World Vision Kenya will spend close to Sh480 million in the next one year on child welfare programmes in Kilifi County, National Director Gilbert Kamanga said.
Mr. Kamanga said the money will be spent in the areas of health, water, education and child protection in collaboration with the County Government of Kilifi, a programme that has the potential of being extended for up to four years.
He was speaking at the Kilifi County Government offices where he led a delegation of World Vision Kenya officials in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the County Government of Kilifi led by Governor Gideon Mung’aro.
“Our annual investment in this County is about Sh480 million which if projected in the next three to four years is a significant amount,” Kamanga said, adding that the MOU was aimed at working together with the devolved unit to uplift the wellbeing of children.
The director, who noted that his organization was operating in 37 counties in the country, said the MOU would enable the two entities to jointly plan, implement and monitor programmes for better efficiency.
“With this MOU, we want to ensure that we are managing our programmes together with your government; that we plan, implement and monitor together as we have been doing with other Counties where World Vision is working,” he said.
On his part, Mung’aro said the MOU he signed with World Vision was in line with his election campaign manifesto and the soon to be launched County Integrated Development Plan.
He said he would soon establish the Directorate of Partnerships and Private Sector Linkages in his office to coordinate all programmes implemented by donors, partners and private sector players to avoid duplication and wastage of resources.
He said since the County will have a focus, it would be able to carry out major projects together with its development partners, thus bringing desired change to Kilifi residents.
By Emmanuel Masha