Project Title: Voices United: Bridging Rural CSOs for Inclusive Growth in Kajiado County of Kenya
Project Description:
The "Voices United" project aims to address the systemic marginalization of rural youth and women-led civil society organizations (CSOs) in Kajiado County, Kenya. By providing tailored digital advocacy training, networking opportunities, and leadership development, the project seeks to empower 1,000 youth and young women, helping them to actively contribute to governance and policy processes. The initiative will create a sustainable platform for collaboration between rural and urban CSOs, policymakers, and other key stakeholders, ensuring that the voices of marginalized communities are heard and considered in decision-making processes. This project will also foster transparency and inclusivity in governance while amplifying underrepresented voices to drive lasting change.
Key Approaches:
1. Digital Advocacy Training for Rural Youth and Young Women-Led CSOs
Digital advocacy training will equip 1,000 participants in Kajiado County with essential skills for online advocacy, governance engagement, and community mobilization. Using a blended learning approach, the training will combine in-person workshops with virtual learning to ensure accessibility. Participants will utilize resources such as the Digital Advocacy Toolkit and the Digital Literacy Handbook, covering topics like digital advocacy strategies, social media mobilization, digital security, and overcoming rural connectivity barriers. Continuous mentorship will help participants apply their skills effectively in advancing social change, transparency, and political discourse.
2. Rural-Urban CSO Networking Forum
A rural-urban CSO networking forum will convene 250 rural youth CSO members, 20 youth from urban CSOs, and key policymakers to promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing. This one-day forum will facilitate shared learning, policy dialogue, and strategic partnerships through panel discussions, thematic breakout sessions, and stakeholder mapping. Insights from the forum will be documented to sustain engagement and implement effective advocacy strategies. By bridging rural and urban CSOs, this initiative will amplify rural voices, strengthen civic engagement, and create sustainable pathways for inclusive community development.
Objectives
Overall objective
This project aims to contribute to revolutionizing rural governance and civic engagement in Kajiado County by empowering 1,000 youth and young women in civil society organizations (CSOs). Through enhanced digital advocacy, inclusive networking, and strategic capacity-building, the initiative will amplify underrepresented voices and address systemic barriers that hinder equitable leadership. By creating a ripple effect of empowered communities, the project envisions a future where rural leaders are key drivers of inclusive governance, sustainable development, and impactful decision-making at local and national levels. This transformative approach ensures long-term societal change by integrating rural voices into the broader governance ecosystem.
Specific objectives
This project seeks to address the systemic marginalization of rural youth and women-led civil society organizations (CSOs) in Kajiado County, where limited access to digital tools, networking platforms, and leadership opportunities hampers their ability to influence governance and development. The specific objectives are:
Equip 1,000 rural youth and young women in CSOs with cutting-edge digital advocacy skills to amplify their influence, drive civic engagement, and contribute to policy reforms.
Build a robust and sustainable networking platform connecting rural CSOs, urban counterparts, policymakers, and stakeholders to foster synergy, collaboration, and shared best practices.
Break systemic barriers limiting leadership and resource mobilization for rural youth and women through specialized training and mentorship ensuring their meaningful participation in governance and community transformation.
Project Duration
6 months
Project Budget
10 000€
Funder
European Union
Location/ Target area
Kajiado county, Kenya
Target Groups
1,000 (500F, 450M, 50YWD) youth leaders from grassroots CSOs in Kajiado County will be trained in digital advocacy, leadership, and resource mobilization. 300 (1500F, 130M, 20 YWD) youth representatives will participate in networking events to strengthen collaboration and advocacy. At least 50,000 residents of Kajiado, including marginalized groups, will benefit from improved advocacy efforts and enhanced service delivery. Over 100,000 community members will experience more inclusive governance and development solutions. The project will upskill youth, provide mentorship, foster peer-to-peer learning, and build networks to enhance capacity for good governance and community development. This will strengthen CSOs, amplify youth voices, and drive sustainable change.
Expected results/ outcomes
Enhanced Digital Advocacy Capacity: 1,000 Rural youth and young women-led CSOs will be equipped with essential digital tools and strategies for online advocacy, empowering them to amplify their voices and influence local governance. This will enable them to effectively use social media and online platforms for advocacy and community mobilization.
Stronger Civic Participation: 1,000 Rural youth and young women will gain the skills necessary to actively participate in local governance. This will strengthen their role in shaping policies, driving local development, and advocating for community needs in decision-making processes.
Improved Digital Security: Youth and women-led CSOs will learn best practices for securing their digital advocacy efforts, ensuring their online campaigns remain safe and their personal data protected. This will promote safer online activism and secure digital participation in governance.
Sustained Networking and Collaboration: Rural CSOs will form lasting partnerships with established organizations, policymakers, and other stakeholders, creating a sustainable ecosystem for community-based advocacy and collective action. This collaboration will foster shared learning and mutual support for local development initiatives.
Enhanced Advocacy Strategies: Participants will leave the networking forum with improved advocacy strategies, gaining new insights on how to effectively address local challenges and influence policy. They will be equipped with tools to better mobilize their communities and push for meaningful change.
Increased Policy Dialogue: Policy discussions between rural CSOs and stakeholders will be strengthened, leading to actionable commitments to address rural community needs. This dialogue will drive concrete changes in policies and programs aimed at improving governance and development in these areas.