THE INCLUSIVE BOTTOM-UP

A popular storyline of Bottom-Up that has stormed the country holds special meaning in the minds of many Kenyans. This narrative suitably can be explained by the saying, 'A rising tide lifts all boats.' When the tide in the sea rises, the small and huge boats get lifted! The International Labour Organisation has also zeroed in on the same by emphasising the informal sector as the solution to employment and a potential engine of industrialisation and overall growth through increased market share and output levels.

An inclusive bottom-up narrative refers to a perspective or approach that emphasises the importance of supporting and investing in marginalised and disadvantaged groups, particularly at the local or community level, rather than investing in large corporations or industries, to create a more inclusive and equitable society. It advocates for a more participatory and community-driven approach to development and policy-making. This approach springs from the idea that by supporting and empowering individuals and communities at the grassroots level, it is possible to create positive change and development that benefits all members of society. It may also involve ending the exclusion and criminalisation of informal sector livelihoods, supporting small businesses, and innovations through targeted investments and policies.

This approach to development and policy-making involves working with communities and individuals to identify their needs and priorities and developing and implementing solutions tailored to those needs. This is in contrast to a top-down approach, which involves imposing solutions or policies from the top level to the bottom without regard for the needs and perspectives of individuals and communities at the grassroots level.

An inclusive bottom-up strategy is associated with community-driven development and empowerment that involves valuing and supporting the skills, knowledge, and resources existing within communities and using them as a basis for growth and change. It also often involves building partnerships and collaborations between different sectors and levels of society to create a more holistic and comprehensive approach to economic development.

Inclusive-bottom-up approach to development, therefore, calls for actively seeking out and listening to the voices and perspectives of marginalised and disadvantaged groups and working to address the barriers and challenges they face. It necessitates participatory processes such as community consultations, needs assessments, and providing resources and support to empower these groups so that they can drive their development.

This approach recognises that these groups often face significant barriers to entry and success in the formal economy and seeks to remove these barriers and provide support to help them thrive. Consequently, this will involve investing in infrastructure, training, and education programs, improving techniques used in small-scale agriculture, supporting the informal sector, and facilitating financial access to small businesses and other initiatives that help small businesses and the workers in these sectors to grow and succeed. It could also involve reforming policies and institutions, such as the National Health Insurance Fund and the National Social Security Fund, to make them more inclusive and accessible to all people, regardless of their income or social status. Ultimately, the bottom-up economic model seeks to create a more equitable and inclusive economy where all the citizens can participate and contribute to the country's economic growth, sustainable development, and prosperity.

Karen Kandie