ECODEV a national NGO limited by guarantee started in 2000 and registered in April 2001 as a nonpartisan, nonpolitical organization based in western Kenya. Managed by a Board of five directors, staff that work closely with the relevant government ministries at all levels, collaborating with other NGOs, CBOs in order to bring change in the lives of the poor, disadvantaged members of targets for over ten years. ECODEV exists to provide support, dignity, opportunity and individual choice to women and girls including children who are disadvantaged, marginalized to bring change in their lives. We exist to see a society where poor women and girls are assisted to appreciate themselves, strive to ... read more ECODEV a national NGO limited by guarantee started in 2000 and registered in April 2001 as a nonpartisan, nonpolitical organization based in western Kenya. Managed by a Board of five directors, staff that work closely with the relevant government ministries at all levels, collaborating with other NGOs, CBOs in order to bring change in the lives of the poor, disadvantaged members of targets for over ten years. ECODEV exists to provide support, dignity, opportunity and individual choice to women and girls including children who are disadvantaged, marginalized to bring change in their lives. We exist to see a society where poor women and girls are assisted to appreciate themselves, strive to improve their conditions socially, economically, and politically. Despite this focus, we have a capacity gap of struggling to secure consistent funding that has been a big challenge, seems to be weakening our effectiveness. The organization has been carrying out consultancy services for other NGOs nationally. The greater part has been in in Nyanza making us have networks in the entire province. We are happy that our projects have been successful since we understand local cultures, values, programmatic areas giving us proven track record of impactful programs locally. This has been possible due to a strong, competent team in place demonstrating commitment, and continuously evaluating, learning from our work. To our donors, we value and practice transparency, collaboration and embrace learning , seek growth, employ a women's right approach, building strong local roots as a potential. Special thanks to Action Aid, UNIFEM, AMREF, for their support in this regard. Our organization clearly defines its goals and values for projects at the planning stage giving us high reputation locally with a history of successful projects, we have membership on global networks, partnership with government agencies locally a keen way on sustainability of our projects even after phase out. ECODEV has saved many lives of women and girls from gender based violence, particularly girls in schools being sexually abused by their teachers. Changing the attitudes of men to respect, appreciate their wives in communities. The men who had problems with their wives have also been visiting our offices for support. Through lunch program feeding, we have managed to facilitate school retention for the orphans and vulnerable girls. Other projects have been in water, sanitation and hygiene using tested sustainable models for poor rural communities, including, health, education, maternal, newborn and child health. Our Strategic Objectives: improve living conditions for girls and women through empowerment in education, health, good governance and access to information. To boost economic opportunities in disadvantaged communities through skills development, livelihood opportunities and access to start-up capital. Improve delivery of educational services in schools through feeding programs. To improve well being of communities through access to safe drinking water, sanitation facilities and basic health and hygiene education. Main Activities The Center works with women and girls from rural communities who have personally experienced many of the world's biggest challenges including; exclusion from education, gender based violence, early marriage, food insecurity, unemployment, HIV/AIDS, children and nutrition, hygiene and health, women democracy and governance among others The organization engages in addressing the root causes of challenges that women and girls face, which include but not limited to gender norms, poverty, education, economic opportunities and access to health, that is not currently available or seriously needed by the target women, girls and children in the geographical area. We employ innovative solutions, using creativity to improve lives while challenging traditional approaches that have become obsolete. We support women to build their confidence and advocacy skills, identifying opportunities for them. Work with our members to break the cycle of poverty, by running small businesses in order to provide for their families, finance their children's education to help them to increase school retention, particularly the girl child who is more disadvantaged. Donors: Since inception our main donors have been from both local and international community. These include SNV-KENYA supporting our health programs, NETHERLANDS EMBASSY for gender based violence, Basket Funding (SIDA/CIDA/RNE/UNIFEM/DANIDA) to support a gender and governance program, to increase women's participation in politics, and men's appreciation of women's leadership; SIDA/AMREF health projects, Scottish Africa Aids Group (SBAAG) education supporting lunch program for the orphans and vulnerable children, particularly the girl child to reduce school dropout, managed through a Community center by the local women as volunteers, they also supported community agriculture projects: Stem van Afrika (SvA) Media and Health of children under 5 years, working towards reducing child mortality of the under 5s through community health workers, and radio for greater outreaches. National Aids Control Council (NACC) for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and counseling services. Since inception the organization has maintained co-operation/collaboration/ networking\partnering with other organizations like (NGOs, CBOs, FBOs, Private Sector Organizations, Government bodies in areas of funding, sharing ideas, joint projects/activities, training etc. Nature of collaboration with some of these have been AMREF/UNFPA providing Capacity building; HIV resource materials, link to NACC tools/ condom supply: Action-Aid/Liverpool Capacity Building of our staff/referral/condom supply/VCT services. Some of the organization's major accomplishments since inception have been Community Health Promotion in West Kisumu Location (4 sub locations) provided 25 Bicycles and 25 Drug Kits to the Promoters with support of Ministry of Health with funding from SNV-KENYA/NOVIB Purchased and supplied 5,000 female condoms from Family Planning of Kenya to be given to the women being inherited to prevent them from HIV/AIDS infection. Recruited Community elders 100 (promoters of forceful wife inheritance) into the project and changed their attitudes: to give women the freedom of wife inheritance only if they are interested and avoid/stop forcing women on the practice and to stop choosing for the widows men to inherit them Trained 50 Community Health Promoters (CHP) each CHP managing 25 households (1250): treating minor ailments, passing hygiene messages to the households. A total 10,000 male condoms and 5000 female condoms distributed. The female condom has remained a rare commodity that is difficult to trace and buy from the chemists and shops. The 25 drug kits helped in the management of simple diseases before visiting main hospital and 25 bicycles used for the management of Home Based Care activities. The project featured on International Women's Day on the local dailies (Standard) as a successful community health project to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. ECODEV initiated a school feeding program for 5 schools (250 students) mainly orphans within Kapuonja sub location funding from Scottish Borders Africa Aids Group SBAAG ECODEV rated as number two best overall in Kisumu East district in 2006 as one using some of the best BCC strategies under AMREF/SIDA program Given gold medal for using good change strategies with the Fisher folk Community in Kisumu County (NACC) Trained and Mobilized a record 47 women to Contest for political elective positions within Migori County for the first time where no woman had attempted to contest with support from Basket funding from 7 local Embassies in Kenya. Changed the attitudes of men to respect women, and particularly their leadership. Formed 20 networking groups of 30 member (600 members) in Rongo, Uriri, Migori and Nyatike of Migori County. Trained 20 members from (Radio) stations/CHWS on WASH messages to protect families and particularly children under 0-5 years for community outreaches. The board is the highest decision making organ of the organization; participating in staff employment, the Program Director oversees the day to day running of the organization, advises the Board in meetings and reports, some meetings are called on the basis of need but quarterly meetings are where major decisions about the organization are made. The Accountant with CPA II has over ten years' experience responsible for financial management under the control of the Programs director through use of internal controls which are in place. ECODEV has six full-time employees consisting of the executive director, program manager, field staff and administrative and finance officer. The field coordinators maintain relationship with community volunteers and leaders and coordinate with partners in the government offices at various levels. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA): ECODEV uses this approach for its projects: the approach incorporates knowledge, opinions of rural people in the planning and management stage of programs. Planning together with communities help them to understand their roles thus avoiding delay in implementation and enhances sustainability. Conduct Project Monitoring ECODEV has developed effective monitoring tools and systems to enable continuous monitoring of its project interventions on monthly, quarterly and annual basis. Quarterly project monitoring visits conducted to assess implementation of project activities. Emphasis usually put on ensuring that the project meets set yardsticks within the planned period. Monthly, quarterly reports usually prepared to chart the progress (against the timetable and work plans) and performance (against the logical framework.
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