ActionAid International Kenya participated in the NGOs Week 2023 celebrations held between June 5 and 9, 2023, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi.
The event was graced by Raymond Omollo, the Principal Secretary State Department for Internal Security and National Administration, who together with the NGOs Co-ordination Board’s chairperson Gichira Kibara and executive director Mutuma Nkanata launched the 2021/2022 NGO Sector Report.
This year’s theme was ‘NGOs in the Frontline: Powering Sustainable Development in the 21st Century.’ The week-long annual celebrations serve as a platform for knowledge and experience sharing, raising awareness on NGOs’ role and impact in society, and showcasing NGOs’ efforts and achievements. During this period, NGOs also enhance synergy and collaboration between the public and private sectors in attaining social and economic development.
During the exhibition, we interacted with participants and exhibitors from different organisations, eager to know what ActionAid does and where we work. In line with this year’s theme, most of those who visited AAIK’s booth wanted to know how our organization works with communities affected by the drought since 2021, deemed the worst in 40 years.
Many visitors at our booth expressed interest in their organizations partnering with ActionAid International Kenya, while some invited AAIK to introduce her programmes in their communities. Few beneficiaries of ActionAid’s programmes as far back as three decades ago (from Kibwezi, Kitui and Marsabit) expressed their appreciation. We were also delighted to meet an organization we partnered with in its infancy in Marsabit Horn of Africa Development Initiative (HODI) who are very stable and has expanded to Ethiopia.
Following our interactions during the three days of exhibition at the NGO Week 2023, ActionAid International Kenya looks forward to meeting persons and organisations to chart new (or rekindle past) partnerships as we continue to work in solidarity with people living in poverty and exclusion, building their capacities to demand for their rights and nurturing sustainable and resilient livelihoods.
Author: Mary Makokha (Communications Officer, ActionAid Kenya)