The government is developing a coordination framework for partners working in the 29 arid and semi-arid counties to eliminate resource duplication and wastage, ASALs PS Micah Powon has said.
"Over the decades, billions of shillings have been used in ASAL regions but because of uncoordinated efforts and the silo attitude, the impact on the ground is far from commensurate," Powon said.
The PS was addressing crafters of the framework in Lukenya, Machakos county, who are meeting representatives of government ministries, counties and international organisations to fine tune the document.
Powon said the agreement to be signed by all partners shall strengthen engagement among development partners, government ministries, county governments and beneficiary communities.
"The PCF is overdue, given that the resolution for its formation was passed at the inaugural ASALs conference in 2018 in Kilifi," he said.
The PS said the discordance in projects and programs had resulted in inequity and called for change of approach towards sharing information so that " the left hand knows what the right is doing."
Powon urged the team developing the framework to prefer a concentric model rather that a hierarchical one.
He said the Framework shall give emphasis to the voice of ASAL communities in program design rather than "parachuting in with academic ideas."
He alluded to famous French mathematician, inventor and writer Blaise Pascal who said "people are usually more convinced by reasons they discovered themselves than by those found by others."
Ongoing donor programs in ASAL areas include a Sh380 million cross-border peace programme in Moyale by EU and UNDP and a five-year land reform programme supported by the European Union through Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) in Turkana, Marsabit, Baringo, West Pokot, Laikipia, Samburu and Tana River.
The PS was accompanied by Leonard Ngaithe, secretary for administration in Ministry of Devolution and ASALs.
