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On November 25th and 26th, 2024, KCDF hosted the National Communities of Practice Forum, a gathering that brought together over 80 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) from six counties—Nairobi, Busia, Kwale, Kakamega, Makueni, and Kisumu. These organisations, members of various Communities of Practice (COPs), gathered to share insights and learn from one another, focusing on improving operations, advancing policy advocacy, and strengthening partnerships between communities and county governments.
Speaking during the forum, KCDF’s Executive Director, Ms. Grace Maingi, emphasized the critical role of innovation and creativity in ensuring project sustainability and expanding their impact within local communities. She applauded the COP members for their significant contributions and encouraged them to continue pushing boundaries to drive positive change. Grace assured participants that KCDF remains committed to supporting these organisations, with a focus on providing additional funding to amplify their efforts and extend their reach, furthering the positive change they are driving in their communities.
The forum highlighted strategic recommendations for COPs, including:
- Exploring alternative resources to ensure long-term sustainability.
- Creating a legal and structural framework to safeguard COPs from political bias and strengthen their advocacy.
- Regularly documenting and sharing their impact for better visibility and accountability.
- Building a robust online presence to reach wider audiences.
- Strengthening membership and leveraging local development organizations for partnerships.
- Developing branded materials to foster trust with local communities.
- Prioritizing inclusion of marginalized groups, such as people with disabilities and minorities.
- Promoting continuous capacity strengthening and collaboration among members.
- Engaging with private sector entities, county governments, and international partners to broaden impact.
- Utilizing local media to amplify community voices.
- Strengthening partnerships with county governments to ensure COPs are well-represented in policy discussions.
Mr. Caesar Ngule, Programmes Director at KCDF, stressed the importance of COPs’ sustainability and encouraged exploring new partnerships and financial avenues to support their ongoing activities.
The event concluded with a training session focused on developing a Communications Plan for the COPs, emphasizing how to engage in organizational communications crisis management and strategically position the COP in the media. Participants were also guided on creating an action plan to improve their operations, further enhancing their impact.
The forum reaffirmed the need for COPs’ autonomy and independence. These locally led and owned initiatives are empowered to grow, build capacity, and strengthen their operational independence, ensuring their continued impact on the communities they serve.
Overally, the National COP Forum proved to be a powerful platform for collaboration, learning, and strategic planning, reinforcing KCDF’s commitment to supporting CSOs as they drive transformative change in their communities.
