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Welcome Note from the Regional Director - IIRR Africa Regional Center
Karibu!
On behalf of IIRR-Africa staff and their families, it is my pleasure to extend a warm “Karibu” to our trustees, partners and staff from our country and field offices. It is indeed a historic moment for IIRR Africa as it celebrates two important events simultaneously.
The 10th anniversary celebration marks the moment of reflection of the contribution that the institute and its strategic partners have made towards development in the region. It is also an occasion to take stock of the challenges encountered and mistakes made during this period. More so, it is an opportunity for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the attainment of even greater accomplishments towards IIRR’s hallmark - poverty reduction in the region.
The convening of our global board of trustees for the first time in 10 years since the program officially started in 1995 is recognition of the significant success made and the unprecedented growth that we anticipate ahead. From a humble beginning of two support staff ten years ago, we now have 40 staff operating from three country and three field offices working with more than 64 strategic partners.
The theme “capacity building for poverty reduction”that we recently adapted as a business slogan will serve as a guide and reference point for testing, monitoring, learning, documentation and replication of capacity building interventions that will effectively contribute to poverty reduction.
While any one-sector program does not drive IIRR’s development intervention in the region, cutting-edge entry points have been selected for poverty reduction and capacity building practice.
Within the context of Learning Community and strategic partnership sub programs, IIRR and partners will continue experimenting and learning. Pastoralist education, gender leadership development, drought and disaster prevention and management, HIV/AIDS internal mainstreaming, reproductive health and micro enterprise development are among the entry points that will be used.
Our capacity building outreach sub-program will continue with what it is known to do best. Practical lessons drawn from our Learning Community Centers will form a core of the curriculum for the international and customized courses. Our knowledge management process will effectively utilize our innovative writeshop process for acquisition, documentation and dissemination of knowledge and best practices for scaling up and replication. Provision of organizational development services in areas of project and program monitoring, evaluation and systems development will enhance impact of development efforts; while organizational assessment, restructuring and business plan formulation will contribute to creating transparent and accountable governance in the region.
As we looking enthusiastically ahead, we anticipate the opening of a fourth country program in South Sudan starting 2007. We plan to put up a capacity building resource facility that will house a growing demand for our trainings and office space for our staff. This may require doubling or tripling of our current financial resources in the coming 3-5 years.
With the continued diligence of our teams and support from our board and strategic partners, we are confident of achieving these noble goals.
Finally, a big thank you and “Asante Sana” to grassroots communities and other stakeholders for becoming willing partners for learning and experimentation, our staff for the hard work and dedication, our board for the continued support and provision of oversight, our resources support partners for the generous contribution and the governments of Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia for hosting our programs and the facilitation support.
Once again, welcome and Karibu!
Isaac Bekalo
Regional Director
8 Posted on : June 14, 2006 |
