vision 2030, which NESC closely monitors and evaluates.

Government ministries, other institutions and members of the public find NESC a viable vehicle to channel policy issues.

Location of NESC within Office of the President, enables it to reach out to many stake holders for wide consultations.

Recommendations of NESC are taken as official government polcy

35

END

THANK YOU

Documents

1 Capacity building workshop “Managing ESCs as a Driving Force of the National Dialogue on Economic and Social Policies” TOPIC: NESC Operations, Activities