Role Of Private Sector In Supporting Population And Development

Programmes: Lessons From KEPSA

Presented By Ms. Mercy Waithanji

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PUBLIC PRIVATE

DIALOGUE

Agriculture, Livestock &

Fisheries

Devolution & Planning

EAC Affairs EducationEnergy &

Extractives

Environment Water & Natural

Resources

Gender & Youth

Health

Industrialization & Enterprise

Development

ICT Land & Physical Planning

Public Finance

Security Transport & Infrastructure

Sports, Culture &Arts

CHIEF JUSTICE

FORUM

PLATFORMS

WITH SELECTED

STATE AGENCIES

REGIONAL

FORUMS

DEVELOPMENT

PARTNERS

ROUNDTABLE

(DPRT)

COUNCIL OF

GOVERNORS

FORUM (COG)

PRIVATE

SECTOR-NDICC

ROUNDTABLE

MINISTERIAL

STAKEHOLDER

FORUM (MSF)

SPEAKERS

ROUNDTABLE

(SRT)

PRESIDENTIAL

ROUNDTABLE

ESTABLISHED PPD PLATFORMS

Tourism

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Why population development matters to private sector

• Kenya’s economy is largely driven by private sector which contributes over 70% of GDP and jobs. This makes it

a key stakeholder in the planning and implementation of population development programmes.

• To private sector, the population provides ready market for goods and services, as well as the human capital

required to run business, innovation and entrepreneurship.

• For Kenya to achieve its Vision of a rapidly industrializing middle income economy by 2030, the largely

youthful population must be well equipped and empowered to drive the transformation.

• Key concerns

o Rapid population growth (2.6%) compared to job creation - leads to high youth unemployment rate.

o High dependency ratio - which adds extra burden on the working population; affects savings and

investment.

o Congestion in major cities: This fuels growth of informal settlements and strains available infrastructure

e.g. housing, transport, water and waste management systems, energy, healthcare, education, etc.

o Unsustainable utilization of available resources – leading to environment degradation, pollution and

increasing climate change vulnerabilities, among other challenges.

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KEPSA activities/programs to support population development

• Championing sustainable development: As the private sector apex

body, KEPSA sits in the SDGs Interagency Technical Committee at

National Treasury and Planning and coordinates the implementation

as well as reporting of Private Sector contributions to SDGs through

the National Voluntary Review report.

• Advocacy: KEPSA supports government development agenda

including the Big 4, Vision 2030,the MTPs and budget making process

by providing input, championing for sufficient resourcing of key

sectors and improvement of business environment to grow local

enterprises and attract investment.

• Health programmes under the Kenya Health Care Federation (KHF),

the health Sector-Board of KEPSA. Providing healthcare including

Family Planning, support in managing the Covid-19 pandemic,

“Wheels for life” – an innovative program that helps expectant

mothers access hospital during curfew hours, among others.

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KEPSA activities/programs to support population development

Programs to under KEPSA Foundation, the social arm of KEPSA:

1) Better Business Practices for Children - aims at leveraging and scaling up private sector intervention

in in improving Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition practices. Key outcomes include set-up of

lactation centers for breastfeeding workers, extended maternity leave, reaching out to women in low

urban settlements to ensure improvement in health and nutrition outcomes of women and children

2) Sustainable Inclusive Business Business Kenya (SIB-K) - supported by Embassy of Netherlands to

promote adoption of an integrated approach among businesses that incorporates finding a balance

between people, the environment (planet) and profits.

3) Africa Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA) –seeks to accelerate social Impact Investment in Kenya.

4) PAMOJA IMARA humanitarian support platform - convened by the Multi-sectoral Forum for COVID-19

response. It brings together members of different sectors and organizations involved in humanitarian

aid to synergize efforts towards offering humanitarian support during the COVID-19 crisis.

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KEPSA activities/programs to support population development

Gender focused Initiatives

• Championing supplier diversity and affirmative action,

• Ongoing development of a private sector Gender Policy,

• GBV project supported by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,

• Training and mentorships as well as financing (interest free loans)

under a Covid-19 Recovery and Resilience Program supported by

MasterCard Foundation, among others.

Youth empowerment programs

o Kenya Youth Empowerment Project (2011-2016) - over 20

thousand youth were trained and more than half linked to

internship opportunities to build hands-on experience.

o Ajira Digital Project in partnership with Ministry of ICT,

MasterCard Foundation and E-Mobilis: seeks to train, mentor and

link 2 million youth across Kenya to digital and digitally enabled

work. 16,670 youth have already been linked to jobs in

ecommerce, online work, digital marketing and content creation.

o Wezesha Youth Placement Program in collaboration with

Education for All Children (EFAC)

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The role that private sector can play

1. Catalyzing partnerships and Investment into projects aimed at improving the welfare of Kenyans and

marginalized groups (Impact investment). Also partnerships (PPPs) with government and development

partners on population development projects.

2. Leverage on the vast number of private facilities and technology to provide innovative solutions to

population challenges e.g. digital health, family planning, community sensitization/awareness

campaigns , etc.

3. Forums to market investment opportunities in the counties with an aim increase job creation and

reduce rural-urban migration. Includes championing for improved business environment at national

and county level to support growth of small businesses, access financing and market opportunities.

4. Youth and women empowerment programs to make them more active economically. Includes training

and mentorships, apprenticeship opportunities, financing opportunities e.g. by leveraging the Credit

Guarantee Scheme by government, etc.

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Recommendations

1. Entrench population concerns in all national and county development plans. This will ensure they

receive the necessary budgetary support.

2. Involve the private sector in planning, development and implementation of the population programs.

3. Enabling business environment at national and to enable growth of micro and small businesses,

encourage innovation (solutions for local challenges) and attract foreign investment. This includes

predictable policies and regulations, tax incentives for small businesses, affordable financing, market

infrastructure, market opportunities (e.g. AGPO), etc.

4. Incentivize impact investment e.g. through tax credits.

5. Enhance transparency / accountability in development programs , monitoring and reporting.

6. Political support for population initiatives – embrace inclusivity in decision making and resource

sharing. Also change the perception that population equals number of votes.

7. Multi-stakeholder collaborations to fight backward social/cultural practices e.g. early marriages,

provide basic needs like dignity kits, support programs for young mothers, OVC, PWDs, street families,

etc. empowering them to earn decent livelihood.

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