NAIROBI, KENYA – On 27 June 2019, the Ambassador of Italy to Kenya H.E. Alberto Pieri and the UN Women Acting Country Director Mrs. Cecile Mukarubuga signed the agreement for the Italian contribution to the Let It Not Happen Again - Addressing prevention and accountability on Violence Against Women in Elections (VAWiE) project. The signing ceremony was hosted at the Italian Ambassador’s Residence and was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs, UN Women and OHCHR, Civil Society Organizations and representatives of the Survivors of sexual Violence organizations.

The initiative is part of the ongoing Joint Program on Gender Based Violence between the Government of Kenya and the United Nations. The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation contributes with 300.000 Euros to support specific activities aimed at strengthening the response and accountability mechanisms against Gender Based Violence to be better prepared for future elections. Activities will be implemented by UN Women and OHCHR in close collaboration with associations of rights holders and with duty bearers (police, judiciary, and health services) in four Counties (Nairobi, Kisumu, Bungoma and Migori), and will promote peer-learning process and good practices in Kenya.

At the occasion of the signing ceremony, Ambassador Pieri, commending the fruitful and longstanding partnerships with the United Nations system, emphasized Italy’s strong commitment towards gender equity championing against Gender Based Violence at global level and particularly in Africa. A commitment to equality that requires transformative action, to improve social norms as result of actions taken at local, national and international level. To this end Civil Society organizations play a crucial role in raising awareness and providing protection.

In thanking the Italian Embassy to Kenya and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation for the commitment to ending violence against women and girls in Kenya, Mrs. Mukarubuga noted that “Let it Not Happen again” is a reminder to each and every one of us of our individual and collective responsibility to protect women and girls against violence before, during and after elections. This through a multi sectoral approach that will contribute to addressing the present situation and allow women and girls to exercise their rights as equal citizens.

> Press release ENG (*pdf)

NAIROBI, KENYA – The Ambassador of Italy to Kenya H.E. Alberto Pieri and the UNDP Resident Representative Mr. Walid Badawi on 04 December 2019 signed the agreement hosted at the Italian Ambassador’s Residence in Nairobi ratifying the Italian contribution to the Consolidating Gains and Deepening Devolution in Kenya Programme. The programme will be implemented from January 2020 to December 2022 and is co-funded with Sweden and Finland.

The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) is contributing 400.000 Euros in support of specific activities aimed at strengthening local finance management systems and enhanced transparent and participatory financial planning. By leveraging the comparative advantage and the close linkages with county and national government, UNDP, UNICEF and UN WOMEN, will through the Programme strengthen county governance capacity in areas related to Public Financial Management (PFM), performance monitoring and reporting, resilience to environmental risks, citizen engagement and inclusiveness (especially policy concerns of women, youth and persons with disability).

At the signing ceremony, Ambassador Pieri praised both the strong commitment of the UN Agencies that will implement this Programme to “deliver as one” under the leadership of UNDP, and the longstanding partnership between Italy and the United Nations in Kenya. “A partnership that spans in sectors of utmost importance for the development of Kenya and which, with the contribution to this Programme, will now support central and local governments towards a sounder devolution system attentive to end harmful practices and policies against women, with stronger ownership, improved governance, and wider socio-economic development.”

Thanking the Italian Embassy to Kenya and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, UNDP’s Resident Representative, Walid Badawi, noted that, “Italy’s support is very much appreciated, it is timely and targets a critical issue for Kenya; improved public financial management is a prerequisite to improving service delivery in Kenya’s counties and improving the lives of Kenyan citizens. This support will leverage Kenya’s own public expenditures and help Kenya achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.”

> Press release ENG (*pdf)